Author's POV
The corridor outside the clinic smelled of stale wax and cold panic. Keifer, Yuri, and Jane did not speak; their collective silence carried the weight of a impending execution.
Jane's uniform was stained at the shoulder where Jay's pale forehead had rested, a stark visual marker that fueled the engine of their sprint.
They bypassed the standard campus routes, cutting through the rear exit toward the Section D wing, their footsteps sounding like a sequence of sharp, rhythmic cracks against the linoleum.
Jane recognized the first one instantly. He was leaning against a locker, chest heaving, a smear of fresh brick dust on his sleeve from the classroom's broken partition.
When his eyes met Jane's, the casual smirk dissolved from his face. He turned to bolt, but Yuri was already moving. Yuri's reach was long and unyielding; his fingers locked into the collar of the boy's jacket, twisting the fabric until the boy choked, his heels dragging as he was hauled backward.
"The others," Keifer said, his voice flat, devoid of its usual inflection.
The captured boy stammered, pointing a shaking hand toward the old stairwell. Within three minutes, the remaining five were cornered by the combined force of Section E's vanguard.
There was no public scene, no shouting matches in the crowded halls. They were moved efficiently, single-file, under the heavy shadow of Keifer's presence, down into the subterranean network of the school—the cold, concrete basement where Emelda and her boyfriend had been locked away hours prior.
The heavy iron door groaned as Keifer threw it open. The basement was dimly lit by a single overhead bulb that flickered against the damp stone walls.
Keifer hauled out his phone, his thumb tapping the screen twice.
"Everyone," Keifer said into the receiver. "To the room. Now."
Within minutes, the door rattled continuously as the boys of Section E filed in—Felix,Drew,Denzel Edrix, David, Blaster, Eren, Cin and others,whose newly cleared name felt like a heavy, unpaid debt hanging in the air.
The room grew warm with the sudden density of bodies, the air thick with the smell of wet concrete and aggression.
Jane stepped forward first, her knuckles white as she balled her hands into fists. The sight of the boy who had kicked Jay in the stomach made a low, guttural sound rise in her throat. She raised her arm, intending to shatter his jaw, but Yuri's hand clamped down on her wrist like a steel vice.
"Jane," Yuri said, his voice steady but dangerously quiet. "We have a rule here for those who hurt our friends."
Jane wrenched her arm, though she couldn't break his grip. "What rule?" she spat, her eyes locked on the trembling target.
"The one-hit rule," David answered from the shadows, stepping forward as he cracked his neck.
Keifer stepped into the light of the bare bulb, looking down at the six boys who were now huddled together on the cold floor. "We hit only one time," Keifer explained, his eyes cold and dark. "But we hit with all the force we have."
Jane's fury froze for a second, then a dark, slow smirk spread across her face. The simplicity of the terms appealed to the raw venom in her veins. "One hit," she
whispered. "It is going to be interesting."
The execution was methodical. The Section D boys were lined up against the reinforced concrete pillar. There was no ring, no rules of engagement, only the absolute delivery of consequence.
"Which one of you hit Jay's stomach?",Jane asked in a cold voice.
The group went silent but they were looking at someone . Jane followed their eyes and got the boy.
Jane didn't wait. She took two deliberate steps toward the boy who had delivered the kick to Jay's stomach.
She pivoted on her heel, drawing her entire weight from her hip, and unleashed a straight right hand directly into his solar plexus.
The impact was wet and heavy; the air burst from his lungs in a ragged gasp as his body folded completely, his forehead hitting the concrete before he rolled onto his side, clutching his ribs and vomiting bile.
Keifer went next. He chose the largest of the group. Keifer's approach was silent. He didn't cock his arm back; he simply stepped into the boy's personal space and delivered a devastating left hook to the jaw.
The sound of bone meeting bone echoed off the high ceiling. The boy's head snapped sideways, his eyes immediately rolling back into his head as his consciousness left him before his knees even hit the floor. He dropped like a felled tree, motionless.
Yuri stepped up to the third. His expression remained entirely blank, which made the movement more terrifying. He didn't use a fist; he utilized the hard heel of his palm, driving it upward in a brutal, straight strike directly into the center of the boy's chest.
The force rattled the boy's sternum, sending him flying backward into the iron door with a deafening metallic clang. He slid down the metal surface, gasping for breath that wouldn't come, his fingers clawing at his uniform.
Cin followed, his face tight with the remnants of his own ordeal. He owed his freedom to Jay's stubborn resilience. He delivered a massive right cross straight to the bridge of the fourth boy's nose. The cartilage gave way with a distinct, sickening crunch.
Crimson sprayed across the boy's white shirt as he stumbled backward, clutching his face and howling in agony as the blood leaked through his fingers.
