Author POV
The engine started with a low, steady hum.
Adrian leaned back in the driver's seat, one hand resting lazily on the wheel, the other tapping an uneven rhythm against it. He looked completely relaxed.
Ruz sat beside him, staring out the window as the city blurred past, lights stretching, cars moving, people disappearing into the distance. Her expression was calm, unreadable.
For a full thirty seconds, neither of them spoke.
Adrian broke the silence.
"You lost."
Ruz didn't look at him.
"I didn't lose."
"You lose."
She turned her head slowly, eyes narrowing just enough to be noticeable.
"You weren't even playing."
"I was emotionally invested," Adrian replied smoothly. "Which makes this a personal loss."
Ruz blinked once.
"That sounds like a problem."
He let out a short laugh.
"You rushed an easy question."
She looked back out the window.
"I miscalculated."
"You said 'one month.'"
"I heard it after."
"Everyone heard it before," he said, grinning now.
Ruz exhaled quietly.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"I've waited years for this moment."
"That's sad."
"That's sibling justice."
She crossed her arms.
"You're not even my real brother."
"And yet here I am, doing the job better than anyone else."
That earned him a look. An annoyed one.
He smirked, satisfied. "There it is. That's the face I was waiting for."
"You're insufferable."
"And you're competitive."
"I'm not."
"You lost one round and you've been replaying it in your head for the past ten minutes."
She didn't answer.
Which was the answer.
Adrian's tone shifted slightly, just barely noticeable.
"You adjusted fast."
Ruz glanced at him.
"You noticed."
"I notice things," he said simply. "You stopped rushing. You started thinking."
"I always think."
"No," he corrected. "You usually react. Today you chose not to."
She leaned back into her seat, quieter now.
"It wasn't enough."
"For Day One?" Adrian shrugged. "It's more than enough."
A pause settled between them, not awkward, not heavy. Just real.
Ruz spoke again, softer this time.
"He's annoying."
"Rifat?" he said casually.
She didn't confirm it. Didn't deny it either.
"He talks too much," she added.
Adrian smiled slightly.
"So do you."
She ignored that.
After a moment, he spoke again, calm but weighted.
"Just don't get careless."
Ruz's gaze shifted, just slightly.
"I'm not careless."
"I didn't say you were," Adrian replied. "I said don't become it."
She studied him for a second, then leaned her head back.
"…Noted."
And just like that, the tension dissolved, replaced by something lighter. Familiar. Comfortable.
The house was quieter than usual when they stepped inside. Not silent, but calmer the kind of calm that felt lived in.
From the living room, a voice called out,
"You're back."
Kuya.
Ruz's attention shifted immediately.
He sat on the couch with a laptop open on his lap, sleeves rolled up, posture relaxed but focused. The faint glow of the screen reflected in his glasses.
Ruz walked over without hesitation.
"You're working again?"
Kuya glanced up, then smiled faintly.
"Trying to."
Her eyes moved to his left hand.
"You shouldn't push it."
"It's better now," he said, flexing his fingers slightly.
Adrian dropped his bag onto a chair.
"Finally. We're retiring from being responsible adults."
"You were never responsible," Kuya replied without looking up.
"Unappreciated. As always."
Ruz crossed her arms, still watching carefully. "Are you sure it doesn't hurt?"
Kuya met her gaze this time.
"It does. But it's manageable."
She didn't look convinced.
He added gently, "I'll be careful."
A small pause. "Good," she said. Simple, but it was enough.
Kuya leaned back slightly.
"Now, both of you focus on your studies. I don't want to hear complaints later."
Adrian scoffed.
"Too late. I already have complaints."
Ruz nodded.
"He complains professionally."
"I do everything professionally."
"You failed at cooking last week."
"That was experimental."
"That was dangerous."
Kuya sighed, but a hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
"Go eat before this turns into another argument."
Dinner was calmer than usual. Not peaceful, but less chaotic.
Tito was explaining something loudly about "strategy" that had absolutely nothing to do with school, while Tita moved around the table with quiet efficiency, making sure everyone had enough food.
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
"So…..Ruz lost today."
Ruz didn't even look at him.
"I didn't lose."
Tito perked up immediately.
"There was a competition?"
"We have a six day school event and academic competition. It started today," Adrian said. "And she made a tragic decision."
"It was one question."
"It was a very important question."
Tita glanced between them.
"What happened?"
Ruz sighed.
"I answered too fast."
