chapter 7

⸻

Karate

David's POV

"How is she?" Percy asked over the phone.

"She looked terrified when I found them. I thought she was the one who got stabbed because of all the blood, but it turns out she was just hugging Rory," I explained.

At first, I thought it was just a simple brawl. A fight between rival schools. Until I heard one of them mention Keifer's name and that it was his girlfriend.

Good thing I followed my instincts. Jay-jay wasn't moving anymore when I saw him lying on the floor, staring at his blood-soaked hands, surrounded by a bunch of guys. Rory looked pale and was struggling even though she was clearly weak.

If I hadn't shown up, I don't know what could have happened to them.

"Why did this happen?! What stupid thing did Keifer do this time that Jay-jay ended up getting involved?!" he asked angrily.

I wasn't sure, but I had a strong feeling that people Keifer crossed paths with before were back for revenge. Especially now that Ram no longer held the throne or power.

"Looks like they're using Jay-jay to get back at Keifer."

"Ha! That Keifer really doesn't think!"

"So what are you planning to do?"

"Nothing yet. But when I get back there, Yuri better be ready for me," he said and ended the call.

Unbelievable. His rage toward Yuri just got worse. I don't know the full story between all of them. I don't like getting involved in other people's business.

But I know somehow Yuri owes him something. While Keifer just keeps making him angry because of Jay-jay.

He never mentions Aries. Maybe someday, I'll find out what really happened between all of them.

I was about to go back inside the hospital when I saw some of my classmates coming out. I saw Rory and Ci-N sitting in wheelchairs, while Keifer and Yuri were helping Jay-jay walk.

While looking at them, I couldn't help but think of Ella.

The same history repeating itself in the same section, and with the same person.

I just hope Jay-jay is strong enough to handle the true nature of those two and the whole Section E when things go south.

⸻

Jay-jay's POV

"Karatey! Karatey!" Ci-N kept shouting while kicking in the air.

I'm seriously about to slap this kid!

He's like a broken record. My ears were close to falling off. I feel like I've lost all my brain cells because of this nonsense!

Mayo and the others said it would be better if I learned at least some self-defense.

At the very least, I should be able to run and call for help. They won't let me fight even though I know I can.

Pffft... Unfair!

"Karatey! Karatey!"

I ended up smacking my own forehead because of everything he was doing.

We were just outside the room, and I was sitting on one of the benches piled up out front.

"Ci-N!" I yelled at him. "I'll karate your head if you don't stop!"

He finally stopped and scratched his head as he walked up to me.

"Keifer's taking so long," he said.

"Oh please! Don't expect that jerk to show up early. He's worse than the principal when it comes to time."

Ci-N just shrugged. I glanced at the time on my phone. It was still early, and there were no classes today because the teachers had a meeting.

I accidentally looked at the rooftop of the main building. I didn't realize until now that it was clearly visible from here, even from a distance.

And there was someone there...

Who could that be? I think she's looking at me and Ci-N. I'm sure it's a girl — she's wearing the girls' uniform.

"You see that?" I asked, pointing at the rooftop.

"Hm?" He looked where I pointed. "Yeah, why?"

"Nothing... just curious."

"That's Ella," he said flatly while picking at something on his finger.

"Ella? How do you know?"

"She does that all the time... she even used to wave at me."

Oh, right. They used to be friends.

But I don't understand why Ci-N seems to treat their past like it meant nothing.

"Did something bad happen between you two? Why don't you talk anymore?"

He looked at me for a moment and then returned to what he was doing.

"She betrayed me," he said, looking at the rooftop again.

Ella was still there, now with someone else. I think it was Aries.

"What did she do?"

"Her classmates hurt me, and she didn't do anything. I even asked for her help, but she looked away," he explained.

I could feel the sadness in his voice.

That must have hurt him badly — asking a friend for help only to be ignored.

"And that wasn't the only thing," he added. "...She also set me up to be accused of stealing."

Oh yeah! I remember that. Imelda the Maldita. She thought she could get away with it.

Good thing I showed up back then — otherwise her boyfriend would've been beaten to a pulp.

Oh wait, he was beaten up...

"Yeah... I remember that."

"She was behind it," Ci said softly.

WTF?!!

"H-how do you know?"

"Keifer told me," he whispered.