Felix stepped out from the wall, his usual cheerful demeanor completely gone. He delivered an unmitigated body blow to the fifth boy's liver. The punch was short, compact, and perfectly placed.
The boy went rigid, his eyes widening in pure shock as his nervous system short-circuited from the intense internal pain. He dropped to his knees, his forehead pressed against the cold floor, unable to make a sound.
Edrix didn't use his hands. He took a short step and delivered a heavy, steel-toed kick directly to the remaining boy's thigh—a brutal dead-leg strike delivered with the precision of an athlete.
The muscle tore instantly under the pressure; the boy shrieked as his leg gave out beneath him, sending him crashing onto his shoulder.
David, Blaster, Eren, and rest of section moved in tandem for the remaining stragglers who were trying to crawl away one by one.
Each one of their brutal and fatal. They didn't feel pity for them.They hit one by one.The boys begged them but that was useless.
David caught one by the shoulder, spinning him around to deliver a short, percussive forearm smash across the temple that left the boy spinning into the wall.
Blaster followed with a heavy right hook to the ribs of another, the impact sending a dull thud through the small room.
"Tell us you order you to do that ",Keifer asked his voice cold and authoritive.
"It...it was ..ella..and Mykle.Emelda told them..you have proof against...the..then",one of the boy whispered catching his breath.
"That bitch ! ",Jane said clenching her fist.
Eren finished the line, stepping over a fallen body to drive a solid punch into the jaw of the last standing boy, knocking him clean off his feet.
The basement grew quiet again, save for the low moans and ragged breathing of the six broken boys on the floor.
Jane walked over to the first boy she had hit, who was still clutching his stomach and gasping on the floor. She leaned down, her shadow completely covering him.
"Listen to me very carefully," Jane whispered, her voice cut with glass. "If any of you—or anyone from your pathetic section—even looks in Jay's direction again, I won't stop at one hit. Stay away from her."
Turning on her heel, Jane walked toward the exit without looking back. Keifer and Yuri followed, the rest of Section E filing out behind them, leaving the door unlocked but the occupants too broken to move.
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The adrenaline from the basement died down as they reached the main floor, replaced by a sudden, sharp anxiety.
They moved quickly toward the school clinic, their shoes clicking against the tile. But when Jane threw the door open, the sight inside made her blood run cold.
The cot was empty. The white sheets were rumpled, a small trace of dried mud near the foot of the bed, but Jay was gone.
"Where is she?" Jane demanded, spinning around to face the school nurse who was organizing medical charts at her desk.
The nurse looked up, startled by the sudden influx of fierce-looking students. "She left," the nurse said, frowning. "I told her she needed to rest, that the blow to her abdomen was severe, but she just pulled the IV line out and walked out. She wouldn't listen."
"Dammit, Jay," Keifer muttered under his breath, his hand gripping the doorframe until his knuckles turned white.
They immediately scattered into the corridor, searching the immediate lines of the hallway. As they reached the central intersection near the main stairs, the heavy glass doors of the side entrance swung open. Aries walked in, flanked by Ella, Mica, Rakki, Grace, and Freya.
Aries took one look at Keifer's rigid posture and Jane's wild eyes and stopped. "What happened? Where's Jay?"
Jane stepped forward, her throat tight, glaring at Ella ,"Aries... Section D boys hit her. She was alone in the classroom, and she was already down because she was on her periods."
Aries' face darkened instantly, his jaw clenching so hard a muscle twitched near his ear. "Shit," he murmured, his hand dropping to his side.
Mica stepped closer to Jane, her eyes full of concern. "How is she? Where is she now?"
"She's supposed to be in the clinic, but she went somewhere," Jane said, her voice rising in frustration. "I don't know where she went. She can barely stand."
Rakki raised her hand slightly, pointing toward the southern wing of the building. "I saw her a few minutes ago. She was going upstairs... but she wasn't alone. She was with a boy."
Freya let out a low, mocking laugh, her fingers twirling a strand of her hair. "Wow, a boy. Interesting. She's finally showing her true colors, huh? Running off with someone the second she gets a little attention."
Jane turned on her, her eyes flashing with dangerous intent. "Shut up, Freya. One more word about her and I'll mark your beautiful face."
Freya sniffed, rolling her eyes but stepping back behind Aries. "Fine. Let's just see what she's actually doing up there then."
"Fine. We all are going," Aries said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
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The roof access stairway was cold and drafty. The group moved in a heavy, silent mass, their footsteps echoing up the concrete core.
When they reached the top landing, the heavy fire door was slightly ajar, letting in the gray light of the afternoon and the sound of low, tense voices.
Through the gap, they saw Jay. She was sitting on the low concrete ledge of the balcony, her legs dangling slightly, her pale face illuminated by the bleak sky.
