JAY-JAY POV
The corridor didn't stay chaotic for long.
It never does when teachers finally show up.
By the time a few staff members rushed in, the fight was already breaking apart—people being pulled back, voices overlapping, shoes scraping against the floor like the whole school had turned into noise.
And Keifer…
He stopped the second a teacher grabbed his arm.
Not because he was tired.
Because he decided to.
He stepped back slowly, breathing steady, eyes still locked forward like he was making sure no one came near me again.
Then the principal arrived.
That changed everything.
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE
The room felt too small for how many of us were inside.
Section E stood on one side.
Section D stood on the other.
And between us… silence that wasn't peaceful. Just heavy.
The principal sat behind her desk, fingers pressed together, eyes sharp like she had already decided we were all guilty.
"Explain," she said simply.
Nobody spoke at first.
Then Section D boy—the one who bumped me—stepped forward immediately.
"They started it," he said. "She overreacted. Then all of them jumped us."
A wave of disbelief moved through Section E.
Cin scoffed loudly.
"You're serious right now?"
David stepped forward slightly. "You pushed her first. Everyone saw it."
Section D didn't even blink.
"No proof."
That word again.
No proof. Like it erased everything.
The principal's eyes shifted slowly.
"Is this true?" she asked.
All eyes turned.
Not just to me.
To Keifer.
Because everyone saw him move first.
Everyone saw him hit first.
But nobody saw the reason he did.
Keifer stood still.
Quiet.
Then he said, calm and clear:
"They were provoking her. I stopped it."
Section D boy laughed.
"Stopped it? You attacked us."
The principal exhaled sharply.
Enough.
"I don't care who started it," she said. "I care who broke school rules."
Silence dropped instantly.
"Fighting on campus is punishable. Section E will be detained overnight in school under supervision."
A pause.
Then—
"What?" Rory blurted. "Only us?"
Eren looked shocked. "Ma'am, Section D also—"
"They are not under investigation for continued aggression," she cut in.
That was it.
Decision made.
No debate.
No fairness argument that would change anything.
Just consequences falling on one side.
AFTER OFFICE
Section D walked past us outside the office.
Smirking like they had won something.
One of them muttered, "Enjoy your sleepover."
Cin stepped forward instantly, but Calix pulled him back.
"Not worth it," Calix said quietly.
Keifer didn't move.
But I saw his jaw tighten.
Just once.
Just enough to notice.
We were led to empty classrooms turned detention rooms.
Cold lights.
Locked doors.
Desks pushed aside.
And silence that didn't feel normal.
DETENTION ROOM – NIGHT
Section E stayed together.
All of us.
No chaos now.
Just exhaustion.
Some sat on desks, some leaned against walls, some stayed quiet like talking would make the situation worse.
Then I noticed him.
Keifer.
Standing near the window.
Not sitting.
Not talking.
Just watching the dark outside like he was thinking too much at once.
I should've ignored him.
But I didn't.
"Was it worth it?" I asked quietly.
He didn't turn.
Then finally—
"Yes."
That answer surprised me.
I frowned. "You didn't even hesitate."
Now he turned slightly.
Eyes calmer than before.
"I'd do it again," he said.
The room went quiet.
Even the others stopped talking.
I didn't know what to say.
Because it wasn't flirty.
It wasn't confusing.
It was simple.
And heavy.
He looked at me for a second longer.
Then added, softer:
"You didn't deserve to be touched like that."
My chest tightened slightly.
I looked away first.
Not because I was angry.
Because I didn't know what to do with words like that.
Behind me, someone whispered:
"…Keifer really lost it today."
But I didn't respond.
Because for the first time…
I realized something.
This wasn't him stopping holding back.
This was him choosing exactly where to stand.
And he had chosen me.
END OF CHAPTER 27