Mornings were never quiet.
Not in this classroom.
Not when people like CJ existed.
"You started it," Cy said, arms crossed, glaring at him like she always did when she was losing an argument.
CJ leaned back lazily on his chair, balancing it on two legs like he had no care in the world. "I didn't start anything."
"You literally did."
"I finished it," CJ corrected, flashing a grin. "There's a difference."
Cy scoffed. "Yeah. The difference is you're annoying."
"And yet," CJ tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting with amusement, "you keep talking to me."
"Because someone has to keep you in check."
"Good luck with that."
Cy rolled her eyes but didn't move away.
She never did.
Around them, the classroom buzzed with noise—chairs scraping, laughter echoing, conversations overlapping. It was the usual chaos before the teacher arrived. No one really paid attention to anything serious.
CJ liked it that way.
No pressure. No expectations.
Just noise.
Across the room, people were doing their own thing. Ezekiel stood near his desk, unusually quiet, while Jasmine talked to him with a strange seriousness that didn't match the morning energy.
CJ noticed—but not enough to care.
"Oi," Cy nudged him slightly. "You listening?"
"Barely."
"Rude."
"You're used to it."
Before she could snap back, Jasmine's voice suddenly rose above the noise.
"Actually… there is something I want to say."
The shift was immediate.
Like someone pressed pause on the entire room.
CJ blinked, then slowly turned his chair around, interest sparking instantly.
"Well," he muttered under his breath, "this just got interesting."
Cy leaned forward too, eyes already wide. "No way…"
Jasmine stood confidently in front of Ezekiel, completely unbothered by the attention.
"I've been thinking about this for a while," she said.
CJ rested his chin on his hand, watching like it was a live show.
"About you."
The class reacted immediately.
"OHHHH—"
CJ grinned. "Called it."
Cy slapped his arm lightly. "Shut up, this is serious!"
"Exactly why it's entertaining."
Jasmine kept going, listing things about Ezekiel—funny, annoying, kind—and CJ couldn't help but laugh along with the class at certain parts.
But then—
"I like you, Ezekiel."
The room exploded.
CJ slapped the desk, standing halfway up. "NO WAY—"
"Sit down!" Cy hissed, grabbing his sleeve.
"I am sitting!"
"You're literally not!"
CJ dropped back into his chair, still grinning like he had just witnessed the best thing all week.
"This is insane," he said.
Cy covered her mouth, eyes sparkling. "I didn't expect her to actually say it…"
Everyone's attention locked onto Ezekiel now.
Waiting.
Watching.
Even CJ leaned forward slightly.
"Come on," he muttered. "Say yes. Don't mess this up."
Ezekiel opened his mouth.
"I—"
BANG.
The classroom door slammed open so suddenly that half the class flinched.
CJ's head snapped toward the door instantly.
"DEAN ELLIA M. DELA LUNA!"
The voice was loud. Confident. Way too comfortable.
The entire class turned.
And just like that—
Everything shifted.
A boy stood at the doorway, slightly out of breath but smiling like he had just found exactly what he was looking for.
His hair was messy—but in a way that looked intentional.
His posture was relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Like he didn't care that he had just interrupted a full-blown confession.
CJ raised an eyebrow.
"…Who's this guy?"
Cy leaned closer. "I don't know…"
But CJ didn't look at her.
He was already watching.
The boy's eyes scanned the room quickly—
Then stopped.
Locked onto Dean.
And his entire expression changed.
"There you are!"
CJ blinked.
The way he said it—
Wasn't casual.
It wasn't just recognition.
It was… familiarity.
Like he already belonged there.
Like he had every right to walk in like that.
Dean looked just as shocked.
"…Sebastian?"
The name barely registered in CJ's mind.
Because before he could even process it—
The guy—Sebastian—walked straight into the room like nothing mattered except getting to her.
People started whispering.
"Who is he?"
"Why is he so loud?"
"Wait—Dean knows him?"
CJ leaned back slightly, watching closely now.
Curious.
Interested.
And for some reason—
A little irritated.
Sebastian reached Dean in seconds.
And then—
Without hesitation—
He pulled her into a hug.
"I missed you!"
The classroom gasped.
CJ's eyebrows shot up.
"Whoa."
Dean looked completely caught off guard. "Sebastian—what are you doing here?!"
"What do you mean?" he said casually. "I transferred here."
The whispers got louder.
CJ glanced at Cy. "Did we miss a whole episode or something?"
"I think we did," Cy whispered back, eyes wide.
The teacher appeared at the door, confirming it.
"Yes. Class, this is your new classmate."
CJ let out a low whistle. "Of course he is."
Sebastian didn't even hesitate.
He threw an arm around Dean's shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"And this," he said proudly, "is my girl."
The room froze.
CJ's smile dropped slightly.
Dean choked. "I AM NOT YOUR GIRL!"
Sebastian laughed. "Relax, you've always been my girl."
Something about that—
Didn't sit right with CJ.
He couldn't explain it.
It wasn't his business.
Didn't involve him.
So why—
"…Oh, this is about to get messy," he muttered.
Cy snorted softly. "You love messy."
"Yeah," CJ said, eyes still on Sebastian. "But this one feels different."
Across the room, Ezekiel had gone completely silent.
Jasmine was still there, but the moment had shifted away from them entirely.
Everything now—
Was focused on the new guy.
Sebastian finally noticed the attention and scratched the back of his head.
"Oh right," he said. "I should introduce myself."
CJ watched him carefully.
Every movement.
Every expression.
Trying to figure him out—
For no reason at all.
"I'm Sebastian Aurelian Valken."
The name landed.
Clear.
Confident.
"And I've known this girl since we were kids," he added, nudging Dean slightly.
Dean covered her face. "You're so annoying…"
Sebastian just laughed.
And for some reason—
That laugh echoed.
Not in the room.
But somewhere deeper.
Somewhere CJ couldn't reach.
Something about it felt—
Familiar.
CJ's smile faded slightly.
"…Weird," he muttered under his breath.
"Hmm?" Cy glanced at him.
"Nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
Because even as the classroom returned to noise—
Even as people started talking again—
Even as the moment moved on—
CJ's eyes stayed on Sebastian just a second longer than they should have.
Like he was trying to remember something.
Or someone.
But it didn't make sense.
They had just met.
Right?
So why did it feel like—
He had already lost him once before?
CJ clicked his tongue and looked away.
"Whatever."
Just another loud guy.
Just another transfer student.
Nothing important.
And yet—
Without realizing it—
The moment Sebastian walked into that classroom…
Something had already begun.
Something neither of them understood yet.
Something that started long before this day—
And would change everything after.