Beside her stood Alex.(Her assistant ; but Jay introduced him as her friend to Jane)
He was leaning against the railing, but his face was a mess—blood was trickling from his nose, and his lip was split wide open.
Jay wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on the distant gray outline of the city hills, her fingers systematically unwrapping a dark chocolate bar. She broke off a piece and put it in her mouth, her expression entirely blank, completely detached from the bleeding boy next to him.
"How long are you planning to hide this from your family, Jay?" Alex shouted suddenly, his voice cracking with a mixture of anger and genuine fear. "At least tell Jane about it! She has a right to know!"
"No," Jay said. Her voice was flat, colder than the wind coming off the roof.
Behind the door, Freya leaned closer to Grace, whispering, "See? Her true colors. Always keeping secrets with guys."
On the balcony, Alex took a step closer to Jay, his fists clenched. "Have you lost it? You can't keep doing this!"
Jay didn't move her head, but her eyes slid sideways, locking onto his with a glare that made him freeze. "Do you want another punch?" she asked, her voice dropping an octave.
Alex didn't back down, though he touched his bleeding lip gingerly. "Jay, you can't hide it anymore. They will notice in some days. Your condition is getting worse. Are you even taking your medicine?"
Jay didn't say anything. She simply broke off another square of chocolate, her jaw working mechanically.
"Jay!" Alex urged again, his voice dropping into a desperate plea.
Silence followed. The wind whipped her dark hair across her face, but she didn't reply.
"Fine," Alex snapped, turning toward the stairs. "I'm telling Jane everything right now."
"Stop," Jay said, her voice finally cutting through his movement. She let out a slow, irritated breath. "I forgot to take it today. That's all."
"Have you fucking lost it, Jay?!" Alex shouted, his frustration boiling over. "You could—"
"I know!" Jay cut him off, her voice cracking slightly under the strain, revealing the immense fatigue she was trying to bury.
Alex opened his mouth to say something else, but Jay suddenly held up her hand, her head tilting slightly as she looked toward the fire door. "You all can come out now."
Behind the door, Jane let out a small breath. Slowly, Keifer pushed the heavy door open, leading the group out onto the windy balcony. The Section E boys and Aries' group filed out, their expressions a mix of confusion and suspicion.
Jane walked straight toward Alex, her eyes flitting between his bloody face and the small foil packet in his hand. "Alex? What are you doing here?"
Alex wiped his nose with the back of his sleeve, looking uneasy under the collective glare of Section E. "I came here to deliver her chocolate," he said quickly, his voice tight.
Felix stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Jay's pale face. "What medicine was he talking about, Jay? Are you ill?"
"Are you okay, Jay?" Cin asked, his voice thick with guilt.
Jay looked at them, and for a fraction of a second, a small laugh escaped her lips. But it was empty; the amusement didn't reach her eyes, which remained dark and guarded.
"It's nothing, Cin," Jay said smoothly, her voice regaining its usual steady cadence. "He's overreacting. We were just talking about my medicine for my periods. That's it."
Jane looked down at her sister, her eyes scanning the subtle tension in Jay's shoulders. She knew Jay was stubborn, but something about the intensity of Alex's panic didn't match a standard menstrual cramp description. Still, she chose to play along for now.
"Fine," Jane said, turning to Alex and extending her hand. "Alex, hand her the medicine. I'll make sure she eats it on time."
Alex hesitated for a brief second, his eyes darting to Jay, who gave him a imperceptible nod. He dropped the small, unlabelled foil packet into Jane's palm. "Make sure she takes it," he muttered, before turning and walking past the group, disappearing down the stairs.
The tension on the balcony slowly deflated into a standard, awkward school interaction. Mica stepped closer, her voice soft. "Jay, are you really okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Jay said, standing up from the ledge with a slight stiffness that she tried to mask by adjusting her jacket.
With the bell for the afternoon session ringing in the distance, the group began to move back downstairs, the girls heading toward their respective wings while Alex vanished into the lower corridors.
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Keifer's POV
I watched her walk down the stairs ahead of us, her shoulders straight, her head held high as if she hadn't just been collapsed in a clinic twenty minutes ago.
She was lying.
I knew the signs of her standard stubbornness—I'd seen her fight through fevers and bruises without a word. But what I saw on that balcony wasn't just her typical refusal to show weakness.
The look in Alex's eyes wasn't the annoyance of a friend dealing with a stubborn girl; it was the raw, unadulterated terror of someone who knew a clock was ticking.
I hate that he had that look for her.
Jay's laugh—it was too hollow, too perfectly timed to dismiss Cin's question.
