Chapter 7 – The Volleyball Incident
The morning sun was bright, streaming over the sports fields of HVIS. It was one of those rare days when the air was warm but not oppressive, and the gentle breeze carried the faint scent of freshly cut grass. Both Section A and Section E had gathered on the volleyball court for joint sports practice—a weekly tradition designed to build teamwork across sections.
JJ adjusted the strap of her bag nervously, already sensing the chaos that awaited her. Sports weren't exactly her domain; her calm, collected persona rarely extended to running around, jumping, or spiking balls. But Percy and Aries had insisted she join.
"You have to," Percy had said, eyes gleaming with that half-smile he always wore when he was scheming.
"Why?" JJ had asked, crossing her arms.
"Because," Aries had said evenly, "I don't like seeing you sit on the sidelines. You might as well show off a little, or at least survive the humiliation gracefully."
JJ had rolled her eyes but agreed, secretly knowing that her brothers had ways of making sure she didn't refuse.
Teams and Tension
Section A lined up on one side of the net: Aries, Percy, Freya, Rakhi, Kiko. Their movements were confident, practiced—the kind of coordination that only years of playing together could bring.
Section E took their positions on the opposite side: Keifer, JJ, Felix, Rory, Calix, David. Keifer stood at the net, arms crossed initially, scanning the other side. JJ lingered at the back, hands loosely at her sides, her posture casual but alert.
"Remember," Percy called out as a warm-up, "this isn't just about winning. It's about having fun. And surviving."
JJ smirked faintly, "Fun and survival… sounds like every day with you guys."
Keifer shot her a sideways glance. "Just… stay out of my way."
JJ tilted her head slightly. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The practice began, a series of warm-up volleys to get everyone's timing right. JJ watched carefully, calculating angles and predicting trajectories, her mind sharper than most would expect on a sports field. She wasn't fast or flashy, but she was observant—and that would soon matter more than anyone imagined.
The Game Begins
The coach blew the whistle sharply. "Alright! Practice match, Section A vs Section E. Let's go!"
The ball flew back and forth, players calling out positions and corrections. JJ stayed near the middle of Section E's side, her eyes scanning the net and the positions of her classmates.
Kiko, on Section A's team, was aggressive. Competitive. Focused. He spiked the ball repeatedly, forcing Section E to scramble and coordinate quickly.
"Come on!" Keifer shouted, leaping to block one of Kiko's spikes. JJ moved to assist, her hand raised—but she wasn't fast enough.
The next spike came harder, faster, and without warning. Kiko's eyes narrowed as he swung his arm. The ball shot straight toward JJ.
Time seemed to slow. JJ's focus sharpened, her mind calculating trajectory—but there was no time to react.
The volleyball collided directly with her face.
Chaos and Shock
The impact knocked JJ off balance. She fell backward, landing hard on the polished court. The sound of flesh hitting wood made everyone freeze. For a heartbeat, the world seemed suspended in disbelief.
Then, the blood appeared.
A thin stream from her nose, stark against her pale skin. Her eyes widened, and she froze completely.
Her breathing accelerated. Her hands trembled violently.
For a moment, the court went silent, save for the harsh rasping of her breaths.
"Why… why is she reacting like that?" a student whispered, stepping back.
Before anyone could respond, JJ's panic escalated. Her gaze darted wildly, unfocused. "Don't… don't touch! No! No!" she screamed, lashing out. Her hands flailed, striking out at anyone who tried to approach.
Cin and David rushed forward, attempting to restrain her gently—but it was like holding a storm in human form.
Percy and Aries Intervene
Percy sprinted across the court without hesitation, kneeling in front of her. "JJ… look at me!" he said firmly, his voice calm but commanding.
Aries shoved the other students back. "Give her space!" he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.
JJ's body was rigid, her eyes wide with terror. "No… no… don't touch… please… no…"
She lashed out at Percy and Aries in her panic, trying to push them away, fists shaking. But Aries caught her mid-flail, holding her tightly against his chest. "I've got you, JJ. Just breathe," he said steadily, his strength a quiet anchor.
Percy knelt beside them, gently wiping the blood from her face with a clean handkerchief. "It's okay. You're safe," he murmured softly. "Breathe with me… one… two… three…"
JJ's hands trembled as she tried to resist, but the rhythmic voice, the steady pressure of Aries, and the calmness of Percy began to break through the fog of panic. Slowly, shakily, her breathing started to normalize. Her fists unclenched.
Keifer's Realization
Keifer had been frozen at the net, watching the scene unfold. His mouth opened slightly, then closed, his mind racing.
The girl he had thought was arrogant, confident, untouchable… the girl who had roasted him in class, silently observed him, and drawn his curiosity…
…was completely broken right now.
There was so much he didn't understand.
He stormed across the court to Kiko, voice low but edged with anger. "Do you have any idea what you just did?" he demanded, his eyes sharp.
Kiko's face paled. "I… I didn't mean to—"
"You weren't careful!" Keifer snapped, barely restraining himself. "Look at her!"
He gestured toward JJ, now being calmed by her brothers. She was trembling, shaking, terrified. Her usually calm, collected demeanor was gone, replaced with raw, unfiltered fear.
For the first time, Keifer realized: this girl, who had seemed so untouchable in school, carried hidden scars. Emotional scars. Trauma. Something no one in Section E had ever seen—or understood.
And suddenly, everything made sense. Her quietness. Her avoidance of attention. The way she helped people quietly but never sought friendship.
There's a lot more to her than I thought… Keifer thought grimly.
The Aftermath
Percy and Aries finally helped JJ to her feet, guiding her gently to the sidelines. Her breathing was still uneven, but she no longer struggled.
"I'm fine," she whispered shakily, trying to regain control over her trembling hands. "Really."
Aries lifted an eyebrow. "You're not fine. Don't lie to me. You're… fragile right now."
JJ's gaze flicked to Keifer, who had finally returned to his side, arms crossed, jaw tight. Her chest tightened at the intensity of his stare.
"I said I'm fine," she repeated quietly, softer this time.
Felix and Rory exchanged worried glances. Even the other Section E students were silent, unsure how to approach her after witnessing the outburst.
Keifer, however, remained fixed on her. He couldn't look away. Not anymore.
This wasn't just about a volleyball accident. This was JJ's truth, raw and unguarded.
And for the first time, he realized: she wasn't just mysterious—she was a storm, one that no one in the school had yet learned to navigate.
Quiet Words
Aries leaned down to JJ, voice low and firm. "You did good. You held on. That's all anyone could ask."
Percy wiped the last of the blood from her nose, his hand lingering just slightly longer than necessary. "It's over, JJ. Nothing's going to hurt you. Not here. Not with us."
JJ swallowed, fighting tears that she refused to let fall. Her eyes flicked up at Keifer again. The girl he thought was arrogant, untouchable… was vulnerable. And yet, there was a spark there. A quiet strength he had never expected.
Keifer's gaze softened slightly, though he wouldn't admit it aloud. Something inside him shifted. JJ wasn't just a challenge anymore—she was someone he needed to understand.
As the students slowly resumed their positions, whispers filling the court about what had happened, JJ sat quietly beside her brothers, her body still tense, her mind replaying every detail of the trauma.
Keifer lingered, watching her from across the net. The confident, fearless girl of Section E had been shattered in a moment. And now, he realized, there was so much more to her story—more than he, or anyone else, could guess.
The volleyball had broken more than just her nose that day.
It had cracked open the first layer of JJ's guarded world.
And Keifer was determined to see what lay beneath.