"They said you made him bleed."
Jay-jay didn't answer.
The guidance office was too quiet. The ticking clock above the door felt louder than the whispers outside. Transfer student.
Expelled. Violent. Psycho.
She had heard it all before.
"Jasper Jean Fernandez Mariano," the principal sighed, adjusting his glasses. "You understand this is your last chance?"
Jay-jay's lips curved slightly.
Last chances were funny. People only give them when they don't know your whole story.
"Yes, sir."
HVIS didn't know what they were getting.
Section E was in a separate building.
Not because they were special.
Because they were dangerous.
Jay-jay stopped in front of the classroom door. Loud laughter
echoed from inside. A chair scraped. Someone cursed. Someone else cheered.
Menaces.
Perfect.
She pushed the door open
Silence.
Seventeen boys stared at her.
Some amused.
Some annoyed.
Some curious.
And then there was him.
Mark Keifer Watson.
Leaning back in his chair like he owned the world. Jaw sharp. Eyes colder than December rain. The class president. The king of Section E.
He didn't smile.
He studied her.
"So this is the transfer?" he finally spoke.
His voice was calm. Too calm.
The teacher cleared her throat. "Class, this is Jasper Jean Fernandez Mariano. She'll be staying in Section E."
A low whistle came from the back.
"A girl?" someone muttered.
Keifer's gaze didn't leave her. "We don't accept girls here."
Jay-jay met his stare.
"Good thing I'm not asking."
A few boys laughed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Keifer didn't believe in coincidences
Not when the girl standing in front of him had the same last name as Aries Fernandez.
Aries.
The boy who stole his peace.
The boy who "let Percy die."
The boy now dating his ex.
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"Take the empty seat beside me," he said suddenly.
The class went quiet.
Yuri, sitting on Keifer's right, smirked slightly.
Oh.
This was going to be fun.
Jay-jay walked forward without hesitation and sat down.
Close enough for Keifer to notice the faint scar near her wrist.
Close enough for her to notice the anger behind his calm.
"You fight boys?" he asked softly.
She didn't look at him.
"Only when they deserve it."
Yuri chuckled.
Keifer leaned closer. "You put your ex in a coma."
Her fingers twitched.
There it was.
The whisper.
The blood.
For a split second, her breathing changed.
Keifer noticed.
And smiled.
So she had triggers.
Good.
Very good.
Lunch break.
Section E didn't go to the cafeteria. They weren't allowed.
Eman was cooking inside the classroom like it was normal.
Jay-jay watched quietly from the window.
"You're Aries' cousin, right?"
She turned.
Yuri.
Smile charming. Eyes calculating.
"Yes."
"That must be interesting."
She didn't reply.
Across the room, Keifer's eyes darkened.
Aries' cousin.
Fate was cruel.
But Keifer?
He could be crueler.
Later that day, Yuri leaned toward Keifer.
"You're thinking it, aren't you?"
Keifer didn't answer.
"Make her fall," Yuri whispered. "Break her. Break Aries with her."
Keifer looked at Jay-jay laughing lightly at something Cin said.
She didn't look dangerous right now.
She looked… human.
Which made it easier.
"I'll make her fall," Keifer said quietly.
"And when she does?"
Keifer's lips curved slightly.
"I'll make sure she hits the ground alone."
What Keifer didn't know?
Jay-jay had already survived worse falls.
And this time...
He might be the one who wouldn't survive.