The next morning, Jay, Zoe and I drove to school, with Zoe riding with me. We arrived to class and installed ourselves in our seats, but I did give Zack a juice box while passing by him. Dude had a wild night, he deserves something. We sit down and everything is calm and nice.

Yui arrives in with her face looking a bit bruised still but not too badly since we took care of it immediately. Like in the webtoon, she hands Zack a handkerchief and says easily misunderstood things. I quickly get up, go up to Mira's desk and whispers in her ear an explanation of the event. Like how Zack actually saved Yui from her now ex boyfriend hitting her. Or how before that he saved an innocent cashier from getting hit by the same dude. And how the guy had attacked first and Zack only responded when he was coming at him.

After that I could clearly see that she had a soft look in her eyes, so I walked back to my seat, whispering to Zack that he was all good and that I had his back on the way. Guy looked at me like I was an angel. I chuckled as I went back to my seat. Sitting next to Jay we just smiled at eachother before I put my head on his shoulder, linking our arm and hand together and started playing around with his fingers.

I got extremely focused on it. So I didn't notice time passing.

...

We were now back home, watching Duke's stream. Like he streams often. He's dedicated to the thing.

He looked so happy. He now had an average of 200 viewers. Of course,we kept cheering him on ourselves too.

...

The next day, we all overheard Zack asking the guy to help him out to find some shoes. So I got up, Jay following me as we were holding hands and went up to him. I asked him to show me the shoes. He did and I told him I could help him get them, but that I thought they were pretty common, and that I knew a pretty unknown store that sold great shoes, super durable and much more unique, at a reasonable price. He rejected the help to find the shoes since he had already asked the guy, but he did ask about the shoes I was talking about. I showed him the online store on my phone and he looked visibly amazed at the designs, but he said he'd think about it. He probably thought that having more common safe shoes was better to impress Mira.

So I let it go.

...

Like in the webtoon, dude came back from the meetup all beaten. Zack acted like in the webtoon and setup another meeting, getting up he and his goons plus Daniel left to go beat these guys up. I looked at Jay and Zoe and we all silently agreed together.

We started following them from afar on our bikes.

We saw them meet Vasco on the way, so after they left with him we stopped to chat with the group, we told him the full context and the details of the meetup, like the exact location and general infos on the guys they were meeting.

We soon started making our way there with them.

...

At some point we split up, letting them go to Vasco and positioning ourselves where backup would come from if they called it.

Thought we made Zoe stay by the bikes. Although she made us promise we'd teach her how to fight so she could join us in that too one day, but until then she would watch the bikes and make sure no passerby would get dragged into the mess.

Like in the webtoon, we ended up beating the shit out of the freshman backup they called.

After we were done fighting, I made sure to check on Jay for injuries. He didn't have any but his knuckles were a little bruised, so I took Zoe with me to buy bandaids for him and I. I'm also giving him time alone to smoke, he Nevers smokes with me near I've found. But I know he gets the urges still, so I've made an habit to give him some alone time when they hit and seem bad, after a little time I'll come back and bring him lollies and gum. It's not much but his smoking habits have slightly reduced. I'm thinking that with time I might be able to make him quit. It's not good for his health. But it's his choice so I can't force him, I can only encourage him into the direction I wish for.

Getting back from the nearest store with a lollie of my own in my mouth and with Zoe chewing gum, we pass by the two guys from the webtoon. I look over to Jay questioningly and he just smiles at me, stomping on his cigarette. He comes over to me and takes out my lollie, putting it in his mouth. I go bright red.

"You could have just asked for one, I bought more! It should be illegal to embarrass me so often..."

He and Zoe just made fun of me as I took another lollie for myself, still blushing.

We soon got back on our bike and went home.

I did see him discreetly throw away all his cigarette packs.

I decided not to think about it too much and just quickly hugged him from behind, making him jump. He calmed down after realizing it was just me and put an arm behind my neck, pulling me forward and then he kissed my cheek. I turned bright red and just hid in his shoulder.

He turned around and hug me back tightly, also burying his head into my neck.

We started swaying from side to side, calmly.

I then put some distance between us, before taking his hand in the correct dance position. We then started slowly dancing together as if we were in a ballroom. Both smiling brightly at each other.

Neither of us ever noticed the eyes looking at us from her doorway, recording this sweet moment with a smile.

...

