Chapter 2 β The Teasing Storm ππ
The moment Sir left the room after announcing the random pairings, it was like someone released a swarm of bees. The entire classroom exploded into noise, laughter, and ridiculous ideas β exactly how Section E always operated.
"Random pairings again?! π± This is so unfair! I demand another exam instead!!" Felix dramatically threw his pencil onto the desk.
"Or better! We should all pair with Blaster β he'll protect us!"
Calix shouted, making everyone burst out laughing. π€£π₯
Blaster puffed up his chest like it was the best compliment he'd ever heard. "I'll crush anyone who tries to mess with you!" he grinned, flexing his arm. πͺπ₯
"Please noooo," Ci-n groaned, covering her face.
"Yeahhh! I can't survive a project with someone crazy!" David whined, throwing his arms up like it was the end of the world. ππ
---
Jay's POV ππ
I sat frozen in my seat, heart racing like I'd run a marathon.
Every laugh, every shout, every ridiculous suggestion made my cheeks burn. I wanted to sink into the desk and disappear.
Why is this happening now?
Why do I feel like my entire body knows what's coming? π΅βπ
I tried to focus on Ci-n and David's chatter, but every few seconds, my eyes betrayed me β darting toward Keifer.
He was calm⦠too calm.
Doesn't he care? I thought. Or is he pretending like I am? My heart wouldn't listen. It kept racing the moment I glanced at him.
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Keifer's POV π
The classroom chaos barely reached me. All I cared about was her.
She sat next to Ci-n and David, pretending she didn't hear the jokes, hiding the way her lips trembled whenever someone mentioned random pairing.
But I saw everything.
Her eyes flickered. Her fingers clenched. The blush on her cheeks deepened every time someone teased. I wanted to go to her, to hold her hand, to tell her it's okay β that I still love her.
But I couldn't.
Because if I let my emotions spill, I'd break. And I knew she'd do the same. So I smiled widerβ¦ like I didn't care at all. ππ₯
---
The teasing spread like wildfire.
"AYYYYY!! Keifer and Mutya pairing up?!" Yuri shouted, throwing both hands in the air like he couldn't believe it.
"FATE HAS SPOKEN!! π₯π₯" Josh cheered.
Mayo started drumming on his desk like it was an announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the ultimate project pairing!!" π₯π
Drew and Eman exchanged grins like they were watching a movie unfold.
Rory clapped his hands enthusiastically. "This is gonna be EPIC!!" π€©π£
Even Edrix and Denzel, who usually pretended to act cool, exchanged knowing glances and smirked like they were already imagining the drama.
Felix whispered to Calix, "They look so dead alreadyβ¦ this is going to be wild!" π€
---
Jay's pov
"Stoppp!!" I hissed at David when he leaned in again. "You're embarrassing me!"
Ci-n giggled uncontrollably. "Awwwwβ¦ Mutya's blushing!! π³π"
"See?! It's confirmed!!" David teased, pointing at me like he'd uncovered a crime scene. π€£π₯
I groaned and covered my face. But inside, my heart kept skipping like it wanted to fly out of my chest.
---
Keifer's POV π
She looked like she wanted to run but didn't. She smiled⦠awkwardly. Her cheeks burned like fire, but she still sat there like nothing was wrong.
She's hurting. She's trying so hard not to show it, I thought.
My chest twisted. I wanted to reach out and tell her⦠but I stayed silent.
So I just sat there, staring at her through the laughter and noise, knowing she felt it too. Even if she wouldn't say it.
---
The bell finally rang, but nobody moved. Sir's voice was heard from the corridor, but the room stayed frozen like it was part of a show.
At last, Edrix shouted, "Come on guys!! Let's at least breathe before we explode!!" π
That broke the spell. The whole class burst into even louder chatter and laughter, some mimicking TV commentators, others shouting movie quotes, and a few already planning how to prank the next day.
I forced myself to stand, grabbing my things, trying to look casual β but my eyes kept darting back to him.
He stood up too, still calm, still pretending nothing was happening β but his eyes, just for a second, locked with mine.
It was like time slowed down.
Do you still love me?
Do I still love you?
Neither of us spoke.
But in that silent moment⦠everything was already written.