"So, you're afraid of blood?" Ci-N asked, his voice too casual, too probing.
He'd cornered me the second I entered, drilling about P.E. like it was his personal mystery. I'd denied it already—blood didn't faze me—but he kept circling, relentless.
"Ci! I said no," I hissed, annoyance twisting into something sharper.
"I don't know why it happened. Stop being so damn persistent!"
"But… has it happened before?"
His eyes narrowed, insistent.
Before? God, too many times to count.
"I don't remember," I lied, voice flat.
He blinked.
"That's even possible?"
"Sure. You recall every moment from ten years ago?"
Silence. He pondered, then flashed a weak smile, shaking his head.
"See?"
He pouted, scratching his head like a scolded puppy. Stubborn idiot—part of me itched to smack sense into him.
But instincts clawed at me: something's wrong. They never failed. Whatever he was hiding, I'd rip it out.
KIEFER'S POV :
"Any updates?" I asked.
"Street-level trash only,"Rory grumbled, his voice thick with irritation.
"Alleyway fistfights, schoolyard tussles—nothing links to her. Her history's a mess of gaps.Transfers between schools, no reason; family papers that trail off after she was a kid. She ghosted for years, then reappeared a total blank slate. Damn! She erased half of her life"
I leaned back, jaw tight.
Rory wasn't wrong—this girl was a ghost in her own story. Smart. Too smart. Whatever she was burying ran deep, and it gnawed at me.
Why the blood faint in gym? The way she dodged every ball in dodgeball like liquid shadow, nailing her targets with surgical precision? The walls she threw up?
She wasn't just surviving; she was guarding something lethal. I could feel it in my bones. And I'd rip it out, piece by piece. No one slips my grip.
"Is he doing his job?" I asked.
"He's with Jay-jay right now, like you ordered," Edrix replied.
Perfect. Once I had everything, my plan could roll out.
It wasn't elaborate—just enough to gauge his reaction to what I'd do to his cousin.
If it worked, I'd execute the final blow. He'd pay for it all.
But her past… that was the key. Leverage it right, and she crumbled. Botch it, and it blew up in my face.
JAY JAY'S POV :
Morning classes blurred past, my head a storm. Lunch hit—I aimed for my quiet spot. As I stood, Ci-N bounded over with a wide grin.
"What now?" I grumbled.
His face morphed into puppy-dog tragedy.
"You forgot?"
"Forgot what?"
"Oh man… she really forgot."
He sighed dramatically. Poor kid. So easy to tease.
I smirked.
"Kidding. I remembered."
His grin exploded.
"Thanks, Jay!"
"Let's go to my spot."
He trailed like an excited pup. At the spot, I passed him the extra lunchbox.
No way I'd share the lunch openly—idiots might swipe it. It wasn't like anyone reached out anymore. But seeing their faces—his face—brought that familiar ache to my chest.
I ate first, chewing silently to dodge questions. He got the hint and stayed quiet. I wrapped up first, watching him.
"Jay…" he said mid-chew.
"Are you and Aries fighting?"
Not fighting. He's just mad at me.
"Not really. Why?"
"You never talk. You arrive together, but then… P.E. happened."
"We're not that close. That's all."
Not till I cracked his secrets.
He nodded and kept eating. After, he handed back the empty container. Lingering time—hangout activated.
"Your mom spot that Rudolph nose?" he teased, laughing.
Rudolph nose? Brat!
"Nothing. She didn't see."
"How—"
"We don't live together. I stay at Aries's."
I regretted sharing, but Ci-N was extra curious today.
My instincts pinged—he had a reason.
Silence stretched. Suddenly, he smiled oddly.
"Let's play a game."
"Such a kid. What?"
"20 Questions. We alternate. No repeats. No 'secret' or 'I don't know.'"
Trying to distract me? Fine.
"I'll start. Why did Keifer do that to me?"
His smile vanished. He dodged my gaze. "
A-uh… b-because…"
"No answer? Game over."
"It's not that! Keifer might get mad."
I sighed.
"You afraid of him?"
He looked away.
"Yeah. I owe him. Look at me compared to him."
That stung. He turned bully? It hurt.
"Let's go back."
I bolted up. At the last step, I paused.
"Go on. I'll Catch you."
"Jay, bell's soon—"
"I know. Go."
He vanished. Fury boiled in me.
I couldn't face Keifer or Section E. That gym trigger haunted me. That blood and blackout choking me.
Keifer, you bastard. Wait till you fall for me. You'll regret it all.
Frustrated, I kicked a broken bench. Pain flared, but anger drowned it.
