Jay POV
Monday.
School.
Teachers.
Assignments.
Annoying classmates.
And Keifer Watson.
Unfortunately, all four were still part of my life.
I got out of my car, adjusted my bag, and headed toward the school entrance.
Everything seemed normal. Students were chatting, some were rushing to class, and others were standing around as if school had been built specifically for them to waste time.
I spotted Yuri and Keifer near the stairs.
Yuri was saying something while Keifer checked his phone.
"Morning," I greeted them.
Yuri looked up. "Look who decided to show up."
I checked my watch. "I'm five minutes early."
"Exactly. Suspicious."
I stared at him. "Do you want me to go home?"
"Absolutely not. I need someone to suffer with me."
Keifer slipped his phone into his pocket and looked at me.
"Good morning, wifey."
I stopped walking.
Yuri immediately burst out laughing.
I turned toward Keifer. "Can you behave like a normal human being for one morning?"
"No."
"At least you know."
He smiled and took my bag from my shoulder.
"Come on. We'll be late."
I watched him walk ahead with my bag.
Then I looked at Yuri.
"Did he hit his head?"
Yuri shook his head, still laughing. "No. He's always been like this around you."
"That's unfortunate."
"Very."
We followed him to class.
And just like that, another perfectly ordinary school day began.
Or so I thought.
The morning passed without anything unusual happening.
Our teacher gave us an assignment, Felix complained about the number of questions, Ci-n tried to convince everyone that question four was written in a language nobody had invented yet, and David finished before the rest of us had even decided which page to start on.
I was halfway through my work when Keifer leaned over.
"What's the answer to number six?"
I looked at him.
"You have your own paper."
"I know."
"Then use it."
"I prefer yours."
"How romantic. Go away."
He leaned back, looking perfectly pleased with himself.
Yuri glanced at him. "You know, if you spent half as much time studying as you do disturbing Jay, you'd probably finish before David."
Keifer picked up his pen.
"Who said I wasn't finished?"
David looked up from his book.
"Your paper is blank."
Silence.
Felix slowly turned around.
Ci-n put down his snack.
I stared at Keifer.
He stared at his paper.
Then he calmly said, "I was testing whether the questions were worth answering."
David nodded thoughtfully.
"Interesting. I was testing whether you had a functioning brain."
The entire row erupted.
Even I couldn't hold back my laughter.
Keifer pointed his pen at David.
"You're becoming too comfortable."
David returned to his book.
"Your paper remains blank."
Honestly, I loved David sometimes.
By lunchtime, I was ready to escape the classroom.
Mia and I headed to the cafeteria, where we found the boys already occupying a table.
Felix was eating.
Ci-n was stealing from Felix.
Felix was stealing from Blaster.
Blaster was arguing with both of them.
And David was eating peacefully in the middle of it all, which was probably the greatest demonstration of patience I'd ever witnessed.
I sat beside Mia.
"Why do you people always eat like food is about to be discontinued?" I asked.
Ci-n swallowed.
"Because we have dreams."
"Your dream is stealing Felix's chicken?"
"One of them."
Felix pulled his plate closer.
"Touch my food again and we're no longer friends."
Ci-n reached for another piece.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take."
I shook my head and opened my drink.
Then someone approached our table.
"Good afternoon, beautiful people!"
I closed my eyes.
No.
Absolutely not.
Not here.
Not at school.
Not while I was trying to enjoy my lunch.
I knew that voice.
I had heard it yesterday.
I had heard it at home.
I was beginning to suspect I'd hear it in my nightmares.
I opened my eyes.
And there he was.
Percy.
Wearing sunglasses indoors.
A watch that probably cost more than my first car.
And an expression that suggested the world had gathered specifically to admire him.
He pulled out a chair.
"Please, don't stand up. I know my arrival has improved the atmosphere, but there's no need to make a ceremony out of it."
I stared at him.
"Why are you here?"
He removed his sunglasses.
"To see my favourite people."
"You met me yesterday."
"And yet, here we are. Fate is a beautiful thing."
"Is it?"
"For me, certainly."
He sat down.
Then looked around the table.
"Now, which one of you is going to tell me how handsome I look today?"
Nobody answered.
Percy nodded.
"Your silence tells me you're overwhelmed."
I put my forehead against the table.
I couldn't do this.
I genuinely couldn't.
"Wait."
Percy suddenly turned toward Felix.
Felix had been unusually quiet throughout the entire conversation.
He slowly looked up from his food.
"What?"
Percy pointed at him.
"Why are you here?"
Felix stared at him.
There was a long pause.
Then Felix said, completely calmly, "I attend this school."
Ci-n nearly choked on his drink.
Percy ignored him.
"No, I mean, why are you sitting with these people? Don't you have more important things to do?"
Felix looked at the chicken on his plate.
"I'm eating."
"Excellent. A man with priorities."
"You're sitting at my table."
"And your point is?"
Felix took another bite.
"Move."
The entire table went silent.
I slowly lifted my head.
Oh.
Oh, this was interesting.
Percy looked at his younger brother.
His younger brother looked back, entirely unbothered.
Then Percy turned toward us.
