Jay's POV
It had been a week.
A strange, quiet week.
Yuri had been acting… different. Not bad. Just quieter. Watching more. Thinking more.
Keifer, on the other hand, was still the same on the outside. Calm. with Sienna . Acting normal.
But something between us felt like thin glass. One wrong step and it would shatter.
Today was the University Family Day Program. The annual event where parents and siblings were invited to celebrate student achievements. Speeches. Performances. Awards. Food stalls outside.
The campus was buzzing.
Aunty Gemma arrived first with Aries and Ella. Ella ran toward me and hugged me.
"Jay! You look so pretty!" she said.
I laughed and bent down. "You too even more than freya now!"
Later, Percy arrived… and then my dad.
Jasper Mariano.
He came in the middle of the program, walking in with Percy. I stood up when I saw him. He smiled at me softly before taking a seat.
Then I saw Keifer's side.
Keiren and Keagan walked in together. They looked almost too cool for the event. Keifer stood up and greeted them. Honey had apparently brought them.
Chantelle's dad arrived too, with her younger brother. It was my first time seeing them. They looked warm. Protective.
Everyone slowly settled into their seats.
Keifer walked over and sat beside me.
Before I could even react, Sienna was approaching, clearly intending to sit next to him.
But Keiren casually dropped into the seat first.
Keagan followed.
Keifer grinned and gave Keiren a high five.
Sienna stopped for a split second… then forced a smile and walked away.
That's when I saw it.
Percy noticed.
He wasn't looking at the stage. He was looking at us.
At the space between me and Keifer.
The air.
The distance.
Something wasn't right.
The program continued. Speeches. Clapping. Laughter.
I stood up quietly. "I'll be back," I whispered.
Keifer nodded.
I walked toward the restroom hallway.
On my way back…
I stopped.
Sienna was standing near the side entrance.
She wasn't alone.
She was handing money to two unfamiliar men.
They took it and left quickly.
I froze behind a pillar.
My heart began to beat faster.
Then I heard her voice.
Calm.
Almost excited.
"Today this place will go boom boom boom… like fireworks."
She smiled.
Then she walked out of the university gate.
My stomach dropped.
Boom.
Fireworks.
My brain clicked.
Bomb.
There's a bomb.
My hand reached for my phone.
Empty.
Chantelle has it.
Why do I keep giving her my phone? Why today of all days?
Think, Jay. Think.
I can't waste time.
What if I'm wrong?
What if I'm overreacting?
What if I cause panic for nothing?
But what if I'm right?
And I stay quiet?
And someone dies?
My chest tightened.
Run.
I swallowed hard.
No time.
No time.
I started running.
Through the hallway.
Past decorations.
Past smiling parents.
My heart was pounding so loudly it felt like it would burst out of my chest.
I pushed the hall doors open.
"KEIFER!" I shouted.
The entire hall went silent.
Every single head turned toward me.
Keifer immediately stood up.
Angelo. Aries. Ci-n. Felix. Yuri. Chantelle. Ciel. Calix. Endrix. Adrian.
They all rushed toward me.
Keifer grabbed my shoulders. "What's wrong?"
I couldn't breathe.
"Bomb…" I gasped.
Say it.
Say it.
"Huh? Calm down," he said.
"There's… a… bomb… in here."
The word echoed.
Bomb.
The principal stood up. "What is this—"
BOOM.
The first explosion blasted from the stage.
The lights flickered.
Screams filled the hall.
Smoke.
Chaos.
The stage exploded.
Heat.
Smoke.
Screams.
My ears rang.
I was right.
I was right.
And I wish I wasn't.
Did I act fast enough?
Did I save anyone?
Or am I too late?
And my heart stopped.
End of Chapter 74💥