The exam was getting closer, and the pressure was building up. Rina was getting more and more anxious. She studied until her eyes hurt, but every time she checked the rankings, Luna was still just a little bit ahead.
One evening, Rina was in the school garden, sitting on a bench, reviewing her notes under the streetlight. She looked so focused, her eyebrows furrowed, completely lost in her world.
Of course, Luna knew exactly where she was.
Luna walked over, hands in her pockets, looking as cool and relaxed as ever. She sat down next to Rina, leaving just enough space but close enough to smell Rina's nice shampoo scent.
"Aren't your eyes tired yet, Miss Perfect?" Luna asked, her voice soft in the quiet night.
Rina jumped slightly, then glared. "Can't you see I'm busy? I need to get higher than you this time."
"You will," Luna said surprisingly seriously. She turned to look at Rina. "You are so smart, Rina. You know more than you think. You just get too nervous."
Rina stopped writing. She looked at Luna. For the first time, she noticed how beautiful Luna's eyes were under the light deep and warm.
"Why are you helping me?" Rina asked, tilting her head. "Aren't I your enemy? Shouldn't you want me to fail?"
Luna chuckled softly, a low sound that made Rina's stomach do a little flip.
"If you fail, who am I going to compete with?" Luna smiled, leaning in slightly. "Besides... seeing you this stressed makes me feel... bad."
Rina blushed and looked away. "You're so weird. One minute you're teasing me, the next you're being nice."
Luna laughed and leaned back against the bench. "Okay, okay. How about this? Let's study together tonight. I'll explain the hard parts to you. I promise I won't laugh if you get it wrong."
Rina hesitated. Studying alone was lonely, and Luna was really good at explaining things.
"Fine," Rina mumbled. "But only because I want to beat you."
They moved closer, shoulders almost touching. Luna pointed at the complex formulas in Rina's notebook.
"See this part? You don't need to memorize it like a robot. Just think of it like this..."
Luna explained simply and clearly. Rina found herself understanding things she had been stuck on for hours. She kept glancing at Luna's side profile how her lips moved when she spoke, how her fingers pointed at the paper.
'Why does she look so handsome when she's focused?' Rina thought, her heart beating a little faster.
"Got it?" Luna asked, turning her head suddenly.
Their faces were inches apart. Rina froze, her eyes widening. She could feel Luna's breath.
"Y-Yes!" Rina snapped her head away, hiding her red face behind her book. "I got it! Stop looking at me like that!"
Luna smirked, enjoying this way too much. Inside, she was screaming: 'OH MY GOD SHE'S SO CLOSE! HER CHEEKS ARE SO PINK! I WANT TO PINCH THEM!'
"Okay, okay," Luna teased. "Don't get too excited, rival."
They studied for another hour. When Rina finally yawned, her eyelids getting heavy, Luna stopped.
"That's enough for today," Luna said, closing Rina's book gently despite Rina's protests.
"Hey! I still have.."
"No. You need rest. A sleepy brain can't beat me," Luna stood up and offered her hand. "Come on. I'll walk you to the gate."
Rina looked at Luna's hand. She hesitated for a second, then slowly placed her hand in Luna's.
Luna's hand was warm and big, completely covering Rina's smaller one. Rina felt a strange sense of safety as she was pulled up.
They walked side by side towards the school exit, the night air cool around them. They didn't talk much, but the silence wasn't awkward. It felt... comfortable.
When they reached the gate, Rina turned to her.
"Thank you, Luna," she said quietly, looking at her shoes. "You... you actually explain things well."
Luna smiled, her usual cool smile but softer this time.
"Anytime, Rina. Sleep well. Dream of me... I mean, dream of the formulas!" Luna winked, quickly covering up her slip-up.
Rina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her small smile. "Goodnight, Luna."
As Rina walked away, Luna stood there watching her until she disappeared. She touched her own chest, feeling her heart racing.
"She held my hand... she held my hand!!" Luna whispered excitedly to herself, doing a tiny happy dance in the dark. "Oh my god, I'm gonna die happy."
Meanwhile, Rina was walking home, touching her own hand as if she could still feel Luna's warmth there.
"Why..." Rina whispered. "Why does my heart feel so light?"
To be continued in chapter 4>>ᜊ•ᴗ•ᜊ