Menstrual pain didn't make a guy look like he was carrying a death warrant. And it certainly didn't explain why she had punched him hard enough to split his lip just for threatening to talk to Jane.
She was protecting something—or rather, she was protecting Jane from something.
I kept my distance as we entered the classroom, my eyes lingering on the way she sat down, her movement just a fraction of a second slower than usual, her left hand slightly guarding her ribs. I didn't want to push it right now. If I confronted her here, she would just dig her heels in and construct a better wall.
But I wasn't letting it go. I would look into Alex, and I would find out exactly what kind of medicine required that level of secrecy. Slowly, piece by piece, I was going to unearth whatever she was hiding.
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Yuri's POV
From the moment we stepped onto that balcony, the geometry of the room was wrong.
Jay was sitting on the ledge, a vulnerable position for someone who had just taken a heavy blow to the abdomen, yet she chose it because it gave her the high ground against Alex.
I watched her expression when Jane asked about the medicine. There was a tiny, almost invisible flicker in her pupils—a split-second calculation before she gave that empty little laugh.
She wasn't just lying to keep her pride intact. She was lying to protect Jane. Every time Alex mentioned her family or her sister, her defenses didn't just go up; they became aggressive. The punch she gave him wasn't an outburst of anger; it was a warning strike to keep his mouth shut.
I glanced at Jane, whose face was a mix of suspicion and forced relief as she tucked the medicine packet into her pocket. Jane wanted to believe her sister was just being difficult, because the alternative meant something she couldn't control.
I sat down at my desk across the aisle, my fingers tapping a quiet, rhythmic pattern against the wood. Jay was a core part of Section E now—our Mutya—and if she was carrying a weight that was rotting her from the inside out, it affected all of us.
I decided I wouldn't corner her with Keifer. I would talk to her alone later, when the noise of the day died down, and I would get the truth out of her, whether she liked it or not.
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Jay's POV
My entire midsection felt like it was filled with broken glass and hot lead. Every breath I took sent a sharp, agonizing reminder of that Section D bastard's boot straight up into my chest.
The chocolate tasted like ash in my mouth, but I forced myself to chew, forced my face to remain completely still as Mica asked if I was okay.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said. The words felt heavy, like stones I had to lift one by one.
They didn't understand. None of them could. If Jane found out what the medicine was really for, if she found out my condition , my Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Disorders she would break.
She would stop living her life , stop looking at Section E, and spend every waking hour treating me like a glass doll that was already shattering.
I couldn't let her do that. We were too close to clearing everything up, too close to stabilizing our place here.
Alex was an idiot for coming to the school, but at least he brought the black-market suppressants.
The pain from the cramps was nothing compared to the deep, aching pain in my heart. The doctor had been clear: No physical exertion, no stress, and absolute rest.
I had ignored every single one of those orders today.
I leaned back against the hard plastic of my school chair, my eyes staring straight at the chalkboard. The classroom was quiet now, the boys of Section E sitting around us like a wall of muscle and silent protection.
They thought they had settled the score in the basement. They thought the danger was outside these walls. They didn't know the real threat was already sitting in the center of their room, counting the days.
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The silence of the afternoon period was suddenly shattered by the sharp creak of the classroom door. A student messenger from the administrative wing stood in the doorway, holding a yellow slip of paper, his face pale as he looked at the notorious collection of faces in Section E.
"Jasper Jean Mariano, Mark Keifer Watson, Janine Jace Mariano, Yuri Hanamitchi," the student read out, his voice trembling slightly. "Principal's office. Now."
The moment the names left his mouth, the heavy tension in the room snapped, replaced by a sudden, loud roar from the back rows.
"Wow!" Felix shouted, leaning back in his chair with a wide, dramatic grin. "The principal wants to meet the lovey-dovey couples all at once! Is this a double date or what?"
"Oooooh!" Blaster chimed in, banging his palm against his desk. "Principal's orders! Watch your hands down there, boys!"
"Shut up!"The response was instantaneous, delivered in a perfect, accidental harmony by all four of them—Jay, Keifer, Jane, and Yuri.
The class erupted into laughter and catcalls as the four stood up from their desks.
Keifer didn't look at the others; he simply adjusted his collar and moved toward the door, his eyes briefly sweeping over Jay to ensure she could stand without assistance.
Yuri followed with his usual cold grace, while Jane gave Felix a parting glare that promised future violence.
Jay took a slow breath, bracing her core against the sudden movement as she stood up. The game wasn't over yet. Whatever the principal wanted, they would face it the way Section E always did—together, with their secrets tucked safely out of sight.
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A/n
Hey everyone! I am so sorry for the lack of updates over the past few days.
Thank you all so much for your patience, your messages, and for sticking around. Your support means everything to me ❤️☺️.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 💗
See you soon 👋