The classroom felt too normal.
Like nothing had shifted.
Voices filled the space, chairs scraped, someone laughed too loudly in the back. It was the same routine, the same noise—but something underneath it all hadn't settled.
Jay sat still, flipping through her notebook without really reading it. Her posture was the same—straight, controlled, distant.
But slower.
Barely noticeable.
Still there.
Keifer leaned back in his chair, watching her instead of the board.
"You missed two lectures."
Jay didn't look up. "And?"
"So did I."
That made her pause.
Just for a second.
Then she turned her head slightly, expression flat. "Congratulations."
Before he could push further, Sir Alvin's voice cut through the room.
"Jay. Keifer."
Both of them looked up.
The teacher adjusted his glasses, scanning a paper. "You've both missed a number of classes. That won't be ignored."
Jay leaned back slightly. "Noted."
"You'll make up for it," Sir Alvin continued. "After dispersal, go to the staffroom. Collect the materials you've missed. Work together."
A pause.
"And I expect results."
Jay didn't argue.
Keifer didn't either.
But the look she gave him after—quick, sharp, unreadable—said enough.
---
Dispersal came fast.
Students poured out, voices rising again, energy returning like nothing had been off in the first place.
Jay walked ahead without waiting.
Keifer caught up easily. "Staffroom."
"I know where it is."
"That wasn't the point."
She didn't respond.
The walk there was quiet. Not peaceful—just empty of anything worth saying.
Inside, the staffroom smelled like paper and dust. Files stacked neatly, folders labeled, everything in order.
Jay moved quickly, collecting what she needed, not wasting time.
Keifer watched her for a second. "You always like this?"
She didn't look at him. "Like what."
"Acting like nothing matters."
She stopped.
Turned.
Her eyes were sharp. "You're still talking."
"And you're still avoiding."
Her jaw tightened slightly.
"Focus on your work," she said, turning away.
Conversation over.
---
They finished earlier than expected.
Outside, the sky had started shifting, the light softer, the air cooler.
Jay stepped forward first. "I'm leaving."
"Wait."
She paused, already irritated. "What."
"Come with me."
"No."
"I need to talk to you."
"Then talk."
"Not here."
Jay exhaled slowly. "That sounds like your problem."
Keifer stepped closer. "Just come."
"No."
"Jay—"
"I said no."
Silence.
Then—
"Fine," he said.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Car race."
That got her attention.
"What."
"To the mansion," he said. "You win, you leave. I win, you come with me."
Jay stared at him.
Then something shifted.
A small spark.
"Ang yabang mo," she muttered—you're arrogant.
Keifer smirked slightly. "Scared?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Gago ka ba," she said under her breath—are you an idiot.
Too late.
They were already moving.
---
Engines roared to life.
Jay didn't hesitate.
She got into her car, slammed the door, and within seconds—
She was gone.
Keifer followed.
Fast.
No holding back.
The road stretched ahead, empty enough to push limits. Jay drove like she always did—controlled, precise, sharp turns without wasted movement.
Keifer kept up.
Not trying to dominate.
Just matching her.
The tension between them translated into speed, into control, into something neither of them said out loud.
For a moment—
Nothing else existed.
Just the race.
They reached the mansion gates at the same time.
Both cars stopping almost simultaneously.
Jay stepped out first.
"Draw."
Keifer exhaled slightly. "Fine."
She turned to leave.
He spoke again.
"Come inside."
She paused.
"…Fine."
---
Inside, the atmosphere felt off.
Aries spotted her first. "Monkey, you're late."
Jay walked past him. "Don't start."
He flicked her forehead anyway. "Still rude."
"Still annoying."
Keifer stepped in behind her, taking everything in.
Angelo appeared moments later.
Calm.
Controlled.
But his eyes sharper than usual.
"Jay."
She looked at him.
"We have guests coming," he said. "Important ones."
Her expression didn't change. "So?"
"So you shouldn't be here."
That hit a nerve.
"Since when."
"Since now."
Silence.
Jay exhaled. "Fine."
She turned immediately.
No argument.
Just distance.
---
Outside, the air felt heavier.
Jay walked toward the driveway.
"Come with me," Keifer said.
She didn't stop. "No."
"You're not going home like this."
She turned sharply. "Like what."
"Like you're about to collapse."
Her eyes narrowed. "Watch your mouth."
"Get in the car."
"No."
"Jay—"
"I said no."
Her voice was sharper now.
But her body—
Slower.
He noticed.
She hated that.
"Five minutes," he said. "Then you can leave."
A pause.
Jay exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
---
The car was quiet.
Jay leaned back, arms crossed at first.
Keifer handed her a bottle of water.
"Drink."
"I'm fine."
"Drink."
She glared at him.
Then took it.
Because arguing felt like too much.
She drank a little.
Set it aside.
Silence settled.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
Her breathing slowed.
Her eyes closed for a second.
Opened again.
Then—
Stayed closed.
Keifer glanced at her.
"…Jay."
No response.
Just exhaustion.
Her head tilted slightly, her breathing soft.
For the first time—
She looked unguarded.
Not weak.
Just… tired.
Completely.
Keifer's grip tightened slightly on the wheel.
"…You're unbelievable," he muttered.
A pause.
Then quieter—
"But I'm not letting this end like this."
He started the engine.
The decision already made.
The island.
Somewhere she couldn't walk away.
Somewhere they'd be forced to face everything.
He glanced at her once more.
"…You're going to hate me for this."
Then—
...