The afternoon sun filtered through the large windows of Section E's classroom, casting golden streaks across the room. Everyone was still processing what Adrian and Ciel had revealed about the mall incident. Even though the school day was technically over, the air felt heavy with unspoken tension.
I sat back in my chair, trying to act casual, but my eyes kept darting toward Ciel. She was fidgeting with the straps of her bag, glancing at her brother with that same worried look I had seen in Adrian earlier.
Kiefer, as usual, noticed immediately. His arm brushed mine under the desk, a subtle touch, but it said everything. I'm watching, I'm here.
"Ciel, you look like you swallowed a storm," Ci-N said suddenly, leaning back in his chair with that mischievous grin.
Ciel rolled her eyes. "I'm fine," she muttered, but her blush betrayed her.
"Sure you are," I teased, nudging her lightly. "Nothing to worry about, right?"
She let out a tiny laugh, and the tension in the room softened slightly. Even Kiefer cracked a small smile, squeezing my hand under the table, grounding me in the moment.
But the peace didn't last long.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure standing near the school gate. Their stance was deliberate, almost predatory. I squinted, trying to make out any details, but the afternoon sun glinted off something metallic in their hand.
"Kiefer," I whispered, nudging him gently.
He followed my gaze, his expression darkening. "I see them." His tone was calm but clipped, like he was already calculating his next move.
"Should we—?" I began, but Ci-N interrupted with a laugh.
"Relax, Jayjay . Don't tell me you're already turning into a bodyguard?"
I shot him a glare. "Funny."
Kiefer leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear. "Stay close to me. Just in case."
I felt the warmth of him against me, grounding me again, even as the tension prickled at the edges of my nerves. I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
"Maybe we should observe first," I said softly, trying to reason with myself. "We don't know who or what they want."
"Agreed," Kiefer said. His hand found mine under the desk, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "But I'll protect everyone. Don't worry."
Ci-N nudged Ciel. "See? You're in good hands. Well… good two hands," he added, wiggling his eyebrows, making both of them blush. I chuckled, shaking my head at their antics.
Despite the brief teasing, everyone slowly started to relax. Even Adrian gave a small smile, though his eyes never left the figure outside.
Kiefer whispered to me again, "We'll stay alert, but let's enjoy this moment. They're safe with us—for now."
I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder, feeling the tension ease slightly. "You're too perfect, you know that?"
"And you love me for it," he teased softly.
We both smiled, enjoying the quiet moment. But I couldn't shake the feeling that the figure outside wasn't just some random person. Something told me this was only the beginning.
As the bell rang signaling the end of school, we gathered our things. Kiefer stayed close, his protective presence constant beside me.
"Let's stick together for the rest of the day," he murmured, almost to himself, but loud enough for me to hear.
I nodded, slipping my hand into his. "Always."
Ci-N gave a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, you two are so mushy! Can we at least get out of here before you start a whole romance movie?"
Ci-N laughed, tugging at Rory's sleeve. "Let's just go outside, somewhere we can breathe. Maybe have some fun before the real chaos hits?"
As we stepped out of the school building, the figure near the gate moved slightly, slipping into the shadows. I caught Kiefer's glance, dark and calculating.
"They're watching," he said quietly.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. But at the same time, the warmth of Kiefer's hand in mine reminded me: no matter what comes, Section E had each other.
And we weren't about to let anyone disturb that.