--: Author's POV: --
The atmosphere at school was nothing short of a riot. The moment the bell rang for first period, the hallways became a chaotic sea of uniforms and slamming lockers. Inside the Section E classroom, the noise was at an all-time high. Without the strict presence of a teacher, the boys were in their element—Ci-N was balanced on the edge of a desk, Blaster was arguing about a motorcycle part, and several others were tossing a crumpled paper ball across the room.
The rowdiness reached a fever pitch until the door swung open. Jay Jay and Keifer walked in together. For a split second, a wave of silence washed over the room as the boys caught sight of them. Everyone was present—the usual loud, familiar faces of the Section—except for Yuri, whose seat remained glaringly empty in the middle of the room.
The rowdiness died down significantly when Sir Alvin marched in behind them. He slammed his heavy textbooks onto the desk with a loud thud, the sound echoing off the chalk-stained walls. He adjusted his glasses and signaled for everyone to settle down into their seats.
Before opening the attendance register, his gaze softened as it landed on Jay Jay. "Welcome back, Jay Jay," Sir Alvin said, his tone unusually gentle for a man known for his strictness. "How are you feeling? Angelo told me what happened... I'm truly glad you're back with us in class."
--: Jay Jay's POV: --
I felt the weight of many pairs of eyes on me, some curious, some relieved. I cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm okay now, Sir. Thank you for asking."
Just as the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Sir Alvin stood up and slapped his hand on the podium to get our attention before anyone could leave.
"One more thing!" he barked, his face hardening. "Listen up! Your final exams start in exactly one week. This is the endgame. If you fail these papers, you do not graduate. You stay right here while everyone else moves on. No excuses, no shortcuts. Start taking this seriously, or start looking for another year of school."
A collective groan erupted from the boys, but the reality was sinking in. This was it.
--: Author's POV: --
The rest of the school day was a blur of heavy realization. Between periods and during a surprisingly focused lunch, the Section E boys actually sat together to discuss the threat of the exams. Even the most troublesome boys seemed to understand the stakes. We reached a rare unanimous decision: we were going to study as a group. No one was going to be left behind.
When the final bell finally rang, Keifer drove Jay Jay back to the mansion. Instead of just dropping her at the door, he parked the car and followed her inside. Angelo was standing in the grand hallway, looking like he had been expecting them.
Keifer didn't hesitate. He stood tall, looking Jay Jay's brother directly in the eye. "Boss, I want Jay Jay to stay with me," Keifer said, his voice deep and unshakable. "A live-in relationship. It'll be safer for her, and it will help us both focus on these exams without the constant travel."
Jay Jay nearly choked. She looked at Keifer, her eyes wide with total shock. Angelo went dead silent, his gaze fixed on Keifer for a long, agonizing minute.
"Fine," Angelo finally said, his voice cold but certain. "But listen well: do not cross the line. This is for studying. I want to see a high percentage on those exams next week. If her grades drop, she comes back here that very hour. Do you understand?"
Jay Jay was stunned, a mixture of disbelief and pure happiness flooding her chest. She scrambled upstairs to her room to pack a bag, her hands shaking with excitement.
--: Keifer's POV: --
As soon as Jay Jay's footsteps faded, Angelo stepped forward, closing the distance between us until we were face-to-face.
"Stay in your limits, Keifer," Angelo warned, his voice a low, lethal vibration. "I'm trusting you with my sister, but if you do anything wrong with her—if you take advantage of this—you won't like what happens next."
I didn't flinch. I looked him straight back. "I won't do anything she isn't ready for, Angelo. I'm not that kind of man. My goal is to protect her, not hurt her."
He nodded slowly. I turned and headed upstairs to find her. She was in the middle of her room, hurriedly folding a sweater. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest.
She gasped, startled, but as soon as she felt me, she turned around in my arms. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to ask that?" she whispered, her face glowing with a deep pink blush.
"I didn't want to give you a chance to say no." I murmured. I leaned down, my lips crashing against hers. This wasn't a gentle kiss; it was desperate and deep, a fierce battle for dominance as our tongues clashed with a hunger that had been building for months. My hands tightened on her waist, pulling her so close that I could feel her heart hammering against my own ribs. It was a hot, emotional kiss—a promise, raw and intense, that I was never letting her go again.
--: Author's POV: --
A few minutes later, Jay Jay bid goodbye to Angelo and Aries, promising to visit frequently. Her mother was away, and her Tita and Tito were out of the country on business, so the farewell was brief.
When they arrived at Keifer's house, Keigan and Keiran practically burst through the door, tackling both of them in a hug. When Keifer told them Jay Jay would be staying, the two kids were ecstatic. However, they soon remembered they had a school project and headed out, leaving the house quiet.
Standing in the hall, Jay Jay looked at her bags. "Keifer, where should I put my luggage?"
"Just put it in the room above." he replied simply.
Jay Jay nodded and reached down to grab the heavy suitcase, but before her fingers could even touch the handle, Keifer's hand was already there. He picked it up effortlessly. "Go ahead, Jay. I'm right behind you."
She climbed the stairs, her heart fluttering with every step. When she reached the landing, she stopped right in front of the door to the guest room—the same room where she had slept once before, back during the terrifying Kiko incident. She stood there, hand hovering over the doorknob, waiting for him.
