JAY JAY POV
I walked into the classroom and honestly? I wanted to turn around and walk right back out. Apparently, the universe isn't done playing jokes on me. Why? Because I just found out that from now on, I have to sit next to that King of Assholes.
Why is that? I have no clue! Did I miss a memo? Was there a meeting? No one asked me! It's like they just decided, "Hey, let's put the London girl next to the most infuriating guy in the building, that sounds like a great plan!" Honestly, I feel like my patience is being tested by forces beyond my control.
I dragged my feet to the back of the room, my backpack feeling ten times heavier than usual, and plopped down in the chair next to the King of Assholes himself. I stared straight ahead, trying to pretend the seat next to me was empty—or at least occupied by someone less... him.
"Hey, Jay-Jay."
I stiffened. I didn't even have to look to know that smug look was on his face. I turned my head slowly, and there he was. Keifer was leaning back in his chair, looking way too comfortable. He actually had the audacity to wave at me after taking his lollipop out of his mouth with a slow, deliberate pop.
Tss. Seriously?
My heart did that annoying little "jump" again, but I shoved it down. I'm supposed to be mad! I'm supposed to be the sensible one from London! But no, here I am, sitting next to a guy who treats life like a game and uses a lollipop as a scepter.
"What do you want, Keifer?" I snapped, trying to sound a lot more annoyed than I actually was.
"Nothing," he said, that dangerous smirk playing on his lips as he tucked the lollipop back into the corner of his mouth. "Just making sure my new neighbor isn't planning on punching me again. My jaw is finally starting to feel better."
I rolled my eyes so hard I'm surprised they didn't get stuck. "If you keep that attitude, I might consider a second round."
He just chuckled, that low sound that made the hair on my arms stand up. Lord, give me strength. Sitting next to him every day? This isn't just a seating arrangement—it's a death sentence for my sanity.
Finally! The lunch bell rang, and it was like music to my ears—if music sounded like a stampede of starving high schoolers.
"Jay, eat here with us!" Ci-N asked, bouncing on his toes like he'd just discovered fire.
"I wish I could, but Jare and the others are already waiting for me," I said, waving him off. Ci-N's face dropped faster than my grades in a math test. He looked so pathetic and sad, like a puppy that just got told he wasn't getting a treat.
"Fine! I'll just come with you then," he declared, stubborn as ever.
"Sure, whatever," I shrugged, and we started heading toward the cafeteria.
But as we got closer, I saw a crowd gathered around the notice board. My curiosity got the better of me, so I pushed through the sea of uniforms to see what was so interesting. My heart nearly stopped when I read the bold letters.
"Jasper Jean Mariano and all students of Section E: You are not allowed to enter the cafeteria starting today."
"WHAT?!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the hallway. People started staring, but I didn't care. I pointed at the sign, looking at Ci-N in total disbelief. "How the hell am I supposed to eat lunch? Am I supposed to just photosynthesize in the sun?!"
Ci-N, on the other hand, just started laughing. Laughing! Like my impending starvation was the funniest thing he'd heard all year.
"This isn't fair!" I fumed, crossing my arms. "I'm an exchange student! I have rights!"
"Well, too bad, Jay," Ci-N said, still grinning. "You're in Section E now. In this school, that means you're basically a ghost when it comes to the cafeteria. Welcome to the bottom of the food chain."
"Then how am I supposed to eat?" I asked, feeling a massive headache coming on.
"Just ask your brother or your friends to smuggle something out," Ci-N suggested.
Just then, a girl walked toward us. She was actually really pretty
"Hey Rakki," Ci-N said, sounding suddenly excited.
I remembered the story Ben told me. Back when Ci-N was still in Section C—before he transformed into the Section E brat he is today—il actually liked this girl. He even managed to kiss her once, but she wasted no time in punching him right in the face. Honestly? I kind of respect her for that.
"Hey, Ci-N," she said. Her voice sounded annoyed, but even I could see that she didn't totally hate him.
"Jay!"
I turned around and saw Kiko waving at me.
"Hey, Kiko," I said, relieved to see a friendly face.
"Woah, wait... how is your nose?" he asked immediately, stepping closer to inspect my face.
Seriously? Of all the things he could've said, that was the first thing out of his mouth? I was about to answer when Ci-N stepped in front of me, looking like a grumpy bodyguard.
"Her nose is fine, Kiko. Move along," Ci-N snapped.
I blinked, looking at the back of Ci-N's head. Why the hell is he talking to Kiko like that? Kiko seems perfectly nice, but Ci-N is acting like a territorial puppy over a bone.
"I wasn't talking to you, Ci-N," Kiko shot back, his eyes narrowing.
"Well, I'm talking to you," Ci-N retorted, not backing down an inch.
"Jay-Jay, what's all the commotion about?" Mia asked, appearing by my side.
"Oh, nothing major," I said, gesturing dramatically to the notice board. "I've just been officially banned from the cafeteria."
"Wait, seriously?" Ben said, his eyebrows shooting up. "That's actually really bad."
"Bad? Ben, it's a tragedy!" I groaned, leaning against the hallway wall. "I am a growing girl. I require sustenance! How am I supposed to survive the afternoon on just vibes"
Mia looked at the sign and then at the nearby students who were whispering and pointing at our group. "I don't understand. Why would they ban the whole section? That feels like some kind of human rights violation."
"Welcome to HVIS," Ci-N chirped, finally ignoring Kiko to join our conversation. "Section E isn't just a class, it's a social experiment in how much neglect a student can take before they stop caring about the rules. The cafeteria is for 'productive' members of society. Apparently, we're just... the trash."
