I get to campus early—not for class. I'm just looking around. There has to be something here. A club. Something with music.
I walk past a few buildings, scanning boards and reading posters, but nothing really stands out.
Then I see Eline. She's walking with Rin and Ivy.
I pause for a second, then head toward them. "Eline."
"Ah—Luna,"
I stop in front of them. "You mentioned before that you're part of the student council... could you help me out?"
"Oh—of course. How can I help you?"
"Well... I need to fill an elective, I was hoping to join a band or a music club instead. There should be one, right?"
"...Music?" she asks. "Do you play? Or sing?"
"...Ah. I can do more than that."
"Oh?" Rin leans in slightly.
Ivy's eyes light up instantly. "Wait—you sing and play?"
"...Yeah, something like that."
They both glance at each other. Then slowly, their heads turn toward Eline.
Rin gasps. "Oh my god... that's dangerous."
Ivy lets out a small squeal. "Eeeekk—yeah, Eline's definitely—"
Eline freezes. "...Ivy."
Ivy grins, completely unfiltered. "She gets all soft when someone plays acoustic guitar and sings, by the way. Especially love songs."
Rin snorts. "Yeah... like really soft."
Ivy nods enthusiastically. "Like she just sits there listening, all quiet—like she's already in love or something."
"Exactly," Rin adds. "She starts looking at them like they hung the moon."
Eline's face turns red instantly. "Stop."
Ivy tilts her head. "What? It's true."
"She gets that look," Rin continues.
"The swoon look," Ivy finishes.
"Ivy."
Eline shoots them a look, flustered, eyes narrowing slightly. "...Don't."
They both raise their hands, laughing.
"Hey," Rin says, "we're just saying."
"Yeah," Ivy adds. "Just helping."
Eline exhales and looks away. "...You're not helping."
I stay quiet, just listening and trying not to laugh. My gaze drifts back to her. She won't even look at me now.
That's kind of cute.
She clears her throat, then looks back at me. "...I can help you. I know the club president. I can let them know you're interested."
"That would be great."
"If you want," she adds softly, "I can just save my number for you. I'll text you the information."
"...Yeah," I say. "Sure."
I take out my phone and hand it to her. Her fingers brush lightly against mine as she takes it, then she looks down and types something in. After a second, she presses call.
A moment later, her phone starts ringing.
She glances at it, ends the call, then hands my phone back. "...Got your number. Let me save it."
Rin and Ivy are staring.
"Wow," Rin whispers.
"Ssshh," Eline mutters under her breath.
I almost laugh as I slip my phone back into my pocket. "Thanks."
"...Of course."
Before anything else—
Rin suddenly steps forward and grabs my hand. "Luna," she says dramatically, "will you serenade me?"
"...Huh?"
Ivy lights up. "Wait—yes! Can we hear you?"
Rin nods eagerly. "Yeah, come on. Just a little."
"...Uh..."
From the corner of my eye, I look at Eline.
She's gone completely still. Her face is red, her nose flaring slightly, her jaw tightening.
She looks like a kettle about to scream. Or a dragon holding back fire.
"...Rin," she says, her voice low.
Rin doesn't move. If anything, she squeezes my hand slightly. "Just one song."
Ivy nods. "Yeah, we just want to hear."
Eline exhales slowly, then steps forward, removing Rin's hand from mine—and takes my hand instead.
"...We're leaving," she says. "First class is about to start."
There's no hesitation. She just turns and starts walking, pulling me with her.
Behind us, there's a second of silence.
Then—
"Did you see that—?"
"OH MY GOD—"
I glance back briefly. Rin is clutching Ivy's arm. "Look at them—" she whispers loudly.
They burst out laughing.
Eline is still holding my hand, tightly. She hasn't noticed—or maybe she has. I can't tell. She's walking a little faster than usual, still red, still worked up.
"...Eline."
No response.
"...Eline?"
She finally looks at me. "...Yeah?"
I tilt my head slightly and lift our hands just enough for her to see.
"...You're still holding my hand."
Her eyes drop to our hands, still intertwined, still close. Her entire face turns red again, and she lets go immediately, like she just touched fire.
"...I—" She looks away quickly, biting her lip slightly. "...Sorry."
"...I didn't realize."
I almost smile.
—
We step into the classroom.
I glance toward the back, then pause.
Mira is already there, sitting in my seat next to Eline's empty seat—like she just took it.
Something in my chest tightens before I can stop it.
I slow down slightly without meaning to.
Eline stops beside me. She looks at the seat, then back at me.
There aren't assigned seats anyway.
I shrug lightly. "That's alright. I'll just sit somewhere else." A small pause. "I'll catch you later?"
She doesn't answer right away.
For a second, it feels like she might say something.
I head to the other side of the room and set my things down, but the feeling doesn't really go away. It lingers in the background, harder to ignore than it should be.
After a moment, I head for the bathroom.
I lean against the sink, gripping the edge slightly.
"...Did she see that?"
I exhale quietly.
Did Eline see my face just now? That moment when I stopped—
Oh man.
I hope not.
I straighten up and run a hand through my hair.
Get it together.
When I come back, I slow down a little.
Eline is sitting next to my seat, like nothing ever happened.
I stop beside her. "...I thought this was taken already. What happened?"
