The next morning, Sera arrived earlier than usual.
Section E was half-empty, the seats as cracked as the futures expected of them. She took her usual spot by the window — third row, last seat. The perfect view of everything and nothing.
Then someone sat beside her.
That never happened.
Students in Section E barely spoke to her, let alone sat with her. She looked sideways and nearly blinked.
It was **Jax Rivera.**
Quiet. Cold. Dangerous in a "won't even text you back after ruining your life" kind of way. Rumor said he once broke someone's arm for looking at him wrong.
He didn't speak.
Just placed a folded piece of paper on her desk and walked out.
She waited five seconds. Ten.
Then unfolded it.
> "You're not the only one hiding a crown. Be careful who watches you watch them."
Her fingers froze.
So **someone else knew**.
Jax.
Why him?
Before she could process it, a shadow fell across her desk.
**Kairo.**
Not in a uniform. Just a black hoodie and silver chain. Eyes sharp.
"Walk with me," he said flatly.
She didn't move.
He leaned in, voice low. "Now, Velasquez."
Her heart skipped.
He knew.
He turned and walked off. Didn't look back.
She followed.
Out of the classroom. Down the back hall. To the fire exit stairwell no one used.
When the door slammed shut, he spun around.
"Who paid for your enrollment?"
Sera's expression didn't change. "Why? You looking to thank them?"
"I searched every transfer file. Your records don't exist. Your ID is ghost-printed. Even your school photo is glitched."
She let a small, infuriating smile rise. "Maybe I just photograph badly."
Kairo stepped closer. Too close.
"No. You're *hiding*. And I don't know why. But I will."
"You sure you're not just obsessed with me?"
He didn't laugh.
He stared like he wanted to drag the truth out of her with his bare hands.
"You don't belong in Section E. You're not scared of us. You don't flinch at authority. And your eyes? They look like you're always calculating."
"You sound like you're in love," she said calmly.
That got to him.
He leaned in closer, lips inches from her ear.
"Careful, Velasquez. If I fall... I might take you with me."
She whispered back, "Good.Maybe you'll finally feel what its like to burn."