Jayjay's POV
By the time break rolled around, my hand had started throbbing again. Not enough to send me back to the clinic. Just enough to remind me it was there. Like an unwanted thought you can't quite silence.
Chantelle walked beside me as usual, rambling about an assignment I wasn't listening to. My mind was somewhere else. Somewhere between last night's phone call, Ciel's warning, and Keifer's voice still echoing in my head.
We stopped near the lockers.
That's when the air changed.
I didn't have to turn around to know she was there.
"Jayjay."
Sienna's voice was calm. Almost gentle.
I turned slowly.
She stood a few steps away, posture relaxed, hands folded like she hadn't come to stir anything at all. Her eyes flicked briefly to my bandaged hand, then back to my face.
she said. "I just wanted to check on you."
Chantelle stiffened beside me.
"I'm fine," I replied. Neutral. Careful.
Sienna nodded, stepping a little closer. Not invading. Just… near. "I'm glad. Keifer would be worried."
That name landed heavier than it should have.
"I won't take long," she added. "I promise."
She gestured lightly toward my hand. "Does it still hurt?"
"A little," I admitted.
She leaned in slightly, like she was going to look closer. Her fingers hovered near the bandage. Not touching. Not yet.
"Don't—" I started.
Too late.
Her fingers brushed my wrist.
Not rough.
Not enough to draw attention.
But it hit the wrong angle.
Pain flared, sharp and bright, shooting straight up my arm. I hissed, my breath catching.
Chantelle reacted instantly. "Hey! Watch it!"
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
I looked up.
Keifer.
He slowed the moment he saw us. His gaze went straight to me, scanning my face, then my hand.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Before anyone else could speak, I did. "Nothing. She was just asking if I'm okay."
Keifer stepped closer to me without hesitation. That mattered. "And are you?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
He took my hand gently, carefully, checking the bandage like he'd done it a hundred times before. His touch was familiar. Protective. Real.
I trusted him.
Sienna stayed quiet. Observing.
"It's still tender," he said. "You should've rested more."
"I'm fine," I repeated, softer this time.
Behind us, Chantelle crossed her arms. "She told her not to touch it."
Sienna looked genuinely startled. "I didn't touch her. I swear."
Keifer glanced briefly at Chantelle. Just briefly. Then his attention returned to me.
"I know," he said calmly. "Jayjay would've told me if something happened."
Something in my chest loosened.
Trust.
That was trust.
Then Sienna spoke again, carefully choosing her words. "I think there's just a lot of stress lately. Everyone's on edge."
She paused, then added gently, "I didn't want this to turn into something bigger."
Yuri and Ciel arrived then, stopping a few steps away.
Yuri's eyes narrowed slightly. "Looks like it already has."
Keifer straightened, still holding my hand. "No. It hasn't."
His tone was firm, controlled.
Yuri studied him, then looked at me. "You okay?"
"Yes," I answered immediately.
That was all Yuri needed.
Ciel moved closer to my other side, subtle but solid. Support without noise.
Sienna shifted, glancing between all of us. "I think maybe I should go," she said softly. "I don't want to cause problems."
No one stopped her.
Keifer finally released my hand, slowly, like he didn't want to. "We'll talk later," he said to me. Not a question. A promise.
I nodded.
He turned to leave.
Sienna followed, but just before she did, she looked back at me.
Her smile was small.
Unreadable.
Not victory.
Not yet.
Chantelle exhaled sharply the second they were gone. "I don't like her."
"I know," I said quietly.
Ciel glanced at me. "You handled that well."
I didn't feel like I had.
As we walked away, my hand throbbed again. Not from the injury.
From the realization settling in.
Keifer trusted me. Completely.
And I trusted him.
Which meant whatever Sienna was doing…
She wasn't trying to break us apart all at once.
She was testing how much space she could create between us without being seen.
And that scared me more than anything.