The school gates were pure chaos. Students shoved each other, laughed too loud, and nearly knocked over anyone in their path. Section E, of course, was right in the middle.
Rory charged at Blaster with a backpack like a battering ram. "I will tag you! Today is the day!"
Blaster yelped, stumbling back. "Stop using your bag as a weapon! That's cheating!"
"Cheating? I call it tactical advantage!" Rory puffed up, then tripped over a stray sneaker.
I laughed from the sidelines, tightening my bag strap. School. Chaos. Perfect.
Keifer stayed glued to my side, smirking. "You didn't sleep much," he muttered low, only for me to hear.
I rolled my eyes, teasing. "And when did you become my mom?" 😏
He leaned in, grin widening. "Nah. Just your boyfriend… I mean, your future husband, making sure you survive the day."
I snorted, elbowing him lightly. "Keep dreaming, Keif."
Even as I joked, his presence made me feel safe, steady, untouchable.
Section E had turned the hallway into a circus. Cin was narrating Rory's 'epic fall' in slow motion. David and Denzel were stacking lunch trays into a wobbly tower. Kit and Eman tried a synchronized jump… failed spectacularly. Mayo and Edrix were debating if cafeteria pizza counted as a life decision.
And then there was Yuri.
He leaned against the lockers, calm, precise, scanning everyone. Brown eyes flicking over every move. My chest tightened a little—Mason's warning from the park floated in my mind: "Yuri… can't be trusted completely."
I shook it off. Yuri had always been reliable when it counted. Not my enemy. Not now. I trusted him.
I tilted my head, teasing. "Brooding again, or just pretending to be a ninja?" 😏
Yuri's eyes met mine briefly. Calm. Alert. Slight twitch near his pocket. "Something like that," he murmured.
I smiled. "Very serious. Should I be scared?" 😏
He didn't answer, just watched, calm and focused.
Keifer leaned in, whispering with a grin, a little possessive. "You okay? You've been staring at him like you're planning to throw him into a locker or something." 😒
I smirked, nudging him. "Nah… just making sure our broody friend doesn't steal my spotlight."
Keifer's grin widened. "Good. Because I've got the husband/boyfriend duties covered. Nobody's touching my girl." 😏
I rolled my eyes, laughing. "Nobody's calling you that, you know."
He shrugged, playful and smug. "Doesn't matter. I said it, so it's official. Your jealous, flirty protector, at your service."
The bell rang, chaos exploded. Rory swung from a railing. Blaster shrieked, holding snacks like a shield. Lunch trays toppled. Kit and Eman collapsed mid-jump, groaning.
I shook my head, laughing. "How are you all even surviving this?"
Keifer leaned in, teasing. "You really do pick the craziest friends… and the wildest chaos." 😏
I grinned. "Quality entertainment. And I have the best bodyguard to handle the crazy."
He smirked, brushing a stray hair back. "I'll take that title anytime. Aura? Covered. You? Handle your chaos. Everyone else? Not my problem." 😎
Yuri stayed calm, silent, observing. I glanced at him, smiled, and whispered under my breath, "Don't worry, I trust you… just don't explode or anything." 😏