I thought he didn't know. But of course — Keifer has a motto like he's running a bank. So it's not surprising he found out.

But why didn't he tell me?

"Why didn't you guys do anything about it?"

Even if I kinda already knew the answer, I waited for Ci-N to explain.

"It's Ella... Keifer still had feelings for her back then."

I knew it.

Ugh! There's this tight feeling in my chest, and it's hard to breathe.

Even if Keifer already told me he liked me now, I still couldn't help but feel hurt.

I just stayed quiet and looked away. I didn't want to look at the rooftop anymore.

"Jay-jay!" someone called.

I looked. "What?" I asked Kit.

"What do you mean what? Let's go! Keifer's here," she said, clearly annoyed.

Ci-N and I stood up and walked over to her. When we entered the room, the tables had been pushed to the sides. Some were already in T-shirts — like Yuri and Keifer.

"Karate 101 begins!" Ci-N shouted while clapping.

"We'll start with the basics," Yuri said.

I scratched my head. Basics, basics... pfffft...

Keifer pointed to a spot between him and Yuri. He wanted me to stand there. I was too out of it to think, so I just followed.

"We'll show you first what we've learned," Felix said. I nodded and let them go ahead.

Felix walked to the center holding a notebook. He raised it and called Ci-N.

What are they going to do?

Ci got into position like Bruce Lee.

"Wooooaaahhhhh..." he said.

That's when I realized what they were doing.

Ci-N was going to kick the notebook out of Felix's hand. No way! It's too high, and Ci is too short.

Then he suddenly jumped and spun in the air.

No way! He's not gonna make it!

HE MADE IT!

Amazing! Damn! Ci-N did it. He actually reached the notebook in Felix's hand.

I clapped in amazement.

"That was awesome! I wanna learn that too!" I said.

"It'll take time to learn that. Let's focus on self-defense and basics first," Yuri said.

"I don't want that! I want that move!"

"Do that later! Let's start with the basics," Keifer insisted.

"But I want that!"

"Ugh, you're so stubborn! That's not something you can learn right away!" Keifer said, clearly annoyed.

"Then teach me!"

"Is your brain that slow?! I said later!"

"Your brain is slower! You don't get what I want!"

"Enough! Enough!" the others yelled.

I only noticed then that they were all watching us. This idiot! He doesn't get what I want!

"I'll be the one to teach you that next time," Ci-N said, and I finally calmed down.

Nice! High kick!

"Let's start..." Yuri returned to the topic. "In all of Section E, five of us know martial arts. If we include what Mayo knows, that makes six," he explained.

"Ahh... the kapour," I said absentmindedly. They all looked at me.

Mayo scratched his head while laughing.

"Jay... it's called parkour," Felix corrected me.

No way! These guys are making fun of me. Idiots.

"Nope. He said kapour," I insisted.

"It's really parkour," Mayo said.

Huh?!

I clearly remember him saying kapour.

"You told me kapour!" I said, annoyed.

I was feeling embarrassed. I couldn't figure out who was right.

"I said parkour," Mayo replied.

"Kapour!"

"Parkour!"

"You said kapour!"

"Parkour!"

"Kapour! Kapour! Kapour!"

"Parkour, I said!" Mayo snapped, clearly getting pissed. He loses his temper quickly.

"Kapour! You said kapour! Kapour! Kapour! Kapour!" I repeated.

He was clearly irritated and trying to hold it in. He scratched his head, eyebrows twitching.

"Stubborn! It's parkour—"

"STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP!" Keifer suddenly shouted, shaking all of us.

"Stop it! And stop acting like a child!"

I looked down and pouted.

There. Got scolded by the king because of Mayo.

So annoying!

"One more time, and I'll whack the both of you!" he warned and walked away.

I looked at Mayo who still looked pissed.

"It's kapour..." I muttered — he probably heard that.

"You idiot! It's parkour!" he shouted at me.

That jerk! He called me an idiot.

"You're the bigger idiot! Jerk!" I yelled back.

Everyone suddenly froze, clearly surprised by what I just said.

Wait... what did I say again?

"Jay-jay just cursed," Ci-N said as they all looked at Keifer.

I turned to him too. I think I know what's coming.

Crap.

He smirked.

"Profanity."