"Don't call yourself that, Ci-N," I snapped, feeling a surge of protective annoyance. "If anyone is trash, it's the person who printed that sign."
Kiko, who was still standing there despite Ci-N's invisible 'No Entry' sign, cleared his throat. "Look, Jay-Jay, I can get you something. Section A has their own lounge area, and I can definitely smuggle out a meal or two. No one checks my bag."
"You would do that?" I asked, looking at him.
"Of course," Kiko smiled, and for a second, he looked genuinely sweet.
"She doesn't need your charity, Kiko," a voice rumbled from behind us.
I didn't even have to turn around. That low, gravelly tone belonged to only one person. Keifer was standing a few feet back, leaning against a pillar with one hand in his pocket. He looked at the notice board, then at Kiko, then finally at me. He didn't look surprised by the ban. Actually, he looked like he'd expected it.
"Keifer, chill," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'm literally starving. If Kiko wants to be a hero, let him."
Keifer walked over, displacement the air with that arrogant confidence of his. He stepped right into the space between me and Kiko.
"The boys are already taking care of it," Keifer said, his eyes flicking to the sign with a bored expression. "We don't eat in that plastic-smelling cafeteria anyway. Follow me."
"No need, Keifer. I can feed my sister," Jare interrupted, stepping into the circle and handing me a packed lunch bag.
I blinked, looking at the bag and then at him. "You actually got me lunch?"
Jare nodded, looking unbothered. "I saw the notice before you did. I wasn't going to let you starve."
"Jay, let's go eat outside," Dave suggested, already wiping sweat from his forehead. "It's getting crowded in here."
"Yeah, it is kind of warm," Ci-N agreed, immediately sticking to my side like a shadow. He peeked into my lunch bag with hungry eyes. "You're sharing your food with me, right? Since we're seatmates and best friends?"
"In your dreams, brat," I said, pulling the bag closer to my chest.
"Don't be like that, Jay! Sharing is caring, remember? That's what they teach in London, right?" Ci-N pouted, doing the puppy-dog eyes that usually worked on everyone
Jare let out a snort, reaching into his own bag and pulling out an extra sandwich. "I'll share with you, kid. My sister needs to eat her own portion or else she'll get grumpy."
I whipped my head around to glare at him. "Asshole! I don't get grumpy!"
"'I don't get grumpy,'" Jare repeated in a high-pitched, mocking tone, rolling his eyes as we started walking toward the exit.
I reached out to smack his arm, but he dodged me with the reflexes of a guy who had been avoiding my hits for seventeen years.
"Keep it up, Jare, and I'll tell Papa," I threatened, pointing a finger at him.
Jare just rolled his eyes, unfazed. We finally made our way to the outdoor area and found some chairs and a bench tucked under a large tree where the shade was thick and the breeze actually felt cool. I sank onto the bench, letting out a sigh of relief as Ci-N sat down right next to me, still eyeing my lunch.
"So Jay, I heard the sports season is starting," Sarah said, elegantly opening her lunch container. She looked as pristine as ever, despite the humidity.
"I don't think I want to do any this time," I said, picking at my food.
"Why?" Jare asked, sounding surprised. Back in London, I was the first one on the field and the last one to leave.
"I don't know," I muttered, looking toward the Section E building. "Just not feeling it." Truth was, after the volleyball incident, I wasn't exactly eager to have people throwing things at my face again.
"Well, you have to, or else your asthma might get worse," Jare said firmly.
Ci-N's head snapped toward me, his eyes wide. "Wait, Jay... you have asthma?"
I nodded slowly. "Since I was a kid. It's mostly under control now, but yeah."
"Then why are you doing sports?" Ci-N asked, looking genuinely confused. "Isn't that, like, the opposite of what you should do?"
"Because it helps. She needs her body to be in good condition, and sports help strengthen her lungs," Jare explained, taking on that clinical tone he gets when he's being the responsible twin. "The doctors said if she keeps her fitness levels high, who knows? She might even be cured of it eventually."
"It's not that big of a deal, Ci-N," I added, trying to downplay it. "I just carry a 'blue friend' in my bag in case I start wheezing like an old accordion."
"An accordion?" Ci-N giggled, the worry briefly replaced by the mental image of me making squeaky noises.
"Anyway, I'm still thinking about it because I don't think I'm gonna stay here for an entire semester either," I said, looking down at my hands.
"Why?" Ci-N asked, his smile disappearing instantly.
"I might go back after the first term," I said.
"NO, YOU'RE NOT!" Ci-N yelled, slamming his hands on the bench and jumping to his feet. He looked like his world was ending. "You're gonna leave me all alone again!"
I froze, my sandwich halfway to my mouth. "Leave you... again?" I repeated, my voice barely a whisper. "Ci-N, what are you talking about? We just met a few weeks ago."
"Well, I know that!" Ci-N said, waving his hands around as if he could swat the words out of the air. "But still, I meant I'm gonna be all alone again! You know, like… before you got here! I was the only person with a functioning brain in Section E. If you go back to London, I'll be back to babysitting Keifer and the others by myself. It's exhausting!"
He let out a huff and crossed his arms, pouting so hard it looked like his lower lip might touch his chin.
I narrowed my eyes, watching him closely. "Babysitting them? Please. Others have to babysit you, you idiot. Literally, you almost burned Eman's kitchen utensils yesterday!"
Ci-N's face turned a bright shade of pink, and he immediately looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++