Jane's POV
The silence in our shared room was a rare, rhythmic thing. The tension from the Section E common room had followed us home like a persistent shadow, but within these walls, the masks came off. Jay was pacing, her movements sharp and predatory, still buzzing from the confrontation with Keifer and his crew.
I leaned against the doorframe of her room, watching her. "You need to breathe, Jay. You're going to burn a hole in the carpet."
She stopped, turning to me with eyes that still held a flicker of that 'Protector' fire. "They were digging into our lives, Jane. They saw the records. They saw him."
"Let them dig," I said calmly, crossing my arms. "They found the surface. They haven't found the bedrock. Besides, I have something else to focus on for a few days."
Jay cocked her head. "What do you mean?"
"The studio called. The final mix for the new track is ready, but the label wants me in New York for the release presser and some promotional filming. It's only for four days, but I have to leave tomorrow."
Jay's expression softened instantly. The warrior vixen vanished, replaced by the sister who had carried me through the darkest nights of our childhood. "New York? That's a long flight. Are you sure you're up for it alone? I could—"
"No," I interrupted with a small smile. "You need to stay here and keep eyes on Aries. If we both vanish, the alarms go off. I'll be fine. It's just work."
Jay sighed, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. "Alright. You go. Do your thing. I'll handle the home front. I'll talk to Angelo and make sure everything is cleared."
"Thanks, Jay. I really need this."She pulled me into a quick, fierce hug.
"Go show them why you're the star, Jane. I'll make sure the 'prince' doesn't burn the house down while you're gone."
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Jay's POV
I stood outside Angelo's study, my hand hovering over the heavy oak door. Dealing with Keifer was easy; dealing with Angelo 'Demon' was the real headache.
I knocked twice and entered. Angelo was buried in paperwork, the light of a single desk lamp making him look older than he was. He looked up, his gaze neutral.
"Kuya," I said, using the formal term of respect. "Jane needs to head to Thailand tomorrow. Four days."
Angelo's brow furrowed, his pen pausing over a document. "Thailand? Why the sudden change?"
I didn't blink. Lying to the boys in Section E was a game; lying to Angelo was a tactical necessity. We needed him to think she was nearby, but under the cover of a 'regional' trip to keep him off her trail.
"A last-minute collaboration and a music video shoot. It's a big opportunity for her song release. She needs the distance from the school drama."
Angelo studied me for a long moment, searching for a crack in my story. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. Tell her to stay low. Understood?"
"Understood. Thanks, Angelo."
I headed back to Jane's room. She was already half-packed. "Angelo agreed," I told her. "You're cleared for takeoff."
Jane let out a breath she'd been holding. "Thank you, Jay. Seriously."
That night, we didn't talk about the files, or Aries, or the coma, or the fire. We climbed into the oversized bed.
I curling into my side the way we had when we were kids hiding in the dark. I held her tight, feeling the steady beat of her heart. For four days, I would be the only target in this school. And that was exactly how I wanted it
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Jay's POV
The morning was a disaster before it even began.
The car ride to school was suffocating. With Jane gone, the backseat of the luxury SUV felt like a vacuum. On one side sat Aries, looking like a statue carved from ice, his eyes glued to his tablet. On the other side was Ella, radiating a perfume that smelled like desperate social climbing and expensive roses.
The silence was a physical weight. I stared out the window, counting the seconds until I could jump out of the moving vehicle.
"Where is she?" Aries' voice cut through the air, cold and sudden.
I didn't turn my head. "None of your business, Aries."
"She missed the morning breakfast.," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "Where is Jane?"
"She's handled," I snapped, finally looking at him. "Worry about yourself. Leave my sister to me."
Ella let out a tiny, offended gasp. "Really, Jay, there's no need for that tone. We're just concerned—"
"Did I ask for your concern, Ella?" I leaned closer, my eyes narrowing. "Stay in your limit."
The rest of the ride was dead silent. When the car finally pulled up to the gates of HVIS, I slammed the door so hard the frame rattled.
Walking into Section E was usually my escape, but today, the vibe was... off. As I stepped into the common room, the usual rowdiness died down. Eyes followed me. Not the usual stares of fear, but something calculating. Something knowing.
I ignored them and headed to my desk in the back. I threw my bag down, but as I went to sit, I realized someone was already there.
Keifer.
He wasn't across the room. He wasn't leaning against a wall. He was sitting in the chair right next to mine, lounging back with his boots propped up on a neighboring desk.
I stared at him for a full ten seconds. "Are you running a fever today?"
