Author's POV
The tension of the combat arena bled away as the group moved toward the Cafeteria . The Cafeteria—a grim, concrete hall where survival was served on a plastic tray—became the unexpected stage for a new alliance. As the heavy doors groaned open, the chaos of the daily food riot erupted.
The moment the heavy metal doors opened, the chaos began. Zein took Jay and her friends to her inner circle.
"Guys, they are newbie, Jay, Keifer,Cin,Felix ,Freya ,Percy Edrix and Rory.",she said introducing them.
"And these are my friends Matt,Mia,Vanessa,Jerome,Dave", both groups greeted each and welcome .
In Hell University, food wasn't served; it was claimed.
"Is that... actual meat?" Jerome yelled, pointing at a tray being guarded by a group of lower-tier students. "Dibs! I'm starving enough to eat the tray too!"
"Jerome, don't be a pig," Vanessa sighed, though she deftly tripped a guy trying to shove past her.
Edrix and Felix didn't wait. They moved like a wall of muscle, clearing a path toward the counter. "Back off!" Felix barked, his varsity build intimidating enough to make a few juniors drop their trays.
Ci-N scurried behind them, snatching up extra apples and bread with the efficiency of a professional thief.
"Food is fuel, and fuel is victory!" Ci-N chirped, tossing a juice box to Dave, who caught it with a practiced nod.
Keifer sits with an arm draped heavily over Jay's chair, carving a stolen apple with his pocketknife. He offers a slice on the tip of the blade, his eyes dropping to a low, gravelly tone that makes Jay's heart skip.
When Jay takes the fruit, his thumb lingers on the corner of her lip to brush away a stray drop of juice. "Careful, Jay-jay," he murmurs near her ear. "If you keep looking at me like I'm your hero, I might actually start acting like one"
.He ignores the chaos of the food riot around them, his focus entirely on her blushing face. He even steals glances at her "cute face" while they eat, making her turn scarlet with simple, bold comments about her being "his".
Watching them from across the table, Zein felt a strange, fluttering warmth in her chest—a sensation she usually suppressed. She looked at her hands, then felt a heavy gaze on her.
Ace was watching the exchange between Keifer and Jay with an unreadable expression. When his eyes met Zein's, the air between them seemed to crackle. It wasn't the usual tension of a strategic meeting; it was something raw.
"They're ridiculous," Ace muttered, though his eyes didn't leave Zein's.
"They're alive, Ace," Zein countered softly. "They haven't let this place turn them into ghosts yet."
Ace reached out, his gloved hand momentarily brushing Zein's fingers on the table. The contact was brief, but the spark was electric, a jolt of human connection in a place that specialized in isolation. For a split second, the "Supremo" and his protector weren't thinking about survival—they were thinking about each other.
The moment of peace was shattered as Jerome and Felix got into a shouting match with a group of seniors over a tray of bread.
"Hey! That's my muffin!" Ci-N yelled, using his quick reflexes to duck under a senior's arm and snatch the food back.
Keifer stood up, the "King" returning to his eyes.He caught a tray that was about to be thrown at Jay's head, his face turning murderous. But before he could strike, Zein was there. She caught the arm of the attacker, twisting it back with a sharp snap.
"He's with me," Zein said to the crowd, her voice a deadly calm. She looked at Keifer and nodded.
Zein noticed Keifer's knuckles were still red from the fight. Without a word, she reached into her pocket and handed him a small antiseptic wipe.
"You're too reckless," she said, her voice soft but firm. "If you break your hand, who's going to catch Jay when she faints?"
Keifer took the wipe, a rare, ghost of a smile touching his lips. He looked at Zein—really looked at her—and saw the same exhaustion he felt. The weight of keeping everyone alive.
"You worry too much about everyone else, Zein. Who's looking out for you?"
"I manage," she replied.
Keifer stepped closer, bumping her shoulder with his in a gesture that was surprisingly domestic. "You remind me of Jay's brother, Percy, sometimes. Too much 'big sister' energy for your own good. If things get too heavy... use my shoulders. I'm used to the weight."
Zein felt a lump in her throat. In this hellhole, a protector rarely found someone to protect them back. "Deal, Watson. But if you call me 'Noona,' I'll let you have a rematch at physical combat class."
Across the hall, Ace sat at a secluded table, his back to the wall. He was the "Supremo"—he didn't scavenge, and no one dared sit near him. He looked like a king on a throne of isolation, the strawberry lollipop Jay gave him still tucked into his pocket.
Jay noticed. She saw the way the light hit his lonely silhouette and felt that familiar "meddler" itch.
"Hey, Keifer, I'm going to feed the Thunder-Puff!" Jay announced, grabbing a tray piled high with mashed potatoes and an extra chocolate muffin.
"Jay, wait—" Keifer started, but Percy grabbed his collar.
"Let her go, man. Ace won't hurt her. He's too confused by her to be dangerous," Percy laughed.
Jay plopped her tray down across from Ace. The sound of plastic hitting wood echoed in the sudden silence of the nearby tables. Ace looked up, his gaze icy enough to freeze water.
"You're sitting in the wrong place, Jasper Jean," Ace said coldly.
"No, I'm not Thunder -Puff",Jay replied grinning.
Ace stiffened. "Don't call me that. And go back to your boyfriend."
"Nope. He's busy talking stats with Rory," Jay said, sliding the muffin toward him. "You looked worried during the fight. My Lola says stress makes you old. Eat the chocolate. It's a peace offering."
Ace looked at the muffin, then at the girl who had the audacity to treat the most feared man in school like a grumpy toddler. He reached out and took the juice box, his fingers brushing hers.
"You're going to get yourself killed being this nice, Jasper," he said, but he didn't tell her to leave. He actually opened the straw for her.
From the main table, Zein watched them.
Zein's POV:
They're so different from us, Zein thought, watching Jay giggle at something Ace said. They have a light that Hell University hasn't extinguished yet. But that light makes them targets. I'll die before I let Madam Violet take that smile away from Jay.
Ace's POV:
Ace watched Jay return to Keifer, who immediately pulled her into his side, claiming his territory. The girl is a paradox, Ace mused, his fingers brushing the lollipop wrapper in his pocket. She's the spark that could either lead us out of this darkness or burn the whole university down. Either way, the "Bloody Night" won't be the same this year.