Jay's POV
Three days.
Three peaceful days.
No water buckets.
No yelling.
No murder attempts.
Honestly?
It was starting to feel suspicious.
I walked into the cafeteria with Section E behind me while Felix loudly complained about life for the hundredth time today.
"I'm telling you," Felix said dramatically, placing his tray down, "school should legally start at noon."
Ci-N nodded immediately. "I support this movement."
Yuri sat down across from them. "You two are failures to society."
Calix sighed tiredly. "They wake up every morning and choose nonsense."
Endrix adjusted his glasses. "Scientifically speaking, Felix contains seventy percent chaos."
"ONLY seventy?" Felix gasped.
David ignored all of them and started eating quietly.
Mila laughed softly beside Matteo.
Meanwhile Keifer sat beside me like usual.
Unfortunately.
I glanced at him. "Why are you sitting here again?"
Keifer calmly opened his drink. "Because I want to."
"Go away."
"No."
"Annoying."
"Violent."
Felix slammed both hands on the table dramatically.
"AH YES."
He pointed at us. "True love."
"Felix," Yuri warned.
Ci-N grinned. "The chemistry is terrifying."
I grabbed my juice.
"I'm going to throw this at all of you."
"See?" Keifer said calmly. "Violent."
I kicked his chair lightly.
Then suddenly—
The cafeteria became quieter.
Not fully silent.
But quieter enough to feel strange.
Everyone slowly turned toward the entrance.
And there they were.
Freya.
Matilda.
Walking toward our table.
Felix froze mid-bite.
"…No."
Ci-N blinked rapidly. "…Did we enter another timeline?"
Rory slowly stood up. "Defensive positions, everyone."
Endrix grabbed his tray dramatically. "If I die today, delete my search history."
"You're not dying," David said flatly.
Matteo frowned immediately.
Mila looked confused.
Keifer's eyes narrowed slightly.
I simply stared at them.
Freya stopped in front of the table.
Matilda stood beside her awkwardly.
This was already weird enough to make me uncomfortable.
Freya cleared her throat.
"…Jay."
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
Long silence.
Then Matilda spoke quietly.
"We came to apologize."
The entire table froze.
Felix dropped his fork.
Ci-N looked like his soul left his body.
Rory whispered, "No way."
Calix blinked slowly. "I think I'm hallucinating."
Endrix looked emotionally damaged. "Somebody slap me."
Yuri stared at them suspiciously. "…For what exactly?"
Freya crossed her arms awkwardly.
"For everything."
Matilda sighed quietly. "We went too far."
I stared at them.
Then slowly looked around.
Then back at them.
"…Who threatened you?"
Yuri choked on his drink.
Felix slapped the table laughing.
"I KNEW IT!"
Ci-N pointed dramatically. "SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE THEM!"
Freya groaned. "Nobody threatened us."
"Blink twice if you need help," I said calmly.
Even Matteo laughed a little at that.
Matilda rolled her eyes slightly. "This is why apologizing to you is difficult."
"Then stop."
"We're trying to be serious!"
Felix raised his hand dramatically. "I personally support bullying Jay emotionally."
"Felix," Keifer said calmly.
Felix immediately lowered his hand. "My apologies."
Freya sighed.
Then for the first time…
she actually sounded sincere.
"We know we acted terribly."
Matilda looked uncomfortable saying the next words.
"And… we're sorry."
The table became quieter.
Because somehow…
they actually meant it.
No attitude.
No fake smiles.
Just awkward honesty.
Mila looked surprised.
Even Matteo's suspicious expression softened slightly.
Keifer glanced at me quietly, waiting for my reaction.
I leaned back in my chair.
"…I accept the apology."
Felix gasped loudly.
Ci-N grabbed Rory's arm. "WRITE THE DATE DOWN."
Rory looked emotional. "Character development…"
"But," I continued calmly, "that doesn't mean I trust you."
Freya nodded immediately.
"That's fair."
Matilda looked like she wanted to argue.
But surprisingly…
she stayed quiet.
Yuri looked impressed. "That might be the most mature conversation this school has ever seen."
Endrix wiped fake tears. "I'm so proud."
Calix stared into space. "I still think this is a dream
Calix stared into space. "I still think this is a dream."
The tension slowly disappeared.
Freya adjusted her bag.
"Well… anyway."
She glanced awkwardly at me again.
"…sorry."
Then both girls turned and started walking away.
The cafeteria slowly became noisy again.
Felix suddenly stood up dramatically on his chair.
"EVERYONE!"
Yuri immediately sighed. "No."
Felix pointed toward me and Keifer.
"Today marks the beginning of peace between enemies."
Ci-N clapped excitedly. "Our violent queen has grown."
David looked at me calmly. "You didn't threaten anyone today. Impressive."
"I still can," I said.
Keifer smirked beside me. "She's healing."
I kicked his leg under the table.
"Ow," he said lazily.
"You deserve worse."
Felix pointed dramatically again. "THE FLIRTING RETURNS."
"I hate this table," I muttered.
Then—
"Anyway…"
Everyone looked toward the cafeteria exit.
Matilda had paused near the doorway.
"…sorry again."
She hesitated slightly.
Then casually added:
"Adrian Santos would probably be happy seeing this."
And continued walking.
Freya followed beside her.
"…Wait," Freya asked confusedly, "who's Adrian?"
They disappeared out the cafeteria.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
CLINK.
My spoon slipped from my hand.
The sound echoed loudly.
My body froze instantly.
Not shocked.
Not angry.
Just…
frozen.
Like my entire body forgot how to move.
Keifer's expression changed immediately.
Because he knew that name.
"…Jay," he said quietly.
But my heartbeat had already become too loud.
Too fast.
How did she know that name?
Nobody here knew Adrian.
Nobody.
Felix looked around nervously. "…Why do I suddenly feel like we unlocked a secret boss battle?"
Ci-N whispered, "I'm scared."
Rory leaned forward immediately. "Wait. Hold on."
Endrix frowned deeply. "Who's that?"
Calix slowly looked toward me.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
Because my face had gone completely pale.
Mila stood up carefully. "Jay…?"
Matteo's expression darkened instantly.
Keifer quietly reached for my hand.
"Hey."
The moment his fingers touched me—
I stood up suddenly.
SO FAST my chair flew backward and crashed onto the floor.
The cafeteria jumped.
Felix screamed.
"GOOD LORD—"
Ci-N nearly fell off his chair. "SHE ACTIVATED!"
Rory started coughing violently.
Endrix grabbed David dramatically. "THIS IS HOW HORROR MOVIES START!"
David shoved him away. "Why are you always screaming?"
But I barely heard them.
My breathing had become uneven.
My chest felt tight.
Keifer stood up immediately. "Jay."
I stared toward the cafeteria exit.
Still frozen.
Still trying to process those two words.
Adrian.
Santos.
Then slowly…
I walked away.
Silent.
And the entire cafeteria watched me leave.
Because Adrian Santos was a name that should not exist in this school.