Jay-jay's POV
"You're leaving Section E?!" they asked me in shock.
Those pests suddenly came out of the room when they heard Keifer's shout.
He really 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 stay with us."
Son of a—
That Aries really hit hard. And he had to tell Ci-N of all people. No wonder she suddenly got gloomy.
Ugh! That horoscope guy will have his day with me!
"What?! Why would you say that, Jay?!"
"You don't want to be with us anymore?!"
"I thought you were loyal to Section E?!"
"Jay-jay! That's not cool!"
They all spoke at once and surrounded me. They almost squished me, but that wasn't even the problem.
"W-wait! It's not like that!"
"Is it Aries?" Keifer asked authoritatively, which made everyone fall silent.
I didn't answer, but he looked me straight in the eyes. I couldn't help but look away, uncomfortable.
He suddenly walked off. Even without speaking, I knew he was going to confront Aries.
I was about to follow him, but Ci-N suddenly clung to my leg, crying.
Oh no!
"Ci! What are you doing?!" I shouted.
"Don't go! Stay here in Section E!" she wailed.
I tried to pry her arms off my leg, but she just tightened her grip.
"Jay-jay! Please!" she begged.
"I'm not leaving! Now let go!"
"Jay-jay!"
I looked to the others for help, but they just stared at me.
How can I stop Keifer if I can't even move?
"Get Ci-N off me!" I ordered them.
"Promise first that you're not leaving Section E," Eren said.
Damn it!
"I told you I'm not leaving! I have to stop that king of the pests, so get her off me!" I shouted.
They slowly approached and tried to pull Ci-N away, but she just smacked their hands.
"NO! I'M STAYING HERE!" she yelled.
"Come on, Ci-N!"
"Jay-jay!" someone called me.
I looked to see who it was—Yuri, running toward us.
"What's going on? Why is Ci-N clinging to you like that?" she asked.
"Because—"
"JAY-JAY'S LEAVING SECTION E!" Ci-N cut me off.
Yuri immediately looked at me. "Is it true?"
"No! I'll explain later! Go find Keifer before he and Aries get into a fight!" I ordered her. Clearly, I wasn't getting free any time soon, so I asked her for help.
She immediately ran off. Very good! Very good!
I turned back to the kid still hugging my leg. She was still crying. And those other pests? Still watching.
I held her face and turned it to me.
"Ci-N! I'm not leaving! No one's leaving!" I said seriously.
She stopped for a moment and looked at me. I held her gaze so she'd believe I was telling the truth. She let go and stood up.
"Really?" she asked. I quickly nodded. She wiped her tears and fixed herself.
I glared at the others. Instead of helping, they just watched.
Ugh!
"Let's go! We need to find him!" I said and ran toward the main building. They followed.
And of course, I was right. Keifer had found Aries, and they were already fighting.
"Stop it, Keifer!" Yuri shouted while trying to separate them. But Keifer wouldn't let go of Aries' collar. Even the Section A kids were trying to break them up. Other students were already panicking.
"Let's end this here and now!" Aries challenged.
"I will really END this now!" Keifer angrily responded.
I looked at my classmates. I thought they followed me to help stop this pest king.
But again—they were just watching.
Amazing.
"Oh, would you like to help out maybe?!" I sarcastically asked.
"No need... Let your cousin beat him up," Drew answered.
I glared at him. What if I beat you up for the debt you keep forgetting? Every time I collect, you go deaf.
"Stop them!" I ordered angrily.
Even though they clearly didn't want to, they went to Keifer. Five of them, plus Yuri, tried holding him back but still struggled.
"Let go of me!" Keifer shouted at Felix and the others holding him.
"Enough, Keifer!" Yuri yelled.
I bit my lower lip. He really didn't want to stop. He was itching for a fight. What is his deal?!
"Keifer won't back down!" Eman said.
I couldn't just watch anymore. I ran up and forced myself between them. I was almost crushed by the clash between the two, but I didn't back down.
I pushed Keifer with all my strength, and Felix took the chance to pull him away.
"Enough! Please stop!" I yelled while standing in between.
"Can you pests get out of here?!" Mykel yelled at us.
I gave him a dirty look. He talks like he's so clean. Even his breath smells like trash.
"Shut up! Don't ever talk to Jay-jay like that!" Yuri fired back.
"Get out, Jay-jay! You're causing a scene with all the students!" Ella ordered.
As if she's someone important...
I ignored her and went to Keifer.
"Stop it! Let's go!" I said, ready to walk away, but he suddenly spoke.
"Not until you swear in front of Aries!"
I froze. What now? This is just making the situation worse. We need to leave.
"...Swear that you'll never leave us!" he added.
I looked at Ci-N, who was clearly waiting for my response. Same with my classmates who seemed to be silently pleading. I turned back to Keifer, who was now calm and standing upright.
I had thought about this for a long time. If I say this now, there's no taking it back.
I knew I had to sacrifice something. This was the only way, and I knew I'd lose something big.
"I'm sorry..." I said. Aries smiled, while Yuri looked shocked. "Aries..." I continued.
"...But I'm not leaving Section E."
Aries' smile disappeared while my classmates lit up with joy.
"That's your decision. I can't do anything about it," Aries said, pulling something out of his pocket.
Oh crap!
Papa's information! He borrowed something from Mykel, and I was shocked when I saw he handed him a lighter.
"I hope you don't regret this," he said and suddenly lit the paper on fire. ".....You 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 Papa left with my older brother. My brother had already destroyed the original when he found out Aries made a copy.
"What was in that paper?" Keifer asked me.
"My dad's info..." I whispered.
Keifer suddenly laughed. I raised an eyebrow. I'm devastated here and he's laughing? Has he finally gone insane?
"You're so stupid, Aries! Don't tell me you used that to blackmail Jay-jay into leaving Section E?!"
Aries frowned. The paper was now fully burned, but everyone's attention was still on Keifer.
"I think you're forgetting something," he added. ".....I can get anything that I want."
"What do you mean by that?" Aries asked.
"Anything... Including information about Jay-jay's father," Keifer replied with a smirk.
Holy cow!
It just hit me—he does have that bank-like motto. I really am dumb. I lost sleep thinking about how to get that info on Papa.
I should've gone to Keifer sooner. He might've helped me.
So annoying!
"So you're saying you can find him?" Aries asked bitterly.
"In one week, I'll find his information. In another week, I can contact him," Keifer said.
It was obvious Aries didn't like that. Of course, he didn't want me to meet my dad. That was bad news for him.
"Y-you can do that?" I asked Keifer.
He smiled at me. "Trust me. Before exam day comes, you'll have the chance to talk to him."
This is it—the moment I've been waiting for.
And I don't even have to leave Section E to make it happen.
Good thing I chose them.
In your face, stupid horoscope!
"Let's go! We're wasting time here!" Calix yelled at us. Keifer and Aries exchanged a final glare before we finally left.
I felt excited. This is what I've been waiting for.