Tito pointed at her dramatically.
"That's your mistake. Never trust easy questions."
"That's exactly what I said," Adrian added proudly.
"No, you didn't."
"I implied it."
"You mocked me."
"Constructive criticism."
Ruz pointed at Adrian and looked at Tita.
"He's lying," she said.
Tita smiled softly.
"I believe you."
Adrian placed a hand over his chest.
"Betrayal."
Tito laughed.
"You deserved that."
Ruz shook her head, but a faint smile surfaced, not forced, not hidden. Just there.
Ruz's POV
The house eventually settled. Lights dimmed. Voices faded. Doors closed. Everyone has fallen asleep.
Suddenly everything changed.
A place I didn't recognize cold, dark. A door in front of me was slightly open, a thin strip of light leaking through. I tried to move toward it, but my body wouldn't listen. It felt too heavy, like I was pinned down. My chest tightened. I couldn't breathe properly.
My arms ached. My legs felt weak.
I looked at my hands small and covered in blood. Blood stained the floor around me, everywhere I looked. My heartbeat pounded wildly, fast and uncontrollable.
A slow, heavy set of footsteps came closer from the doorway. I tried to sit up, tried to move, but I couldn't. I felt helpless, stuck in place.
A man stepped into view, his face blurred like I couldn't fully see it. He crouched in front of me and tilted my chin up.
"You think you can save her?" he said coldly. "You're just a kid. You can't even stand properly."
I tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"I'll wait two days," he continued. "If your mother doesn't give me what I want…."
His voice faded into the darkness.
I shot up weakly, breathing hard.
I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to slow my heartbeat and calm myself down.
"It was just a nightmare. Calm down."
Author POV
DAY 2 -
By the time Day Two started, the school no longer felt like a place for education. It felt like a controlled disaster.
The field had been completely transformed overnight filled with ropes, barriers, climbing nets, mud tracks, obstacle zones. Speakers blasted loud music that made everything feel more intense than necessary. Students gathered everywhere, some stretching like professional athletes, others standing there as if they had already accepted defeat.
Ruz stood at the edge of the field, arms loosely crossed, observing everything. Not impressed. Just calculating.
Liam stood beside her, already sweating and the game hadn't even started.
"I don't like this," he said.
"You don't like anything," Ruz replied calmly.
"That's because everything here is dangerous."
Ruz glanced at the obstacle course.
"Then don't fall."
Liam turned to her slowly.
"That is not advice. That is a threat."
Before she could respond, the announcement began.
"DAY TWO - MIXED TEAM PHYSICAL CHALLENGE."
The field erupted. Cheers. Groans. Panic.
Ruz didn't react. She was watching the board.
"Teams are divided as follows Section A, B, and D are Team One. Section C, E, and Z are Team Two."
Liam grabbed her arm. "We're fighting Section A, B, D together?!" he whispered loudly. "That includes the Velvet Girls. We're finished. We're socially finished."
Ruz pulled her arm back. "We're not here for social survival."
Liam stared at her. "I am."
Team Two gathered near the starting zone.
Section C. Section E. Section Z.
It all felt the same, just noise. Arguments, confusion, and too many opinions with no plan. Pure chaos, not order.
Because all the undisciplined, reckless students had been grouped together.
And together, they didn't form unity, they only created disturbance.
Joshua Aquino (Josh) from section Z. The chaotic golden retriever in human form.
Josh clapped loudly once, trying to take control.
"Alright, listen. We need coordination"
"No, we need luck," someone interrupted.
"We need a miracle," Liam added.
"We need silence," Ruz said.
That worked better than expected. For about three seconds.
Zayn Dominic Valdez from section Z. A quiet storm who watches, waits than Moves.
Zayn stepped forward then. Not loud. Not dramatic. But the noise dropped slightly anyway.
"Split into roles," he said. "Speed, strength, navigation."
Someone from Section E frowned.
"And who decided that?"
Zayn didn't even look at him.
"I did."
A pause. No one argued.
Ruz noticed that.
Their eyes met briefly. No greeting. No surprise. Just understanding.
Zayn looked away first. "Rope and climb me. Speed runners Josh, Eren."
"I'm fast when motivated," Liam added.
"You're fast when chased," Josh corrected.
"Same thing," Liam said.
Ruz spoke calmly.
"I'll handle transitions."
Zayn glanced at her. A small pause. Then,
"Good."