We were sitting in class as usual, when we heard something about mid-terms. Jay and I both looked at eachother, knowing we were fine but also knowing that we could help Zoe and Zack. Especially after hearing him say "I don't study.", As well as Daniel since he looked absolutely horrified at hearing about studying. Funny since that was the number one plan he had when moving here. Although we agreed to let Daniel come to us first. Since our main priorities were Zoe with her being our honorary daughter, and Zack, with how dumb he is.

So the next day, we were sitting at our usual place, with Zoe at the desk in front of Jay, but now Zack was sitting in front of me now. Jay was helping Zoe in the general areas since she had a base already and she's actually good at maths. Zack not having a solid base couldn't study at the same pace as her, so I was teaching him these bases on everything. To make sure he understood those before adding onto that.

Daniel at some point came to ask Jay for help, so Zoe gave him her place since she was fine enough on her own already. In the meantime she went to visit the architecture department, to see the guy she had cheered up before. They had become friends and liked to gossip together.

So Jay was now teaching Daniel, while I taught Zack. I figured that he could make do without Zoe teaching him maths at night, since Jay was teaching him everything and he was going to cheat anyways.

At night, we both studied a bit with Zoe at home too. Although she preferred doing it herself most of the time. We had enough time for me to study with Jay too, deepening his already amazing understanding of things. I wanted to see if I could make it so Daniel wouldn't be number one even while he cheated. Just to see if he'd feel less guilty.

After school we ended up going to the library too. But since we studied with Zack and Daniel already at school, we went to sit with burnt knuckles. I sat next to Vasco and immediately started teaching him the basics again in a simplified way. Jay sat with Jace, and started helping him out with him own studies too, writing down his explanations, and Zoe sat with her gossip friend, also helping him study, mainly maths since that was her force.

When Daniel's group got a little too loud, I went over to them to ask them to quiet down. Thought it wasn't as bad as in the webtoon since Zack wasn't complaining as much, having gotten used to studying by me.

They were very understanding, and all listened to me. It was easy for them to listen to me since they know me personally. Maybe not much Yui but I did stop her ex from doing much damage so she was grateful to me for that I guess. Jiho wasn't loud in the first place so that was that too. I mean I spoke to him a bit but he never tried to keep the conversation going so I dropped it.

...

We took the mid-terms exams, with me knowing I'd get first. Because I 100% know I'd get everything right. I mean Daniel cheated in math, but even knowing the right formulas and steps and all, without a deep understanding of it he won't be able to answer everything right or completely right. And he might have been taught everything else, and studied 24 hours, but I probably studied all this for more than a thousand years in the void, just reviewing everything I'd learned while alive. All the way up to graduation I'm going to have perfect scores. And I've started studying different fields too, and my mind is basically overpowered now so it's easy to learn these things, if I go step by step and build up from stuff I already know. Things just make sense.

...

So as expected, I got first place. Jay got second too. Daniel was only third. Zack also changed from being dead last to being in the lower middle. He hugged me for it, he didn't think it was possible. The only problem was with his base and his method of learning. Everyone learns differently, so teaching him in a way that worked with his brain really helped him.

...

We were going to the retreat.

I hid mine and Zoe's phone in Jay's special security bag. I told Zoe the importance of not using it and saving it for emergencies. She understood.

I dragged Jay to sit in front of Mira's seat, Zoe sitting with her instead of Yui, Yui taking Zoe's webtoon seat next to Jiho. So this way, Zoe and Mira pleasantly chatted instead of Yui being jealous of Mira and making the trip awkward.

I just sat next to the window, with my back to it and my legs stretched on the seat, Jay sitting on my lap with his back against my chest, my arms wrapped around his stomach holding him in place. We just quietly enjoyed the ride, telepathically having some random conversations here and there, while the others played games and such. There did come a moment where I just heard Zoe shout ;

"Mom! I won again! Look! Look!"

To which everyone was extremely confused until they heard my deep sleepy voice answer.

"Yes honey, I saw. I'm proud of you, you're doing amazing. Continue beating them. Momma's going to keep watching."

You could see their jaws hitting the floor. It was the greatest. Zoe just looked like a little devil but I think she got it from me so I can't say anything. But it was hilarious! Zack started spluttering and confusing himself further and further. Zoe just looked so proud of herself. I mean she usually only calls me mom at home, but I don't mind her doing it outside.

...

At the pit stop, our trio just stood back and watched them fool around a bit. Just laughing at them.

...

