AUTHOR’S POV
Morning at school looked completely normal.
Students were sitting in their classrooms.
Teachers were moving from one period to another.
The usual noise filled the corridors.
And inside Section E…
everyone was seated.
Jay was sitting quietly at her desk.
She wasn’t talking much.
Her attention was on her notebook.
Then—
The classroom door opened.
Their teacher walked inside.
“Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning, sir.”
The teacher placed his files on the desk.
He started teaching.
For almost twenty minutes, everything was normal.
Then his eyes moved toward Jay.
“Miss Mariano.”
Jay looked up.
“Yes, sir?”
The teacher picked up a file.
“There are a few legal documents remaining that we need to handle today.”
Jay’s expression immediately became serious.
“Okay.”
The entire class became curious.
Ci-N leaned toward Eman.
“Legal documents?”
Eman whispered,
“What is going on?”
Drew looked toward Jay.
“Why does she have legal documents?”
Josh quietly asked,
“Is something happening?”
Even Keifer looked at her.
Jay didn’t answer anyone.
The teacher immediately noticed the questions.
“Everyone, calm down.”
Someone asked,
“Sir, what documents?”
The teacher shook his head.
“That’s personal. We cannot reveal a student’s private details.”
The room became quiet.
Jay simply closed her notebook.
The teacher looked at her.
“Miss Mariano, please come to the office after this period.”
Jay nodded.
“Okay, sir.”
LATER
The class ended.
Jay walked toward the office.
She entered.
The teacher placed several documents on the table.
“These are the remaining papers.”
Jay started checking them.
She carefully read every page.
Signed where required.
Asked a few questions.
And handled everything calmly.
She had almost finished when—
The office door suddenly opened.
Jay looked up.
Before she could react…
a cloth was placed over her mouth.
Everything went dark.
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Jay slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry.
Her head hurt.
She tried moving.
Her hands were tied.
Her legs were tied.
She looked around.
Then her eyes widened.
“Section E?”
Everyone was there.
Ci-N.
Drew.
Eman.
Kit.
Calix.
Blaster.
Edrix.
Eren.
Mayo.
Josh.
Denzel.
Felix.
Rory.
David.
Yuri.
Aris.
Keifer.
They were all tied up.
Everyone looked terrified and confused.
Jay looked around.
“Where are we?”
Nobody answered.
Then footsteps echoed through the room.
Slow.
Heavy.
A man walked forward.
Jay’s expression changed instantly.
Kaizer Watson.
Kaizer smiled.
“Finally awake.”
Jay stared at him.
“You.”
Keifer immediately looked at his father.
“you monstor!”
Kaizer ignored him.
His eyes remained on Jay.
“I knew you would be useful.”
Jay looked at the ropes around her wrists.
Then at Kaizer.
Then at everyone else.
She sighed.
“Seriously?”
Kaizer frowned.
“What?”
“This?”
Jay looked at her tied hands.
“You kidnapped me and them?”
Kaizer smiled.
“You’re important to Keifer.”
Keifer’s eyes widened.
“What are you talking about?”
Kaizer looked at his son.
“Your inheritance.”
Keifer froze.
Kaizer continued,
“You want to know how much I can take from you?”
He looked toward Jay.
“I have something you care about.”
Jay rolled her eyes.
“That’s your plan?”
Kaizer smiled.
“Keifer will give me part of his inheritance.”
Keifer immediately shouted,
“LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS!”
Kaizer laughed.
He turned toward Jay.
“I knew it.”
Jay looked at Keifer.
For a second…
their eyes met.
Then Jay looked away.
Suddenly—
The doors exploded open.
Everyone turned.
five masked men walked inside.
Black suits.
Black masks.
Weapons in their hands.
Behind them…
more men entered.
The entire room became tense.
Jay recognized them immediately.
ASTRA.
Percy was at the front.
Kaizer immediately pointed his gun toward Jay.
“Don’t move.”
ASTRA stopped.
Percy’s eyes became cold.
“Put the gun down.”
Kaizer laughed.
“You?”
Percy stepped forward.
“Put. The. Gun. Down.”
Kaizer shook his head.
“You don’t understand.”
He pressed the gun closer toward Jay.
“I have the perfect leverage.”
Percy was about to move.
Jay immediately spoke.
“Stop.”
Percy looked at her.
“Jay—”
“Stop, Perse.”
Everyone froze.
Keifer’s eyes narrowed.
“Perse?”
Nobody understood.
Kaizer smiled.
“You see?”
He looked at Keifer.
“Sign the papers.”
Keifer stared at the documents.
“No.”
“Sign.”
“No!”
Kaizer started talking rapidly about the inheritance.
While everyone was focused on him…
Jay quietly looked at the gun.
Then at Kaizer.
Then at Percy.
She took one slow breath.
Kaizer turned toward Keifer.
“Once you sign—”
Jay ducked.
In one swift movement…
she grabbed his wrist.
Twisted his hand.
The gun fell.
Jay caught it.
And immediately pointed it at Kaizer.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Jay stood there holding the gun.
Her expression was completely calm.
Then she looked toward Percy.
“No, baby.”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“It’s not time.”
The entire room went silent.