It wasn't approval. It was agreement. And that difference mattered.
The whistle blew. Everything exploded.
Students ran. Slipped. Shouted immediately.
Liam screamed before even reaching the first obstacle.
"WHY IS THERE MUD THIS EARLY?!"
"For character development!" Josh yelled back.
"I DON'T WANT DEVELOPMENT!"
Ruz was already moving. Fast. Efficient. No wasted motion. She didn't rush blindly, she calculated each step, each landing.
Zayn moved beside her. Not following. Not leading. Matching.
That alone was enough to catch attention.
Adrian crossed his arms. His eyes moved between obstacles then stopped.
Ruz and Zayn. Same rhythm. Same timing. No communication.
Rifat noticed too.
"…They're synced," Adrian said quietly.
Rifat didn't answer immediately. But his gaze sharpened. "…That's not a coincidence."
Halfway through the course balance beams. Narrow paths. One mistake meant falling back.
Selene Victoria De Leon, leader of Velvet girls group, from section A.
Selene stepped forward first. Graceful. Controlled. Like this wasn't a competition. Like this was a stage.
"Well," she said softly, "this is convenient."
Ruz didn't stop walking. "Move."
Bianca Salazar, one of the velvet girls from section A.
Bianca smiled slightly. "Still direct. I like that."
"You're in the way," Ruz replied.
Danica Rojas from D, one of the velvet girls.
Danica tilted her head. "You seem very focused today."
"I am."
"On the game?" Clarisse asked.
Clarisse Monteverde from section D and also from velvet girls.
Ruz finally stopped. Looked at them. "No." A pause. "On finishing."
That should have ended it. But it didn't.
Selene stepped slightly closer. "Or maybe," she said quietly, "you're focused on staying close to people you shouldn't."
Liam whispered behind her, "I don't like where this is going."
Ruz didn't respond to him.
Bianca added, "Section A. Section Z. You move between them a lot."
Ruz's expression didn't change. "I walk."
Danica smiled faintly. "That's not what it looks like."
Before it could escalate, Josh jumped in from behind. "Hi. Hello. We're on a timer. Love the conversation but hate the location."
Eren Fernandez Quiet, unreadable, always shows up.
Eren added casually, "If this turns into drama, we're losing points. And I refuse to lose because of talking."
Zayn stepped forward. That was enough.
"Move," he said. No anger. No raised voice. But something in his tone shifted the air.
Selene watched him. Carefully. …Interesting, she murmured.
Then stepped aside. The others followed. Not happily. But they did.
Once past them, everything sped up.
Mud track. Climbing net. Final sprint.
Liam was running like his life depended on it.
"I REGRET EVERYTHING."
"You always do," Ruz replied.
"I MEAN IT THIS TIME. "
They crossed the final obstacle. Jump. Landing. Sprint. Finish line.
Team Two crossed first. Clear. Loud. Undeniable.
The field erupted. Section C, E, Z won.
Liam collapsed instantly.
"I survived," he whispered dramatically. "Tell my story."
"You're still alive," Ruz said.
After the game, the school grounds were loud with stalls, chatter, and scattered laughter echoing through the open air.
Liam grabbed Ruz's arm and dragged her toward an ice cream stall like it was a matter of life or death.
"Come on, come on just this one!" he insisted, half begging, half excited.
Ruz frowned, trying to pull her arm back.
"Why are you dragging me?"
Liam pointed at the stall with exaggerated urgency.
"I want ice cream."
"You can buy it yourself."
Without missing a beat, he changed his tactics, eyes wide, voice dramatic.
"Pleaseee, I'm broke. Just one. Or I'll cry."
Ruz glanced at him flatly.
"You already are crying."
"I'm emotionally unstable right now," he replied instantly, clinging tighter like a determined child.
Ruz stared at him for a long moment.
Then sighed.
"…Fine. One."
Liam lit up immediately.
"YES, okay okay, don't change your mind!"
He practically pushed her forward again, stopping only when they reached the stall counter. The glass display was packed with colors strawberry, chocolate, mint, mango, too many choices for someone who acted like this was an emergency mission.
The vendor raised a brow. "What do you want?"
Liam leaned over the counter like he owned it.
"I want… everything."
Ruz grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him slightly upright.
"One. You said one."
He groaned dramatically.
"You're so strict. It's ice cream, not a contract."
Ruz didn't blink. "It is now."
Liam pointed at random.
"Fine. That one. That one looks happy."
