I didn't wake up peacefully.
Of course I didn't.
I woke up to war.
"JAYYYYYY—GET—THE—FUCK—UPPPPP—"
I shot straight up in bed, heart pounding.
Before I could even process consciousness, BANG—the door shook like it had been hit by a truck.
"IT'S MORNING," Aries yelled from the other side, voice loud enough to wake the dead. "SCHOOL EXISTS. MOVE YOUR ASS."
Another bang.
The door rattled.
"ARE YOU TRYING TO BREAK MY DOOR?" I screamed back, yanking the blanket off.
"Yes," he replied cheerfully. "If that's what it takes."
I groaned, ran a hand through my hair, and dragged myself out of bed.
Kuya Angelo was already downstairs, serious-face on, pretending chaos didn't live in this house.
I stomped to the door and flung it open.
Aries stood there, grinning like an idiot.
"Good morning, sunshine."
"I'm going to kill you," I muttered.
"You say that every day," he replied.
"And yet I live."
I slammed the door in his face and went straight to the bathroom.
Hair.
Always.
Hair.
If the world was going to burn today—and it usually did—my hair was not going down with it.
Shampoo. Conditioner. Mask. Serum. Oil. Blow-dry. Comb. Brush. Comb again.
I stared at my reflection, eyes still sleepy but sharp.
"Okay," I muttered. "We're ready to cause problems."
I dressed fast, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs.
Kuya Angelo sat at the head of the table, posture straight, jaw set, eyes glued to his tablet like it was feeding him oxygen.
Aries was beside him, already eating, scrolling on his phone.
No one said good morning.
Typical.
I dropped into my chair. "Wow. Not even a 'did you survive the night'?"
Angelo didn't look up. "Eat."
Aries smirked. "Morning, monkey."
I picked up a spoon and pointed it at his face. "Say that again and I'll stab you with cutlery."
Angelo finally glanced up. "Both of you. School."
Before I could reply, the doorbell rang.
I smiled.
"That's my cue."
I stood up and walked toward the door, ignoring Aries' exaggerated gagging noises.
Keifer stood outside, leaning against his car like he belonged there—calm, confident, irritatingly handsome.
The moment he saw me, his lips curved into that smile.
"Morning," he said.
I didn't answer.
I just walked up to him and kissed him.
Not hidden.
Not rushed.
Just us.
He kissed me back, hands light on my waist, like he wasn't trying to start a war in my house.
From inside, Aries yelled, "I WILL KILL YOU WATSON—"
Keifer pulled back, smiling. "You look amazing."
"I know," I replied, flipping my hair.
"Let's go."
The moment we walked into the gates, heads turned.
HVIS always noticed.
Section E noticed louder.
"OH SHIT—THEY'RE HERE—"
"THE POWER COUPLE—"
"BRO WE'RE ALIVE TODAY—"
Keifer put his hand on my waist soo casually, like it was no big deal.
It absolutely was.
We reached the classroom.
Yuri whistled.
Felix clapped.
Denzel yelled, "LATE AGAIN—ICONIC."
I dropped into my seat like a queen claiming a throne.
Keifer leaned close. "Try not to punch anyone today."
"No promises."
He smirked. "That's my girl."
And that's when—
"JAY—SAVE ME—"
Eren crashed behind my chair, breathless, panic written all over his stupid face.
I sighed deeply.
"Oh for fuck's sake."
And somewhere in the room, one of the boys muttered quietly—
"They don't know who they're messing with."
Eren was breathing down my neck like I was his personal panic shelter.
"Jay, please," he whispered urgently, crouched behind my chair. "I think they're gonna kill me."
I didn't even turn around.
"Eren," I said flatly, "if you die today, it will be because of your personality. Not me."
He opened his mouth to argue—
—and that's when the classroom door slammed open so hard it rattled the windows.
Every head snapped up.
Nine girls marched in like they were on a mission from hell.
Full makeup. Full attitude. Full confidence that they were about to embarrass themselves.
One of them pointed straight at me.
"THAT'S HER."
I blinked slowly. "Wow. I didn't even get a 'good morning.'"
Another scoffed. "Because of YOU, Eren broke up with us."
I turned around properly this time.
"Us?" I repeated. "Plural?"
Section E exploded.
"BRO—"
"HE COLLECTS THEM LIKE POKÉMON—"
"THIS IS A BUSINESS—"
One girl stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Don't act innocent. You think you're special?"
I laughed. Loud. Unfiltered.
"Oh sweetheart," I said, standing up, "I don't think I'm special. I know you're dramatic."
Her face twisted. "You're not even that pretty."
I tilted my head. "And yet you're here, screaming about me before first period. Interesting."
Hands started flying.
One tried to slap me — I dodged easily.
Another shoved my shoulder.
"HEY—" I snapped. "Watch it."
They kept coming.
Felix yelped as someone bumped into him.
Yuri jumped onto a desk yelling, "THIS IS NOT MY FIGHT—"
Denzel laughed like this was the best entertainment he'd had all week.
I backed up, irritation crawling up my spine.
"I don't even KNOW you," I shouted.
"Take your breakup issues and go cry somewhere else."
That's when it happened.
Fingers.
In.
My.
Hair.
Everything in me stopped.
I went very still.
Very calm.
Very quiet.
I turned my head slowly and looked at her.
She was gripping my hair like she'd just won something.
Big mistake.
"Let go," I said.i said way too calmly
She didn't.
She tightened her grip.
And that was it.
I twisted fast, grabbed her wrist, and shoved her back hard enough that she stumbled into a desk.
"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?" I yelled. "DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?"
The room erupted.
Someone screamed.
Chairs scraped.
People backed away.
"I SPEND HOURS ON THIS," I shouted, pointing at my hair. "HOURS. YOU DO NOT TOUCH IT."