Keifer caught up to her and stopped, seeing her standing there. "What are you doing, Jay? Why are you stopping here?"
"To put the luggage away." she answered, looking at him with confusion.
Keifer let out a small, low laugh—a sound that was both amused and incredibly handsome. "What made you think you were staying in the guest room?"
He didn't wait for her to answer. He nudged her gently toward the door at the very end of the hall—his room. "You're staying with me, Jay. In our room."
Jay Jay's eyes went wide, her heart skipping a beat. "Our room?" she stammered, her voice going up an octave.
Keifer stepped closer, the suitcase still in his hand, and leaned down until his breath hitched against her ear. "Of course. Did you think I'd let you sleep in another room when you're finally under my roof?" He gave her a wink that was both playful and devastatingly handsome. "Unless you're scared you won't be able to keep your hands off me, Jay."
Jay Jay felt her face explode into a deep crimson, her skin turning as red as a tomato. She rolled her eyes frantically to hide the fact that she was blushing like crazy.
"You dream!" she snapped, quickly turning away to hide the smile she couldn't suppress.
Keifer stood there for a moment, watching the way she hurried down the hall, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He was thoroughly enjoying her reaction; seeing her so flustered and pink was a sight he knew he would never get tired of. He let out another soft chuckle, feeling a surge of affection for the girl who was finally sharing his space.
--: Jay Jay's POV: --
The evening truly was a whirlwind. No sooner had we set my bags down than the doorbell began to ring incessantly. It was the rest of Section E, and they didn't just come to study—they came like a hurricane. Within minutes, Keifer's quiet living room was buried under a mountain of open textbooks and chaotic energy.
While the other boys were paired off, helping each other or arguing over History and English, Keifer dragged his chair right next to mine. I was staring at my Physics and Calculus notes like they were written in an ancient, cursed language.
"I can't do this, Keifer!" I groaned, dropping my head onto the table with a loud thud. "Why is this so difficult? This math is literally going to take my life! I'm going to die before I even see the graduation stage!"
I heard a low, deep chuckle vibrate from the man beside me. I looked up to see Keifer smiling, looking completely unfazed by my drama.
"You're not going to die, Jay," he said, pulling my notebook toward him. "You're just overthinking it. Look at the formula again."
"I've looked at it for twenty minutes! The numbers are starting to dance!" I cried, throwing my pen down. "Science is even worse. Why do I need to know the chemical bond of something I'll never use? It's a conspiracy!"
Keifer laughed again, a warm sound that made the other boys look up for a second before they went back to their own work. He leaned in closer, his shoulder brushing mine, and began to break down the problems one by one. He was surprisingly patient, explaining the complex theories in a way that actually made sense. Every time I got a question right, he'd nudge my arm or give me that small, proud smirk that made my heart do a backflip.
By the time the last boy finally left and the door clicked shut, there was silence in the house. Keigan and Keiran had come back earlier and were already tucked away, fast asleep. I looked at the clock, shocked at how late it was.
"Go freshen up first," Keifer told me, his voice a low, tired rumble as he leaned against the doorframe. "I'll go after you."
I nodded, grabbing my bag and heading to the bathroom. I took a quick, steaming shower, letting the water wash away the day's stress. I changed into my most comfortable pajamas—a simple set that made me feel a bit more grounded. When I stepped back into the bedroom, I was still drying my hair with a towel. Keifer brushed past me, heading in for his turn.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door creaked open. I turned around and the air practically left my lungs. Keifer walked out... completely shirtless. His muscular frame was on full display—the broad curve of his shoulders, the sharp, defined lines of his chest, and his abs. I just stood there, my hands frozen on my towel, staring at him like a deer in headlights. He noticed immediately, a dangerous, playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Take a picture, Jay. It lasts longer."
"Wear a shirt!" I squeaked, my face turning a shade of red I didn't think was possible. I quickly rolled my eyes and looked at the ceiling, trying to play it cool, but my heart was drumming a frantic beat against my ribs.
"I always sleep like this. It's too hot for anything else." he chuckled, sounding far too amused by my reaction.
Realizing I wasn't going to win this, I climbed into the large bed, pulling the covers up to my chin and facing the wall. I felt the mattress dip significantly as he climbed in behind me. Suddenly, I felt his arm slide around my waist, pulling me back until my back was pressed firmly against his bare, warm skin. I gasped, my heart hammering so hard I was sure he could feel it. I was so nervous I was barely breathing.
Keifer gently turned me over so I was facing him. In the darkness, his eyes were soft, focused entirely on me. "Breathe, Jay. Just relax. I told your brother, and I'm telling you—I won't do anything without your permission, except for kissing you"
"Heyy!!" I tried to protest, my voice a flustered squeak, but before I could say anything else, he leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips.
"Shh," he murmured against my mouth, a playful edge to his voice. "Sleep now. We have to go to school tomorrow."
I nodded slowly, my muscles finally starting to relax. He pulled me closer, resting my head against his chest. Wrapped in his strength and listening to the steady, calm rhythm of his heart, the exhaustion of the day finally won. We both drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.