Jay-jay's POV
"You're leaving Section E?!" They all asked in shock.
The moment Keifer shouted, the snakes poured out of the classroom, wanting to hear what was going on.
This guy is so loud!
I quickly shook my head. "N-no..."
"But that's what he told me." Ci insisted. "...He said you'd rather be with your dad than with us."
Damn it...
That Aries really lost his mind. Of all people, he just had to tell Ci-N. No wonder he suddenly looked so down. Ugh! That walking horoscope is really testing my patience.
"Ha?! Why would you do that, Jay?!"
"You don't want to be with us anymore?!"
"I thought you were solid Section E?!"
"Jay-jay! That's not fair!"
They all spoke at once, swarming around me. They were practically squishing me, but that wasn't even my biggest problem.
"W-wait a second! I-it's not like that!"
"Was it Aries?" Keifer asked authoritatively, making everyone fall silent.
I didn't answer, but he looked me straight in the eyes. I couldn't help but feel uneasy, so I avoided his gaze.
Without another word, he suddenly turned and walked away. Even though he didn't say anything, I knew exactly where he was going. He was going after Aries.
I was about to follow him when Ci-N suddenly clung to my leg and started crying.
Oh no!
"Ci! What are you doing?!" I shouted.
"Don't leave! Stay here in Section E!" he screamed while sobbing.
I tried to pry his arms off my leg, but he only tightened his grip.
"Jay-jay! Please!" he begged.
"I-I'm not! I'm not leaving! Let go of me!"
"Jay-jay!"
I looked at the snakes, silently asking for help, but they just stared at me.
How was I supposed to stop Keifer if I couldn't even get out of here?
"Will someone get Ci-N off me?!" I ordered.
"Promise first that you're not leaving Section E," Eren said.
Oh, come on!
"I'm not leaving! I need to stop the King of the Snakes, so get him off me!" I yelled.
They slowly stepped forward and tried to pull Ci-N away, but he suddenly started slapping their hands.
"NO! I'M STAYING HERE!" he screamed.
"Ci-N, come on!"
"Jay-jay!" someone called out to me.
I forced myself to look. It was Yuri, running toward us.
"...What... Why is Ci-N clinging to you like that?" he asked.
"Because—"
"JAY-JAY IS LEAVING SECTION E!" Ci-N cut me off.
Yuri immediately turned to me. "Is that true?"
"No! I'll explain later! Just go find Keifer before he gets into a fight with Aries!" I ordered.
It was obvious I wasn't getting out of here anytime soon. There was no way I'd catch up, so I left it to Yuri.
Thankfully, he listened and ran off. Very good! Very good!
I turned my attention back to the kid still clinging to my leg, crying. Meanwhile, these useless snakes were just standing around, watching.
I grabbed Ci-N's face and made him look at me.
"Ci-N! I'm not leaving! No one is leaving!" I said seriously.
He stopped for a moment and stared at me. I held his gaze, making sure he knew I was telling the truth.
Finally, he let go and stood up.
"Really?" he asked.
I nodded immediately. He wiped his tears and fixed himself.
I glared at the idiots around me. Instead of helping, they just stood there watching.
Annoying!
"Let's go! We need to stop them!" I said and ran toward the main building.
They followed right behind me.
And, of course, I was right. That shameless idiot had gone straight to Aries, and the fight had already started.
"Stop it, Keifer!" Yuri shouted, trying to break up Keifer and Aries.
But Keifer refused to let go of Aries' collar. Even the Section A students were getting involved. The whole place was in chaos.
"Come on! Let's finish this here and now!" Aries challenged.
"I will really END this now!" Keifer shot back angrily.
I glanced at my so-called companions. I thought they followed me to stop the fight, but they were just standing there watching.
You guys are so helpful!
"Oh, maybe you guys want to actually help break up the fight?!" I asked sarcastically.
"Nah... Just let your cousin get beaten up," Drew replied.
I shot him a glare.
Maybe I should beat him up instead—for that debt he conveniently seems to have forgotten.
