[Clayrin Aisfine Ezz]
“Leave Clayrin alone, Lumiel! You’re always full of yourself!” Jovenyl snapped, her voice strained with irritation.
“Oh come on, I’m just visiting my beloved,” Lumiel replied with a smirk, settling comfortably into the chair in front of mine.
I let out a long sigh. My peace had been completely shattered. Lumiel, the former gangster turned class clown, was now a self-proclaimed suitor—and the whole class was watching like this was a live drama. Jovenyl sat beside me, visibly fuming, barely holding back her usual violent tendencies.
“I already told you, Lumiel,” I said, trying to stay calm. “I didn’t agree to any promise. I never gave you permission to pursue me.”
He ignored my protests, grinning. “You’ll change your mind. I’m not giving up.”
Across the room, I noticed our male classmates glaring daggers at him. Even Yvette looked annoyed—her old crush on Lumiel clearly gone.
“It’s almost eight. Just go,” I said, digging into my bag. “You’re stressing out the whole class. If you really want something, take this Choco Mucho and leave.”
“You’re giving *him* your snack?” Jovenyl asked, exasperated.
I tore the bar in half and gave her a piece instead.
“Hey, what about me?” Lumiel asked.
I gave him a sharp glare. “Come near our clubroom and I swear, I’ll block you and file a restraining order.”
He laughed nervously. “Okay, okay… but I’ll still visit your classroom.”
Before he left, he turned to the guys in class and casually flipped them off, escalating their rage.
“He’s such a jerk!” one boy muttered.
“Don’t let him in here again!”
“A walking red flag!”
I groaned and collapsed dramatically onto Jovenyl’s shoulder. “Ate... how do we erase Lumiel from this timeline?”
“File a police report,” she replied dryly.
I grinned. “Also, Ruffa wants me to introduce her to your husband. What do I do?”
Jovenyl flicked my forehead. “No. Let Jow be. Keep Ruffa out of this. Trust me.”
I tilted my head. “Why? He’s fun to tease.”
“Just... leave Jow alone.”
It confused me. I couldn’t tell if she still liked him or if she was protecting me.
> But what’s really bothering me is that he hasn’t been in the clubroom lately. Not even online. No updates. No read receipts. It’s like he vanished again.<
---
Lunchtime.
I packed my things and slung my bag over my shoulder. As I was leaving, I heard Jovenyl and Yvette call my name in unison.
“Clay—”
“Rin—”
I signaled Yvette to stop.
“Sorry, I’m eating in the clubroom today. I have hot gossip about Jow.”
Yvette pouted dramatically. “You’re replacing me again!”
> I can’t help it! I need answers and the clubroom is my best shot.<
I exited the building and made my way to the club organization building. Five minutes later, I unlocked the clubroom door and stepped into silence.
> Empty. Perfect.<
I opened the windows and turned on the fan before settling into my seat. I pulled out my lunch and lifted the lid—Mama’s sweet pork adobo.
I stabbed a piece with my fork and took a bite.
> Sweet. Juicy. Heaven.<
It was spicy, too, but that only made it better. I closed my eyes and smiled.
> Thank you, Mama. This is a blessing.<
Twenty minutes passed.
As I packed up, the door opened—and there he was.
Jow Ylliard Hayle.
He looked... serious.
“You still remember where the clubroom is?” I teased.
He clicked his tongue and slumped onto the floor beside me.
“Are you done eating?” he asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
He pulled a plastic bag from his own bag—balut, of all things.
> Where did he even buy that?<
“Want one?”
“No thanks.”
“More for me, then.”
He cracked the shell on the floor and sipped from the top.
“That’s your lunch?” I asked, incredulous.
“No appetite.”
“Why?”
He paused, his right eye dimming slightly. “Just... thinking.”
“What’s wrong with your left eye?”
He didn’t flinch. “I’m blind in that eye now.”
I jumped to my feet. “Blind?!”
“Ask Nova. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You came all the way here just to not explain yourself?” I said, annoyed.
“It’s about my curse,” he said softly, finishing the balut. “I hurt someone again.”
“You mean Lean May?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Are you seriously sulking because you hurt someone, not because you lost your powers and half your vision?”
“I hurt someone again,” he repeated, his voice trembling. “Why does love always mean hurting and getting hurt?”
I stood and grabbed his hand. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see.”
He let me drag him from the clubroom. As we passed a trash bin, he tossed the second balut without a word.
We climbed to the rooftop.
> Perfect. Like that scene in Kuroko no Basket...<
I let go of his hand, walked to the railing, and kicked it lightly.
Then I shouted:
“LEAN MAY RONICA ADOLFO!”
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!?" His voice rang with worry as he stood from his seat and rushed toward me.
"Stop it—what the hell is wrong with you?"
I raised my voice again, cupping my hands around my mouth like a megaphone.
"Message from Clayrin Aisfine Ezz the Great! A certain idiot is sulking after breaking your heart! But he’ll be okay... if you give him a hug!"
"You’re seriously out of your mind."
He clamped his hand over my mouth.
I wriggled in his grip, trying to break free, but he kept a firm hold and dragged me away from the edge of the rooftop. Only when we reached the door did he finally let go.
I glared at him. "What is your problem? There are people down there—someone might’ve actually heard me!"
He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"You’re insane, you know that? What kind of weird stunt was that supposed to be?"
I laughed, unfazed by his scolding.
"I was copying a scene from Kuroko's Basketball—the dramatic rooftop kind where someone screams their feelings and a teacher storms in to scold us both. I was just getting started."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why would you even think of doing something like that?"
I looked at him—really looked—and said, quieter this time:
"Because I wanted to declare to Lean May that you'll be okay. That I'm here for you. It’s part of my duty as president to carry some of my subordinate’s burdens, isn’t it?"
His expression faltered.
"If you’re worried Lean May is going to suffer because you broke her heart… remember, she’s the one who chose to let go. She made that sacrifice. So the least you can do now is promise you’ll be okay. That you’ll take care of yourself. You’ve only got one eye left to see this world—make sure you use it to look after yourself first, Jow."
His mouth parted slightly, stunned. Then, little by little, color bloomed across his cheeks. A real, soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
> There it is again. Another genuine smile from him.<
He turned away, chuckling under his breath—trying to stifle it with a soft grunt.
"L-Let’s just go." He mumbled and darted through the rooftop door, skipping down the stairs two at a time.
"Hey! Don’t just leave me, Alien Boy!" I called after him, but no protest came back.
I let out a long, exasperated sigh.
Sweat trickled down the back of my neck. I sniffed my armpit on instinct—thank goodness, no stink.
> Ugh, it’s scorching today. Good thing I packed an extra tank top in my bag.<
I headed toward the stairwell, the door closing behind me with a soft click. As I descended step by step, I couldn’t stop thinking about that smile—his smile.
It stayed with me, echoing in my chest like the fading ring of a bell. My heart picked up pace. I felt warm—too warm.
My cheeks burned. My eyes began to blur.
> What is this…?<
> I was happy. Genuinely happy.
> And also… heartbreakingly sad.
To be continued.