THIRD PERSON POV — THE ANNOUNCEMENT
The bell rang sharp and final, slicing through the low chatter of the classroom.
Sir Alvin walked in with his usual unhurried stride, folders tucked under one arm, expression unreadable in the way only teachers who'd seen too much could manage.
Section E quieted—not because they respected him, but because experience had taught them that silence saved energy.
Sir Alvin set his things down, turned, and smiled.
That was the first warning.
"Good morning," he said. "I hope you're all well-rested."
Groans answered him.
He ignored them.
"As you all know," he continued, picking up a marker, "the annual school festival is approaching."
The marker screeched briefly as he wrote across the board:
FESTIVAL WEEK — STARTS IN 4 DAYS
That got attention.
Cin straightened.
Rory muttered something under his breath.
Yuri adjusted his posture, already calculating logistics.
Keifer leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, jaw tightening.
Sir Alvin capped the marker and turned to face them.
"This year, the festival will run for five consecutive days," he said. "Each section will be responsible for participating in events during the day—"
A pause.
"And assisting with night patrol and clean-up duties after hours."
The room shifted.
Not surprised.
Just… irritated.
Sir Alvin continued, unfazed. "Your assigned responsibilities will be posted by the end of today. I expect full participation."
That was when Keifer spoke.
"No."
The word landed flat and clear.
Sir Alvin raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Keifer didn't move from his slouched position. "We're not participating."
A ripple went through the room.
Sir Alvin sighed, the sound patient but tired. "Keifer, this again—"
"With all due respect, sir," Keifer cut in, voice calm but sharp, "Section E always gets night duty. Trash collection. Security rounds. While everyone else gets stages and applause."
Cin clenched his jaw.
Edrix stared at the desk.
Even Yuri's expression tightened.
Sir Alvin folded his arms. "Every section contributes."
"No," Keifer said. "Every section performs. We clean up after them."
Silence followed.
Sir Alvin studied him for a moment. Then, evenly, "This is not optional."
Keifer laughed once, humorless. "Then fail us."
A few heads turned toward Jay.
She'd been quiet. As usual.
She stood.
The sound of her chair scraping back cut through the tension like a blade.
Sir Alvin looked surprised. "Jay?"
She didn't look at him.
She looked at Keifer.
"We should participate," she said calmly.
Keifer's head snapped toward her. "Excuse me?"
"We should," she repeated. "All of it."
A murmur spread.
Keifer scoffed. "Why? So we can play background characters while everyone else shines?"
Jay tilted her head slightly. "Since when do you care about shining?"
That earned a few suppressed snorts.
Keifer's eyes narrowed. "You don't get it."
"I do," she said evenly. "You're tired of being used."
"That's not—"
"But opting out won't fix it," she continued. "It just confirms what they already think."
Sir Alvin watched the exchange with open interest now.
Keifer straightened. "And what do they think, Jay?"
She didn't hesitate. "That Section E is only good for damage control."
The words settled heavily.
Jay turned to face the room, voice steady but carrying.
"If we don't show up," she said, "that's all we'll ever be."
Keifer held her gaze, something conflicted flickering behind his anger.
"And if we do?" he challenged.
Jay shrugged lightly. "Then at least the choice was ours."
Silence stretched.
Sir Alvin cleared his throat. "Well. That was… unexpectedly mature."
Keifer exhaled sharply through his nose, then looked away.
"Fine," he muttered. "We'll participate."
A beat.
"But I'm not enjoying it."
Jay sat back down like the matter was settled.
Sir Alvin smiled faintly. "Excellent. We'll discuss details tomorrow."
The bell rang.
---
Lunch that day was louder than usual.
Not chaotic.
Focused.
Section E claimed their usual table, trays hitting plastic in uneven rhythm. No one reached for food immediately.
Keifer leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Five days," he said. "They're milking us."
Cin nodded. "And nights too."
Yuri spoke calmly. "Complaining won't help. Planning will."
Jay slid into her seat, placing her tray down last.
"Agreed," she said. "So let's plan."
Keifer eyed her. "You're really taking charge, huh?"
She met his gaze without flinching. "Someone has to."
No one argued.
Yuri pulled out his phone, already opening notes. "The schedule?"
Jay ticked it off on her fingers.
"Day one: opening ceremony."
"Day two: dance performance."
"Day three: talent day."
"Day four: battle of the bands."
"Day five: fashion ramp walk."
Cin whistled. "They really want everything."
"And every night," Rory added, "patrol duty."
Keifer leaned back again. "Which means no sleep."
Jay nodded. "Which means efficiency matters."
Yuri glanced at her. "You've done this before."
"Something like it."
Keifer studied her for a moment, then asked, "Why do you care?"
Jay paused—not long enough to be suspicious, just enough to be deliberate.
"Because," she said, "if we're going to be exhausted anyway, we might as well make it worth it."
Cin grinned. "I like her logic."
Keifer didn't smile, but he didn't object either.
"All right," he said. "Let's break it down."
---
JAY'S POV —
If Section E ever went quiet, it was never because peace had been achieved.
It was because Keifer was about to lose his patience.
Which—judging by the way he slammed his tray down and rubbed his temples—was happening in approximately three seconds.
"All right," Keifer said sharply. "Before this turns into seventeen idiots yelling at once—patrol duty first."
Groans erupted immediately.
"Night duty again?" Mayo complained.
"Why is it always us?" Kit added.
"Because we're pretty," Blaster offered.
"No," Keifer said flatly. "Because we're trusted."
That shut them up. Mostly.
