Jay's POV:
Morning in Section E started louder than a parade. I know it's always like this.
Chairs scraped, paper planes flew, someone was shouting,
When I saw it was none other than girlfriendsssssssssss' boyfriend "Eren"
and Ci-N had somehow balanced two rulers on his head like antlers.
"Look, Ate Jay," he called. "I'm a genius deer!"
I don't know which kind of impact elara does to him. He is getting mad. I think his rabies is back and reached his brain. Huh!
"More like an endangered species," Calix muttered without looking up from his notes.
The chaos didn't bother me anymore.
It was weird - just a week ago, I used to shrink whenever they got too loud.
Now it felt... like background music.
I turned my face towards david for some gossip but he was doing, what he always do "sleeping". I really need to ask him, what is the work which didn't let him sleep all night.
I slid into my seat, letting out a breath.
Sleep still clung to my eyes, but my mind was already busy replaying yesterday -
Keifer's hand holding mine, his forehead against mine.
God, even thinking about it sent a spark down my spine. I want it but still....
But of course, the peace didn't last long.
"GUYS!" Mayo burst through the door, panting dramatically.
"You won't believe what I just heard!"
"Unless it's about breakfast, we don't care," Felix yawned.
Mayo slammed his hands on Ci-N's desk.
"Rumors, bro. Someone saw Jay and Keifer in the extra class-"
The whole room went silent.
"-holding hands."
Every head turned. Toward me. Then toward Keifer.
Keifer was leaning against the wall, half-smiling, half-daring anyone to say something.
Ci-N gasped loudly. "TRAITORS! You didn't even tell us you're official!"
"We're not-" I started, but Keifer cut in smoothly.
"Do I look like I'd share that kind of thing with you?"
Laughter broke the tension.
Still, my cheeks burned hotter than summer pavement.
"Okay, okay," David intervened, smirking slightly. "Rumors stay in the room. Understood?"
"Yes, Father David," eman said with mock seriousness, bowing his head.
He didn't complete his sentence when ci en screamed " hey ! He is not father . Don't call him that. He is my grandpa"
Whole class burst into laughter.
"If you let even one more word from your mouth. I swear, I will smack you" david snapped.
"Alright, as you say, grandpa" ci en grinned. Completely frustrating david.
The bell rang.
And the moment our teacher entered, everyone flipped their notebooks open so fast,
it looked like synchronized choreography.
Sir Alvin gave the class a look.
The kind of look that said I already know you're up to something, but I'll pretend I don't.
Wow my instincts...
"Before we start," he began, "I heard your section had... an event yesterday."
Mayo whispered, "Sir knows-"
"Silence."
He adjusted his glasses.
"I hope whatever happened taught you something about teamwork. Because today-"
He tapped the board with a marker.
"-you'll present your progress reports."
Half the class groaned in unison.
"Progress report?" Ci-N echoed. "We didn't even progress!"
"You didn't, but your grades will," Sir replied dryly.
Keifer chuckled under his breath.
Yuri nudged me. "You ready?"
"Barely," I admitted.
Sir Alvin divided us into the same groups from yesterday.
Ellara, David, Ci-N, and I shared a look - silently agreeing to improvise.
While other groups fumbled papers and argued about fonts,
ours quietly spread notes on the desk.
David cleared his throat. "Okay, team. Who's explaining what?"
Ci-N raised his hand. "I'll handle the jokes."
"This isn't stand-up comedy," I said.
He pouted. "You're crushing my dreams again."
"Focus," David said, fighting a smile. "Jay, you summarize. Ellara, visuals."
Ellara nodded slightly, sketching something in her notebook -
clean lines, perfect handwriting.
She worked quietly but efficiently, as if chaos didn't exist.
The class was loud again.
Keifer's voice cut through it, deep and smooth as ever. His English accent just melted me.
He was leading his team.
And watching him - calm, confident, charismatic -
it was impossible not to notice how everyone followed his words.
How can someone be this much handsome. Lucky me
I shook the thought away. Focus, Jay.
When Sir Alvin finally called our group, I stood up first.
Not because I was the leader-
but because everyone else was still arguing about who should move first.
"Okay," I said, clapping my hands once. "Before Ci-N starts crying, I'll go."
Ci-N nodded seriously. "Thank you, Ate. I was emotionally close."
I stepped in front of the class, fingers curling slightly around my notebook.
Not nervous-just aware. Aware of eyes. Aware of noise settling.
"Our group focused on practical impact," I began, my voice steady. "Not just theory."
I glanced at David. He nodded once-approval, quiet and solid.
"As students," I continued, shifting my weight slightly, "we wanted something realistic. Something we can actually apply."
I explained our first point briefly, using my hand to draw an invisible line in the air, dividing ideas cleanly. Not rushed. Not dramatic.
I stopped for a second when my eyes met king. He was looking proudly on me which boost my confidence and I finish my work and Then I stepped aside.
"Ellara," David said calmly.
She stood.
No hesitation.
Ellara didn't walk to the front like she owned it.
She walked like she belonged there already.
She placed her notebook on the desk, fingers resting lightly on the edge. Her shoulders were relaxed. Her hoodie pushed back just enough to show her eyes-focused, sharp, calm.
