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🌙 Chapter : Announcements
Jay's POV
By the last class of the day, the entire school had turned into a rumor factory.
It was almost impressive.
Students whispered in hallways.
Phones buzzed nonstop.
Every group discussion somehow circled back to the same topic.
My engagement.
Or more specifically—
the fact that it no longer existed.
I had expected some level of attention.
But Higher Value International School always managed to exceed expectations when it came to drama.
When I returned to Section E after lunch, the classroom was louder than usual.
Blaster was halfway through a dramatic retelling of something.
"I'm telling you," he said loudly, standing near his desk, "Keifer looked like he was about to throw Yuri into the fountain."
Drew looked amazed.
"Seriously?"
"Almost," Ci-N added casually from his seat.
David didn't even lift his head from the desk.
"If someone had pushed Yuri into the fountain," he mumbled, "that would have improved my day."
Blaster pointed at him.
"See? Even David agrees."
I walked into the room quietly and took my seat.
Immediately, a few heads turned.
Blaster noticed me first.
"Oh," he said.
"Speak of the storm."
I placed my bag on the desk.
"What storm?"
"The storm you caused," Drew said.
"I didn't cause anything."
Blaster raised an eyebrow.
"You cancelled a massive engagement between two powerful families."
"I didn't cancel it."
"Close enough."
I opened my book calmly.
"Then stop exaggerating."
Ci-N studied me carefully.
"You're suspiciously calm about all of this."
"Why wouldn't I be calm?"
"Because the entire school is talking about you."
I flipped a page.
"They'll find something else to talk about tomorrow."
Blaster shook his head.
"Nope. Not likely."
"Why?"
"Because today's drama hasn't even reached its peak yet."
Before I could ask what he meant—
The classroom speakers suddenly crackled.
The familiar sound immediately caught everyone's attention.
The principal's voice echoed through the room.
"Attention students."
The entire class quieted almost instantly.
Even Blaster sat down.
"This is an official announcement regarding an upcoming academy event."
Students immediately started whispering.
Higher Value International School events were never small.
They were always extravagant.
Complicated.
And usually involved a lot of unnecessary stress.
The principal continued speaking.
"This year, the academy will host its annual charity gala."
A wave of murmurs spread across the classroom.
Drew leaned forward excitedly.
"Oh no."
Ci-N smirked.
"Here we go."
Blaster groaned dramatically.
"I already hate this."
The principal's voice continued.
"This event will involve participation from all senior students."
More whispers filled the room.
David lifted his head slightly.
"If this involves public speaking," he muttered, "I'm dropping out."
Blaster pointed at the ceiling.
"Listen carefully. The worst part is coming."
The principal paused briefly before continuing.
"For the main project of the event, students will be required to work in pairs."
The room erupted into louder whispers.
Students immediately started guessing.
"Pairs?"
"Like teams?"
"Are they letting us choose partners?"
"Please tell me we can choose."
Ci-N leaned back in his chair, looking entertained.
"This is going to create chaos."
Blaster nodded.
"Absolute chaos."
The principal continued speaking.
"Each pair will collaborate on a charity initiative project that will be presented during the gala."
Drew looked confused.
"Wait… we actually have to work?"
"Yes," Ci-N said dryly.
"That's usually how projects function."
Blaster sighed loudly.
"I miss the days when school events just meant food."
The classroom speaker crackled again.
"Partner assignments will be announced tomorrow morning."
That sentence changed the atmosphere instantly.
Now the classroom was fully alert.
Students immediately started discussing possibilities.
"Who do you think you'll get paired with?"
"Please not someone lazy."
"I swear if I get paired with Kevin from Section B, I'm dropping the class."
Blaster leaned forward.
"Please let me get someone competent."
Ci-N looked amused.
"That eliminates most of the school."
Drew raised his hand dramatically.
"I volunteer to work with someone rich."
"No one asked," Blaster replied.
I stayed quiet, resting my elbow on the desk.
Events like this never interested me.
They always involved unnecessary attention.
But something about the room suddenly felt strange.
Ci-N slowly turned his head.
Then he looked at me.
Then he looked at Keifer.
Then back at me.
Blaster noticed the movement.
"What?" he asked.
Ci-N's expression slowly turned into a smirk.
"Oh."
Blaster followed his gaze.
Then his eyes widened.
"Oh no."
Drew looked confused.
"What?"
Ci-N spoke slowly.
"If the universe has any sense of humor…"
Blaster finished the sentence.
"You and Keifer are definitely getting paired."
The entire table burst into laughter.
Drew nearly fell out of his chair.
"That would be insane."
Blaster wiped tears from his eyes.
"The drama alone would feed this school for months."
David groaned.
"Please stop encouraging chaos."
I leaned back slightly in my chair.
My expression stayed calm.
"You're assuming the assignments aren't random."
"They are random," Ci-N said.
"Which makes it worse."
Blaster nodded enthusiastically.
"Statistically speaking, the chances of you two getting paired are low."
Drew grinned.
"But if it happens…"
Ci-N finished the thought.
"The universe clearly wants violence."
I glanced sideways.
Keifer hadn't laughed.
He hadn't spoken.
He was just watching.
Quietly.
Thoughtfully.
Like he was already imagining the possibility.
I looked away.
Because the truth was—
I didn't believe in fate.
I didn't believe in coincidence either.
But if tomorrow's partner list somehow placed me and Keifer together…
This school wouldn't just get gossip.
It would get a full-scale disaster.
And somehow—
a small part of me wondered
if that disaster was already inevitable.
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