THE SHOT

JAY-JAY POV

It started with whispers.

Section E was loud — too loud — but underneath the usual chaos, something felt wrong. Off. Like the air had shifted and no one noticed but me.

Yuri wasn't in his seat.

Ci-n was ranting about mangoes again. Blaster was panicking over his audition song. Kit and Mayo were flirting like it was a competitive sport. Calix was texting Mica. David was asleep — shocking, I know.

And Keifer?

Keifer was beside me.

Smiling.

Soft.

Unaware.

I should've felt it.

Should've known.

But I was too busy pretending everything was fine. Too busy pretending the bite mark on my neck was just a mosquito. Too busy pretending I wasn't still spiraling from family dinner, Maria's shampoo-commercial flirting, and Jenna's emotional sabotage.

Then the door slammed open.

Yuri walked in.

Eyes wild.

Jaw locked.

Hands clenched.

And in that instant?

The room changed.

Section E froze.

Ci-n stopped mid-rant.

Blaster dropped his pen.

Felix blinked.

Drew whispered, "Oh no."

Yuri didn't speak.

Didn't blink.

Just walked forward.

Straight toward Keifer.

I stood.

So did Keifer.

"Yuri," I said, voice trembling. "What are you doing?"

He didn't answer. His eyes locked onto Keifer like he was the only thing in the room.

"What do you even see in him?" he snapped.

Keifer blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Yuri's voice cracked. "Why is it that every girl I fall for ends up falling for you?"

Then his tone turned bitter. "He couldn't even protect his own mother," he said, laughing without humor. "He had to hurt you just to pretend he was saving you."

His voice rose, sharp and venomous. "I was the one who stayed when she left you. I was the one picking up the pieces after he dropped that pathetic plan of his."

He jabbed a finger at Keifer. "You don't deserve to be loved."

I glanced at Keifer. He didn't argue. Didn't defend himself. Just stood there, absorbing every word like it was truth.

"Enough, Yuri," I said, steady despite the shaking in my chest. "You had your chance. You blew it."

"Chance?" he scoffed. "You mean that engagement? I did that to save you from him."

I looked around Section E, silently begging someone to intervene.

"He's just like his father," Yuri spat. "A monster who shouldn't even be alive."

That was it.

I slapped him.

Hard.

"So this is the real you," I said, voice low.

My throat tightened. "How could you say that, Yuri? You've known him since you were kids. You know what he's been through — better than I ever could."

"Oh, shut up!" he shouted.

"Everyone felt sorry for him just because his dad was abusive," he sneered. "Even Angelo couldn't help having a soft spot for him."

"Just because his mom died when he was twelve and he had to raise his brother — blah, blah, blah," Yuri scoffed.

This was the real him.

Not the Yuri who used to make me laugh.

Not the one who stood by me when everything fell apart.

No — this was someone else entirely.

Someone twisted by jealousy.

Someone drowning in bitterness.

Someone dangerous.

And then?

He reached into his bag.

Pulled out a gun.

Section E erupted.

Ci-n screamed, "YURI, NO!"

Blaster lunged toward him.

Felix grabbed his arm.

Drew tried to block his path.

Kit and Mayo moved fast — one reaching for the weapon, the other shielding Keifer.

Calix shouted for Sir.

David woke up mid-chaos and tackled Yuri's shoulder.

But it wasn't enough.

Yuri broke free.

Raised the gun.

Aimed.

I moved.

Too slow.

The shot rang out.

Loud.

Sharp.

Final.

Keifer collapsed.

I screamed.

Ran to him.

Blood.

Too much.

Too fast.

"Keifer," I whispered, voice cracking. "Stay with me."

He blinked.

Smiled.

"Still yours," he said.

Then everything went dark.

Yuri ran.

Section E chased.

Sir called for help.

And me?

I held Keifer.

Screaming.

Shaking.

Wrecked.

Because this wasn't just drama.

This was war.