Chapter 2 – If Fate Says I'll Fall in Love, Then Fine… I'll Use Fate Back
Jay's POV
The next morning, I woke up like a villain.
Like actually—hair messy, but in a "I know secrets you don't" kind of way.
Because yesterday?
Yesterday I discovered the cheat codes of life.
Thanks to the floating comments, I officially knew:
Section E was planning to make me "fall in love" with Keifer.
Then break my heart.
Then somehow hurt Aries in the process????
Keifer would fall into his own trap.
He'd confess.
Give me an island.
And I'd forgive him.
I don't know what was worse—
the heartbreak part
or the island part.
Who gives someone an island?
What am I supposed to do there? Collect crabs??
Anyway.
I stood in front of my mirror, hands on hips.
"Okay, Jay," I told myself.
"Since everyone thinks your tragic love story is inevitable… then WE take control."
Yup.
If I'm destined to fall in love, lose, cry, and get an island, then I'm at LEAST going to make sure I don't suffer in the middle.
I will use the comments.
They want drama?
I'll give drama.
They want a love story?
Fine—but I'm driving.
At School
Section E was already loud when I walked in.
Boys yelling.
Chairs sliding.
Someone throwing a paper airplane at someone's head.
Normal.
Mayo spotted me first, hanging off a table upside down like a bat.
"Jay! Look, new move!" he said and then flipped backward in some parkour nonsense that would've hospitalized a normal human.
I clapped slowly.
"That's cool, Mayo. Teach me how not to die when I run?"
He beamed. "Sure—just commit! Don't hesitate!"
Hesitate??
I hesitate crossing the street.
Before I could respond—
The temperature dropped.
Not literally, but the vibes changed.
I didn't have to look.
I knew who entered.
Keifer.
Mr. Scowling Monarchy of Ulupongs.
Walking like the hallway owed him money.
Yuri trailing behind him, already laughing at something dumb.
David nodding at everyone because he's polite or whatever.
I glanced up.
Just for a second.
Mistake.
Keifer noticed instantly.
Of course he did.
"Why are you staring?" he said, brows pulling together.
I blinked. "I wasn't."
"You are literally staring right now."
I wasn't READY for his face to be that close to mine, okay??
The comments yesterday said he'd fall for me.
MY BRAIN WAS PROCESSING.
Then—
as if my own body wanted me dead—
my cheeks burned.
Keifer's eyes widened.
"No way… are you—are you blushing?"
"NO. I'M JUST— IT'S HOT— I SWEAR—FCK"
OH NO.
WRONG WORD.
The moment "swear" left my mouth, something in his expression changed.
He stepped closer.
Back up, Jay, back up—
I backed up until my shoulders hit the wall.
He wasn't pinning me or trapping me, but he definitely leaned in with that "I need you to listen" energy teachers use when you're in big trouble.
He looked straight at me, voice low but firm.
"Don't swear again."
"Why?"
"Because if you do…"
His jaw tightened.
"I'll have to shut you up."
WHAT???
WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN??
MY SOUL LEFT MY BODY.
Before I could answer—
POP. POP. POP.
Floating comments EXPLODED everywhere:
"THIS RULE WILL LAST THEIR ENTIRE LIVES OMGGGG"
"KEIFER IS SOOO OBSESSED WITH KISSING HER HELP 😭🔥"
"THE WALL SCENE IS REAL BESTIESSS"
I froze.
Keifer didn't see them—thank GOD—
but I couldn't stop staring.
My life was being livestreamed by chaos demons.
"Jay?" Keifer asked, frowning. "Why do you look like you saw a ghost?"
I swallowed.
"Uh—nothing."
But inside I was screaming:
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION WHEN COMMENTS ARE LITERALLY NARRATING MY FUTURE??
Cin (my bestie) shouted from across the room, "JAY! WHAT DID YOU DO? WHY IS KEIFER'S FACE LIKE THAT?"
I did not answer because I did not know.
The comments kept popping like fireworks:
"She's gonna fall for him any day now 😭"
"She's already doomed."
"Wait till Keifer realizes HE'S the one who catches feelings first."
Well.
At least I had one advantage.
I knew everything before anyone else.
And I'm absolutely going to use that.