Chapter: Two Devils & One Victim (Jay's POV)
If karma was a person, it would be my cousin Aries.
And if bad luck had a best friend, it would be Keifer.
And unfortunately for me… they know each other.
I was peacefully walking in the corridor, minding my business, pretending I wasn't part of the zoo called Section E—
When I heard it.
"Brooo!"
That voice.
That annoying, overconfident, I-own-the-world voice.
I turned slowly.
There he was.
Keifer.
Standing in front of my cousin.
Smiling.
Like they were long-lost brothers.
Wait.
…Why are they smiling at each other like that?
Aries grinned. "Jay."
I narrowed my eyes. "What."
Keifer's smirk grew wider. "Ohhh… so this is your cousin?"
Cousin?
Cousin?!
I looked at Aries. "You know this cockroach?"
Keifer gasped dramatically. "Cockroach? At least cockroaches survive everything. Unlike your patience."
Aries burst out laughing. "BROOOO she talks like this at home too!"
I stared at Aries like I was calculating ten different murder plans.
"You," I pointed at him, "are supposed to be in Section A. Why are you roaming around like a tourist?"
Aries folded his arms. "Came to see my best friend."
Best friend.
BEST FRIEND.
I looked between them.
"You're telling me… this walking ego problem is your best friend?"
Keifer placed his arm around Aries' shoulder.
"And this," he said proudly, "is my favorite cousin-in-law."
"IN YOUR DREAMS," I snapped.
Aries tilted his head mischievously. "Wait… you two know each other?"
Keifer answered first. "Oh we know each other. She's my personal headache."
I smiled sweetly. "And you're my daily reminder that evolution sometimes fails."
"OHHHH!" Aries clutched his chest dramatically.
Keifer laughed. "Wow. Still practicing your insults in the mirror?"
"No," I said calmly. "I just look at you for inspiration."
Aries almost fell laughing.
"Bro, she's savage!"
"I KNOW," Keifer grinned. "She attacked me on her first day without knowing who I was."
"Because you deserved it," I shot back. "You asked if I was still—"
"OKAY MOVING ON!" Keifer shouted quickly, eyes widening.
Aries' eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Still what?"
I crossed my arms. "Ask your best friend. He likes asking personal questions."
Aries slowly looked at Keifer.
Keifer coughed. "It was academic curiosity."
I blinked. "Since when is stupidity part of the syllabus?"
Aries wheezed. "Oh my God, Jay, calm down."
I stepped closer to them.
"You both look like a discount version of a comedy duo."
Keifer tilted his head. "And you look like anger issues with eyeliner."
I smiled. Dangerous smile.
"At least I have eyeliner. You look like your barber gave up halfway."
Aries screamed laughing.
Keifer touched his hair defensively. "IT'S A STYLE."
"Yeah," I nodded. "A 'before transformation' style."
Aries slapped Keifer's back. "Bro she's destroying you."
Keifer leaned closer to me. "Careful. You talk too much for someone who trips over flat floors."
My jaw dropped.
"THAT WAS ONE TIME."
"And you blamed gravity."
"Because gravity betrayed me."
Aries raised his hands. "Okay okay stop. I feel like I'm watching a married couple fight."
Both of us turned to him at the same time.
"SHUT UP," we said together.
Silence.
Aries slowly backed away. "Yup. Definitely married energy."
I rolled my eyes. "Go back to Section A before I transfer you to the hospital wing."
Keifer smirked. "You'd miss me."
"In your fantasies."
"In your thoughts."
"In your arguments."
I stepped closer.
"You're confusing yourself with importance."
He stepped closer too.
"You're confusing hate with attention."
For one second.
One small second.
We just stared at each other.
Then Aries ruined it.
"Okay lovebirds, I'm late for class."
"WE ARE NOT—" we shouted again in sync.
Aries grinned wickedly. "Bro… if you marry her, I'm not attending the wedding."
I smirked. "Don't worry. I'm allergic to bad decisions."
Keifer chuckled. "Good. I don't date terrorists."
I smiled sweetly.
"And I don't date children."
Bell rang.
Saved by education.
I turned to leave but stopped.
"Aries," I said without turning.
"Yes, horoscope?"
I smirked. "Next time you bring your best friend near me… bring popcorn. At least I'll enjoy the show."
I walked away like the queen I am.
But behind me—
I heard Keifer laugh.
Not annoyed.
Not irritated.
Just… amused.
And I don't know why…
But that sound bothered me more than his insults.
Because when enemies laugh like that—
It means the war just got interesting.