The Midnight Star

The Wish

The night sky was impossibly clear, the stars scattered like diamonds against velvet. The moon, full and bright, hung high above the city, casting its silver glow over everything it touched. Matthew leaned against the side of the building, his breath visible in the cool night air. He checked his phone for the time—just past midnight. It was time.

"He's late," Matthew muttered to himself, glancing around. The quiet hum of the city was a distant backdrop, but the area around the practice building felt eerily still. He had expected Taerae to be early, but maybe the whole idea of making a wish on a magic book was just too weird for him.

Just as he was about to text, he heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching. Taerae appeared around the corner, his breath coming out in small puffs as he hurried over.

"Sorry," Taerae said, slightly out of breath. "Had to make sure no one saw me leaving."

Matthew chuckled. "What, afraid someone's going to catch you making a wish on a magic book?"

Taerae shot him a look, though there was a faint smile on his lips. "It does sound ridiculous when you say it like that."

"Relax," Matthew said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "We're just having a little fun. Besides, you never know—it might work."

They made their way into the practice room, the same one where they had discovered the book the night before. The silver moonlight poured in through the large windows, casting long, soft shadows across the floor. Everything was quiet, as if the world was holding its breath.

Taerae pulled the old book from his bag, setting it down carefully on the floor between them. The silver moon on the cover shimmered faintly under the real moon's light, making the air around them feel heavy, almost charged with something unseen.

"Okay," Taerae said, sitting cross-legged across from Matthew. "So, how exactly are we supposed to do this?"

Matthew shrugged, his grin mischievous as always. "We just say the words. Together. It said we had to make the wish together, right?"

Taerae opened the book, flipping to the inside cover where the message was written. He read the words aloud, his voice low and uncertain: "Under the light of the full moon, make a wish together and discover a world beyond."

Matthew's grin widened as he leaned forward slightly. "Alright. Let's make this wish."

They sat there for a moment, both of them feeling slightly ridiculous but also... curious. What if it worked? What if there really was magic in the world, waiting for them to unlock it? The idea of living a different life, even for a short while, was tempting.

"What are we wishing for, exactly?" Taerae asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Matthew paused, considering. "I guess... a normal life. Away from all this." He waved his hand, gesturing at the practice room, their idol schedules, the pressures that came with it. "Let's wish to be normal, like regular college students or something. No fame, no cameras. Just... life as regular people."

Taerae nodded, his expression softening. He could understand the appeal, even if he was more cautious about it. "Alright. Let's do it."

They both leaned over the book, their faces illuminated by the glow of the moon. Matthew spoke first, his voice steady: "I wish for a normal life."

Taerae echoed him, the words feeling strange but hopeful as they left his lips. "I wish for a normal life."

For a moment, nothing happened. The silence stretched on, and Matthew let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Guess that's that—"

Before he could finish, the room seemed to shift. The air around them grew thick, like the atmosphere was holding its breath. The moonlight, once soft and silver, suddenly intensified, bathing them in a blinding glow. Matthew's laugh died on his lips as he and Taerae looked at each other, wide-eyed.

The world around them began to blur. The familiar practice room, the walls, the mirrors—all of it seemed to shimmer and warp, like they were seeing everything through water. The sensation was disorienting, pulling at their senses.

"Matthew—" Taerae started to say, but his voice was swallowed by the light.

And then, everything went dark.

The next thing Matthew was aware of was the sound of a phone alarm blaring in his ear. Groaning, he rolled over, slapping his hand down on the bedside table to silence it. His head felt heavy, like he hadn't slept in days. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

The first thing he noticed was that he wasn't in his apartment. Instead of the sleek, modern space he was used to, he was in a small, cluttered bedroom. Posters of random bands and movies covered the walls, and textbooks were scattered across a desk near the window. His heart raced as he sat up, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

"What the hell...?" Matthew muttered, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He was wearing sweatpants and a hoodie—clothes that were definitely not his. Panic started to bubble in his chest, but he forced himself to breathe, to think.

Where was he?

A knock on the door startled him, and he looked up just as it creaked open. Taerae stood in the doorway, looking just as confused as Matthew felt. He was wearing a casual outfit—a t-shirt and jeans—and his expression was a mix of disbelief and shock.

"Matthew... where are we?" Taerae asked, his voice quiet, almost shaky.

Matthew rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his head. "I don't know. I woke up here just now."

Taerae walked further into the room, his eyes scanning the space as if looking for answers. "This isn't... this isn't my room, either."

They stood there for a moment, both of them processing what had just happened. Then, Matthew's eyes widened as the realization hit him.

"The wish."

Taerae blinked, his confusion deepening. "What?"

"The wish we made last night. For a normal life." Matthew stood up, pacing around the room, his mind racing. "This... this has to be it. The book. The full moon. Everything changed."

Taerae's mouth opened in a silent gasp, the pieces slowly falling into place. "You think... this is the normal life we wished for?"

Matthew nodded, still in disbelief. "It has to be. Look at us. We're... ordinary now. No more schedules, no more pressure. Just... normal."

Taerae sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, his expression unreadable. "So... what do we do now?"

Matthew looked out the window, where the world outside looked peaceful, ordinary, and unfamiliar all at once. He took a deep breath and smiled faintly.

"We figure this out. Together."

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what did u guys think?
i didn't really know how to make the transition to the parallel universe, hope it was good!
i will try my best to upload as soon as i can
i'm trying to write everyday!