UTOPIA HIGH

The corridor

Reon, coming to his senses, realized it was all in his head after the shock of seeing Latti and Damon on stage. "I kissed her, and she held me off, saying she can't be in a relationship, and now she's with Damon. Was I not good enough for her?" he asked himself. As George and his friends clapped for the beautiful performance by Damon and Latti, dinner progressed.

George and Morgan were engrossed in each other's company, exchanging spoons and smiles. Meanwhile, Reon, despite looking great, felt like no one cared about his presence. It was as if being a stunted was a turn-off for them. He felt down and turned his attention to the other side of the table where Latti and Damon sat, smiling and enjoying their company.

Latti looked stunning - her smile, makeup, and the overall aura made Reon's heart ache. The more he looked at her, the more he realized that all this time, he had been chasing after girls he could never live up to.

Yuri, noticing Reon's distraction, said, "You look kinda distracted, dude." Reon forced a smile and replied, "I'm okay."

As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere at the table became increasingly festive. George and Morgan continued to enjoy their dinner, exchanging playful banter. Reon, on the other hand, couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider. He overheard snippets of conversation, but it seemed like his presence went unnoticed.

As the night wore on, Reon's internal turmoil grew. The contrast between his perceived rejection and the apparent happiness around him deepened his sense of isolation. He tried to engage in small talk, but it felt like his words evaporated into the lively atmosphere without leaving a trace.

Unable to bear the emotional weight, Reon excused himself from the table, feigning fatigue. He found solace in the dimly lit corridor, contemplating the twists of fate that led him to this moment. The distant laughter and music from the dining area served as a haunting backdrop to his thoughts.

Reon stood alone in the corridor, breathing heavily as he gathered his thoughts. The scent of cigarette smoke filled the air, and a girl's voice broke through, saying, "You can't take this horrible party as well, huh?"

Meanwhile, by the beach, Gray and Elsa sat, gazing at the stars. Gray turned to Elsa and began a story, "A friend of mine once told me about those two twin stars over there." Elsa, intrigued, asked, "What did he say?"

Gray continued, "Once upon a time, there were two stars named Stella and Leo. They were madly in love and would shine brightly every night just to be close to each other. But one day, a dark cloud covered the sky, separating them. Determined to be together, Stella and Leo twinkled and sparkled, guiding each other through the darkness."

Elsa listened attentively as Gray spun the tale, "Their love was so strong that they created a shooting star, making a wish to be reunited forever. And guess what? Their wish came true! They found their way back to each other, lighting up the night sky with their everlasting love."

As Gray finished the story, Elsa looked up at the stars, captivated by the romantic tale. The rhythmic sound of the waves and created a serene backdrop for their moment on the beach.

Latti, unaware of Reon's presence at the party, was engrossed in Damon's story as he captivated the entire table. Damon continued, "So my mom came into my room once and found me dancing naked to a song. She stood there for minutes, staring at my cheeks as I danced around. When I turned around and noticed her, she just smiled and walked out. It was the most embarrassing thing ever. The awkwardness after that was top-notch!"

Laughter erupted from the table, with Latti joining in along with the others, thoroughly entertained by Damon's amusing anecdote. However, amidst the jovial atmosphere, Morgan, momentarily diverting her attention from George, scanned the table and noticed Reon's absence.

Curious, Morgan leaned in and asked, "Hey, where's Reon?" The question hung in the air, prompting a pause

Reon, startled by the unexpected voice, tried to identify who spoke. A girl emerged from the shadows, holding a cigar, and remarked, "I've never seen you before. What's your status?" Reon, studying her, responded, "What were you doing in the dark? You startled me." The girl smiled and offered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. My bad. Want a smoke?"

Shaking his head, Reon declined, saying, "No thanks," and continued leaning against the wall. The girl, undeterred, approached him and leaned against the wall as well. She commented, "You look great." Reon reciprocated with a polite, "Thanks. You look good too."

As she continued smoking, she inquired, "Well, what's your name, pretty boy?" Reon, maintaining eye contact, replied, "I'm Reon Stagfridd. And you?" The girl revealed, "My name is Rehina Beaumont." Reon, visibly shocked, stammered, "You are a Beaumont?" The scene hung in a moment of surprise and intrigue as Reon processed this unexpected revelation.

Rehina looked at Reon and remarked, "Well, that's the look every guy gives me after knowing I'm a Beaumont." Reon, quick to respond, stuttered, "Oh no, no, it's just that... what is a Beaumont doing in a dark corridor, smoking all alone at your event?"

Smiling, Rehina replied, "My event, huh? It's not like I had a say on the matter." Reon, curious, looked at her and said, "You asked about my status. I'm a stunted, just letting you know, so if you leave, it's totally understandable." Rehina met his gaze and smiled, saying, "You think so ill of me. I'm not like the others. I don't care about all that," and she continued smoking.

Reon, a bit taken aback, asked, "Uh, okay, great. So why are you smoking again? It seems like you don't enjoy the party." Rehina, exhaling a puff of smoke, replied, "Well, I am clearly not." When probed further by Reon, she opened up, "Everyone there smiles at me because I'm a Beaumont. All my life, people around me never really cared about me but my family name. It sickens me." The corridor echoed with the weight of Rehina's revelation as she shared a glimpse of the struggles she faced behind the facade of her prestigious surname.

Rehina sighed heavily, and with empathy, she said, "Since we are sharing, why are you on this corridor?" Reon, a bit hesitant, replied, "Well, a girl I like asked me to be her plus one after breaking up with her boyfriend, and now they're back together. The other girl I liked turns out she came to the party with another guy, and they seem happy, kissing, after constantly telling me she can't have someone in her life. Hence, the corridor of regrets."

Taking a drag from her cigar, Rehina responded, "That's tough." Both sat there in a heavy silence, with Rehina staring at Reon. After a moment, she suggested, "What if you join me and have a night with only me?" The invitation hung in the air,

Gray and Elsa sat, their eyes locked in a moment of connection. Elsa, feeling the rush of emotion, leaned in and kissed Gray. The warmth of the kiss lingered in the cool night air as they embraced the intimacy of the beach.

Elsa, driven by the passion of the moment, climbed on top of Gray, gently pushing him to lie on the soft sand. With a subtle grace, she pulled her hair back, exposing the vulnerability of the nape of her neck. In response, Gray, caught in the enchantment of the night, tenderly took off her glasses, allowing their eyes to meet in the moonlit glow.

They continued kissing, the rhythmic sound of the waves providing a melodic backdrop to their shared moment of intimacy on the tranquil beach.