Stage Kiss: When Stars Align

Mayor's Daughter

Luna stared at her reflection in her dorm room mirror, Paulo's jacket still draped over her shoulders. Three more missed calls from her father glared from her phone screen, along with a text that made her stomach drop:

"Family dinner. Tonight. 7 PM. Non-negotiable."

The same time as her secret meeting with Kenny.

A knock at her door made her jump. "Luna? It's Min-ji. Open up or I'm using my spare key, and you know I will!"

Luna sighed, opening the door to find her best friend bouncing with barely contained excitement.

"Spill. Everything. Now." Min-ji barged in, then froze. "Is that... PAULO KIM'S JACKET?"

"Shhhh!" Luna frantically closed the door. "It's not what you think."

"Really? Because I think Paulo Kim, leader of STELLAR 5, gave you his jacket at 5:30 AM outside the library, and then you basically told Mina Jung to back off." Min-ji's grin was terrifying. "The dance department group chat is exploding."

Luna groaned, sinking onto her bed. "I have bigger problems. Dad wants me home for dinner."

Min-ji's excitement faded. As Luna's roommate since freshman year, she was the only one who truly understood the Martinez family dynamics.

"The same dad who threatened to cut your scholarship if you took that music theory elective?"

Luna nodded miserably. "The campaign's getting intense. He probably wants to remind me about maintaining the 'proper image' for potential voters."

"You mean he wants to parade his perfect pre-law daughter around at campaign events?" Min-ji's voice dripped with disdain. "While your compositions are literally topping charts under a pseudonym?"

"Min-ji..."

"Sorry, sorry. But Luna, you can't keep living two lives forever. Especially now that Paulo's clearly interested in—"

"He's not!" Luna interrupted, blushing. "He's just... curious about my music."

"Right. That's why he's been practicing piano at dawn, hoping to 'accidentally' run into you?"

Luna's head snapped up. "How did you—"

"Kenny told Joshua, who told Stan, who told his sister in my dance class." Min-ji shrugged. "The STELLAR 5 gossip network is very efficient."

Luna buried her face in Paulo's jacket, then immediately regretted it as his scent enveloped her. "I have to go to this dinner. But Kenny..."

"Go to dinner," Min-ji decided. "I'll tell Kenny something came up. But Luna?"

Her expression turned serious. "You're going to have to choose eventually. Between the life your father wants and the one that makes you write songs at 3 AM."

Luna's phone chimed again. A text from Paulo:

"Missing my jacket already. Hope it's keeping you warm. About that melody yesterday..."

Before Luna could respond, another message appeared:

"Ms. Martinez, your father's driver will collect you at 6:30 PM. - Secretary Kim"

Luna looked at herself in the mirror again: the mayor's daughter in an idol's jacket, holding a phone with messages from two very different worlds.

An hour later, Luna sat in her father's sleek black car, having changed into the appropriate attire for a mayor's daughter: modest dress, subtle makeup, no hood in sight. Paulo's jacket was safely hidden in her dorm room, though she already missed its warmth.

The Martinez mansion loomed ahead, all perfectly manicured lawns and imposing columns. Luna's mother waited at the door, elegant as always in her campaign-ready outfit.

"Darling," her mother air-kissed her cheeks, "we have guests tonight. The Jung family..."

Luna's heart stopped. The Jungs. As in, Mina Jung's family.

"Their entertainment company is considering a substantial donation to your father's campaign," her mother continued, steering Luna inside. "And Mina speaks so highly of your university..."

The universe really did hate her.

The Martinez mansion's dining room was a study in calculated perfection. Crystal glasses caught the light from the chandelier, while campaign photos smiled down from tastefully arranged walls. Luna sat rigidly in her assigned seat, painfully aware of Mina Jung's smirk from across the table.

"Luna's doing exceptionally well in her pre-law studies," her father announced, playing the proud parent role perfectly. "Top of her class."

Luna stared at her untouched soup. That was a lie. She'd dropped most of her law courses for music theory, but her father hadn't bothered to check.

"How wonderful," Mrs. Jung cooed. "Mina tells us she often sees Luna at the university. Especially around that talented idol group... what was it, dear?"

"STELLAR 5," Mina supplied sweetly. "In fact, Luna and Paulo Kim are working on a project together. She was wearing his jacket this morning."

The soup spoon in Luna's mother's hand clinked sharply against fine china. Her father's campaign smile flickered.

"A study project, I assume?" Mayor Martinez's voice carried a warning.

"Music composition," Luna said quietly. "It's required for—"

"Luna has such a gift for piano," Rosa, her older sister, interrupted smoothly.

"Remember when she used to compose those little melodies as a child?"

Luna shot her sister a grateful look, but Rosa's eyes held something calculating.

A reminder of their last conversation: "I know about the competition entry, Luna. How long did you think you could keep it a secret?"

"Speaking of music," Mr. Jung leaned forward, "our entertainment division is looking for new composers. Anonymous submissions welcome." He looked pointedly at Luna. "No need for... public association."

Luna's hands trembled under the table. He knew. Somehow, he knew about Midnight Composer.

Her phone buzzed in her lap:

Kenny: "Where are you? The basement studio is ready."

Paulo: "Your melody is perfect for the bridge section. We need to talk."

Min-ji: "GIRL. You okay? Text me if you need an emergency escape."

"Luna," her father's voice cut through her panic, "Mr. Jung is offering you an opportunity to explore your... hobby... appropriately. Without compromising our family's image."

"With proper credit going to more suitable composers, of course," Mr. Jung added smoothly.

Luna felt sick. They wanted to buy her songs and give credit to others. Like what happened with "Midnight Dreams."

"I..." Luna started, but Rosa cut in again.

"Luna's focus is law school, Father. Music is just a required credit." But under the table, Rosa's hand found Luna's, squeezing once. A gesture from their childhood, when they'd face their father's disapproval together.

Later, as the Jungs prepared to leave, Mina cornered Luna in the hallway.

"I know what you're doing," she hissed. "Paulo might be fascinated by your mysterious act now, but once he knows you're just another rich girl playing rebel..."

"Is that what you're going to tell him?" Luna found her voice, remembering Paulo's jacket still hidden in her dorm. "That I'm exactly like you?"

Mina stepped back, surprised by Luna's backbone.

Luna's phone buzzed again.

Paulo: "Kenny told me about your family dinner. I'm at Practice Room 12. Come when you can. Please."

Making a decision, Luna grabbed her car keys.

"Luna?" her father called. "We need to discuss your course selections."

"Tomorrow," she said, already heading for the door. "I have a project to finish."

"Luna Martinez!" Her father's voice held that political steel. "Your future—"

"Is music," Luna finished, surprising herself. "And tonight, I have a song to write."

She left them standing in the perfect foyer of their perfect house, Rosa's small smile the last thing she saw.

In her car, Luna's phone lit up with texts:

Rosa: "I'll handle Dad. Go write something beautiful."

Min-ji: "Kenny says Paulo's been playing your melody for an hour straight."

Kenny: "Whatever you decide, we've got your back."

Paulo: "The piano's waiting. And so am I."

Luna touched Paulo's name on her screen, then started her car. For the first time in years, she wasn't running away from music.

She was running toward it.