The day everything broke
The classroom was loud.
Too loud.
Pens tapping.
Students whispering.
Someone laughing near the windows.
But all of that noise faded the moment Keifer Watson spoke.
“I used you.”
The sentence fell into the room like a bomb.
Jay felt it before she fully heard it.
A strange ringing filled her ears.
Someone in the back muttered, “What the hell?”
Another voice whispered, “He actually said it…”
But Jay didn’t look at them.
She looked only at Keifer.
He was standing in front of her desk, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
Cold.
Too cold.
Like the boy who used to laugh with her at lunch and steal her snacks had never existed.
“I used you,” he repeated calmly. “For revenge.”
The room grew even quieter.
Cin froze halfway through opening a bag of chips.
Grace’s hand slowly covered her mouth.
Even the teacher at the front stopped writing.
Jay blinked.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
“Revenge…?” she whispered.
Keifer didn’t hesitate.
“For Aries.”
Several heads snapped toward her.
“Your brother took something from me,” Keifer continued. “So I took something from him.”
Jay felt the ground beneath her tilt.
“You.”
The word landed like a blade.
The classroom buzzed with shocked murmurs.
But Jay still didn’t scream.
Didn’t cry.
Didn’t throw anything.
She just stared at him.
For a moment—just one tiny moment—Keifer’s jaw tightened.
Like he wanted to stop talking.
Like something inside him was screaming at him to take it back.
But he didn’t.
Because everyone in Section E was watching.
And the lie had to look real.
Jay slowly nodded.
“Oh.”
The sound barely escaped her throat.
Her voice trembled.
“…okay.”
Cin stood up immediately.
“Wait—what do you mean okay?? Jay—”
But she was already stepping back.
Her movements were slow.
Careful.
Like she was afraid if she moved too quickly, the entire world would shatter around her.
Her throat burned.
Her chest tightened painfully.
But she refused to cry here.
Not in front of everyone.
Not in front of him.
She lowered her gaze.
“…sorry.”
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Keifer’s expression flickered for half a second.
Then it disappeared.
Jay turned.
And walked out of the classroom.
No one stopped her.
Not even Keifer.
The hallway felt wrong.
Too bright.
Too normal.
Students walked past laughing.
Lockers slammed shut.
Someone complained loudly about homework.
Jay kept walking.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Her vision blurred.
Her chest tightened until it felt impossible to breathe.
She reached the school gate.
The world tilted suddenly.
The pavement rushed toward her.
The last thing she heard was someone shouting—
“Jay?!”
And then darkness swallowed everything.
When Jay woke up, the first thing she saw was her ceiling.
Her bedroom.
The quiet hum of the fan.
Her head throbbed.
She pushed herself up slowly.
The door creaked open.
Aries stood there.
His expression was terrifying.
Not loud anger.
Not shouting.
Just a dangerous, controlled fury.
“You fainted,” he said.
Jay blinked.
“…oh.”
Aries walked inside and shut the door behind him.
“I got a call from school.”
His voice was tight.
“They said you collapsed outside the gate.”
Jay looked down at her blanket.
“I’m fine.”
Aries stared at her like she’d just insulted him.
“You fainted.”
“I’m okay now.”
“That’s not the point!”
His voice cracked slightly.
Jay flinched.
Aries immediately looked guilty.
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“What happened?” he asked more quietly.
Jay didn’t answer.
Aries’ jaw clenched.
“…did Keifer say something to you?”
Silence.
That was enough of an answer.
Something dangerous flashed in Aries’ eyes.
“I’m going to kill him.”
Jay’s head snapped up.
“No!”
Aries scoffed.
“He humiliated you in front of the entire class!”
Jay shook her head.
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?!”
Her voice shrank again.
“…it’s nothing.”
Aries looked like he might punch a wall.
Before he could say anything else—
The front door slammed downstairs.
Both of them froze.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the house.
