walked out of the school gate and spotted him immediately.
"Bye, King of Snakes," I said, waving at Kiefer.
He smirked : "don't miss me too much"
"Keep dreaming"
He laughed and went away towards his car.
When I turned , I saw horoscope. He glanced at me and pointed towards the car
"Alright horoscope tell me what's in my day today"
He couldn't help but felt irritated. While driving he asked
"How was her day"
I raised an eyebrow and turned my head 90 degree towards him "whose day "
"That newcomer's" he said
"Hey don't forgot you have ella"
He smacked over my head and said "it's nothing like that I am asking bcoz it's section eeeee...."
"Hey! Stop streching it like rubber" I said, when I saw him streching name of section e like eeeeeeee.....
Then I told him everything that happened in school. I was talking nonstop and he was fully silent.
After talking this much:
I snorted. "You're useless."
He glanced at me and said, "You talk enough for both of us."
I laughed. "Fair."
On the way, I cracked a stupid joke about Ci-En getting rejected again. Aries finally laughed, shaking his head.
"Serves him right," he said.
We reached home.
I went straight to my room, threw my bag on the chair, and opened my books.
Ten minutes later, I was playing a game on my phone.
Failed attempt at studying.
A knock came.
"Jay, dinner," Tita called.
"I'm coming," I replied.
At the dining table, everyone was talking at once. Normal noise. Normal chaos.
For a second, Elara crossed my mind.
Quiet. Calm. Corner seat.
I shook it off and focused on my food.
I reached for a piece from Aries's plate.
"Hey—" he started.
Too late.
Smack.
Kuya Angelo hit my hand lightly. "Eat your own, don't remember you have to lose weight. You are impossible to carry"
I remembered the day when he carry me from yuri's house when it caught fire.
"Traitor," I muttered, but laughed.
After dinner, I went back to my room.
My phone buzzed.
And it was none other than king of ulupulong . Ugh! But truth is that I was missing him
I answered. "What?"
"That's how you talk to your future?" he asked.
I smiled despite myself. "You're annoying."
"And you missed me," he said confidently.
"Barely."
"Liar."
"By the way , how do u think that new girl is" I asked.
"Beautiful " he said.
"What"
"Yeah! What what if you are not missing me then I have to find a suppliment " he said
"Hey hey just shup up , don't even try to think. "
"What? Are you jealous. Are we together?"
"Maybe" I smiled.
"Maybe means". I could feel his smile.
"Nothing "
I cut the phone. I didn't realise but I was blushing.
I didn't think so much as I just slept.
Next day ______
The next morning, the moment I stepped inside the school building, my instincts screamed.
Section E was not inside the classroom.
Section E was outside, blocking the door like a security team guarding national secrets.
They were laughing. Whispering. Way too confident for eight in the morning.
I stopped walking.
"Why do you all look guilty?" I asked.
Edrix smiled. "Good morning, Jay."
"That's the smile you wear before disasters," I replied and rushed toward them.
"What did you do?"
Calyx scratched his neck. "Nothing illegal."
"That's not comforting."
Cyan leaned closer. "We just told the new girl to clean the class."
The floor beneath me disappeared.
My first day flashed in my head.
Same prank. Same stupid excuse. Same laughter.
I smacked Calyx's arm. "Are you serious right now?"
"Jay, relax," edrix said quickly. "It's tradition."
"So was slavery," I snapped. "Open the door."
Cn folded his hands dramatically. "Please, boss. Just let us finish the prank."
I opened my mouth to scream—
The door creaked open.
Everyone turned.
And then… silence.
The classroom was still dirty.
Chairs messy. Floor dusty. Nothing cleaned.
And Ellara?
She was sitting at the last corner window seat, calm as a monk, hoodie still covering half her face, scrolling her phone like she owned the place.
No broom.
No panic.
No effort.
"What the—" edrix whispered.
Calix blinked. "Why is the class still dirty?"
Mayo frowned. "Didn't we tell her to clean?"
Ellara didn't look up.
That offended them.
Edrix cleared his throat. "Hey… did you clean?"
She finally lifted her eyes.
Just one glance.
"No."
One word. Flat. Calm.
Then she went back to her phone.
Dead silence.
"That's it?" Cn muttered. "No excuse? No fear?"
"That's disrespectful," Calix said, personally hurt.
Then her eyes moved again.
This time, to me.
And for the first time—
A small smile.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just enough.
I froze.
She saw me defending her.
The boys didn't.
"That smile wasn't for us," edrix whispered.
Just then, footsteps echoed.
David arrived. "Why are you all standing like statues?"
He stopped when he saw Ellara. "Oh."
Yuri came next, eyes glued to his notes. He glanced once, adjusted his glasses, and said calmly, "End it."
Kiefer walked in last, hands in pockets.
He looked at the dirty class, then at Ellara, then at the boys.
"Nice prank," he said. "Failed beautifully."
David crossed his arms. "Inside. Now."
Everyone walked in, pride bruised.
Ellara didn't rush.
She stood up slowly, slid her phone into her pocket, and walked past them like none of them mattered.
As she passed me, she gave that same small smile again.
Not scared.
Not weak.
Confident.
I exhaled.
Yeah…
Section E didn't prank her.
She pranked Section E.