Ci-N suddenly jumped up from his seat.
"I'M FREE," he announced dramatically, almost knocking his chair over.
I laughed. "You were free even during class. Mentally absent."
I know I was also, but why to target self. People are enough for it.
Wow sometimes my own thoughts amaze me.
Before he could reply—
Thud_____...
The sound was sharp, sudden, and heavy enough to make everyone turn.
Felix had stumbled forward.
His foot caught on something — maybe Ci-N's carelessly stretched leg — and he went down, hands hitting the floor first, bag slipping off his shoulder and sliding across the corridor tiles.
"Oh!" I gasped instinctively, stepping forward.
For a split second, nobody spoke.
Then Section E did what Section E does best.
Laughter.
"Nice landing!" Mayo shouted.
"Bro just invented a new dance," eren added.
Ci en grinned " gravity just love Felix"
"
Felix pushed himself up slowly, his face twisted in pain as he sucked in a breath. His fingers curled slightly, then uncurled, like he was testing whether they still worked.
Ci-N rushed over. "Bro, are you okay?"
Felix shot him a sharp glare. "You tripped me."
Ci-N blinked. Then, with the confidence of someone who feared absolutely nothing, he turned and pointed dramatically behind him.
"It was her," he said, grinning. "Silent attack. Ate"
Ellara had just passed by us.
She stopped.
Not dramatically.
Not annoyed.
Just… stopped.
She turned her head slightly, enough for us to see her calm profile. Her hoodie sleeves covered most of her hands. Her eyes were unreadable.
"I didn't even touch you," she said plainly.
No emotion. No defence. Just a fact.
Felix scoffed as he got to his feet, shaking his hand. "Of course you didn't, I saw him doing that , live. And also You're invisible, remember?"
Felix start cursing ci en and that brat just laughed in response.
The corridor quieted a little.
Not fully — but enough.
Mayo awkwardly laughed. "Okay, okay, friendly fire only."
Ci-N raised both hands. "Alright, alright. My fault. I accept the blame. Don't curse me. You didn't look handsome cursing"
Section e again laughed, laughed and laughed 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣.
Felix flexed his fingers again and winced, just for a second — but I saw it. His wrist trembled slightly.
"You sure you're fine?" David asked, stepping closer, his tone calm but observant.
"Yeah," Felix replied quickly. Too quickly. "It's nothing."
Keifer glanced at Felix's hand once. Just once. Then looked away like it wasn't his business
.
Yuri frowned but stayed silent.
Ellara watched Felix for a moment longer than necessary.
Then she turned and walked ahead without another word.
Something about that moment stuck with me.
Felix picked up his bag and followed us, laughing louder than usual, joking more than usual — like he was trying to convince everyone, including himself, that nothing was wrong.
Outside the building, the afternoon sun was starting to dip lower. The school courtyard buzzed with voices, footsteps, engines starting, laughter echoing.
"Tomorrow," Ci-N said loudly as he walked backward, pointing at everyone. "I expect food. Someone bring food."
"You bring money first," Kit replied.
Keifer stepped closer to me, lowering his voice. "See you tomorrow."
I smiled. "Try not to rule the world overnight, ulupulong."
He smirked. "No promises."
As everyone split off in different directions, I didn't notice Felix turning the opposite way bcoz youger brother of death was glaring at me "Aries".
But still
I didn't notice how carefully he kept his injured hand close to his chest.
Felix's PoV :
The moment I stepped out of the school gate, the noise behind me slowly faded.
Laughter, shouting, footsteps — all of it stayed inside those iron bars. Outside, the world felt different. Wider. Rougher. Less forgiving.
I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and flexed my right hand unconsciously.
Pain shot up my arm.
I hissed and stopped walking.
"Damn it."
The fall earlier hadn't looked serious, but my hand clearly disagreed. My knuckles were swollen now, skin scraped and red. I rotated my wrist carefully. Bad idea. The pain worsened.
I sighed and continued walking anyway.
"Aah! I have match with those street basketball players, and I also bet a big amount of money on that. Please god save me otherwise kuya will kill me."
A few minutes later, I reached the street basketball court near the market — the same place where I was going to lose. The sound of the ball hitting concrete echoed in the air. Loud voices. Laughing. Trash talk.
My kind of place.
The guys were already there.
Holding basketball in their hands .
"Felix!" one of them shouted. "You're late."
I smirked. "Was busy winning hearts at school."
I tried to be cool.
They laughed.
One of them tossed the ball toward me. I caught it with my left hand instinctively. My right hand throbbed in protest.
"You still in for the bet?" the tallest one asked.
I hesitated.
I shouldn't have been.
