The moment the yacht reached the island—
Chaos returned.
"WE'RE HERE—!"
Cin jumped up so fast the entire boat shook slightly.
"You're going to fall into the ocean," Jay said flatly.
"But imagine how cinematic that would be."
"It would be embarrassing."
"That too."
Ulupong Island looked unreal at night.
Soft golden lights lined the pathways leading through the tropical trees, the ocean glowing faintly beneath the moonlight while the huge villa stood peacefully near the shore.
Warm air.
Waves crashing gently.
And absolutely zero school.
The second Kanning stepped onto the dock, he dropped dramatically onto his knees.
"I'm never going back to HVIS."
"You're going back in seven days," Jay replied immediately.
"Don't ruin my dreams."
Cin was already running around.
"THERE'S PALM TREES."
"…It's an island," Gorya deadpanned.
"AND THE AIR FEELS EXPENSIVE."
"That sentence physically hurt me," Kavin muttered.
Meanwhile Jay—
Had changed completely.
The strict caretaker from the past week?
Gone.
The moment they arrived at Ulupong, something in her relaxed instantly.
Her shoulders loosened.
Her expressions softened.
And the quiet warmth everyone missed slowly returned.
"Jay."
She turned.
Cin pointed dramatically toward the beach.
"Race you."
"…What."
Too late.
He was already sprinting.
"CIN—!"
Jay stared for exactly two seconds before immediately chasing after him.
"GET BACK HERE."
Everyone watched silently as the two disappeared down the shore.
Kanning blinked slowly.
"…She really changed moods instantly."
Keifer's lips curved slightly.
"She likes this place."
Day One became complete disaster immediately.
The beach was beautiful.
Which Section E ruined within ten minutes.
"DON'T THROW SAND."
"I DIDN'T."
"YOU LITERALLY JUST DID."
"That was wind assistance."
Jay grabbed a handful of sand and threw it directly at Kanning's face.
"There. Now that was intentional."
"BETRAYAL—"
Cin was already dying laughing nearby.
Which lasted until Jay turned toward him slowly.
"…Don't."
"I didn't even do anything!"
"You were thinking about it."
"…Fair."
By sunset—
Everyone was soaked.
Nobody knew how it happened.
At some point they'd started splashing each other.
Which escalated into full war.
And somehow—
Jay was the biggest problem.
"JAY—STOP AIMING FOR MY FACE—"
"THEN MOVE."
"THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS—"
Cin got hit by another wave of water directly to the face.
Kanning collapsed dramatically into the ocean.
Thyme was laughing too hard to stand properly.
Even Felix and David got dragged into the chaos eventually.
And Keifer—
Actually smiled openly for once watching all of it.
That night—
They ate dinner outside near the shore.
Warm lights hanging above them while the ocean breeze moved softly around the table.
For once—
No one was stressed.
No school.
No pressure.
No fighting.
Just them.
Day Two was exploration day.
Which immediately became dangerous.
"Absolutely not."
"But the waterfall looks cool."
"No."
"We'll be careful."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
Cin pointed dramatically toward the jungle path leading deeper into the island.
"We must explore."
"You say that like a cartoon character."
"And yet I'm right."
Twenty minutes later—
Jay was leading the exploration herself.
"You're a hypocrite," Gorya said calmly.
"I know."
The island jungle was beautiful.
Huge tropical trees stretched overhead while sunlight filtered through the leaves in glowing patterns.
Small streams crossed the pathways.
Bird sounds echoed softly around them.
And somewhere deeper ahead—
The sound of rushing water grew louder.
Then they saw it.
The waterfall.
Everyone stopped instantly.
"…Whoa," Kanning breathed.
Water crashed powerfully from high cliffs into a clear blue pool below, mist spreading through the air beautifully while sunlight reflected across the surface.
Even Jay looked impressed despite already knowing the place.
Cin looked emotional.
"I'm becoming one with nature."
"You touched one leaf," Kavin replied.
"And it changed me."
Five minutes later—
Cin slipped on a rock.
"AAAH—"
Splash.
Silence.
Then—
Jay burst out laughing.
Actually laughing.
Not the tiny hidden smile she usually gave.
Full laughter.
And everyone froze.
Because seeing Jay genuinely lose composure like that?
Rare.
Cin resurfaced dramatically.
"You're laughing at my suffering."
"Yes."
"That's evil."
"You looked stupid."
Naturally—
Everyone ended up in the water.
Thyme nearly drowned Kanning accidentally.
Felix splashed David for the first time in history.
