Chapter 24: Back Where It All Began
Mariano Penthouse — Early Morning
New York City
(Jay-jay's POV)
The silence from last night didn't last long.
Because this morning—
Everything changed again.
Suitcases.
Flight schedules.
Messages from my father.
And one final reality:
We were going back.
Back to the Philippines.
Back to school.
Back to Section E.
I zipped my bag and turned—
Only to see Keifer Watson leaning against the doorframe… watching me like this was some kind of emotional farewell scene.
I narrowed my eyes.
"…why do you look like that?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
Keifer: "This is it."
Jay-jay: "…this is what?"
Keifer: "The moment we return to where it all started."
Jay-jay: "We're going to school, not war."
Keifer: "It feels like war."
Jay-jay: "You're being dramatic."
Keifer: "I'm being honest."
Jay-jay: "You're being extra."
Keifer: "You love it."
Jay-jay: "…unfortunately."
He pushed himself off the wall and walked closer.
Slow.
Too slow.
Suspiciously slow.
Keifer: "Are you ready?"
Jay-jay: "For school?"
Keifer: "For them."
I paused.
Yeah.
That part.
Jay-jay: "…no."
Keifer: "Good."
Jay-jay: "Good?"
Keifer: "Because neither am I."
Airport — Departure
The flight was quiet.
Too quiet.
Which was unusual for us.
But I think we both knew—
The second we landed…
Peace would end.
Philippines — HVIS Campus
Section E Classroom
(Jay-jay's POV)
The door hadn't even opened yet—
And I could already hear them.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Uncontrolled.
Section E.
I took a breath.
Keifer looked at me.
Keifer: "Ready?"
Jay-jay: "No."
Keifer: "Same."
He opened the door.
Chaos
"JAY-JAYYYYY!!!"
"KEIFER!!!"
"THEY'RE BACK!!!"
"OH MY GOD!!!"
"ENGAGEMENT COUPLE!!!"
I froze for half a second.
Then—
Felix ran forward dramatically like he was in a tragic movie.
Felix: "YOU LEFT US!"
Jay-jay: "I went to New York."
Felix: "WITHOUT US!"
Calix: "WITH HIM!"
Mayo: "AND GOT ENGAGED!"
Kit: "WITHOUT A PARTY!"
Blaster: "THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!"
Edrix (already typing): "Recording this for evidence."
Rory: "SAY SOMETHING ROMANTIC!"
Drew: "YES SAY SOMETHING!"
David (calm, sitting): "Let them breathe."
Jay-jay: "…thank you, David."
David: "You're welcome."
Keifer — Dramatic Mode Activated
Keifer stepped forward.
And suddenly—
He became… extra.
Like—
FULL dramatic.
Keifer: "You all doubt the depth of my emotions."
Everyone froze.
Jay-jay: "…oh no."
Felix: "…what is happening?"
Keifer looked at Jay-jay.
Dead serious.
Keifer: "I love you until the scientists find the end of the universe."
The entire room exploded.
"OOOOHHHHHHHH!!!"
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
"REPEAT THAT!"
"LOUDER!"
Jay-jay stared at him.
Speechless.
Then—
Jay-jay: "…you're embarrassing."
Keifer: "I'm expressing."
Jay-jay: "You're performing."
Keifer: "For you."
Jay-jay: "…stop."
Keifer: "Never."
Section E Reactions
Ci N: "BRO JUST PROPOSE AGAIN!"
Felix: "I'M CRYING!"
Calix: "THIS IS BETTER THAN DRAMA SERIES!"
Mayo: "KISS! KISS! KISS!"
Kit: "YES KISS!"
Blaster: "WE DEMAND KISS!"
Edrix: "Live streaming this energy."
Rory: "THIS IS HISTORY!"
Drew: "SAY MORE LINES!"
Denzel: "This is chaotic."
Eman: "I love this."
Eran: "Same."
Josh: "Best day ever."
David (facepalming slightly): "…this is why we don't leave them alone."
Jay-jay Fights Back
I crossed my arms.
Oh no.
If he was going dramatic—
So was I.
Jay-jay: "You think that's impressive?"
The room went quiet.
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
Keifer: "Try me."
I stepped closer.
Jay-jay: "I loved you when you were annoying."
Gasps.
Jay-jay: "I loved you when you were arrogant."
More gasps.
Jay-jay: "And I still… might love you even when you're being completely unbearable."
The room exploded again.
"OOOOHHHHHH!!!"
Felix: "SHE SAID MIGHT BUT WE HEARD LOVE!"
Calix: "CONFIRMED!"
Mayo: "THIS IS CRAZY!"
Keifer just stood there.
Still.
Then—
He smiled.
Soft.
Real.
Dangerous.
Keifer: "That's enough for me."
Jay-jay: "…don't get comfortable."
Keifer: "Too late."
Yuri — Silent Presence
At the back—
Yuri Hanamitchi stood quietly.
Watching.
Not interrupting.
Not reacting loudly like the others.
Just… observing.
Then—
Yuri: "…you're happy."
The room quieted slightly.
Jay-jay looked at him.
Jay-jay: "…yes."
A pause.
Then Yuri nodded once.
Yuri: "Good."
No anger.
No tension.
Just acceptance.
And for the first time—
There was no fight left between them.
Final Chaos
Felix: "SO WHEN'S THE WEDDING?!"
Jay-jay: "We're still in school!"
Calix: "SO SCHOOL WEDDING?!"
Keifer: "Tempting."
Jay-jay: "No."
Mayo: "YES!"
Kit: "WE'LL DECORATE!"
Blaster: "I'LL BRING MUSIC!"
Edrix: "I'LL HACK THE ANNOUNCEMENT SYSTEM!"
David: "You're all getting expelled."
Everyone: "WORTH IT!"
Final Moment
Keifer leaned slightly closer to me.
Low voice.
Just for me.
Keifer: "Still not forgiving me?"
I looked at him.
Smirked slightly.
Jay-jay: "Still waiting."
He nodded.
No hesitation.
Keifer: "I told you."
Jay-jay: "What?"
Keifer: "I'll wait forever."
And for the first time back in Section E—
Everything felt exactly the same.
And completely different.
End of Chapter
Some stories don't end when you leave.
They wait.
For you to come back.
And when you do—
They continue.
Louder.
Messier.
More dramatic than ever.
Just like Section E. ✨