Keifer pulled out his phone, scrolling. "Three shifts. Seven to eleven. Eleven to three. Three to seven."
He looked up. "Listen carefully. I'm not repeating myself."
I leaned back, watching him take control with familiar ease. This—this was his territory. Structure. Order imposed through sheer will.
"Group one," he said. "Me, Jay, Cin, Yuri, David."
No one reacted.
Good.
"Group two," Keifer continued. "Felix, Calix, Edrix, Josh, Eman."
Felix gave a small nod. Edrix groaned anyway.
"And group three—Mayo, Kit, Drew, Denzel, Eren, Blaster."
Blaster grinned. "Chaos shift."
Keifer pointed at him. "Exactly why you're together."
Cin leaned over to me. "You notice how he didn't even ask for opinions?"
I smirked. "That's dominating."
Keifer shot me a look. "Don't encourage him."
---
OPENING CEREMONY — OR HOW SECRETS SLIP IN
"Next," Yuri said, already scrolling through the festival schedule. "Opening ceremony."
"Hosting," Rory said. "Guests. Other schools."
"And basketball exhibition," Cin added.
Felix stiffened.
I noticed.
Keifer didn't.
"The team list's already out," Keifer said. "Section E's not—"
"They are," I said calmly.
Every head turned.
Keifer frowned. "What?"
"The basketball team was short players," I continued, casual. "They needed someone who could actually keep up."
Felix stared at me. "Jay—"
"You're in," I said. "Opening game."
Cin's mouth dropped open. "HOW."
Keifer narrowed his eyes. "What did you do?"
I shrugged. "Fixed a problem."
"That's vague."
"That's intentional."
Felix exhaled slowly, something like relief washing over his face. "I won't mess this up."
"You won't," I said. "You don't."
Keifer studied me, clearly filing this away under Things Jay Does Without Permission.
---
DANCE PERFORMANCE — REGRETS BEGIN
"Day two," Keifer said. "Dance performance."
Immediate chaos.
I pointed at them one by one. "Cin. Drew. Denzel. Felix. Calix."
Cin choked. "ME?"
"Yes."
"I don't dance."
"Yes you do i spotted each one of you few days ago dancing in sync on that song uhh what was it's name.....," I said. "yess Dalenge dale...."
Drew groaned. "I should've skipped lunch."
Felix looked unsure. "I've never—"
"You'll do it" I said. "no argument.."
Keifer smirked. "I'll direct."
Cin glared at him. "You're enjoying this."
"Oh," Keifer said. "Immensely."
---
TALENT DAY — THE SOFTEST YES
"Talent day," Yuri said.
Silence.
Cin leaned forward slowly. "Yuri."
Yuri already knew. "No."
"You sing."
"I do not."
I looked at him. " please Yuri I want to hear it."
Yuri froze.
The table went quiet.
Keifer's jaw tightened—not angry. Something else.
"…You do?" Yuri asked.
"Yes."
A beat.
Then Yuri nodded. "Okay."
Cin nearly fell out of his chair. "HE SAID YES."
Keifer didn't look at anyone. His fingers tapped the table once. Twice.
I noticed.
I didn't comment.
---
BATTLE OF BANDS — CONTROLLED CHAOS
"Day four," Keifer said. "Battle of bands."
"I'm singing," he added immediately.
No one argued.
"Yuri—guitar," I said.
Yuri nodded.
"Blaster and Rory—bass."
Blaster pumped his fist.
"Felix—piano."
Felix smiled faintly.
"Edrix—drums."
Edrix cracked his knuckles.
Keifer glanced at me. "Choose a proper song"
Everyone shouted throwing suggestions ...
---
FASHION RAMP WALK — FINAL STRAW (REVISED)
"No."
Cin didn't just say it.
He shouted it.
The entire table went quiet.
A few heads from nearby tables turned.
"What?" Keifer snapped.
Cin pointed at me, eyes wide, voice rising. "It's obvious Jay has to do it. She's literally the only girl."
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"And?" I asked.
Cin swallowed, then blurted, "And I want to do it with her."
Dead.
Silence.
Even the clatter of trays seemed to pause.
I turned toward him slowly, caught off guard—but not offended. If anything, I was amused.
"Sure," I said lightly. "If that's what—"
"No."
Keifer's voice cut through the air, sharp and final.
Every eye snapped to him.
He was already standing.
"If Jay's walking," he said evenly, "then I'm the one walking with her."
Cin stared. "Since when is this your decision?"
"Since I'm the representative of Section E," Keifer replied, not raising his voice. "And this is a public event."
Yuri nodded first. "He's right."
"Yeah," Rory added. "Optics matter."
Cin opened his mouth, then closed it, glancing around and realizing he was outnumbered.
Jay studied Keifer for a second longer than necessary.
Then she shrugged. "Fine."
Keifer exhaled once, slow and controlled.
Cin slumped back in his seat. "This is betrayal."
Keifer didn't look at him. "Get over it."
Someone snorted.
By the time lunch ended, everyone looked exhausted—and strangely energized.
Keifer stood first. "This is insane."
"Yes," I agreed.
"And exhausting."
"Also yes."
He met my gaze. "But we're doing it."
"We are," I said.
He nodded once.
That was his version of agreement.
As we walked out, Cin leaned toward me. "You realize festival week might actually kill us, right?"
I smiled faintly. "Only if you let it."
Behind us, Keifer watched the group move together—loud, chaotic, united—and for the first time since this all began, he didn't feel like Section E was being dragged into something.
It felt like they were stepping forward.
And somewhere in the noise, under the jokes and complaints and plans—
The storm was smiling again...