Gorya somehow stayed calm even while soaked.
And Jay—
Was terrifyingly competitive.
"WHY ARE YOU GOOD AT EVERYTHING," Kanning cried while losing another water fight.
"I'm just better."
"That sounded illegal."
Day Three became shopping and food.
Mostly food.
Cin discovered the island market.
Which was a mistake.
"Jay look."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
"Jay."
She sighed dramatically. "What now."
He held up a huge shark plushie proudly.
"…Why."
"It represents me."
"It looks traumatized."
"Exactly."
By Day Four—
Everyone was comfortable enough to become completely unbearable.
Kanning walked around shirtless because "vacation rules."
Thyme kept disappearing to sleep in random places.
Cin attempted fishing once and somehow lost the fishing rod entirely.
Kavin threatened violence every two hours.
And Jay—
Spent most of her time laughing at them.
That was the thing.
Here—
She looked different.
Lighter.
More like herself.
She ran around the beach barefoot.
Argued without real annoyance.
Smiled openly.
Sometimes even started the chaos herself.
And Section E noticed immediately.
"You're happier here," Felix said quietly one evening.
Jay paused slightly.
Then looked toward the ocean.
"…Maybe."
Cin immediately threw himself onto her shoulder.
"SHE ADMITTED IT."
"Get off."
"No."
Day Five was the cliff diving disaster.
"No."
"Come on."
"No."
"It's safe."
"No."
Cin pointed dramatically toward the cliff overlooking the ocean.
"We jump together."
"We die together," Jay corrected.
"That's still together."
Eventually—
Everyone somehow convinced her.
Mostly because Keifer simply walked to the edge calmly and said,
"It's fine."
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
The cliff wasn't dangerously high—
But definitely high enough to make everyone hesitate.
Except Cin.
Who immediately jumped screaming.
"AAAAAAAAAA—"
Splash.
Silence.
Then his voice echoed upward:
"I REGRET NOTHING."
Kanning went next.
Then Thyme.
Then Gorya.
Then Felix and David.
Kavin complained the entire time before jumping anyway.
And finally—
Only Jay and Keifer remained at the top.
"You nervous?" he asked.
"No."
"You hesitated."
"I was thinking."
"Dangerous activity."
"…Shut up."
He held out his hand slightly.
"Together?"
Jay stared at him for a second.
Then—
Took it.
And they jumped.
The ocean swallowed them instantly.
Cold water rushing around them before they surfaced again laughing breathlessly.
From below—
The others were yelling loudly.
Cin looked ready to ascend spiritually.
"THAT WAS AMAZING."
"I THINK MY SOUL LEFT MY BODY," Kanning shouted.
"That's normal."
"THAT ISN'T NORMAL."
By Day Six—
Nobody wanted the trip to end.
Even Kavin admitted it quietly.
Which shocked everyone.
That night they stayed on the beach until late.
Bonfire.
Music.
Ocean waves.
And soft laughter filling the air.
Cin fell asleep first.
Then Thyme.
Then eventually almost everyone else.
Leaving only Jay and Keifer still awake near the fire.
"You're quiet," he said.
"I'm thinking."
"Dangerous activity."
Jay looked at him blankly.
"…You stole my line."
"It was a good line."
For a while—
They just watched the ocean silently.
Then Keifer spoke again.
"You really came back here."
Jay looked toward the villa lights in the distance.
"…This place feels safe."
His expression softened slightly.
"Good."
Day Seven arrived too fast.
Suitcases returned.
Rooms emptied.
The villa became quieter again.
And for the first time all week—
Everyone looked genuinely upset.
Cin hugged one of the pillars dramatically.
"I refuse to leave."
"We're leaving," Jay replied.
"I'll swim back."
"You'll drown."
"That's future Cin's problem."
As the yacht slowly left Ulupong Island—
Everyone stood near the railing quietly watching it disappear further away.
The beaches.
The cliffs.
The waterfalls.
The villa.
All fading slowly into the distance.
"…We're coming back," Kanning said suddenly.
"Obviously," Gorya replied.
"It's basically our island now."
Jay immediately turned.
"No it's not."
"Yes it is."
"No."
Cin pointed proudly at the island disappearing behind them.
"Our emotional support island."
"That sentence was horrible."
"But true," Thyme muttered sleepily.
Jay sighed.
But this time—
She couldn't hide the smile on her face.
And beside her—
Section E smiled too.
Because somewhere between the chaos,
The beaches,
The cliff dives,
And the endless noise—
Ulupong had become more than a vacation.
It became theirs.