"That's not a flavor."
"It is in my heart."
Ruz exhaled through her nose, then looked at the vendor.
"One vanilla."
Liam gasped.
"Vanilla?! That's emotionally beige."
Ruz finally glanced at him.
"And you're emotionally loud. Take it or leave it."
The vendor chuckled under his breath while preparing the cone.
Liam leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret.
"You know… you're nicer than you pretend."
Ruz didn't look at him this time.
"Don't push it."
The vendor handed over the vanilla cone.
Liam took it immediately like it was treasure.
"Finally. Peace."
Ruz reached for it, but he hesitated.
"Wait. What if I drop it?"
"You're already dropping your dignity," Ruz said flatly. "Just take it."
He did, carefully this time, holding it like it might explode.
For a moment, they just stood there in the crowd, noise stalls calling out, people laughing, music playing somewhere nearby.
Then Liam took a bite and froze.
"…This is actually good."
Ruz raised a brow.
"You acted like you were starving."
"I was emotionally starving," he corrected, nodding seriously.
Ruz shook her head slightly, looking away almost like she was trying not to react.
Then Liam suddenly tilted his head, scanning the crowd.
"…Uh."
Ruz followed his gaze.
Across the walkway, Selene stood with Danica,Clarisse and Bianca near another stall.
Watching.
Not approaching.
Just noticing.
Liam lowered his voice. "Why do I feel like they always end up where we are?"
Ruz took the cone from him without asking, took a single bite, then handed it back.
Velvet Girls approached Ruz again. This time there was no game. No audience.
Selene stopped in front of Ruz, just close enough to block his path without touching him. The others fanned out behind her like it was routine.
The field went quiet in a way that felt forced.
Selene's eyes stayed fixed on him.
"You're from Section C, right?"
A pause.
"What's your name… Ruz?"
Ruz tilted his head slightly.
"Only people close to me get to call me that."
A faint smirk flickered at the edge of his mouth.
"You can call me Ruzelle."
Bianca scoffed immediately.
"Oh, attitude. You move around too freely, girl. You should stop."
Ruz's gaze shifted to her, slow and unbothered.
"And who the hell are you to decide where I go?"
The air tightened.
Selene's voice cut in, calm but colder now.
"Mind your words. Don't forget who you're talking to."
Ruz let out a quiet breath that amused him more than anything.
Behind them, Liam Liam licked his ice cream slowly and muttered under his breath,
"Some plastic girls acting like commanders…"
Danica turned instantly.
"What did you just say?"
She stepped forward.
Liam flinched slightly, backing off.
"Nothing, I.."
Ruz moved first.
She stepped directly between Danica and Liam.
Not fast. Not rushed.
Final.
Her arms crossed.
Danica stopped immediately, eyes narrowing.
"…What did you just do?"
Ruz didn't even look at her.
"Fixed your direction."
Clarisse pointed at him, irritation sharp now.
"You think this is funny? You think rules don't apply to you?"
Ruz finally turned his head toward her.
"You're right."
A beat.
"Rules don't apply to me."
She stepped half a pace closer.
"Because I made them."
Silence snapped tight.
Danica's voice dropped.
"You've been spending too much time near Section A."
Bianca added quietly,
"And Section Z."
Ruz paused.
For the first time, something flickered behind her understanding of expression.
"Oh." she exhaled lightly.
"So that's what this is."
Her smile sharpened.
"You're threatening me over rumors? That's it?"
He looked at each of them in turn.
"Pathetic."
Bianca's eyes narrowed.
You're getting bold, girl."
Ruz nodded slowly.
"No. You're just getting predictable."
Danica stepped forward again, but stopped when Ruz didn't move an inch.
Selene finally spoke again, lower now. Sharper.
"Stay away from them."
That time, Ruz moved.
One step forward.
The group instinctively shifted back half a step.
Not fear. Not retreat.
Just a reaction.
And Ruz noticed it.
"Look at that,"she said softly. "You all talk like you control everything…"
His gaze locked on Selene.
"But you flinch like everyone else."
A pause.
Then she added, quieter dead calm.
"Pick your target carefully next time."
Another silence.
She turned her shoulder slightly, already done with the conversation.
"Because I don't miss."
And she walked past them like they were already irrelevant.
Ruz looked at the field. At the students. At the lines forming between teams, between people, between something much bigger than a school event.
"…This is getting complicated."
And somehow, that made everything more interesting.