My Dear Lunar

16 - VIRAL ♫

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The next day, Star strolled up to the gang as if nothing had happened. His usual calm demeanor remained intact, but Blue couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off. Ever since they crossed paths with Lunar, Star's behavior had shifted subtly, but enough for Blue to notice. There was a darkness in Star's eyes, a certain distance that hadn't been there before. Blue had tried to brush it off at first, telling himself it was just the tension of the night, but now, the suspicion gnawed at him. Had something happened between Star and Lunar? Blue thought to himself, his eyes narrowing as he watched Star closely. Was there some bad blood between them? But right now, those questions took a back seat to something far more pressing: Where had Star disappeared to last night?

Without hesitation, Blue cut through the small talk, his voice direct and sharp. "Oi, Star, where the hell did you go last night?" His eyes fixed on Star, searching for any crack in his casual facade. Star didn't flinch. His expression remained neutral as he answered in a nonchalant tone, "I had some errands to run." He shrugged, as if the matter was nothing more than a mundane task. "Why? You worried about me, Blue?" He shot a sly smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Blue wasn't buying it. His gut told him something wasn't right, but he knew Star well enough to realize that pressing him further would only lead to frustration. Star was stubborn—once he decided to keep something to himself, no amount of prodding would pry it loose. Blue clenched his jaw, biting back his urge to continue the questioning. He let out a frustrated sigh, his eyes narrowing in warning. "You're not telling me everything," Blue muttered, more to himself than to Star, but Star didn't seem fazed. He just smirked and turned away, his attention shifting to his phone as if the conversation had never happened. Blue watched him with growing unease. Something's coming, he thought. I don't know what, but something's coming.

As the group settled into their usual routines, scrolling through their phones and exchanging the occasional idle chatter, Star's fingers flew over his screen, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. His thumb hovered over the screen for a brief moment, as if savoring what was about to happen, before he tapped send. With a smirk, he had just posted a video that was about to blow their world apart.

The anonymous account he'd created moments before posted the footage, the caption cold and cutting: 'A 1st-year student of Visual Art is having fun with our fierce senior, Wai Hiran.' Within minutes, the video spread like wildfire across the campus media, rippling through group chats and online forums, attracting the attention of not only students but even some lecturers. It was the kind of scandal that would stain reputations and ignite the rumor mill for weeks to come. Star's eyes gleamed with a sinister satisfaction as he watched the views climb higher and higher. He could feel the impact spreading, like a stone tossed into a still pond, creating ripples of chaos. And then, without warning, he erupted into a fit of manic laughter.

The sound was so sudden, so jarring, that it cut through the air like a knife. The gang's heads snapped toward him, startled by the unexpected outburst. Star's laughter wasn't just amusement—it was something darker, more unhinged, as if he had just set a trap and was reveling in the chaos he had unleashed. "What the hell's so funny?" Moon asked, his brow furrowing in confusion and concern. Star's behavior was becoming increasingly erratic, and this was just the latest in a string of unsettling actions. Star wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling as he locked his gaze with Moon. "Take a look at the campus media," he said, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "Consider it a special gift from me. HAHAHAHA!"

Moon's expression hardened as he grabbed his phone, quickly opening the campus platform. His eyes widened in disbelief as the video filled his screen. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the footage of Lunar, vulnerable and exposed, with Wai. The weight of the situation hit him like a freight train, the betrayal and anger boiling up inside him. "What... the... hell?" Moon's voice was low, almost a growl, as he processed what he was seeing. Sky, who had been sitting beside him, glanced at the screen, his own shock reflected in his wide eyes. "You... you posted this?" Blue's voice trembled with barely contained fury as he turned toward Star, his fists clenched at his sides. He had suspected Star of doing something shady, but this? This was a new level of cruelty.