She doesn't look at me. "Hm. Nothing." A small pause. "I just did what I had to do."
I blink, then glance over.
The guy who was sitting next to me is now in Eline's old seat, next to Mira, already unpacking his things like he's always been there.
Mira looks confused. A little stunned.
I look back at Eline, then sit down beside her.
"...I see."
"...You didn't have to do that."
She adjusts her things slightly. "I know."
"...I wanted to."
—
I'm already there before Rin and Ivy arrive, annoyed—not visibly, but enough that I can feel it.
What Mira did earlier—I didn't like it. Not at all. She took Luna's seat like it didn't matter, like Luna didn't matter.
I saw her face. That subtle shift, that small flicker of sadness—so slight most people wouldn't notice. But I did.
Something settles in me, heavier than I expect. It stays there, uncomfortable and persistent. I don't like seeing her like that. I don't like that it affected her. And I don't like how much that bothers me.
"Elineee..."
Rin's voice pulls me out of it. I glance up as she and Ivy sit across from me, both looking at me.
"Why do you look annoyed?" Ivy asks.
"...Yeah. I am."
They both stare at me.
I exhale softly. "Mira."
That's all it takes.
"What did she do?" Rin leans forward.
"She took Luna's seat. I saw her. Luna looked... off."
Rin and Ivy exchange a look.
"Okay, Mira needs to quit," Ivy says immediately.
"I know. I already told her I'm not interested."
Rin nods. "Yeah... she actually approached me earlier."
"And?" I ask.
"She asked if you and Luna were a thing. She saw you two holding hands."
"...Good! Then she should already know her place. I hope that's enough for her to realize."
Rin lets out a small laugh. "I told her she should stop."
"She said she wouldn't give up on you."
Ivy shrugs. "Of course she wouldn't."
"Annoying," I mutter.
"Anyway," Rin continues, "I asked her about Luna."
That gets my attention. "You did?"
"Not much," she shrugs. "But Luna works at the bazaar. A music store."
"Ohhh, that makes sense," Ivy says. "That's why she was looking for a band club."
I look away slightly, a small warmth settling in me. Of course she does.
"That's nice," I say, quieter than I intend.
"Oh my god—"
"What?" I say.
"You're already soft again," Ivy grins.
"She didn't even do anything this time," Rin adds.
"...Oh, stop it."
But I can feel it—that same warmth, that same pull.
"Oh—and check this out," Rin leans forward, lowering her voice like it's a secret. "That place has live nights."
"They do?!?" I ask.
"Yeah. And there's one tonight."
"We should go." I say. The words come out too fast.
"Yes, yes—let's all go." Ivy says, already excited.
Then I pause. "...Ah—but wait. I have something important tonight... ugh..."
Ivy clasps her hands under her cheek, swaying.
"...Well, we're still going, right, Rin? ...Aww... imagine we see Luna there. Playing guitar, singing..."
Rin grabs her hands.
"Oh my god, I can already see it—she'd look so dreamy."
They both squeal.
I stare at them. "Why are you two acting like that?"
They grin.
I don't.
My gaze sharpens. "You two better not cross me, or all hell will break loose."
They burst out laughing.
I look away slightly, then add quietly, "Don't forget. Luna is mine."
Silence.
Then—
"Oh my god, she said it—!"
"AHHH—!"
Rin and Ivy scream at the same time, grabbing each other.
I close my eyes, both hands coming up to cover my face.
Too late.
—
Biochemistry class starts, and I take my usual seat next to Eline. The professor begins the lecture, but it doesn't take long before we're told to move into our lab pairs.
Eline handles most of it this time—measuring, mixing, weighing everything carefully, while I help where I can, handing her things, adjusting what needs adjusting, staying close.
At some point, though, I stop paying attention to the experiment and start paying attention to her instead. She's just... doing it normally, but I can't look away. It's nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary, and still—I keep watching. I realize I've been looking at her longer than I should.
Her lashes are long and soft, catching the light when she blinks, like shadows brushing against her skin.
Her eyes are light brown—like sunlight caught in water, easy to look at, but hard to pull away from.
Her skin is clear, smooth, with a faint flush across her cheeks—like warmth just rests there naturally.
Her lips are soft pink, her bottom lip slightly fuller, curving just a bit when she's focused. It's subtle, but enough that I notice. I shouldn't be staring this much. They look soft... too soft. I look away, then back again. No—focus, but my eyes drift anyway.
Her hair is long and light brown, falling down her back in loose waves. It moves with her, soft and natural, almost like... mermaid waves. It catches the light when she shifts, strands slipping over her shoulder and brushing against her arm. When she moves closer, I catch the faint scent of her shampoo—light and flowery with a hint of sweetness... unexpectedly intoxicating.
She really does earn the title of "goddess," no doubt about it. I look away again, then back. I shouldn't be thinking this—what am I doing? I'm supposed to be helping.
"...Luna?"
"...Yeah?"
"Could you pass me that?"
"Oh—yeah."
I hand it to her, our fingers brushing for just a second—and somehow, I'm still aware of it even after. I clear my throat. Focus. Right. Biochem. Not this.
It started as admiration.
I know that much.
But this—
This isn't that.
It's not something light. Not something that just passes.
I feel it... deep.
And somehow—
it's still getting deeper than I expected.