[jayjay pov]
The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains as I slept, curled up under my blanket. A voice pierced the quiet room.
"Jayjay! You're always sleeping! Wake up! We're going to be late for school!"
I groaned, squinting at the clock. Panic surged. I had overslept. Jumping up, I quickly got dressed, grabbed my bag, and rushed downstairs. No time for breakfast.
I ran out to aries' car, where he was already waiting. "Hurry up!" he called, smirking at my flustered expression. I climbed in, and we drove off, picking up Ella along the way.
By the time we reached school, my stomach rumbled loudly. Skipping breakfast had been a mistake. I muttered to myself, clutching my stomach. "Next time… never skip food," I whispered, blushing as I realized a few classmates were watching.
Finding a quiet spot in Building E, I finally unpacked a small snack and ate quickly, trying to focus on my hunger.
When I returned to class, everyone was already seated—except Adrian and his sister. I furrowed my brow, surprised; I knew they usually came on time.
First period passed. Second period passed. When the bell rang for break, they were still nowhere in sight. By the time the next subject started, the teacher announced a self-learning session, saying they had a meeting and no instructor would be present.
That's when they arrived. Adrian and his sister walked in, looking fine at first glance, but Kiefer and I exchanged subtle glances. Something was off.
We greeted them quietly as they sat down. They offered some excuse about traffic, but Kiefer's sharp eyes caught the faint bruises on Adrian's arms and face. We decided not to alert anyone—for now.
During self-learning, the next teacher never arrived. Kiefer noticed Adrian standing by the window, lost in thought, eyes distant. He approached him slowly.
"Hey… is everything alright?" Kiefer asked softly.
"Yeah…" Adrian replied, but Kiefer immediately shook his head. "You're lying. I can see it in your face and your hands. Something happened this morning."
Adrian hesitated, then let out a deep sigh. "Someone tried to cause trouble at our mall this morning… a group tried to harass my grandparents, claiming they wanted to take over the property. It… it got physical, and I had to step in to protect them. I didn't want to worry anyone, so we handled it quietly."
Kiefer's expression softened. He put a reassuring hand on Adrian's shoulder. "I understand. That's exactly what I had to go through with my father… having to protect those you care about while keeping it hidden. You're not alone in this."
Adrian's shoulders relaxed slightly, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks… I appreciate it."
Even in the quiet of self-learning, a bond had strengthened between us—understanding without words, knowing someone else had faced similar struggles.