11. Lunara
1266 Words
In the days following classes, Rivan trained with Nathan in the garden. He could now last a full minute without fainting, though it was still exhausting. Yet, the joy he felt erased all the tiredness.
Rivan hummed softly as he skipped lightly down the corridor. Yesterday, Nathan had mentioned bringing someone who could help him control his emotions.
Rivan couldn't wait to meet that person. Suddenly, his steps halted. He stared in surprise at a girl sitting on a bench in the academy's garden.
Rivan rushed closer, his eyes sparkling. With a broad smile, he sat down next to her and greeted her enthusiastically. "Lunara! Long time no see."
The girl smiled gently, her face as serene as when they last met. She didn't seem surprised by his sudden appearance. "Long time no see, Rivan. How are you?"
"A lot has happened, but I'm doing great now," Rivan replied with a bright smile.
Lunara gently rubbed Rivan's hair, playfully messing it up as if she had just realized something. "Rivan is amazing."
Rivan's body froze instantly. Lunara's fingers felt ticklish as they brushed his hair, and his face immediately flushed.
"Luna, you're messing up my hair," Rivan complained, pouting and looking dissatisfied.
Lunara just chuckled playfully. She stopped rubbing his hair, and a hint of disappointment crossed her silvery-purple eyes. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."
Rivan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he could still faintly hear the girl's suppressed laugh. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for my little brother," Lunara answered calmly.
"A brother? What's his name? Maybe I know him," Rivan asked enthusiastically.
Lunara chuckled and glanced sideways for a moment before looking back at Rivan. "Not yet. You haven't met him."
Not yet? Although Lunara's words sounded strange, Rivan didn't dwell on it. He spoke again. "Well, then. Tell me. I can look out for him for you."
"Look out for him?" Lunara's eyes widened slightly at Rivan's suggestion.
The girl laughed and rubbed the young man's hair again. "How sweet."
"Luna..." Rivan whined unhappily. “Stop rubbing my hair! I still want to grow taller!"
"I think you've grown quite tall." Lunara stood up and looked Rivan up and down.
Rivan grumbled softly but didn't immediately refute her. His face felt a little hot. "But I want to be as tall as Nathan."
Lunara paused for a moment. "Nathan?"
Understanding her confusion, Rivan quickly explained. "Yes, he's a member of the Aegis Division. He saved me. He's very tall and cool."
The girl smiled playfully and asked, "So, you want to be like him?"
"RIVAN!" A girl's shout interrupted their conversation.
Rivan looked back and saw Isla approaching him with a man.
"Hi, Isla," Rivan replied cheerfully.
"We've been looking for you." Isla took a deep breath and spoke in a cheerful tone.
Rivan tilted his head slightly and asked tentatively, "What's wrong? By the way, how did you end up with Nathan?"
"Senior was looking for you, too. We met in the corridor," Isla replied. Nathan nodded in confirmation.
"Well, I wanted to invite you to the market. We didn't get to go last time, and we've been busy with lots of assignments lately, so today, while our workload isn't too heavy, let's go." Isla smiled broadly and explained her purpose.
"I want to, but I have training today," Rivan replied listlessly.
Nathan, who had been silent this whole time, finally spoke up. "Go ahead. I have matters to attend to today."
"That's great!" Rivan's eyes shone. “Lunara, come with us.”
"I can't leave my brother alone." Lunara gently refused.
Rivan sighed in disappointment. He had forgotten about this. Undeterred, he spoke again. "In that case, let's bring your brother, too."
"No need. Go have fun with your friend," Lunara said.
"I—" Rivan's words were cut off when Isla grabbed his hand.
"Wait, Isla—ouch!" Rivan groaned in pain when he hit his forehead on the pillar beside the garden.
"Sorry, sorry. Are you okay?" Isla immediately helped Rivan up, panicking when she saw the bump on his forehead.
Nathan glanced sideways; the girl's laugh caught his attention. A faint smile appeared on his usually cold face.
"I'll be going now." After saying that, Lunara walked away.
Nathan watched the girl's back fade into the distance, and he could faintly see the back of a man with snow-white hair next to her.
For a moment, his hand clenched tightly before relaxing again. He turned away and walked away from the garden.
...
"Ta–da!" Isla spread her arms and smiled widely as she showed off the market.
"Wow, it's so crowded here!" Rivan exclaimed in awe. His eyes swept the surroundings, shining brightly at the sight of the many food stalls.
"We can buy snacks later. I'll show you the best ones." Isla pulled Rivan's hand and led him deeper inside.
Occasionally, Rivan stopped at a food stall, his mouth watering as he was tempted to buy something.
But his friend didn't let him look for long. Isla kept pulling him away, and he responded with a dissatisfied snort.
"Isla, let me buy some food," Rivan exclaimed, annoyed.
Isla ignored her friend, resolutely dragging him along. "Later, after you see it."
Soon, their steps stopped at a stall that was still closed.
"Ta-da! This is my stall. I sell beads here," Isla said, showing it off proudly. Isla showed it off proudly.
"Since when?" Rivan was surprised by Isla's announcement as he watched his friend skillfully open the stall.
"Two days after school started," Isla replied. "Come here and help me arrange them."
Rivan immediately agreed and began arranging the beads on the table. “They are so beautiful. I want to buy one. I'll give it to Lunara later."
Isla stopped moving and gave her friend a complicated look. "It seems you don't know yet."
"Know what?" Rivan was still focused on choosing beads.
"Senior Nathan and Kak Lunara were close once," Isla replied.
Rivan froze, dropping the beads in his hand. His neck moved stiffly. "What?"
"Hey, don't ruin my beads!" Isla exclaimed. “My older sister used to teach them. She often told me stories about them.”
Then she sighed, seeing that her friend was still frozen. She gently nudged Rivan's shoulder. "Snap out of it and help me sell."
"We–were they not dating, then?" Rivan asked in a trembling voice.
"My sister didn't say they were dating, but they were very close back then," Isla continued.
"I always rooted for them to be together. I won't let you sneak in between them like that." Isla pointed at Rivan irritably.
Rivan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they weren't dating, he still had a chance with Lunara.
"But I also heard a bad rumor about them." Isla's voice sounded hesitant.
Rivan leaned closer, urging her to continue. "What do you know?"
Isla took a breath, lowering her voice to a soft whisper. "I heard that Kak Lunara killed Kak Nathan's parents."
"Wait, what?" Rivan unconsciously shouted in shock. Many pairs of eyes looked their way.
"Shh..." Isla nudged Rivan's stomach harshly. "Don't yell! I don't believe it either. Kak Lunara is the kindest and gentlest girl I've ever known. How could she possibly kill her friend's parents?"
"Yeah! There's no way Lunara would do something like that." Rivan nodded in agreement. A rumor is just a rumor.
"Anyway, I won't let you bother my favorite couple," Isla stated firmly.
"You traitor! You're taking someone else's side instead of your own friend's!" Rivan pouted, angry at Isla's bias.
- Writer
