Kiefer – POV
I stood alone on the second floor, staring into nothing.
I missed Jay Jay.
And more than that…
I regretted everything.
Why did I leave her alone…?
A sudden movement near the entrance caught my attention.
Aries.
He walked toward me slowly.
"I asked your classmates," he said.
"They told me you came out for some fresh air… so I came here."
I frowned slightly.
"Why do you need me… suddenly?"
Instead of answering immediately, he sat down beside me—calm, composed.
"I want to talk about that night," he said.
"To clear the misunderstanding."
I let out a dry laugh.
"Hah… why now?"
"For Jay Jay," he replied.
"I love my sister… and you love her too. Angelo wants everything cleared."
I looked at him sharply.
"Since when did you start caring?" I snapped.
"You were the one who left her—when I was—"
"Leave that," Aries cut in firmly.
"I'm here to clear things. Will you listen?"
I took a deep breath.
"…Fine. But don't lie."
Aries nodded.
"That night… I never pushed Percy," he said quietly.
"I held onto him till my last breath… but he pushed me away to save me."
My eyes widened.
"I couldn't help him," Aries continued, his voice trembling slightly.
"But I never pushed him. I never left him."
Silence.
"Then… why didn't you tell me before?" I asked.
"Because you were blinded," he replied bitterly.
"You trusted your best friend… not me."
Guilt hit me hard.
"Aries… I'm sorry," I said, my voice low.
"I didn't know. I really didn't…"
He shook his head.
"It's fine," he said softly.
"Let's just… start again."
He looked at me.
"For her."
I nodded.
"For Jay Jay… we bring her back."
"Together."
Suddenly, his phone rang.
He picked it up, then looked at me.
"It's Angelo," he said.
"He talked to Holy Saints. He wants both of us there… to bring her back."
I hesitated.
"But… Aries… she won't even want to see my face."
"If you keep avoiding her," he replied, standing up,
"how will she ever know what you sacrificed?"
He extended his hand slightly.
"Let's go."
I stood up—and pulled him into a brief, firm hug.
A fresh start.
Two hours later…
"This is the place," Angelo said as we arrived.
"Let's head to the office."
We nodded and followed him inside.
The school was smaller than HVIS…
but it was complete chaos.
Students arguing.
Fights breaking out.
Noise everywhere.
"This place is a mess…" I muttered.
Angelo knocked on the office door.
"May we come in?"
"Please, Mr. Fernandez," a lady replied from inside.
We entered.
She gestured for us to sit.
"Miss Amelia," Angelo said politely.
"How is everything going?"
The woman suddenly looked relieved.
"Oh, thank God you're here!" she exclaimed.
"Please take her away!"
Angelo frowned.
"I don't understand."
"Jay Jay…" she said, stressed.
"Sixty-two detentions in one and a half months! I don't know what will happen if she stays even fifteen more days!"
My eyes widened.
Sixty-two…?
"She and her gang are involved in almost everything," Miss Amelia continued.
I glanced at Angelo.
His face had gone pale—full of disappointment.
"Miss," he said, controlling his tone,
"we're here to take her back to HVIS."
"Oh no," she replied quickly.
"She has to stay fifteen more days. Didn't you know? HVIS students are transferring here temporarily for a tour."
Aries and I exchanged looks.
"We didn't know," Aries said.
Angelo sighed.
"…Fine."
He gestured toward us.
"Then place these two in her class."
Miss Amelia raised a brow.
"And who are they?"
"This is Aries Fernandez Mariano—Jay Jay's elder brother."
Aries nodded politely.
"And this…" Angelo paused slightly,
"…is her fiancé, Mark Kiefer Watson."
I froze for a second.
Miss Amelia blinked.
"She's engaged?" she said, surprised.
"Oh… I see."
"Hello, Miss," Aries greeted.
"You seem quite different from your sister," she said.
"I hope you stay that way."
Aries only nodded.
"So… can we meet her?" Angelo asked.
"Her classes are over," Miss Amelia said.
"She's probably at the old stadium with her friends. Let me call someone."
She called a boy inside.
"Max, do you know where Jay Jay is?"
"I don't follow her, Miss," he said quickly.
"Ate Jay is like a walking tornado, but—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
The door suddenly opened.
A girl walked in—with two boys behind her.
She slammed a paper on the desk.
"Sign this."
Miss Amelia stiffened.
"Mr. Angelo… this is Mia Valdez. Jay Jay's best friend."
"Mia, what is this? And behave properly," she scolded.
Mia crossed her arms.
"Miss, if you want respect, earn it," she said coldly.
"This is for canceling thirty-four detentions—for me and Jay Jay."
The room went silent.
"You should cancel it," Mia continued, her tone dangerous.
"Or else… last time she only broke your table."
She leaned slightly forward.
"This time… she might burn something worse."
Miss Amelia immediately signed the paper.
"F-Fine… here."
Mia smirked.
"That was fast."
Then—
"Miss Mia," the headmistress said nervously,
"please take them to Jay Jay. They are her brothers… and fiancé."
Mia turned toward Angelo—and bowed slightly.
"Hello, Kuya. I'm Mia, Jay Jay's best friend. Sorry for the behavior."
Miss Amelia looked shocked.
"I never thought you were this respectful…"
Mia tilted her head slightly.
"You don't deserve it," she replied calmly.
Then she turned to us.
"I'll take you to Jay," she said.
"But remember… I'll be back for the rest of those detentions."
She glanced back at the headmistress.
"Or your son might end up in the hospital."
Silence.
"Kuya… follow me."
We exchanged looks—
…and started following her.