Jayjay POV
The gym was loud.
Too loud.
Balls hitting the floor.
Whistles cutting through the air.
Students shouting over one another.
I stayed at the edge of the court.
Quiet.
Invisible.
That's how I liked it.
We were told to pass the ball around—simple drills. Nothing serious. I kept my movements clean, minimal. No attention.
Then it happened.
Someone threw too hard.
Too fast.
I turned—
Too late.
The ball slammed straight into my face.
Pain exploded.
I staggered back, hitting the floor hard.
The gym went silent.
I tasted it before I felt it.
Blood.
Warm.
Metallic.
Dripping.
My hands shook as I touched my nose.
Red.
Too much red.
The noise in the gym faded—replaced by something else.
Screams.
Shouting.
A different place.
A different time.
My chest tightened.
I couldn't breathe.
The floor wasn't the gym anymore.
It was concrete.
Cold.
Dark.
I heard my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Someone yelled my name.
Someone else cursed.
But I couldn't hear them properly.
Blood.
So much blood.
My vision blurred.
I curled into myself without realizing it, fingers digging into my sleeves, shoulders shaking.
The whistle blew sharply.
Again.
And again.
I felt movement around me.
Feet stopping.
People backing away.
Then—
a shadow fell over me.
I didn't look up.
I didn't need to.
I felt it.
Stillness.
Control.
Someone knelt nearby—not touching me, not speaking—just there.
The noise didn't return.
No laughter.
No whispers.
Just silence.
My breathing slowly came back, shallow and broken.
The blood stopped dripping.
Someone handed me a towel.
I wiped my face mechanically.
When I finally looked up—
I saw him.
Keifer.
Standing a few steps away.
His jaw was tight.
Eyes dark.
Focused.
Not on the crowd.
On me.
He didn't say anything.
Didn't move closer.
Didn't look away either.
For the first time since I entered this school—
no one laughed.
And somehow, that scared me more.
Aries POV
The gym had finally settled down.
No noise.
No drama.
Just practice.
Ella and I were sitting on the benches, watching everyone move around the court like it was a normal day.
Then—
Thud.
A ball flew across the court and hit Jayjay straight on the head.
She collapsed.
My heart stopped.
Blood.
I was up instantly, rushing to her side and pulling her head gently onto my lap.
"Jayjay—hey, look at me," I said urgently.
She thrashed.
"Don't touch me!"
"Leave me alone—don't touch me!"
Her breathing turned wild, eyes unfocused.
Panic attack.
Trauma.
"I—I didn't mean to!" Keifer said, his voice tight. "It was an accident—I swear."
No one answered him.
Behind me, I felt movement.
I glanced up.
Keifer stood frozen, David beside him.
Neither of them said a word.
Keifer's face had gone pale.
I turned back to her.
"Jayjay," I said firmly. "Look at me. It's Aries."
She shook her head violently.
"You're in the gym," I continued. "You're safe. Focus on my eyes."
Her gaze flickered… then slowly locked onto mine.
"That's it," I said softly. "Breathe with me."
I inhaled.
"One… two…"
She copied me—shakily.
"Good. Now out."
Her body slowly stopped fighting.
The entire gym was silent.
No laughter.
No whispers.
Just fear.
"You're okay," I whispered. "I've got you."
Her breathing steadied, though her hands still trembled.
Only then did I look up again.
Keifer hadn't moved.
His eyes never left her.
He still hadn't spoken.
But everyone could tell—
This wasn't just an accident.