When Section E Declared a State of Emergency
Jay's POV
If chaos was a person, it would've been named Section E.And today — exam day — the chaos was wearing a crown.
I clutched my pen like a sword, staring at the paper. "Okay, Jay. You've survived worse — like Aries' morning insults. You got this."
From behind me, a voice too confident for this hour drawled,"Talking to yourself again, Piggy?"
I groaned. "Keifer, please. Not before I mentally die."
He smirked, leaning on my desk. "You look cute when you panic."
"I'll throw this pen at you."
"Make it a love letter instead."
I turned red. "Focus on your test, Romeo."
He chuckled, hands in pockets. "Already memorized half of it. But sure — you first."
As everyone gathered, Section E looked like a pre-exam festival of doom.
Rory was pacing like a priest before a ritual.Cin was meditating with earphones on, chanting: "Focus frequency, don't fail frequency."Edrix was pretending to be calm but his leg was shaking like a drumbeat.Drew snored softly on top of his notes.Eren was hyping everyone like, "WE GOT THIS! WE DIE TOGETHER!"
Mayo: "Bro, that's not motivation."Blaster: "I wrote a song for the exam!"Teacher: "No, you didn't."
And somewhere in the middle of it all was me — regretting every decision that led me here.
Teacher: "You may start now."
Silence.Then panic.
Rory gasped. "Is this English or alien?"Cin squinted. "Is that a question or a threat?"I whispered, "Okay, okay, we studied this… right? …RIGHT?"
Cin leaned over and whispered, "Jay-jay, number three is easy. Think sodium, not sadness."
I almost laughed. "Thanks, genius."
Keifer glanced up, noticing my struggle, and tapped his pen lightly against my desk."Hey, breathe," he murmured. "You're overthinking."
I exhaled slowly, nodding. He gave me that small, proud grin that somehow made my brain function again.
Halfway through, I made the mistake of reading the last question.It looked like a paragraph written by the devil himself.
My expression must've been… dramatic.
Because from two seats ahead, Yuri — calm, perfect Yuri — actually laughed.A quiet, genuine laugh.
I froze. "Did you just—laugh?"
He didn't even look back. Just shook his head, shoulders still shaking in silent amusement.
Keifer raised a brow, whispering, "Wow, Yuri laughed. Mark this day in history."
"Shut up and write," I hissed.
"Can't. You're funnier than my exam."
When the exam finally ended, we all dropped our pens like survivors of war.
Cin threw his arms in the air. "I ASCENDED!"Rory groaned. "I need therapy."Edrix: "Coffee first, therapy later."Mayo: "Who's treating me to food?"Blaster: "I'll write a breakup song for this test."
Keifer leaned close to me, his voice soft. "See? You lived. I told you you'd do fine."
I sighed, half-smiling. "Barely."
He grinned. "Barely is still victory, Piggy."
Yuri passed by, quiet as always, but when he caught my eye, the corner of his mouth lifted again."Nice face back there, Jay. I almost lost my focus."
I blinked. "You were watching?!"
"Hard not to," he said with a small smirk, walking off like it was nothing.
For a second, I just stood there, brain frozen.Then I felt Keifer's stare.
"Wow," he said flatly, twirling his pen between his fingers. "So now even Mr. Perfect Focus laughs at your exam face?"
I raised a brow. "Why? Jealous?"
He gave a low chuckle — the kind that sounded too casual to be real."Me? Nah. Why would I be jealous of a guy who smiles once a year?"
"Because it was at me," I teased, poking his arm.
His grin flickered into something sharper."Oh, trust me, Jay," he murmured, leaning closer so only I could hear."If he ever smiles too much at you, I'll make sure he forgets how."
My heart stuttered. "Possessive much?"
He shrugged, eyes glinting. "Just… protective."Then he grinned again, that signature Keifer charm snapping back like a mask."Now come on, chaos commander — let's go celebrate not dying in that exam.
(thank you jkaur_n , Priya_sharma8244, ayesha_frenandes, MI_62, kadambinjain12, jayfer321, cinnamoroll, dahliah_0, AMNSEfanforlife, daoistcbggch, pallavi_shori, ena_shah, serina_saddie, jaykeifer2021, maizy_4843, shreekha_surve, nsaw_ & Aloua for your support )