Chapter: Festival Week – Day One
(Jay's POV)
Festival week finally started.
And Section E?
We didn't come to participate.
We came to dominate.
Our separate building was fully decorated — lights, banners, handmade posters, and Drew's suspiciously dramatic welcome tarp that said:
"ENTER IF YOU DARE."
Blaster added fake warning signs.
Mayo added unnecessary glitter.
Ci n complained about symmetry.
Keifer acted like he owned the entire campus.
And me?
I was just enjoying the chaos.
Until I saw something interesting.
Very interesting.
Keifer nudged me suddenly. "Don't look too obvious."
"Now I want to look," I replied immediately.
He tilted his head toward the main building pathway.
And there he was.
Aries.
Standing slightly awkwardly.
In front of Ella.
Section A's elegant, soft-spoken, always-perfect Ella.
And she was smiling.
Softly.
Shyly.
I gasped dramatically. "Oh my god."
Keifer grinned. "Finally."
Aries handed Ella something — probably a festival pass or program sheet — and she took it with both hands like it was something precious.
"Oh this is too cute," I whispered.
"Let's ruin it," Keifer suggested.
Best idea ever.
We walked toward them casually.
Aries noticed us first.
His expression immediately shifted from soft to suspicious.
"Why are you both smiling like that?" he asked.
Ella turned and saw me.
"Hi, Jay!"
I beamed. "Hi, Ate Ella!"
Ella froze.
Aries froze.
Keifer choked on air.
Ella's cheeks turned pink instantly.
"A–Ate?" she repeated shyly.
"Yes, Ate," I said sweetly. "Since you're older and clearly very important to our dear horoscope."
Aries glared at me. "Jay."
"What?" I widened my eyes innocently. "Respect is important."
Keifer crossed his arms. "Yeah, Ate Ella suits you."
Ella covered her face slightly. "Stop…"
Aries stepped between us. "Why are you two here?"
"To inspect," I replied. "As the only girl of Section E, I must check if our leader is behaving properly."
Keifer nodded seriously. "Yes. He left her alone the other day. Very suspicious behavior."
Ella blinked. "Left her alone?"
I pointed at Aries dramatically. "He abandoned me to meet someone."
Aries pinched the bridge of his nose. "I had student council work."
"With Ella?" Keifer added.
Ella's face went red again.
Aries shot him a deadly look.
"Ohhhh," I sang. "So it is Ella."
"It's not like that," Aries said quickly.
Ella looked down, smiling softly.
Oh.
Oh it is like that.
I leaned closer to her. "Ate Ella, our horoscope here reads relationship posts every day."
"JAY."
Keifer laughed loudly. "He does. 'If she looks at you for more than three seconds, she likes you.'"
Ella giggled.
Aries looked like he wanted to disappear.
I stepped around him. "Ate Ella, does he send you motivational quotes at 2am?"
Ella blinked. "…Sometimes."
Keifer grabbed his chest dramatically. "Confirmed."
Aries turned red. "It's just encouragement!"
"For what?" I asked. "Romantic growth?"
He groaned. "You're impossible."
Ella tried to defend him softly. "He's actually very kind."
Keifer and I exchanged a look.
Then we both burst out laughing.
"Oh we know," I said. "He acts tough but he's soft."
Aries looked at me sharply. "Jay."
"What?" I grinned. "You think I don't see it?"
There was a small shift in his expression.
Something quieter.
Something deeper.
Keifer nudged me. "Don't bully him too much. He's trying."
Ella glanced between us. "Trying?"
"To confess," I said immediately.
Aries nearly died on the spot.
"I AM NOT."
Ella's blush deepened so much it reached her ears.
I clasped my hands dramatically. "Ate Ella, please take care of our Aries. He pretends to be strong but cries over dog videos."
"I DO NOT."
Keifer lost it laughing.
Ella was now laughing too, covering her mouth.
Aries looked betrayed. "You two are unbelievable."
I leaned closer and whispered loudly to Ella, "If he ever leaves you walking alone, report him to me."
Keifer nodded. "We'll suspend him from leadership."
Aries stared at us in disbelief. "You're both traitors."
I smirked. "Relax. We approve."
Ella looked at Aries shyly. "You didn't tell me they were like this."
Aries sighed. "I was protecting you."
"From us?" I gasped.
"Yes."
Keifer clapped him on the shoulder. "Too late."
I suddenly grabbed Ella's hands dramatically. "Ate Ella, welcome to Section E's unofficial family."
She smiled warmly. "Thank you… I think?"
Aries looked at her softly.
And for a second…
The teasing stopped.
Because the way he looked at her?
It wasn't casual.
It wasn't playful.
It was careful.
Gentle.
Like he didn't want to ruin something fragile.
Keifer leaned toward me quietly. "He likes her."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Then I smirked again.
"But we're still teasing."
"Obviously."
I stepped back. "Okay okay, we'll leave you lovebirds alone."
"We are not lovebirds," Aries muttered.
Ella hid her smile again.
As Keifer and I walked away, I turned back and shouted—
"BYE ATE ELLA!"
She waved shyly.
Aries glared at me.
I winked.
When we were far enough, Keifer laughed. "You enjoyed that too much."
"Of course," I said proudly. "It's my duty."
He looked at me sideways. "You really don't mind?"
"Mind what?"
"Him and Ella."
I shrugged casually. "Why would I?"
He studied me for a second.
I avoided his eyes.
"Festival just started," I said brightly. "Let's cause more chaos."
Keifer smiled slowly. "With you? Always."
Behind us, I could still feel Aries' gaze.
And when I glanced back quickly—
He wasn't looking at Ella.
He was looking at me.
For just a second.
Then he looked away.
Festival Day One.
And already?
Section E was louder than the speakers.
But something tells me—
This week won't just be about games and decorations.
It's going to test hearts too.