Jay-Jay POV
Exam day felt like judgment day.
The halls were quieter. The air is heavier. Even Section E had toned down their chaos — which was terrifying.
Ci-n had three pencils, two erasers, and a stress ball shaped like a brain. Felix was muttering formulas like they were spells. Calix had glitter on his notes. For luck. Mica was calm. Too calm. Suspiciously calm. Mayo and Kit were holding hands and whispering mnemonic devices like they were love confessions. David was asleep. Again. But this time with a calculator on his chest like a badge of honor.
Keifer found me before the first exam.
He didn't say much. Just handed me a pen and whispered, "You've got this."
And somehow, I believed him.
The exams were brutal.
My brain felt like it was sprinting through molasses. My fingers cramped. My anxiety tried to eat me alive.
But I kept going.
Because I'd survived worse. Because I wasn't alone. Because Keifer was waiting outside every classroom with snacks and soft eyes.
Result Day
Jay-Jay POV
Today is the day.
The day I find out if I passed.
Not that I was worried. I mean — I know I'm going to pass. But I doubt it's going to be a perfect 100%.
Still, my stomach was doing backflips.
I got ready slowly, like the universe might delay the results if I moved slow enough.
Then I went downstairs.
Kuya Jare was already at the table, sipping coffee like he hadn't been pacing the hallway ten minutes ago. Kuya Percy was there too — standing on a chair, wearing a cape made of bedsheets, holding a wooden spoon like a scepter. Luna sat beside Jare, calm as ever, scrolling through her phone like she wasn't praying to God a few seconds ago.
I sat down and started eating.
Kuya Jare looked at me and smiled. "Don't worry, Sunshine. You'll pass."
I smiled back, heart thudding.
Then he added, "And if you don't… well, we'll see then."
Percy gasped dramatically. "If Jay fails, I'm staging a protest. I'll chain myself to the principal's desk and demand justice."
Luna didn't look up. "You'd get arrested in five minutes."
Percy pointed his spoon at her. "Then I'll escape. I've watched Prison Break. I have a plan."
Jare sighed. "Please don't get arrested before breakfast."
Percy jumped off the chair, cape fluttering. "I'm emotionally invested in Jay's academic success. If she fails, I fail. If she cries, I cry. If she throws her phone, I throw myself into traffic."
I blinked. "Percy, I haven't even checked yet."
"Then check before I have a heart attack!" Percy shouted, dramatically clutching his chest like he was auditioning for a soap opera.
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Keifer's coming to pick me up anyway."
Percy gasped. "You're abandoning me in my time of emotional crisis?"
Luna didn't look up from her phone. "Give me updates."
I nodded, already feeling my pulse in my ears.
Kuya Jare slid a glass of juice toward me. "Sunshine, breathe. You've got this."
Percy climbed back onto the chair like it was a throne. "If she doesn't pass, I'm staging a glitter riot. I'll throw confetti at the school board."
Luna: "You don't own confetti."
Percy: "I am confetti."
Outside, I heard a car pull up.
Keifer.
I grabbed my bag, took one last bite of toast, and stood.
"I'm going and I will tell you in 30 minutes," I said.
Percy wailed. "You're going to make me wait longer? I'm fragile!"
Jare laughed. "You're dramatic."
Luna: "You're both."
I headed for the door, phone in hand, heart thudding.
Keifer was waiting.
And so were my results.
He waved when he saw me.
I waved back.
"Ready?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Let's go," he said. "What are you worried about? You'll pass."
I just nodded again.
We got in the car and reached school.
Everyone was already there, crowding around the bulletin board.
Section E was buzzing.
The Scores:
Rory Sage Abejar — 88.00%
Superman Eman Andrada — 87.00%
David Theodore Braselton — 96.78%
Denzel Luan Castillo — 80.96%
John Felix Collins — 85.79%
Eren Kyle De Luna — 80.95%
Andrew Drew Klondike Mercado — 81.65%
Blaster Wren Madrigal — 84.87%
Christopher "Kit" Saimon Harington — 86.00%
Edrix Knight Peñaflor — 89.56%
Cinco Neith Peralta — 100.00%
Mayo Jeson Ramos — 85.00%
Calix Reineir Rivera — 90.00%
Joshua Josh Lyle Venites — 89.98%
Yuri Hanamitchi — Did not take the test
Jasper Jean Fernandez Mariano — 95.00%
Jay-Jay Fernandez Mariano — 95.00%
Mark Keifer Watson — 99.99%
Then I turned and walked toward Section E.
They were gathered in a chaotic huddle near the bulletin board, buzzing like bees on caffeine.
Ci-n was yelling, "I GOT A HUNDRED. I'M A GEIOUNS."
Felix was hugging David, who looked mildly alarmed but too sleepy to resist.
Calix was throwing glitter in the air like it was currency.
Mayo and Kit were spinning in circles, holding hands and screaming their scores.
Calix was hugging Mica
I walked into the chaos.
They saw me.
And they exploded.
"JAY PASSED!"
"JAY'S HERE!"
"JAY GOT A 95!"
"WE ALL PASSED!"
"GROUP HUG!"
I was swallowed whole by arms, voices, laughter.
And honestly?
I was so happy they did.
Because this wasn't just my victory.
It was ours.
I didn't realize I was crying until David pointed it out
"Jay's crying!" he yelled. "It's happening! Someone get the emergency cupcakes!"
"I'm not crying," I said, wiping my face. "It's just…dirt got in my eyes."
"Sure," Mica said, handing me a tissue. "Very emotional dirt ."
Ci-n wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "You did it, Jay. You really did it."
Felix added, "And you didn't even throw your phone. I'm so proud."
Keifer found me in the middle of the chaos, his hand brushing mine.
"You okay?" he asked, voice low.
I nodded. "Yeah. I think I am."
He smiled. "Good. Because Percy just texted me asking if he can throw a 'Jay Didn't Fail' parade."
I groaned. "Tell him no."
Keifer grinned. "Too late. He's already printing banners."
I looked around at my friends — my family — and felt something settle in my chest.
Not just relief. Not just pride. But peace.
For the first time in a long time, I wasn't just surviving.
I was living.