5 - THOUGH DAY ♦

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As both of them arrived at Lunar's house, they straight away went inside to pack Lunar's belongings. Luckily, Ivy's not home yet. Lunar's room was a mix of chaos and order. Stacks of neatly folded clothes were piled in cardboard boxes, while framed posters and old trophies lined the walls. The scent of pine cleaner lingered in the air, mingling with the faint smell of lavender from a sachet tucked away in a corner. As Lunar packed his belongings, he paused to look at an old picture frame on his desk. Yes, its his picture with his father. The photo was slightly faded but still vibrant enough to evoke a pang of nostalgia. Lunar's father was laughing with him in the park, the sunlight casting a golden glow over their faces. Lunar's fingers trembled as he touched the frame, his eyes brimming with tears that spilled over, tracing hot trails down his cheeks. Jewel, who notices it, quickly comes to give a warm hug to Lunar. As they continued packing, Lunar shared the painful story of his fractured family. Jewel listened intently, his heart heavy with sympathy. He admired Lunar's resilience in the face of such hardship. As Lunar and Jewel finished packing and settled into the car, there was a brief, quiet moment where the weight of the day's events began to sink in. They exchanged anxious glances, the unsettling sense of change ahead palpable. The hum of the engine seemed to echo their unease as they drove to the condo.

Later, as they unpacked Lunar's things, Jewel casually asked, "So, what's your plan now? Any idea what you want to do with your time here?" Lunar paused, considering the question. "Honestly, I'm still figuring things out. But having a friend like you makes it a lot easier, hehe." Lunar flashed a genuine, slightly mischievous smile, causing Jewel to chuckle despite the earlier tension. The warmth of their friendship began to shine through, breaking the lingering shadows of the day's chaos. Jewel had never imagined that sharing his home with someone could transform its atmosphere so drastically. Before Lunar arrived, Jewel's condo had felt like a luxurious but hollow shell, its opulence only serving to highlight the loneliness that lingered in the corners. But now, with Lunar's presence, the once quiet and somber space was alive with laughter and conversation. The echo of their playful banter filled the rooms, casting away the shadows of solitude and infusing the condo with a vibrant, welcoming energy. "Thank you, Lunar," Jewel said softly, his gaze fixed on his friend with a wistful smile. "For being my only friend." Lunar's response was equally heartfelt. "And thank you for being mine." His comforting smile brought a glimmer of warmth to the otherwise bittersweet moment, causing Jewel's eyes to well up with emotion. He had never imagined finding a friend who genuinely cared for him, untainted by his wealth. Though some might argue it was too soon to judge someone's character, Jewel felt a deep certainty that Lunar was a genuinely kind-hearted person. As the night wore on, their conversation continued, easing the tension of the day. Eventually, they both retreated to their respective rooms, their spirits lifted by the newfound bond they shared. They knew tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but for now, they took comfort in the warmth of their friendship.

As the next day dawned, both friends faced a grueling schedule, with classes running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day quickly became a whirlwind of events. Among the day's chaos, Lunar found himself entangled with a group of flirtatious seniors from the engineering faculty. Their persistent advances quickly grew irritating. Jewel, who had been observing from the sidelines, reached his breaking point and decided to confront them. Jewel's punch landed with a sickening thud against one of the senior's shoulder which is Gawin, but Gawin's retaliatory shove sent Jewel crashing into the cold, hard wall. The impact knocked the breath out of him, and his vision blurred as he slumped to the floor, disoriented and in pain. As Jewel struggled against Gawin, Lunar desperately tried to reach him. However, the other four seniors quickly intervened, their rough hands grabbing hold of Lunar and pinning him back. Lunar's heart pounded in his chest as he fought against their grip, his movements becoming more frantic with every passing second. The seniors' rough hands began to wander, and the situation turned grim as Lunar's attempts to break free grew increasingly futile. His breath came in shallow gasps, a mix of fear and frustration evident on his face. Lunar's heart raced as he watched Jewel. The clamor of the fight—the grunts, the thuds, the shouting—felt like a roaring storm around him. Fortunately, before anything worse could happen, those seniors were stopped by the two brothers gang. Sky, out of nowhere, suddenly appeared, punching Gawin right in the face, which caused Gawin to fall back. Moon and Blue fight with the rest of them. The campus courtyard was now a chaotic battleground, with the afternoon sun casting long, ominous shadows over the struggling figures. As the last of the seniors fled, their hurried footsteps echoed against the stone walls, leaving behind a tense silence. The scattered debris and the quiet hum of onlookers highlighted the sudden shift from violence to uneasy calm. Lots of students witness the situation, but what shocks them is that they are having a fight just to rescue the pretty boys who are new students there. 