Jay’s stomach dropped instantly.
Aries cursed under his breath.
“…don’t move.”
The bedroom door flew open.
Jeana Mariano stood there with her usual polished smile.
Behind her stood a tall man Jay didn’t recognize.
“Well,” Jeana said casually, looking around the room. “This is awkward.”
Aries immediately stepped in front of Jay.
“What do you want?”
Jeana rolled her eyes.
“Oh relax.”
She gestured to the man behind her.
“This is Andy.”
Andy gave a stiff smile.
“My husband.”
Aries laughed harshly.
“Which number?”
Jeana’s smile vanished slightly.
“Five.”
Aries scoffed.
“Congratulations.”
Jeana ignored him.
“We’re moving.”
Jay blinked.
“…moving?”
“Andy got a new job.”
She said it like it was the most normal thing in the world.
“New house. New city.”
Aries folded his arms.
“Good for you.”
Jeana pointed at Jay.
“She’s coming with us.”
The room went silent.
Aries’ expression changed instantly.
“No.”
Jeana raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t get a say.”
“She’s not going.”
Jay’s heart began pounding.
Jeana sighed impatiently.
“Jay. Pack your things.”
Jay didn’t move.
Aries stepped forward protectively.
“She said no.”
Jeana’s eyes sharpened.
“You think you can stop me?”
“Yes.”
Aries’ voice was deadly calm.
“I can.”
The tension in the room snapped tight.
Andy shifted uncomfortably.
Jeana looked between them.
Then suddenly grabbed Jay’s wrist.
“Come on.”
Aries reacted instantly.
He shoved Jeana’s hand away.
“Don’t touch her.”
Jeana glared.
“She’s my daughter.”
“And you lost the right to act like a mother years ago.”
Jay’s breath caught.
Jeana’s face hardened.
“Jay.”
Jay looked at Aries.
His hands were shaking.
Not from fear.
From rage.
“If you go with her,” he said quietly, “I’m coming too.”
Jeana laughed coldly.
“No you’re not.”
Jay swallowed hard.
Her chest felt tight again.
“…Aries.”
He turned to her immediately.
“You’re not going.”
Jay forced a small smile.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.”
“It’s temporary.”
Aries shook his head violently.
“You know exactly what happens when she takes you with her!”
Jay looked away.
“…I’ll be careful.”
Aries’ voice cracked.
“Jay—”
“…please.”
That single word broke something in him.
He stepped back slowly.
But his eyes burned with anger.
“If anything happens to you,” he said to Jeana, voice shaking, “I swear I will destroy everything you care about.”
Jeana scoffed.
“Drama king.”
Jay packed silently.
And left with her.
The next morning.
Jay stood in front of the mirror.
Her reflection looked… distant.
Like she was watching someone else.
She pulled on a long black sweater.
High collar.
Long sleeves.
Loose pants.
Everything covered.
Everything hidden.
She grabbed her bag.
And walked to school.
Section E was loud as usual.
Cin was arguing loudly with someone.
Grace was laughing.
Keifer sat near the window, flipping a pen between his fingers.
But when Jay walked in—
The entire room fell silent.
Because something was wrong.
Jay didn’t smile.
Didn’t greet anyone.
Didn’t tease Cin.
She simply walked to her seat and sat down quietly.
Cin frowned.
“…Jay?”
She looked at him slowly.
“Yes?”
Cin blinked.
“Why do you sound like a robot?”
Grace leaned forward.
“Are you okay?”
Jay nodded.
“I’m fine.”
But everyone could see the difference.
The girl who used to light up every room…
Looked like someone had turned the sun off.
And the person who noticed it most—
Was Keifer Watson.
Because when Jay accidentally lifted her sleeve to reach for her bag—
He saw something that made his stomach drop.
A faint bruise.
Barely visible.
But unmistakable.
And suddenly—
For the first time since he started his plan—
Keifer felt something dangerously close to panic.