"Breaking something already broken."
Him.
Baseball twirling, boredom masking predator his eyes.
I crossed my arms. Death glare.
"Tss. None of your business."
"What's your problem?"
"None of yours."
He smirked and walked past—then stopped.
"Re-election's later. Delayed last time. Support me?"
In your dreams. (Though victory would look good on him…)
The bell rang. Teacher approached—I trailed back. Ci-N fake-smiled, mind elsewhere. Something brewed.
Classes dragged. Homeward thrill? Dead. Keifer poison.
Teacher gone, class bolted to a dim hall. Old furniture ringed a circle—like a makeshift boxing ring.
David, Keifer center. Everyone else watched.
"Last man standing claims Section E presidency!" Kit announced.
What? No voting?
They stripped to shorts.
Keifer's tank frame crushed comparisons. Handsome bastard. Stop thirsting, Jay. Focus.
Boxing stances. Crowd roared.
"Keifer! Crush him!"
Lopsided cheers. Keifer had the supporters. Poor David.
"Fight!" Kit yelled from a table.
Tables banged.
David swung first—Keifer dodged, countered. David evaded. Warm-up.
Hit him, David!
David pressed—Keifer dropped!
Rage flared. No one beats my Keifer. But fights were fights.
Keifer rose, furious. One punch—David down.
They traded blows. David fell again, exhausted.
Break his ego, David! Don't lose!
David up. Punches flew. David dropped for good, eye bleeding.
Keifer panted, lip swelling black.
I Want to treat him. Can't. Not yet.
"Countdown!" Kit bellowed.
"10!…1! Keifer wins!"
His empire solidified. Arrogance maxed.
Damn it. Part thrilled, part furious.
They hoisted him, cheering.
I blocked the exit. Silence fell.
"Move, freak!"
I didn't. Eyes locked on Keifer. Anger burned.
Murmurs rose.
"She's in trouble."
"Keifer's pissed."
"Jay, please move," Ci-N pleaded.
Keifer chuckled, signaled down.
He sauntered over, smug as sin.
Leaned in, breath hot on my ear. Heart raced—I held my glare.
"Angry I won?"
I shoved him.
"Election's unfair. David was hurt."
His smugness flickered anger. Chuckles erupted.
"So? Wait for him to heal? Doesn't work here, darling."
"Tss. Cheating, Watson?"
"Not here. Move before I forget you're a girl."
I stood firm.
"What the fuck do you want?" He snapped.
"You're burning with ego, Watson. And to calm it, I have a deal."
He laughed.
"What's your stupid brain cooking?"
"Simple fight. You win: I leave Section E, your life. You're the president. But if I win…"
A mischievous smile spread on my face.
"I stay. You keep president, but unofficially, I rule. You all follow me. Do whatever I say."
His smirk faltered.
"Beauty with brains. But unfair—you get more."
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Name your terms."
His grin exploded.
"You lose: leave and kneel, apologize."
"No kneeling. Apologies aren't me."
"Now who's unfair? Take it or no deal."
He turned—I grabbed him.
"Fine!"
"Witness? Section e worship you—cheat city."
"Record it. Trade valuables. Loser gives up theirs—or others do whatever."
"Deal. You first."
He eyed me.
"My car."
I laughed.
"Are you kidding? You think I'd swoon over your car? I'm not that shallow—We should go for something genuinely valuable!"
"Fine. Name it."
What did he treasure besides family? Hmmmm…That earring—I don't know why but it's familiar.
"Your earring."
Silence. He clutched it protectively. Gasps everywhere.
"What? It's just an earring."
He relaxed, voice flat.
"Fine."
Murmurs exploded.
"Keifer accepted?!"
"He's gonna snap!"
"Now, my turn. I want…the pendant"
My hands instinctively found my pendant. No no no.
Memories flooded—her laugh echoing, , her face. Priceless. It's More than my life. My soul shredded.
But Keifer asked. Back out? Let his ego throne unchecked? No. Win, reclaim it. Lose… hollow forever. But damn him for sniffing my weakness. Why does it have to be you, Keifer?
"Okay…" Voice cracked, ghost-thin. World grayed..
"Set. Hope you're not embarrassed."
His smirk full blaze, eyes devouring my fracture.
Crowd held breath. Ci-N's worry stabbed.
I straightened, fire reigniting beneath the ache.
I have to win this. Arrogance like his needed shattering—one punch at a time. Wait for it to crack, Keifer. Beg, even. I'll make damn sure. Vow sealed in my veins. Fight started now…