Baby?
Percy stared at her.
Then slowly…
he smiled.
“Okay.”
Section E looked at each other.
Nobody understood anything.
Jay pointed the gun toward Kaizer again.
“I’m tired of him.”
She glared at Kaizer.
“Every time I make a plan…”
She stepped closer.
“He appears.”
Kaizer looked confused.
Jay continued.
“Every single time.”
She shook her head.
“I hate him a lot.”
Percy folded his arms.
“Okay.”
He nodded toward Kaizer.
“Then shoot.”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Keifer shouted,
“WHAT?!”
Aris stared at Percy.
“What kind of person tells someone to shoot?!”
Yuri looked horrified.
Jay looked at Percy.
Percy simply shrugged.
“Your choice.”
Kaizer looked between them.
“What plans?”
Jay raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t remember?”
Kaizer frowned.
“I just met you for the second time!”
ASTRA suddenly smiled behind their masks.
Jay smiled too.
“Really?”
She tilted her head.
“Think again, darling.”
She took one step forward.
“We’ve met many times.”
Kaizer’s expression changed.
“And every single time…”
Jay raised the gun.
“I’ve beaten you.”
She smiled.
“And your plans.”
Kaizer stared at her.
“What?”
Jay’s expression became cold.
“Enough.”
Three shots rang through the room.
BANG.
One struck his hand.
BANG.
The second struck his chest.
BANG.
The third ended the confrontation.
Silence filled the room.
Jay lowered the gun.
Percy looked at her.
He held up three fingers.
“Three shots.”
Jay sighed.
“Finally.”
She looked at Kaizer’s fallen body.
“I’m tired.”
Then she turned toward ASTRA.
Her entire expression changed.
She suddenly smiled.
“I want ice cream, guys.”
ASTRA answered together—
“DONE!”
For one second…
everything was normal.
Then Jay’s smile disappeared.
Her knees suddenly gave out.
Percy reacted instantly.
He caught her before she hit the floor.
“Baby!”
He held her tightly.
“Hey…”
Jay’s eyes were half closed.
Percy looked terrified.
“Look at me.”
He immediately removed his mask.
“Hey…”
He touched her cheek.
“Hey, baby.”
Everyone froze.
Keifer stared at him.
Aris stopped breathing.
Yuri’s eyes widened.
Felix looked completely shocked.
Kieren and Keigan weren’t there, but everyone else who knew the old story looked like they had seen a ghost.
Aris whispered,
“Percy?”
Yuri’s lips parted.
“No…”
Keifer stared.
“That’s impossible.”
Percy.
The man they had believed had died in an accident four years ago.
Their old best friend.
Aris’s best friend.
Yuri’s best friend.
Keifer’s closest friend.
Felix’s Kuya.
The person everyone believed was gone.
Was standing right in front of them.
Alive.
And holding Jay.
But the biggest shock wasn’t even that.
It was the way he was calling her.
Baby.
Keifer stared between them.
“What…?”
Jay slowly opened her eyes.
“I’m oka—”
She couldn’t finish.
Her eyes closed.
Her body went completely limp.
Percy’s face changed instantly.
“BABY!”
Everyone jumped.
Percy immediately lifted her into his arms in a bridal carry.
He held her tightly.
“Jay!”
No response.
Percy looked toward ASTRA.
His voice became commanding.
“Make sure they reach home safely.”
ASTRA nodded immediately.
“Yes.”
But nobody from Section E moved.
Their minds were filled with questions.
Aris stepped forward.
“Percy!”
Percy looked at him.
“Where were you?”
Yuri immediately asked,
“How are you alive?”
Keifer stepped forward.
“Why are you calling Jay baby?”
Felix’s voice shook.
“Kuya…”
Percy looked at all of them.
His expression became completely cold.
He had no intention of explaining anything.
He adjusted Jay carefully in his arms.
Then said,
“I don’t owe any fucking explanation.”
Everyone fell silent.
Percy’s eyes moved across all of them.
“And remember something.”
His voice became dangerously calm.
“If anything happens to her…”
He paused.
“I will kill you all.”
Everyone froze.
Percy continued,
“And believe me…”
His eyes hardened.
“I can do it within seconds.”
No one answered.
Percy turned around.
ASTRA immediately followed him.
He carried Jay out of the room.
Keifer stood frozen.
Aris couldn’t move.
Yuri stared at the doorway.
Felix looked like his entire world had just changed.
And Section E…
had no idea what had just happened.
OUTSIDE
Percy placed Jay carefully inside the car.
“Hospital.”
The driver immediately started the engine.
Percy sat beside her.
He held her hand.
“Come on, baby.”
His voice was completely different now.
Soft.
Worried.
Terrified.
“Please wake up.”
He looked at her pale face.
“You just scared the hell out of me.”
The car sped toward the hospital.
Behind them…
ASTRA handled the others.
But nobody could stop thinking about the same question.
How was Percy alive?
And more importantly…
Why was Jay Mariano his baby?
Meanwhile, inside the speeding car…
Percy kept holding Jay’s hand.
His eyes never left her face.
Because whatever happened next…
he didn’t care about explaining himself.
Right now…
only Jay mattered.