(Jay's POV)
If the morning had been chaotic…
Lunch was absolute war.
David finished showing me the last building and pointed toward a large glass structure across the courtyard.
"That's the cafeteria."
The place looked huge. Almost like a restaurant instead of a school dining hall.
"Impressive," I admitted.
"Students from all classes eat there," David explained. "Though… people usually sit with their own groups."
"Meaning?"
He adjusted his glasses.
"Meaning where you sit says a lot."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And where does our class sit?"
David pointed toward a corner section near the windows.
"Over there."
I followed his finger.
And immediately spotted them.
The boys from my class.
You could tell it was them even from far away.
They were loud.
One of them had his legs on the table.
Another was laughing so hard he nearly fell off his chair.
A few nearby students kept glancing at them nervously.
"Yep," I said. "That's definitely my class."
David nodded.
"They have a… reputation."
"Feared but not respected?"
He looked surprised.
"That's accurate."
"Aries told me."
David hesitated.
"You're related to Aries?"
"Brother."
"Oh."
That explained his sudden understanding.
We walked into the cafeteria.
The smell of food filled the air instantly.
Students lined up at the counters.
Others were already eating and chatting.
But the moment I walked toward that corner table, something interesting happened.
People started watching.
Whispering.
Like they were witnessing a very bad decision.
One girl muttered to her friend,
"She's going to sit with them?"
"Poor thing."
David noticed too.
"You don't have to sit there," he said quietly.
I looked at him.
"Where else would I sit?"
"…Good point."
We reached the table.
The first person to notice me was the smallest boy there.
He blinked up at me.
"Hey!"
He looked oddly excited.
"Oh! Parking lot girl!"
I smiled.
"Hi."
David spoke calmly.
"Everyone, this is Jay. She's officially part of our class."
A boy with messy hair leaned back in his chair.
"Well well," he said dramatically. "She came back."
Another boy added, "Brave."
Someone else clapped slowly.
"Respect."
I placed my tray on the table.
"Thanks, I guess?"
The small boy grinned at me.
"I'm Ci-n!"
He pointed at himself proudly.
"Smallest member of the chaos club."
I laughed.
"I can see that."
"I'm sixteen," he said quickly.
"Okay."
"Everyone else is seventeen."
"That explains the attitude."
The table erupted in laughter.
Ci-n looked extremely pleased.
"I like her."
A guy sitting beside him smirked.
"Felix Collins."
Another boy waved casually.
"Denzel."
"Drew."
"Josh."
"Mayo."
"Kit."
They introduced themselves one after another like it was a roll call of chaos.
Then someone slid into the empty seat across from me.
I looked up.
Keifer.
He had arrived quietly, carrying a tray.
The table suddenly calmed down a little.
Not silent.
But calmer.
Interesting.
Keifer looked at my tray.
Then at me.
"You survived the morning."
"I'm tougher than I look."
He sat down.
"You'll need to be."
Ci-n leaned toward me.
"Did David show you the scary parts of the school?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"I met Matilda."
The table went quiet.
Felix slowly whistled.
"Oof."
Denzel leaned forward.
"How'd that go?"
"Wonderful," I said sweetly. "She practically welcomed me with flowers."
Kit laughed.
"She hates you already."
"Impressive speed."
Ci-n leaned even closer.
"You know she likes Keifer, right?"
I glanced at Keifer.
He was eating like none of this mattered.
"Good for her," I said.
Felix smirked.
"Bold answer."
Keifer finally spoke.
"You talk a lot."
I pointed my fork at him.
"You glare a lot."
The boys burst out laughing again.
Ci-n slapped the table.
"This is the best lunch ever."
Felix leaned toward Keifer.
"She roasted you again, man."
Keifer didn't react.
But I noticed that tiny twitch near his mouth again.
Almost like he was holding back a smile.
Almost.
David sat down beside me quietly.
"You're adapting quickly."
"I learn fast."
Across the cafeteria, I suddenly noticed something.
Matilda.
She was sitting with a group of polished students at another table.
And she was staring directly at us.
More specifically…
At me.
Great.
I leaned toward David.
"She's still watching."
David sighed.
"That's not good."
Ci-n turned around dramatically.
"Oh wow she's mad."
Felix grinned.
"Welcome to HVIS, Jay."
"Where enemies form during lunch."
I sighed and took another bite of food.
Fantastic.
First day.
Already annoyed the rich queen.
Already argued with the school president.
Already joined the most feared class in school.
This year was definitely going to be peaceful.
Absolutely peaceful.
…Said no one ever. 😌🔥
And something told me the real chaos at Higher Value International School had only just begun.