She lunged again.
I snapped.
I didn't punch.
I shoved.
I elbowed.
I kicked.
Not elegant.
Not pretty.
Just pissed.
One girl went down with a surprised yelp. Another smacked into a chair. Someone grabbed my arm—I shook them off violently.
"GET OFF ME—"
Hands came at me from all sides.
I was done being nice.
I shoved one into another. Blocked a slap. Pushed someone so hard they nearly fell.
Section E was chaos.
"BRO—SHE'S GOING OFF—"
"THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T TOUCH HER—"
"CALL SECURITY—NO WAIT—DON'T—"
Then—
A chair scraped.
Silence fell.
Keifer stood up.
That alone shut everyone the fuck up.
He didn't yell.
Didn't rush.
Didn't look angry.
Which somehow made it worse.
"Enough," he said calmly.
He walked forward, standing in front of me without even looking back.
Authority rolled off him like it was natural.
"You came in here screaming," he continued, eyes locked on the girls.
"You put your hands on her."
He glanced sideways at me briefly. "That's where this ends."
One girl scoffed nervously. "You don't scare us."
Keifer smiled.
Not friendly.
"You should leave," he said. "Now."
They hesitated.
Then they ran.
Literally ran.
The door slammed shut behind them.
The room stayed quiet for a full five seconds.
I exhaled hard and turned around.
Eren was still there.
Still alive.
Still breathing.
Unacceptable.
I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward.
His eyes widened. "Jay—wait—"
I shoved him into a desk.
Hard.
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?" I snapped. "DO YOU ENJOY RUINING MY LIFE?"
"I didn't mean—"
"I DON'T CARE," I cut him off. "If you ever make me the reason for your breakups again, I swear I'll personally make sure every girl in this school hates you."
He nodded rapidly. "I'm sorry—I'm sorry—"
I shoved him back one last time and let go.
"Get out of my sight."
He scrambled away.
Section E CHEERED.
"FINALLY—"
"DESERVED—"
"BRO GOT HUMBLED—"
I dropped back into my seat, heart racing, hair still perfect.
Keifer was still standing in front of me
when the noise finally settled down.
He turned slightly, eyes dropping to my face, voice lower now. "You okay?"
I scoffed, running my fingers through my hair carefully, checking strand by strand like a crime scene.
"Okay?" I snapped. "That bitch has ruined my hair and probably my skincare too."
The moment the word left my mouth—
Keifer leaned down and kissed me.
Not soft.
Not shy.
Quick. Firm. Confident.
Right there.
In front of everyone.
The classroom exploded.
"PROFANITY RULE—"
"HE DID IT AGAIN—"
"BRO THEY'RE DISGUSTING—"
I pulled back, glaring up at him. "You kissed me on purpose."
He smirked. "You swore."
I pointed at him. "I hate that rule."
"You love that rule."
I opened my mouth to argue, then stopped abruptly, eyes widening.
"Oh my God."
Everyone froze.
"My hair."
Yuri panicked. "Is it bleeding?"
"No," I snapped. "Worse."
I turned slowly. "Does ANYONE here have a mirror?"
Rory raised a hand calmly. "There's one in the boys' washroom."
I nodded decisively. "Good."
Then I reached into my bag.
And Section E realized—
I was prepared for war.
I pulled out a black leather emergency kit, gold initials embossed on it.
Felix leaned forward. "Why is it heavier than my future?"
I unzipped it.
Gasps.
Actual gasps.
I lined the products on my desk like surgical instruments.
First:
La Mer – The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum
Then:
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Dior Prestige La Micro-Huile de Rose
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Yuri whispered, "Is… is that my dad's salary?"
"For hair," I said, offended by the question.
Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oil
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
Dyson compact brush
A silk comb
Denzel blinked. "This isn't a kit. This is a lifestyle."
I stood up. "I'm fixing this."
Ci n jumped up. "We're coming."
I turned. "Why?"
Felix grinned. "Because this feels educational."
Keifer crossed his arms, watching me with amusement. "You're doing skincare at school."
"I am NOT walking around HVIS with damaged hair," I shot back.
"Let's go."
BOYS' WASHROOM — THE MOST EXPENSIVE MOMENT IN HVIS HISTORY
We crowded in.
Every stall occupied.
Mirrors fogged.
Section E acting like they'd entered sacred ground.
I tied my hair back gently, washed my hands, and leaned close to the mirror.
"Observe," I said seriously. "And don't breathe wrong."
I patted SK-II essence into my skin with practiced movements. Slow.
Controlled. Like I'd done this a
thousand times.
Then serum.
Then cream.
Every motion precise. Gentle.
They watched in silence.
"For hair," I continued, "you NEVER apply oil from the roots."
I warmed the Kerastase oil between my palms and smoothed it carefully through the ends.
Felix whispered, "She's a professional."
"Always detangle with a silk comb," I added, brushing slowly, "or you're asking for breakage."
Rory nodded like he was taking mental notes.
Keifer leaned against the wall, eyes never leaving me.
"You're insane," he said fondly.
I glanced at him through the mirror. "And you love me."
He smiled. "Yeah. I do."
I finished, checking myself once more.
Perfect.
I turned around dramatically. "There. Crisis averted."
Section E applauded.
"ICONIC—"
"THIS SHOULD BE A CLASS—"
"I'M NEVER USING NORMAL PRODUCTS AGAIN—"
I zipped my kit and tossed it back into my bag.
"Now," I said, smirking, "who's ready to pretend we didn't almost get suspended?"
Keifer stepped forward, slipped an arm around my waist, and whispered, "You swear again, I'm kissing you."
I smiled sweetly.
"Fuck you."
He kissed me.
And honestly?
Worth it.
_____________________