The classroom buzzed with lingering whispers as the teacher dismissed everyone. Crimson students gathered their things, chatting and laughing. I was just about to grab Mila and Adrian when a cold shadow fell over the doorway.
Freya. The leader of the Nightthorn Order. Her green uniform sharp, hair like liquid jade pulled into a severe braid. Her eyes locked on me with icy fury.
"Mariano," she said, voice low but cutting. "How dare you sit with the Crimson Oaths? You insult everything the Nightthorns stand for."
I smirked, stepping forward. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I ruin your perfect little green parade? My bad."
Her lips curled. "You think your little fire tricks impress anyone here? You're a freshman. A joke."
I raised an eyebrow. "Freshman? Maybe. But at least I don't need everyone to fear me to feel important."
Her jaw tightened. "You're going to regret that."
"Please," I said, voice dripping with mock pity, "regret is for people who can't handle truth. And you? You're failing spectacularly."
Students began to gather, sensing the showdown. Whispers spread. "Mariano versus Freya." "This is going to get messy."
Freya's eyes narrowed. "You're arrogant. Loud. Insufferable."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," I shot back, stepping closer until the space between us crackled. "Try again."
She opened her mouth, but before she could spit another insult, Keifer—calm, unreadable—glided into the doorway. His presence was enough to hush the room instantly.
"Freya," he said, voice soft but lethal, "leave. Or I decrease your rank to the lower class. Your choice."
Freya froze, jaw clenching. Not another word. She shot me a glare so cold it could freeze fire, then spun and stalked out, green cloak fluttering. The room exhaled.
I let out a shaky laugh, adrenaline still pumping. I didn't even glance at Keifer, though I could feel him behind me, eyes on me like I was fragile and precious all at once.
"I don't need your help," I said, spinning around to face him. "I handled her myself."
He tilted his head, faint amusement playing at the corners of his lips. "Handled her… impressively. But you could have been in trouble."
"Yeah, well, trouble is my middle name," I shot back, crossing my arms. "And I don't need a president babysitting me."
His dark eyes flickered, unreadable. "Not babysitting. Protecting what's… mine."
My cheeks heated. "Mine? Don't start with that possessive nonsense."
He leaned slightly closer, voice low. "I'm not kidding. Stay in my sight."
The air thickened, and my friends—predictably—decided this was the perfect moment to lose their minds.
"Oh my god," Adrian whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "They're literally… standing two inches apart. Look at them!"
Bella squealed. "Jayfer! I ship it! YES!"
Mila groaned. "Why am I not surprised."
Daniel muttered, trying to stay cool. "I feel like the room just got hotter."
Someone from the back shouted, "You look like husband and wife!"
The entire class erupted in laughter, teasing cries bouncing off the walls.
I shoved my face into my hands, mortified. "I am never surviving this school."
Keifer smirked faintly, but his gaze didn't leave me. "Ignore them. Focus on me," he said.
"Focus on you?" I laughed nervously. "You're enjoying this too much."
"I'm observing," he said, tilting his head. "I like knowing who's fire and who's smoke."
Adrian elbowed me. "Congratulations, Jay. You're officially on fire and smoke. Jayfer, baby, Jayfer."
Bella snickered. "I told you. Love team material."
Mila groaned again, burying her face in her sleeve. Daniel rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a smirk.
I glared at Keifer, voice low. "This is getting out of hand."
He leaned just a fraction closer, and I felt my heartbeat skip. "You're the problem," he said quietly, almost a purr. "And I like problems."
I glared harder, cheeks blazing. "I don't need anyone liking my problems. Least of all the president."
His smile widened, faint, unreadable, and the teasing around us only intensified. "Everyone else is just enjoying the show," he said.
And oh, they were. Everyone—from Crimson to lingering Nightthorns—was laughing, pointing, shouting Jayfer this and that. My friends were doing their own commentary, screaming every time we got within inches of each other.
My face was on fire. His presence was… overwhelming. Dangerous. Thrilling.
I whispered, under my breath, "I hate this school."
Keifer's eyes softened ever so slightly. "You love it too much to admit it."
And just like that, the entire class ended in chaos, teasing, and a lot of blushing as the legend of Jayfer was officially born.