Sky knelt down in front of Jewel and Lunar, his face full of concern. "Are you guys okay?" he asked quietly. They didn't respond. Jewel stared at the ground, his hands shaking, while Lunar sat still, his eyes distant and filled with fear. Neither could speak after what they had just been through.Sky looked at the rest of the gang, worry in his eyes. There was nothing they could say to make this better right now. "Let's get out of here," Sky finally said, helping Jewel to his feet. The others helped Lunar up as well. They moved slowly, giving the two time to collect themselves. They walked away from the scene in silence. The sun was setting, and the sky was painted with soft colors, but none of them noticed. The trauma of what had happened still weighed on their minds. After a while, they found a quiet spot—a small clearing surrounded by trees. The wind gently rustled the leaves, and for the first time since it happened, there was a sense of peace. Sky helped Jewel sit down on a log, and Lunar sat beside him. They still seemed shaken, but the quietness of the place helped ease the tension in their bodies. Blue knelt beside Lunar, offering him a bottle of water. His touch was gentle, and his voice was steady, trying to ground Lunar amidst the chaos. "Here, take this. Just breathe," Blue said, his eyes filled with concern. The cool water felt refreshing against Lunar's parched throat. Moon came to both of them and leaned closer, his voice low and earnest. "Hey, I know today was rough. Just so you know, the seniors around here can be real troublemakers. Stick close to us, and we'll help you navigate it." His gaze was soft but serious, reflecting genuine concern. His face softened as he watched those two, his usual stoic demeanor giving way to a rare look of empathy. He placed a hand on Jewel's and Lunar's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Star, sitting close by, noticed Moon's tender gesture and his own heart ached with a mix of envy and sympathy. Blue, who just kept quiet, noticed that Lunar's hand was shaking, so he decided to hold softly his hand to calm him down. Lunar is shocked at first, but eventually he calms down after the warm hands rub his' softly. Moon saws what Blue did to Lunar tries to ignore it but his face says otherwise. Star notice Moon's reaction at Lunar and became upset. He thinks that Moon has a feeling for Lunar. Star, struggling with a rising tide of jealousy, pushed Moon aside gently but firmly. He settled between Lunar and Jewel, his presence a mixture of consolation and unspoken frustration. His fingers drummed nervously on his knee, his gaze darting between Moon and Lunar with a growing unease.

Lunar and Jewel were in shock. The person they thought was a devil had just saved them. They stood quietly, still processing what had happened. Star tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, aren't you two Lunar and Jewel?" he asked. They nodded silently in response. The rest of the gang seemed surprised that Star knew them. Sensing this, Star explained, "We met outside the club room once." The others nodded, accepting the answer. Moon suddenly asked, "Do you have any class this evening?". "Yes, until 4:00 p.m.," Jewel replied in a flat voice. Sky looked concerned. "Have you guys eaten yet?" he asked, worried about them skipping lunch. Lunar fidgeted nervously. "We were about to, but those guys messed with us," he said quietly, looking down. His nervous habits made him seem vulnerable, and the gang found it endearing. When Lunar looked up, his eyes met Blue's. His face turned red, feeling nervous in front of Blue's handsome, sharp features. Blue noticed Lunar's blush and couldn't help but giggle softly, finding him cute in that moment.

Jewel's fingers drummed anxiously on the water bottle, his gaze shifting from one gang member to the next. He kept his body angled slightly away, as if ready to spring into action if needed. His jaw was clenched, and he forced himself to nod along, trying to appear calm despite the turmoil inside. He made eye contact with the guy who tried to flirt with him yesterday. He thought that the person he is today is really different from yesterday. Despite being the same person, his act is the total opposite. He doesn't know whether they're just putting a mask on their face or if they are really genuine regarding the matter. His mind was clouded with suspicion. Despite the kindness they showed, he couldn't shake the fear of being let down again. Jewel tried to be cautious, afraid that these guys would take advantage of them the same way those nasty seniors did to them. 

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