Keifer's POV
I arrived at school earlier than usual that morning.
Not because I wanted to study.
Definitely not.
My mind was still stuck on yesterday.
Jay grabbing Matilda by the neck.
The look in her eyes.
Cold.
Controlled.
Like she actually meant it.
I pushed the classroom door open.
The room was empty.
I walked to my seat and dropped my bag.
A few minutes later the door opened again.
Rory and Endrix walked in.
Both of them looked like they hadn't slept.
I leaned back in my chair.
"Well?"
Rory closed the door behind him.
"You were right."
Endrix sat down across from me.
"That girl is not normal."
I crossed my arms.
"Explain."
They exchanged a look.
Then Rory pulled out his phone.
"Her full name is Jasper Jean Marino Fernandez."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I know already."
Endrix nodded.
"It's true."
He leaned closer.
"Her father is the owner of Mariano Company."
I blinked once.
"…The Mariano Company?"
Rory nodded.
"The one with branches in the Philippines, London, New York, and China."
For a moment I just stared at them.
That company was huge.
International.
Extremely powerful.
"So she's rich," I said slowly.
"Very," Endrix replied.
"But there's more."
Rory continued scrolling.
"Her mother used to be a model."
I frowned slightly.
"Model?"
"Philippine modeling agencies," Rory explained. "Pretty famous back then."
I leaned back in my chair again.
"…Then why the scholarship?"
Endrix smiled slightly.
"That's the interesting part."
"Her father wants her and Aries to live like normal students."
Rory nodded.
"So instead of enrolling normally…"
"She applied through scholarship."
I let out a quiet breath.
"That explains a lot."
But Rory wasn't finished.
"There's more."
Of course there was.
"She's been in several schools before this one."
"Why?" I asked.
Endrix laughed softly.
"Because she keeps getting into fights."
I stared at them.
"How many fights?"
Rory shrugged.
"Enough to get transferred multiple times."
Then he said casually,
"She once stabbed a student with a pencil."
I nearly choked.
"…Excuse me?"
Endrix raised both hands.
"Apparently the guy deserved it."
Rory continued.
"She also has a history of pranking teachers."
"How bad?"
"Students."
"Teachers."
Rory smirked.
"Even the headmaster."
I rubbed my forehead.
"That sounds exactly like her."
But Rory still wasn't done.
"Oh and she races."
I looked up.
"…Races?"
"Motorcycles," Endrix said. "Professional tracks sometimes."
I stared at them again.
That girl is insane.
Then Rory's expression changed slightly.
"But this one surprised us."
He showed me something on his phone.
"A few years ago some hotel builders tried to build a luxury hotel where a children's orphanage stood."
I frowned.
"So?"
"Jay fought the project."
"How?"
"Arguments. Campaigns. Support."
Endrix smiled slightly.
"And somehow… she won."
Rory nodded.
"The orphanage stayed."
"They even renovated it."
For a moment I said nothing.
That girl…
I leaned back in my chair again.
"…Interesting."
Very Interesting
Rory put his phone away.
"So what do we do with this information?"
I stood up.
"Nothing."
Both of them looked confused.
"We keep it to ourselves."
Endrix nodded slowly.
"Got it."
Just then the classroom door opened again.
David walked in stretching.
"Morning, criminals."
Felix followed behind him eating chips.
"Why does school start so early? It's inhumane."
Yuri and Ci-N came in next.
They all dropped into their seats.
David looked around.
"Where's JayJay?"
Felix gasped dramatically.
"She abandoned us."
Ci-N sighed.
"Relax. She probably overslept."
Then suddenly the classroom door opened again.
And there she was.
Jay walked in casually like nothing had happened yesterday.
Her hair slightly messy.
Her expression calm.
Felix stood up immediately.
"THE LEGEND RETURNS."
David clapped loudly.
"JayJay!"
Yuri grinned.
"Nice to see you alive."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"…Why do you all look like you attended my funeral?"
Ci-N smiled.
"We thought you might skip school after yesterday."
Jay dropped her bag on the desk.
"Why?"
David leaned forward.
"You almost strangled someone."
Jay shrugged.
"She was still breathing."
Felix held his heart dramatically.
"So humble."
Yuri laughed.
"Did you at least sleep?"
Jay stretched lazily.
"Like a baby."
Felix pointed at me.
"You should see Keifer."
Jay looked at me.
"Oh?"
Felix smirked.
"He couldn't stop thinking about you."
I kicked his chair.
"Shut up."
Jay smirked slightly.
"Careful, president."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
"You might fall in love."
David slapped the desk.
"OHHHH."
Ci-N shook his head.
"This class is hopeless."
Yuri laughed loudly.
"You started it Keifer."
Jay sat down in her seat.
"Relax boys."
She leaned back casually.
"I'm not planning to strangle anyone today."
Felix raised a finger.
"Today."
The class burst into laughter.
For a moment everything felt normal again.
Light.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Then the door opened.
Madam Cindy walked in.
Everyone rushed back to their seats immediately.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, Madam Cindy," we answered.
She looked around the room.
Her eyes paused on Jay.
"Feeling better today?"
Jay nodded politely.
"Yes, ma'am."
Madam Cindy smiled slightly.
"Good."
She placed her books on the desk.
"Open your textbooks to page 82."
The sound of pages turning filled the room.
But I barely paid attention.
My eyes drifted toward Jay for a second.
That girl.
Rich family.
Former model mother.
Motorcycle racer.
Fighter.
Prankster.
Orphanage defender.
And somehow…
Very beautiful .
And now...
She was sitting here in Class 3-E like a completely normal student.
I looked back at my book.
One thing was certain.
This year was about to become very interesting.
End of Chapter 22 📖