Jay's POV
I was walking down the hallway toward the auditorium when suddenly, a whirlwind of arms wrapped around me. I yelped in surprise and looked up to see Freya, Mica, Rakki, and Grace all grinning like maniacs.
"Jay!!" Freya squealed, hugging me so tightly I almost lost my balance. "Even your section is participating in the play! I can't believe it!"
I blinked, completely caught off guard. "Wait… what? Section E is actually doing the play? Since when?"
Mica giggled and twirled me around in a spin-hug, her laughter ringing in my ears. "Since we found out you guys were secretly practicing! We heard the rumors, but seeing you here… this is epic!"
Rakki shoved me lightly, smirking. "Don't try to deny it, Jay. Even Section E is stepping up their game. Who knew you'd be part of something like this?"
Grace laughed and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "We're so proud of you! Seriously, it's amazing to see your section participating. You guys are going to crush it."
I sighed, letting them go, trying to look composed but secretly feeling my heart warm. "Okay, okay… I didn't know until this morning either, alright? Don't make it sound like I've been hiding some big secret."
Freya poked me in the side playfully. "Oh, come on! You should be proud. Section E is working hard, and you being part of it makes it even better."
I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my smile. "Fine, I'm proud. Happy now? But don't expect me to start singing or dancing or doing something ridiculous on stage."
Mica laughed and grabbed my hand. "Don't worry, Jay. You don't have to do anything crazy. Just being there is enough."
Rakki leaned closer, whispering with a grin, "Yeah, just don't trip on stage or we'll never hear the end of it."
Grace nudged me gently. "We'll all be watching and cheering. Section E better not mess this up—you're leading the charge!"
I shook my head, smiling at their energy. "Alright, alright. I get it. No pressure… but thanks, guys. Really."
Freya threw her arms around me one more time. "Now let's go see the preparations! I want to see Section E in action!"
I groaned dramatically, but the excitement in their faces was contagious. Somehow, I couldn't help but smile. Section E might be a mess, chaotic and noisy—but with this kind of support, maybe the play was going to be fun after all.
Mica laughed, grabbing my hand and tugging me forward. "Come on, Jay! Lead the way! Let's see what trouble your section has been up to!"
I rolled my eyes but followed, secretly glad I wasn't alone in this mess. With Freya, Mica, Rakki, and Grace by my side, even Section E's chaos felt a little more manageable—and maybe, just maybe, exciting.