But pride is a stupid thing." Plz God I know I never believed in you and never prayed by heart but plz this time save me, I have a mom and a kuya and a younger sister at home what will happen to them if I came to you today plz God help"
"Yeah," I said. "One match."
Oh god isn't there any way of escaping my hand hurts.
I dribbled carefully at first, trying not to use my injured hand. It was harder than I thought. Every pass sent a sharp sting through my fingers. Sweat formed on my forehead — not from effort, but from pain.
"Move faster," someone taunted.
I tried.
I jumped for a shot.
The ball slipped.
I landed wrong.
Pain exploded in my hand, forcing a cry out of my throat.
I staggered back, clutching my wrist.
Oh god....
The court went silent.
"What's this?" one of them sneered. "You playing injured?"
"I'm fine," I snapped, though my voice shook.
They didn't buy it.
"Bet's a bet," another said. "Pay up."
I checked my pockets.right pocket, left pocket, jacket poket, shirt 's pocket but what I get was....
Empty.
"I'll pay later," I said quickly. "Give me time."
They laughed.
"No money, no mercy."
The first punch came out of nowhere.
Then another.
I tried to block, but my hand failed me. I fell to the ground, curling instinctively, taking blows to my shoulders, my ribs.
"Stop," I grunted. "I'll pay, tomorrow plz listen to me or just let me call someone just wait."
A kick landed near my side.
That's when a shadow fell over us.
"Hey."
The voice was calm. Too calm.
The guys stopped and turned.
Ellara stood a few steps away.
Hoodie up. Expression unreadable.
I looked up, panic flashing through me. "Go away," I said hoarsely. "This isn't—"
She looked at my face.
At my bleeding lip.
At my hand.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Nothing," I lied but ofcourse can't. "Leave."
One of the guys laughed. "Your girlfriend?"
"She's not," I snapped.
Ellara ignored them. "Can you stand?"
"Yes," I said immediately. "I don't need help."
She watched me struggle to my feet.
"You do," she replied simply.
"Don't," I said. "Please. Just go."
She didn't.
The guys grew impatient. "Either pay or—"
"I can pay," Ellara said.
They turned to her.
"if it's you, We don't want money," the tallest one said. "We want the game."
I shook my head violently. "No. Ellara, don't. Just call someone, keifer, mayo anyone plz."
"I don't have their numbers ." she said.
Yeah, it's obvious she rarely talk to anybody, she didn't even need a phone to call, but yes to ignore people, like Freya, haha!.
"Phone?, where's your phon, give me that."
I pulled it out. The screen was shattered beyond use. Oh! These son of bi*ch! .
She exhaled softly.
"I can still pay," she tried again.
They laughed. "i already told you if it's you then no pay only Play. Or I can give you an another option you can also go on a date with me."
All of them laughed.
I was scared. What if they did something to her, I can't be able to forgive myself. I have to do something. I tried to get up but collapsed again. Ugh!
I felt sick.
"No," I said. "I won't let you—"
She raised a hand, silencing me.
"Alright," she said calmly. "One match."
What does she even know how to play.
"Do u even know how to play" I asked .
"Yeah! I played once and also watched match on phone and TV many times " she answered.
What she is saying she will play with a experience of recorded match. Today I think I am not going to go home.
The ball bounced once… twice…
Ellara didn't rush. That scared me more than confidence.
One of them rushed at her, fast and aggressive, and for a second I thought, That's it. She's done.
Her foot slipped back just in time, barely missing his reach.
She dribbled low, so low I almost lost sight of the ball.
My heart was louder than the court.
She turned suddenly—too suddenly—and I thought she'd fall.
She didn't.
The tallest guy blocked her path, arms wide.
She can't pass this, I thought. There's no way.
Ellara paused.
Just one breath.
Then she moved—smooth, sharp, unstoppable.
The ball left her hands, and in that second before it touched the net, I was sure it would miss.
It didn't.
The sound of the swish felt louder than every punch I'd taken.
Yeah! Yes ! She won.....
"Ate, ate you won the match" I screamed with joy.
Ellara walked toward them like the match never mattered to her.
No rush. No pride. Just calm steps on rough concrete.
The tallest guy hesitated when she held out her hand.
For a second, I thought he might refuse—might say something stupid again.
His jaw tightened.
Then the money was pushed into her palm, rough and careless.
She didn't count it.
Didn't look back at them even once.
When she reached me, she placed the cash into my hand carefully, like it was something fragile.
Her fingers were cold against my skin.
"Take it," she said quietly. "And don't do this again."
Then she looked at me—not angry, not proud—just steady.
"And don't tell anyone."
I nodded.
I couldn't speak.
of course! I was speechless. I didn't even get a chance to thank her. Wow she won the match just with screen time experience. Wow! She is really something else!
But why does she told me not to tell anyone?