Arriving at the retreat center, I made a beeline for the fat instructor, Jay and Zoe naturally following behind me. I know I should try and protect Mira early on, but if I did the fucker might change his target to Zoe. And anyways, as creepy as he is, he only approaches her in that warehouse scene. So I can just go stop it faster. This way everyone else is guaranteed to be safe.

Jay and I made sure to share a room, making sure Zoe paired up with someone else than Mira, without her knowing. Jay didn't know why I did it but he's understood that it's best not to question me at this point. One late night I also promised him that one day I'd tell him all my secrets too.

...

The activities were pretty fun.

Soon enough, it was night time. When no one was looking, I quickly grabbed Jay and Zoe and practically ran to mine and Jay's room. I had previously made sure we had no camera and had added my own high tech lock to the door and windows. So we'd be sure to be safe whenever.

Inside the room, I quickly shut the door behind us, locking it with its normal lock and the one I added. I pulled the curtains and then we started installing ourselves. Zoe hadn't noticed but I had stolen her bags and brought them here too earlier.

Jay and I took one bed together and Zoe slept in the other one by herself. We gossiped a bit and told ghost stories but we went to sleep pretty early.

...

During the rafting activity, I led Jay and Zoe to an instructor that wasn't even seen during this activity in the webtoon, making sure to be as far as possible from the pedo.

The rest of the day was spent the same way making sure to stay out of his vision without being suspicious and making sure that it wasn't obvious we were avoiding him. I also made Zoe dress in a way that made her blend in with the crowd. Giving her a slightly binding bra to wear to make her boobs less obvious. She saw how serious and concerned I looked so she obliged, looking quite serious herself. She didn't say anything but she understood that something was wrong if I was doing this. She also made sure to not do anything special with her hair, making it look plain. She even completely stopped wearing makeup to make sure to not stand out as much as possible.

We were now doing the candle thing. Zoe had a soft happy smile while looking at hers.

I just looked at mine for a bit before turning to look at Jay, holding out my candle to him at the same time as he did his to me. We both just smiled at each other as we took eachother's candle. Linking our hands together.

On this night, I moved us and our stuff to Vasco's room with the guys. Neither Jay nor Zoe questionner it.

When we got there, I did a check of the room, found no cameras and so I installed the locks on the door and all the windows. Showing Jace how they worked. He looked concerned at why we moved here and why I was locking everything, but he respected me a lot so he didn't voice it, only giving me a look as if asking if we were in danger. In turn, I just answered ;

"Just make sure you and the boys watch over Jay and Zoe for me tonight, okay? Make sure to lock yourselves in too."

He had a look of realisation, before promising to do as I said, looking deathly serious.

After some time of chilling and talking, I suddenly got up, reminding Jace to keep his promise. Jay tried to follow me, but I looked at him softly, holding his face gently.

"It's going to be okay, dear. Stay here so I know you're safe, will you?"

He stopped, looked at me for a bit, before nodding. I smiled at him again before quickly leaving, making my way to the warehouse.

I barged in just as Mira yelled for help, having just found the true intentions of the pervert.

He turned to me, looking pissed. I quickly moved, and brought Mira closer to the door, standing between her and the guy.

"You know what to do when things go badly, right?

She nodded quickly, standing frozen in fear at the face the guy was making.

I got in a fighting stance. The guy charged st me. I was too focused to pay attention to his bullshit blabber.

I tried to swipe in legs but he grabbed my head, trying to knee my head. He could only do it once though, before I grabbed his tight and flipped him sideways, ripping his hands away from my head.

Not minding the bloody nose, I stayed alert as he regained his footing.

The other instructor started stirring, but seeing I was handling it, he stayed where he was, after all he could potentially distract me if he were to try to join.

He again charged at me, trying to this time swipe my feet. But I stood firm in place, hitting him in the rib. Although he did suprise me and grabbed me again, this time tighter, and started hitting my ribs as hard as he could with his knee.

I bent over, coughing violently, as he stepped back laughing. That's when the doors burst open. He took the distraction and quickly grabbed my head again, kneeing my head repeatedly before letting go. I stumbled back, too weak to do anything. My vision starting to fade. Fuck I need to learn more fighting techniques. It's no use being stronger if you don't know how to use it.

As I coughed up some blood, I started passing out. Fuck I think he broke ribs. Damn how'd Zack power through this? I don't know.... I think... I just... Need to sleep... A bit...

...