Questions Beneath The Lanterns
926 Words
CHAPTER 7
Leanne returned to the literature club booth with Sabrina’s warning still stuck inside her head.
“Stay away from him.”
Why did Sabrina sound so serious?
Why did she act like Chris would get hurt if people got too close to him?
And honestly—
Why did Leanne care so much about that warning?
The moment she stepped back toward the booth—
“LEAAA!”
Chris immediately appeared beside her carrying several lanterns badly balanced in his arms.
Leanne blinked.
“…Why are you holding all of those?”
“I’m decorating.”
Carl looked up calmly.
“He stole them.”
“I borrowed them emotionally.”
“That’s not a real sentence,” Ren muttered quietly.
Kai sighed while arranging pastries.
“You disappeared for a while.”
Leanne paused slightly.
Should she tell them about Sabrina?
…No.
That conversation felt strangely private.
“Storage room,” she answered casually.
Chris narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“You got lost, didn’t you?”
“Why does everyone think I can’t survive alone?”
“Because you walked into the boys’ locker room yesterday.”
“That happened ONCE.”
Chris burst into laughter.
Leanne tried not to smile.
Why was he so easy to laugh with?
Then suddenly—
The festival lights around campus dimmed softly.
Students nearby immediately started cheering.
“The lantern show!”
Chris gasped dramatically.
“THE MAIN EVENT.”
Before anyone could react—
He grabbed Leanne’s wrist instantly.
“Come on!”
Leanne stumbled forward.
“Wait—what about the booth?!”
“Carl can handle it!”
Carl sighed tiredly in the background.
“…I always handle it.”
Chris laughed loudly while dragging her into the crowd.
Why was his hand so warm?
Why did he always pull her around like she naturally belonged beside him?
And most importantly—
Why didn’t she hate it?
The crowded festival pathways glowed beautifully beneath hanging lanterns while music echoed softly through the night air.
Chris kept walking ahead excitedly while holding her wrist carefully so she wouldn’t get separated.
Leanne stared at the back of his head quietly.
Why does he always look so happy?
Was he always like this?
Or was this just another side of him she forgot over the years?
Eventually they reached the lantern garden.
And honestly—
It was breathtaking.
Hundreds of glowing lanterns floated above the trees like tiny stars.
Students stood quietly watching the lights drift into the sky.
Leanne stared upward softly.
“…Wow.”
Chris grinned beside her.
“Pretty, right?”
Leanne nodded slowly.
But then—
Her eyes drifted toward him instead.
And suddenly another question appeared in her head.
Why does he look prettier than the lanterns?
Chris blinked innocently after noticing her staring.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Leanne immediately looked away.
“I wasn’t.”
“You definitely were.”
“Why are you so confident?”
“Because I’m adorable.”
“That confidence is concerning.”
Chris laughed again.
But then Leanne noticed something strange.
Even while smiling—
Chris kept glancing around the crowd.
Like he was searching for something.
Or someone.
“What are you looking for?” she asked suddenly.
Chris blinked.
“Hm?”
“You keep checking the crowd.”
For a split second—
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
Then he smiled again casually.
“Oh. Habit, I guess.”
Habit?
What kind of habit?
Before she could ask more—
Chris suddenly handed her a small lantern.
“Write a wish.”
Leanne blinked.
“…A wish?”
“Everyone does it.”
Nearby students were already writing messages onto glowing paper lanterns before releasing them into the sky.
Leanne looked down at the pen quietly.
What was she even supposed to wish for?
To survive this school?
To stop overthinking everything?
To stop feeling weird every time Chris smiled at her?
Beside her, Chris was already writing quickly.
Leanne narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“What did you write?”
“No cheating.”
“That means it’s embarrassing.”
“It’s private.”
“Which means embarrassing.”
Chris gasped dramatically.
“You’re so judgmental.”
Leanne laughed softly before finally writing her own wish.
“I want this happiness to stay.”
Simple.
But honest.
Then another question appeared in her chest unexpectedly.
Why did this club already feel important to her?
Why did these boys feel important?
And why—
Out of all of them—
Did Chris affect her the most?
“You done?”
Chris suddenly leaned closer beside her.
Too close.
Again.
Leanne’s heartbeat immediately became stupid.
Why does he always stand so close?!
“…Yeah,” she answered quietly.
Chris smiled softly before taking her hand naturally.
“Then let’s release them together.”
Leanne froze.
Why does holding his hand suddenly feel dangerous?
The lantern slowly floated upward into the night sky while warm golden lights surrounded them beautifully.
And for one quiet moment—
The noisy festival disappeared completely.
It almost felt like they were alone.
Then Chris looked at her.
Not teasing.
Not playful.
Just soft.
And suddenly another terrifying question appeared in Leanne’s mind.
When did Christopher Reyes become this important to me?
Then—
“Christopher.”
Both of them turned immediately.
Sabrina stood several feet away watching them silently.
And the moment her eyes landed on their joined hands—
One final question echoed inside Leanne’s chest.
Why did she suddenly feel guilty?
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