3
835 Words
It was lunchtime when Luna opted for a sandwich, choosing to forgo the school cafeteria, where she noticed Lucile and her friends seated at their usual corner. Instead, Luna decided on a detour, grabbing some water and a sandwich before using a door in the other wing to avoid Lucile and her friends. Seeking a peaceful spot near the field, Luna overheard voices as she approached a bush and, when she peeped through, recognized familiar features.
“Young master, your dad sent us to let you know he's home and disappointed with your decision to transfer to this school,” a man in a black suit addressed Lance.
Concern etched across Lance's face, he inquired, “How is he?”
“He's doing fine, but he would like you to come back,” the man replied.
“And Mom? Does he have any plans to ask her home?” Lance asked with a sadness in his voice.
“Young master, I know it might be difficult for you now, but you must understand that your future is very important…”
“Important for my dad to use and be like him someday,” Lance interrupted bitterly.
Mr. Kim, the man in the black suit, seemed taken aback. “I'm sorry, Mr. Kim, for raising my voice. I didn't…”
“I understand, young master. I won't convince you anymore to go back, but if you need something, just send me a message,” Mr. Kim stated.
Lance nodded in acknowledgment. “Mr. Kim, please take good care of my dad. I am not there to protect him at this moment. Please tell him I'll be back, but not yet now. My mom needs me.”
As Mr. Kim drove away, Luna, who had been listening behind the bush, was caught off guard. She hurriedly tried to run away when Lance noticed her.
“What are you doing here?” Lance approached her swiftly.
“I-I'm just having lunch here. I didn't mean to eavesdrop,” Luna stammered.
“I don't care if you heard us. But why are you eating your lunch here?” he questioned her.
“I just decided to have some lunch and get some fresh air at the same time,” she lied.
“Is that so?” he asked.
“Yes,” she responded.
“If that's so, can I have some of that sandwich?” Lance pointed at the sandwich in a small plastic bag.
Luna nodded, cutting the sandwich in half with her hand and giving the other half to Lance.
“Is it Tuna?” he asked.
“Yes,” she responded. They then shared and devoured the food together.
Despite her challenging day, Luna found solace in the fact that she didn't have to eat alone this time, a departure from her usual routine whenever Lucile's group occupied the cafeteria.
"That smiley keychain you had earlier..." Lance's sudden question caught Luna off guard.
"Yes...?" Luna's surprise was evident in her response.
"Whose is that from?" Lance inquired, curiosity etched across his features.
A warm smile graced Luna's face as she recalled the origin of the keychain. "It's from my dad," she answered.
Lance was taken aback by her response. "Why? Where is he?" he pressed for more information.
"I don't know," Luna admitted, a tinge of uncertainty in her voice, which piqued Lance's curiosity even further.
"Nobody knows where he is," she sadly stated, being despondent, settling over her expression. "Before he left, he gave me smiley faces with various colors," she continued, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "He told me that no matter what color the day is, I should always choose to smile."
Luna paused, her fingers gently tracing the keychain as if seeking comfort from its presence. "That's why I use them as my charms," she confessed, her eyes reflecting the emotional weight of her connection to those colorful symbols. "They're the only things I have from him before he left," she sadly concluded.
Concern and empathy filled Lance's eyes as he absorbed Luna's poignant revelation. "Why? What happened to him?" he asked, wanting to understand the source of Luna's pain.
"He was accused of something he didn't do," Luna revealed, the bitterness evident in her tone. "He was accused by his own company," she continued, unraveling a layer of complexity to her father's departure.
Lance harbored more questions, but the bell rang, signaling the start of class. Luna, sensing the need to drink, reached for a water bottle and drank some of it. Lance, pointing to the bottled water, expressed his interest.
"You want some?" Luna offered, to which Lance nodded.
"But, I-I just drank from it," Luna hesitated, wary of potential discomfort. However, Lance simply grabbed the bottled water from her hand and took a sip, his actions reflecting a carefree disregard for such concerns.
"Let's go now," he commanded after quenching his thirst.
And so, Luna and Lance returned to their classroom as the bell's echoes faded away.
- Writer
