(Jay jay) pov
I woke up slowly.
For a second, I didn't move.
I just stared at the ceiling.
Something felt… different.
Not wrong.
Not heavy.
Just—
light.
I blinked a few times, trying to understand it.
Usually, mornings felt sharp. Loud. Like my mind would start running before I even opened my eyes.
But today—
it was quiet.
Soft.
I sat up slowly.
My body felt a little tired… but not in a bad way.
More like I had finally let something go.
I looked around my room.
Then it hit me.
How did I even get here?
I frowned slightly.
"I don't remember walking back…" I muttered.
Then—
a thought.
Keifer.
I paused.
"…he carried me?" I thought.
For some reason—
that didn't feel weird.
I shook my head slightly and stood up.
"Okay… don't overthink," I muttered to myself.
I got ready slowly.
Nothing rushed.
Nothing forced.
Just normal.
Water.
Mirror.
Clothes.
And for the first time—
I didn't feel like I was pretending.
When I walked downstairs—
the noise hit me immediately.
"—I look better than you, just accept it!"
Percy.
Of course.
"You look the same," Aries replied.
"That's called consistency."
"That's called boring."
I exhaled softly.
A small smile forming before I could stop it.
I walked in.
Percy immediately turned toward me.
"Finally! Tell him how I look."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I just woke up and you want validation?"
"Yes."
I looked at him for a second.
Then shrugged.
"…like everybody."
Silence.
Then—
"EXCUSE ME?" Percy snapped.
I sat down casually.
"That's the best you're getting."
Aries smirked. "I like her."
"You always liked me," I said without thinking.
"True."
I leaned back slightly in my chair.
And that's when I felt it.
A smile.
Not forced.
Not small.
Real.
Because Percy and Aries were still arguing.
Loud.
Dramatic.
Completely unnecessary.
"…you used my hair product!"
"I improved it!"
"You destroyed it!"
I shook my head slightly.
"…idiots," I thought.
But I didn't mean it.
Then—
I felt it.
A presence beside me.
Keifer.
I didn't turn immediately.
But I knew.
Then his voice.
Low.
Quiet.
Only for me.
"You okay?"
I paused.
For a second, the old answer almost came out.
I'm fine.
But—
I stopped myself.
"…hmm," I said instead.
Simple.
Honest.
I glanced at him.
He was already looking at me.
Not questioning.
Not pushing.
Just… noticing.
And then—
He nodded.
Like that was enough.
Like he believed me.
And for once—
I wasn't lying.
We started eating.
The room was still noisy.
Still chaotic.
Still them.
But I didn't feel out of place.
I felt… in it.
I looked around.
Everyone was in uniform.
Right.
School.
Last day of study break was over.
I sighed.
"…unfortunate," I thought.
Percy adjusted his tie dramatically.
He's two years older than us.
Still acts like this.
Aries—also older—was already ready, looking like he didn't care.
He's in Section A.
Of course he is.
And me…
and Keifer…
Section E.
I shook my head slightly.
"…makes sense," I thought.
After breakfast, we got up.
Movement everywhere.
Shoes.
Bags.
Noise.
We stepped outside.
Cars waiting.
Aries opened the back door.
Paused.
Then sighed dramatically.
"…I hate this," he muttered under his breath.
I almost laughed.
Percy smirked. "Backseat suits you."
"Shut up."
I walked toward the front.
Keifer was already there.
Driver's seat.
I paused for a second—
then opened the door beside him and sat in.
It felt natural.
Too natural.
The engine started.
The drive was… loud.
Of course.
Percy talking.
Aries complaining.
Someone laughing.
I leaned slightly against the window.
Watching outside.
And for once—
I wasn't thinking about leaving.
We reached the school.
HVIS.
Big.
Crowded.
Normal.
Aries got out first.
"I'll see you," he said casually.
"Try not to fail," Percy added.
"Try not to breathe," Aries replied.
And walked off.
I shook my head.
Then me and Keifer walked inside.
Hallways.
Students.
Noise.
And then—
Section E.
We stepped in.
"OH LOOK WHO DECIDED TO SHOW UP!" someone shouted.
I blinked.
Then smiled.
Felix.
Of course.
"Missed us?" Calix added.
"Not really," I said.
Cin walked up to me immediately.
Not too close.
But close enough.
"You're late."
"I'm on time."
"Same thing."
I rolled my eyes.
Eren waved dramatically.
Drew was already laughing at something.
David sat quietly like always.
Josh and Mayo arguing about something random.
Kit, Baster, Eman, Edrix, Denzel—
all there.
Chaos.
Complete chaos.
"…yeah," I thought.
"This is Section E."
Me and Keifer walked to our usual seats.
I sat beside him.
The class slowly settled.
First lecture.
Sir Alvin.
Boring.
Very boring.
I rested my chin on my hand.
Trying to focus.
Failing.
Second lecture.
Mam Cindy.
Still boring.
I glanced sideways.
Keifer looked normal.
Focused.
Or pretending to be.
I almost smiled again.
And then—
finally—
Lunch break.
I exhaled.
"…finally," I thought.
And for the first time—
School didn't feel like something I had to survive.
It just felt like…
Another day.