Keifer didn't move. He just tilted his head, a lazy, dangerous smirk playing on his lips. "Good morning to you too, Jay. Why the medical concern?"
"Because you're sitting right next to me," I said, my voice flat. "This isn't your seat. Your seat is over there with the rest of the vultures."
"I felt like a change of scenery," he replied, his eyes roaming my face. "Besides, the scenery here is beautiful ."
"Move. Now. Or I'll move you through that window."
Keifer chuckled, a low, rough sound. "You're all bite this morning. Where's your shadow? Where's Jane?"
Before I could answer, Yuri leaned over from the front row. "Yeah, where is the princess? I was looking forward to seeing her actually sit on one of these 'garbage' chairs today."
He paused, his gaze intensifying. "What? Do you miss her already? You look like you're ready to kill someone."
"Shut up, Yuri," I snapped. Where is she, that's none of your business."
The arrival of the teacher broke the standoff. The lecture was a blur of economics and history that I didn't listen to. I could feel Keifer's presence beside me like a live wire—heavy, distracting, and irritatingly constant.
During the break, Cin approached my desk. "Hey, Jay. Where's Jane? I wanted to show her the notes from the choir meeting."
"She's out of town for a few days, Cin," I said, trying to soften my voice. "She'll be back soon."
Cin nodded, looking disappointed, and wandered off. I needed air. I needed to get away from the suffocating heat of Keifer's gaze and the whispers of the room.
I headed for the rooftop. It was the only place in this hellhole where I could hear myself think. I needed to call Jane, to tell her about what happened today.
But as I pushed open the heavy metal door to the roof, I didn't find the silence I was looking for.
Instead, I heard it. A muffled, broken sound.
Sobbing.
I rounded the corner of the unit and saw him. Calix.
He was one of the quieter boys from Section E—usually found in the corner with a sketchbook or a pair of headphones. Now, he was slumped against the brick wall, his head in his hands, shoulders shaking with raw, unrestrained grief.
I paused. My instinct was to turn around. I wasn't the 'comforting' type. I was the 'punch your problems away' type. But something about the way he looked—so small, so utterly defeated—stopped me.
I walked over and sat down on the ledge about three feet away from him. I didn't say a word. I just sat there, looking out at the city skyline.
Calix jumped, wiping his eyes frantically. He looked at me, his face red and tear-stained.
"What are you doing here?" he spat, his voice cracking. "You came to laugh? Go ahead. Get it over with. The 'Warrior' of Section E finds a loser crying on the roof. Hilarious, right?"
I didn't look at him. I just kept my eyes on the horizon. "If I wanted to laugh at you, Calix, I'd do it in front of everyone. It's more efficient."
He flinched, then went quiet.
"If you want to share something," I said calmly, "I'm here. If you want to sit in silence, I'm here for that too."
Calix looked at me like I had grown a second head. He searched my face for a smirk, a sneer, anything. Finding none, he let out a long, shuddering breath.
"It's Mica," he whispered. "I... I broke her heart. It was a misunderstanding. A stupid, fucking misunderstanding. I thought she was seeing someone else, I got jealous, I said things... things I can't take back. I could have solved it. I could have just asked her. But I ignored her instead. I acted like a coward."
I listened. I didn't interrupt. I didn't offer platitudes about how there are other fish in the sea, or how he was too good for her. I just let him speak.
"I lost her, Jean," he choked out. "And I don't know how to fix it."
I turned my head then, meeting his eyes. "Do you really love her?"
Calix nodded vigorously, more tears spilling over. "More than anything."
"Then wait for her," I said. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a command. "People think mistakes are final. They aren't. They're just hurdles. Stop crying, clean your face, and give her time. When the air clears, she will give you a chance to speak. But you have to be ready to actually listen when she does."
Calix stared at me, stunned. "You... you think she'll listen?"
"I think if you're honest, and you're patient, she'll have no choice."
I stood up, dusting off my pants. I didn't wait for a thank you. I didn't need one.
"Don't stay up here too long," I said over my shoulder. "The wind is picking up."
As I walked back down the stairs, I felt a strange sense of calm. The world was messy. Keifer was a threat, Aries was a shadow, and my sister was a thousand miles away. But for a moment, the 'beast' had done something human.
And maybe, just maybe, that was the most dangerous thing about me of all.
A/n
Guys a new chapter for you all...
I saw the comments, most of you are worried about the plan . So let me give you a little spoiler :
The plan will be revealed by Keifer only to jay in alone..
Target for next chapter : 15+ comment 🎯