Every time I try to collect, he suddenly goes deaf.
"Stop them!" I ordered, annoyed.
Even though they looked reluctant, they immediately approached Keifer. Five of them, plus Yuri, held him back, but they still seemed to struggle.
"Let go of me!" Keifer shouted at Felix and the others holding him back.
"That's enough, Keifer!" Yuri yelled.
I bit my lower lip. He really wouldn't back down. He actually wanted to fight. What the hell?!
"Keifer won't stop no matter what!" Eman said.
I couldn't just stand there and watch anymore. I ran toward them and forced myself in between. I was nearly crushed between the two, but I held my ground.
I pushed Keifer with all my strength, giving Felix and the others the chance to pull him back and stop him from lunging.
"Enough! Enough! Stop this! Please!" I shouted, standing between them.
"Can you all just get out of here already?!" Mykel yelled at us.
I shot him a glare. Says the guy acting all high and mighty—his breath smells like garbage anyway.
"Shut up! Don't ever talk to Jay-jay like that!" Yuri snapped at him.
"Just leave, Jay-jay! The students are already in chaos because of you!" Ella ordered us.
As if she has any authority here...
I ignored her and turned to Keifer instead.
"Stop this! Let's go!" I said, about to walk away, but he suddenly spoke.
"Not until you swear in front of Aries!"
I froze. What does he want now? This whole mess was only getting worse—we needed to leave.
"...Swear that you'll never leave us!" he added.
I glanced at Ci-N, who was clearly waiting for my answer. My classmates, too, looked like they were silently pleading. I turned back to Keifer, who was now standing properly.
I had thought about this for a long time. If I said it now, there would be no turning back. I knew I had to sacrifice something. This was the only way, and I knew I would be losing a lot.
"I'm sorry..." I said. Aries immediately smiled, while Yuri looked completely shocked. "...Aries..." I continued. "...But I'm not leaving Section E."
Aries' smile disappeared, while the snakes around me cheered.
"That's your decision. I can't do anything about it," Aries said, pulling something out of his pocket.
Shit!
My dad's information!
He took something from Mykel, and to my horror, it was a lighter.
"I hope you don't regret this," he said before setting the paper on fire. "...You just lost your chance to be with your father."
I couldn't help but feel weak at the sight. That was the last copy of the info my dad left with my brother. My brother had already destroyed the original when he found out Aries had taken a copy.
"What was in that paper?" Keifer asked me.
"My dad's information..." I whispered.
Keifer suddenly laughed.
I raised an eyebrow. I'm already devastated here, and he has the nerve to laugh?! Has he lost his mind completely?!
"You're so stupid, Aries! Don't tell me that's what you used to blackmail Jay-jay into leaving Section E?!"
Aries' eyebrows furrowed at him. The paper had already turned to ashes, but Keifer still had everyone's attention.
"I think you're forgetting something," Keifer added. "...I can get anything I want."
"What do you mean by that?" Aries asked.
"Anything... including information about Jay-jay's father." Keifer smirked.
Holy cow!
It just hit me—he really does have a motto like a bank. I'm such an idiot! I spent so many sleepless nights thinking of how to get my dad's info!
I should have just asked Keifer from the start—he might have helped me!
Ugh!
"Ha! So you're saying you can find him?" Aries asked irritably.
"In one week, I will find his information. In another week, I can contact him." Keifer stated.
It was obvious Aries wasn't happy. Of course, he didn't want me to meet my dad. This was bad news for him.
"Y-you can really do that?" I asked Keifer.
He smiled at me. "Trust me. Before exam day, you'll have the chance to talk to him."
This is it! My chance!
I'd finally get to talk to my dad, and I wouldn't even have to leave Section E to do it!
Good thing I chose them. Take that, horoscope! Hahaha! In your face!
"Let's go! We're wasting our time here!" Calix shouted.
Keifer and Aries exchanged one last glare before we finally walked away.
I felt a rush of excitement.
This is it. The moment I've been waiting for.