"Everyone, meet Felix. My younger brother. A decent young man, despite having grown up in the shadow of my extraordinary good looks."
Felix continued eating.
"He's been like this since birth," he told us.
"Since birth?" I repeated.
"Unfortunately."
Percy placed a hand over his heart.
"He's jealous."
"Of what?"
"My face."
Felix finally looked at him.
"Percy, I have seen you wake up."
The table exploded.
Yuri laughed so hard he had to put his drink down.
Even Keifer was grinning.
I slapped the table.
"FELIX!"
Percy looked genuinely offended.
"That was a private family matter!"
"You announced your face to the entire cafeteria!" Felix replied.
"Because it deserves recognition!"
"Your face needs a full-time public relations manager."
I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
And the worst part?
Felix wasn't even trying to be funny.
He was just calmly destroying his older brother one sentence at a time.
Percy leaned back in his chair and adjusted his watch.
"Well, I forgive you. It's difficult being related to someone this handsome."
Felix sighed.
"Can somebody please take him home?"
"Nobody can afford my departure fee."
"Good. Stay here."
Once I finally calmed down, I turned toward Felix.
"Wait. You're Percy's younger brother?"
He nodded.
"Unfortunately."
"How have I never heard about you?"
"Because he talks enough for both of us."
Percy raised a finger.
"Three of us, actually. My charm counts as a separate personality."
Keifer leaned toward Yuri.
"He's worse than Felix."
Felix heard him.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment," Keifer replied.
"I know. I'm still grateful."
I shook my head.
This family was unbelievable.
Percy could talk for an entire afternoon without taking a breath, while Felix seemed perfectly content to sit quietly, eat his lunch, and occasionally remind his brother that humility existed.
I liked Felix already.
He was funny without even trying.
And unlike Percy, he didn't seem to believe his reflection deserved its own fan club.
Probably because Percy had already established one for himself.
"So, Jay," Percy said, suddenly turning toward me.
I immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
"Have you eaten properly today?"
I blinked.
"Yes?"
"Good. You're always forgetting to eat when you're busy."
I paused.
That was unexpectedly thoughtful.
Then he ruined it.
"Unlike me, who maintains this magnificent appearance through excellent nutrition, beauty sleep, and natural talent."
I stared at him.
"There it is."
"There what is?"
"The reason nobody takes you seriously."
He laughed.
"That's all right. I take myself seriously enough for everyone."
Felix reached across the table and stole one of Percy's fries.
Percy gasped.
"Thief!"
"You weren't eating it."
"I was admiring it."
"It's a potato, Percy."
"A beautiful potato."
"Eat your food."
I couldn't help smiling.
For all his ridiculous boasting, Percy really did seem to care. He asked whether I'd slept well, reminded me to get my injured hand checked if it was still bothering me, and even offered to drive me home if I needed a lift.
Of course, he followed the offer by claiming that riding in his car was a privilege reserved for people with excellent taste.
I declined.
Naturally.
Lunch continued, and somehow Percy had managed to join our table as if he'd been a member of Section E for years.
He was already telling Blaster how to improve his wardrobe.
Blaster was threatening to throw a spoon at him.
Yuri and Keifer were exchanging comments under their breath.
David had returned to eating, apparently deciding that this was simply a normal part of life now.
And Felix?
Felix was quietly finishing his meal.
Every few minutes, he'd say something that sent the table into another round of laughter.
At one point, Percy stood up and announced, "I have business to attend to."
Felix didn't even look up.
"Try not to negotiate with your reflection again."
Percy stopped.
Slowly turned around.
Then pointed at him.
"You are grounded."
Felix took another bite.
"You don't live with me."
"I'll inform Mum."
"She likes me more."
Percy looked horrified.
"That's a terrible thing to say to your handsome older brother."
Felix finally smiled.
"Love you too."
For once, Percy had no immediate response.
I nearly fell off my chair laughing.
Eventually, the lunch bell rang.
Everyone began gathering their things.
Percy adjusted his jacket and looked at me.
"Well, Jay, it's been a pleasure. I expect you to miss me terribly."
"I'll try to survive."
"Brave girl."
He turned toward Keifer.
"And you."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
Percy smiled.
"Keep an eye on her, will you? She has a habit of pretending she's fine even when she's tired."
My smile softened a little.
Keifer's expression changed too.
"I know."
Percy nodded, satisfied.
Then, because he apparently couldn't leave a sincere moment alone, he added, "And try to look more handsome while you're at it. The competition is fierce."
Keifer stared at him.
"You're twenty-three."
"Exactly. Years of experience."
Felix walked past him.
"Years of delusion."
Percy followed his brother, protesting loudly.
I watched them go, still smiling.
Then Keifer nudged my shoulder.
"You seem happy."
I glanced at him.
"Your competition just left."
He placed a hand over his heart.
"That hurt, wifey."
"Good."
He leaned closer.
"Still love me, though."
I picked up my bag.
"Let's go to class before I change my mind."
He laughed and followed me.
And honestly?
For a Monday, things weren't going too badly.
We had survived the lessons, the cafeteria, and Percy's spectacular entrance.
What more could possibly happen?
I really should stop asking myself questions like that.
End of Chapter 123. 💙😂