Chapter: PE Period Chaos (Jay's POV)
Physical Education.
The only subject where I willingly choose peace.
Everyone was on the ground practicing drills. Running. Stretching. Playing basketball like it was the finals.
And me?
I was sitting on the bench.
Peacefully.
Watching chaos from a safe distance.
I had my bottle beside me, earphones in (not playing anything, just for dramatic effect), pretending I was invisible.
That peace lasted exactly five minutes.
"Why are you sitting like a retired grandma?"
I didn't even look up.
Aries.
Of course.
"I'm observing," I replied calmly.
"Observing what?" he asked, dropping onto the bench beside me. "Grass growth?"
"Your stamina level."
He gasped. "Disrespect."
Before I could respond—
Another shadow fell over me.
Keifer.
Sweaty. Slightly breathless. Annoyingly good-looking.
He grabbed my water bottle without asking and drank from it.
I blinked.
"That's mine."
"I know."
"That's unhygienic."
"You've eaten from my plate before."
"That's different."
"How?"
"I allowed it."
He smirked and sat on my other side.
So now I was sandwiched.
Great.
Aries leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Why aren't you practicing?"
"I didn't feel like it."
Keifer glanced at me. "You skipped warm-up too."
"I walked to school. That's cardio."
Aries laughed loudly. "She thinks walking is athletic."
I glared at him. "Some of us don't run around like overexcited puppies."
Keifer leaned back, stretching his arms behind me on the bench.
"You've been sitting for twenty minutes."
"And?"
"And you look bored."
"I'm not bored."
"You look bored."
"I'm peaceful."
Aries suddenly snatched one of my earphones. "There's no music playing."
I grabbed it back. "Mind your business."
They both exchanged a look.
That look.
The "let's annoy her" look.
Oh no.
Aries stood up suddenly. "Coach said everyone has to participate."
I narrowed my eyes. "He did not."
Keifer shrugged. "Maybe he forgot to tell you."
"I was right there."
Aries grabbed my wrist dramatically. "Come on."
I pulled my hand back. "Don't drag me."
"Stand up."
"No."
Keifer leaned closer. "You're scared."
My head snapped toward him. "Excuse me?"
"You're scared you'll lose."
"Lose what?"
"Anything."
Aries added, "We're doing penalty shots. You vs us."
I scoffed. "That's unfair."
"Why?" Keifer asked innocently.
"Because there are two of you."
"Scared?" he repeated softly.
Oh.
He did not just do that.
I stood up immediately.
"I'm not scared."
Aries clapped. "There we go!"
We walked to the basketball court.
The rest of Section E immediately noticed.
Felix shouted, "Jay is playing??"
Ci N looked confused. "This is historical."
Keifer grabbed the ball and bounced it lightly.
"First to three points."
"Fine."
Aries stood behind him. "If you lose, you run one lap."
"And if you lose?" I asked.
Keifer smirked. "We won't."
Cocky.
I hate cocky.
He shot first.
Missed.
I grinned. "Overconfident much?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Warm-up."
My turn.
I threw the ball.
It hit the rim.
Bounced.
Missed.
Aries laughed dramatically. "Grandma arms."
"Shut up."
Second round.
Keifer scored.
Aries cheered like they won a trophy.
"1–0!"
I rolled my shoulders. "Relax."
My turn again.
I focused.
Threw.
Swish.
Perfect shot.
Section E screamed.
Felix: "SHE DID IT!"
Ci N: "Impossible!"
Keifer looked impressed despite himself.
"Lucky."
"Skill," I corrected.
Aries nudged him. "Don't lose now."
Next shot.
Keifer scored again.
2–1.
My turn.
I shot.
Missed.
Aries gasped dramatically. "Lap time!"
Keifer caught the rebound and looked at me.
"You sure you're not tired from sitting?"
I narrowed my eyes. "You're enjoying this too much."
He leaned slightly closer.
"You look good when you're competitive."
My heart skipped.
Annoying.
Aries yelled, "Focus, Romeo!"
Keifer shot.
Missed.
My last chance.
The whole group started chanting.
"Jay! Jay! Jay!"
Pressure.
I inhaled.
Shot.
It bounced.
Hung on the rim.
And dropped in.
2–2.
Even I was shocked.
Keifer stared at the hoop.
Aries clutched his head. "This is embarrassing."
Final shot.
Keifer took it seriously this time.
He shot.
And scored.
3–2.
Aries jumped. "Victory!"
I exhaled dramatically.
"Fine. I'll run."
Keifer grabbed my wrist gently before I could walk away.
"Wait."
"What."
"You played well."
"Don't act nice now."
"I'm not acting."
Aries grinned. "She's blushing."
"I am not."
Keifer smirked slightly.
"You don't have to sit alone next time."
"I wasn't alone."
"You were."
I looked away.
Maybe I was.
Aries suddenly shoved the ball into my hands again.
"Rematch tomorrow."
I groaned. "No."
Keifer leaned closer and whispered,
"You'll come."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
"Because you hate losing."
He wasn't wrong.
And the worst part?
They successfully pulled me out of my peaceful bench era.
PE period chaos.
Again.