Chapter 50: The Calm Before the Exams
(Jay Jay's POV)
The chaos of Section E was still echoing in the classroom when our teacher suddenly clapped her hands loudly.
Once.
Twice.
Hard enough that everyone finally shut up.
Even Blaster.
Which honestly felt like a miracle.
Teacher:
"Enough."
Her voice had that dangerous calm tone teachers use before announcing something horrible.
And instantly the entire class felt it.
Ci N whispered dramatically.
Ci N:
"That sounded like bad news."
Felix nodded.
Felix:
"Very bad news."
The teacher picked up a stack of papers and looked at us.
Teacher:
"I have an announcement."
She paused.
Teacher:
"Your final exams start next Monday."
The room went silent.
Dead silent.
Like someone had pressed the mute button on Section E.
Then the screaming started.
Blaster:
"WHAT?!"
Calix slammed his desk.
Calix:
"THAT'S THREE DAYS!"
Eman looked like his soul left his body.
Eman:
"I'm not ready."
Eran nodded dramatically.
Eran:
"I'm definitely not ready."
Denzel slowly leaned back in his chair.
Denzel:
"I suddenly feel sick."
Felix grabbed his head.
Felix:
"WHY DID YOU TELL US THIS NOW?!"
The teacher crossed her arms.
Teacher:
"Because that's when they start."
Josh raised his hand slowly.
Josh:
"What happens if we fail?"
The teacher looked directly at him.
Teacher:
"If you fail…"
She paused.
Teacher:
"You will not receive your diploma."
The classroom exploded.
"WHAT?!"
"THIS IS UNFAIR!"
"I'M NOT READY FOR ADULT LIFE!"
Blaster dramatically collapsed onto his desk.
Blaster:
"I knew my life would end like this."
David sighed deeply.
David:
"You people had the whole year."
Ci N pointed dramatically.
Ci N:
"That's not the point!"
Felix whispered loudly.
Felix:
"We wasted the whole year."
The teacher shook her head.
Teacher:
"Your first exam is English."
She placed the papers down.
Teacher:
"Study this weekend."
The bell rang.
And the entire class looked like they had just received a death sentence.
Blaster slowly stood up.
Blaster:
"Guys."
He looked around dramatically.
Blaster:
"We are doomed."
Calix nodded.
Calix:
"Completely doomed."
David grabbed his bag calmly.
David:
"I'm going home to study."
Felix pointed at him.
Felix:
"NERD."
Meanwhile Keifer stood beside my desk.
Keifer:
"Ready to go?"
Jay:
"I forgot exams existed."
Keifer smirked slightly.
Keifer:
"Then we should fix that."
And somehow…
I had a feeling this weekend was going to be very long.
Watson Mansion
(Later that evening)
The mansion was quiet.
For once.
No chaos.
No shouting.
No Section E madness.
Just silence.
Books covered the dining table.
English textbooks.
Notes.
Practice papers.
Pens everywhere.
Keifer sat across from me.
Completely focused.
Like a machine.
Meanwhile I was staring at the same paragraph for the last five minutes.
Jay:
"I hate studying."
Keifer didn't even look up.
Keifer:
"You love graduating."
Jay:
"That's not the same thing."
He turned a page calmly.
Keifer:
"Focus."
So I tried.
I really did.
One hour passed.
Then another.
Two hours.
And my brain officially stopped working.
I dropped my pencil dramatically.
Jay:
"I'm bored."
Keifer finally looked up.
Keifer:
"You studied for two hours."
Jay:
"That's enough education for today."
He leaned back in his chair.
Watching me.
That small teasing smile slowly appearing.
Keifer:
"Come here."
Jay:
"What."
He patted his lap casually.
Keifer:
"Come here."
My cheeks immediately warmed.
Jay:
"Keifer…"
Keifer:
"You're distracted."
He shrugged.
Keifer:
"This will help."
I rolled my eyes.
But still walked around the table.
Jay:
"You're ridiculous."
Keifer:
"Sit."
So I did.
Slowly sitting on his lap.
His arm wrapped naturally around my waist.
Holding me comfortably.
Like it was the most normal thing in the world.
My head rested against his shoulder.
Jay:
"This is not studying."
Keifer flipped a page calmly.
Keifer:
"It's motivation."
I huffed quietly.
But honestly…
It was comfortable.
Very comfortable.
The room stayed quiet.
Just the soft sound of pages turning.
His hand slowly rubbing small circles on my waist.
Absentminded.
Gentle.
Ten minutes passed like that.
Maybe more.
Jay:
"I might fall asleep."
Keifer chuckled softly.
Keifer:
"Then I'll fail my exam."
Jay:
"That's your fault."
He leaned down slightly.
Pressing a small kiss to my temple.
Keifer:
"You're the distraction."
Jay:
"You invited the distraction."
Another quiet kiss.
This time on my cheek.
Then he closed the book.
Keifer:
"Alright."
Jay:
"What."
Keifer:
"Back to studying."
Jay:
"No."
He gently lifted me off his lap.
Setting me back in my chair.
Keifer:
"Yes."
Jay:
"You're cruel."
Keifer smirked.
Keifer:
"You'll thank me when you graduate."
I picked up my pencil again dramatically.
Jay:
"If I fail this exam…"
Keifer leaned over slightly.
Pressing a quick kiss to my lips.
Keifer:
"You won't."
My face instantly heated again.
Jay:
"That was cheating."
Keifer returned to his book.
Keifer:
"Motivation."
And somehow…
Studying didn't feel so terrible anymore.
Because every few minutes…
When I looked up from my notes…
Keifer would glance at me.
Smile slightly.
And lean over to steal a quick kiss before returning to studying.
It was ridiculous.
Soft.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
And for the first time in a long time…
Life felt almost normal.
But knowing our lives…
That calm probably wouldn't last very long.