"This part," she said softly, "is about structure."
The room leaned in.
She didn't gesture wildly.
Just small movements-
a slight tilt of her head,
two fingers tapping the page,
eyes lifting only when needed.
"If you don't control the base," she continued, "everything above it collapses."
Calix stopped writing.
Even Mayo blinked.
She explained the flow clearly-step by step-voice even, unshaken. No filler words. No wasted sentences.
I watched her and felt it again-
that strange stillness she carried.
---
(Keifer's POV )
[When jay was explaining]
"That's my girl"
" I feel proud on myself for choosing her mrs watson"
When she finished elar came in the view.
I crossed my arms, jaw tightening slightly.
Not annoyed.
Impressed.
The way she spoke-measured, confident, controlled-
it felt like standing in front of someone pitching a deal worth millions.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
Just... certain.
If this girl ever runs a company, I thought,
people will follow her without realizing when it happened.
I think I should also say her ate.
But what about my pride.
---
(Back to Jay's POV)
When Ellara finished, she didn't wait for applause.
She just nodded once and sat down.
Ci-N stood next, grinning. "Okay, now I'll explain the part that makes us look smart."
"You already look confused," Felix muttered.
Ci-N ignored him and somehow managed to explain his section with jokes, metaphors, and a random math reference that made Sir Alvin sigh-but smile.
David went last.
He didn't rush either.
"Our strength," he said, hands clasped behind his back, "was balance."
He glanced at us-me, Ellara, Ci-N.
"Different minds. Same goal."
That line landed.
Sir Alvin adjusted his glasses. "Well," he said slowly, "this group clearly understood the assignment."
A ripple of surprise went through the class.
"Good coordination," Sir Alvin added. "Clear thinking. And"-he looked directly at Ellara-"excellent composure."
Ellara dipped her head slightly.
David exhaled, relieved.
I felt warmth bloom in my chest.
When we sat down, Keifer leaned toward me, voice low.
"You were amazing."
I nudged him. "You're biased."
"Extremely," he admitted. "But still right."
Sir Alvin turned to the class again.
"Let this be a reminder," he said, "that chaos doesn't mean incompetence."
Section E went quiet.
"For once," he added, "you surprised me."
Ci-N whispered, "We should write that down."
Laughter followed.
And in that moment-
between praise, jokes, and quiet glances-
I realized something.
This wasn't just a class.
It was becoming something else.
The bell had already rung.
Some students were packing up, some were still arguing about who stole whose pen, and Ci-N was dramatically stuffing his bag like he was escaping a crime scene.
That's when I felt it.
That shift in the air.
I looked up-and there she was.
Freya.
Standing near Ellara's desk, arms crossed, chin slightly raised like she was about to deliver a speech no one asked for.
"Do you always pretend people don't exist," Freya said coolly, "or is it just me?"
A few heads turned.
Felix whispered, "Round two?"
Mayo leaned forward. "I brought popcorn mentally."
Ellara slowly closed her notebook.
She didn't sigh.
She didn't roll her eyes.
She didn't even look annoyed.
She looked... patient.
"I don't pretend," Ellara replied softly. "I just choose."
That made the room go quiet again.
Freya scoffed. "Choose what? Acting superior?"
Ellara stood up-not suddenly, not aggressively. Just... calmly.
She adjusted her hoodie, fingers light, movements unhurried.
"No," she said gently. "Choosing peace."
That word hit harder than any insult.
Freya blinked, clearly thrown off.
"I didn't come here to fight," Ellara continued, voice even, almost kind. "But if my silence bothered you, I'm sorry."
Sorry.
The class collectively froze.
Ci-N mouthed, Did she just-
Freya frowned. "You're apologizing?"
"Yes," Ellara said. "Not because I'm wrong. But because anger is tiring."
There was no arrogance in her tone.
No challenge.
Just honesty.
Freya opened her mouth-then closed it.
For the first time, she didn't have a dramatic comeback.
Someone coughed.
David broke the tension gently. "Freya... maybe let it go."
Yuri nodded. "Yeah. Not worth it."
Freya's jaw tightened.
"This isn't over," she muttered, but it sounded weaker than before.
She turned and walked out.
No slamming door this time.
The moment she left, the class exploded.
"She didn't fight."
"She didn't need to."
"That was... mature."
Ellara sat back down quietly.
As if nothing had happened.
I watched her for a second longer than I meant to.
Then-
"Hey."
I turned.
Keifer stood there, bag slung over one shoulder, eyes softer than usual.
"How's my wify?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. Just... impressed."
He smirked faintly. "Me too."
We started walking toward the door together, fingers brushing accidentally.
Accidentally... on purpose.
He caught my hand this time, slow, careful, like he was asking permission.
I didn't pull away.
The hallway was loud, but somehow it felt like it was just us.
"You know," he said quietly, "every time something like this happens, I realize-"
I looked at him.
"-you're stronger than you think," he finished.
I smiled. "So are you, King of Serpents."
He chuckled, then stopped walking.
Before I could ask why, he leaned in slightly, forehead touching mine again-gentle, familiar.
"No matter what happens," he murmured, "I'm here."
I squeezed his hand. "I know."
And for a moment-
between chaos, confrontations, and quiet strength-
everything felt right.