My Dear Lunar

27 - CHAOS ☆

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Wai, who was supposed to be part of the plan to surprise Lunar, had declined politely, explaining that he wouldn't be available in the morning. But in reality, he was there, hidden at the back of the crowd, wearing a face mask to avoid being recognized by the students. His heart shattered as he watched Blue and Lunar officially become a couple. The moment Lunar agreed to date Blue felt like a knife twisting in his chest. Thoughts swirled in his mind—Am I not good enough for him? Did I mean nothing at all?

Tears welled in Wai's eyes, spilling over as he witnessed the two lovebirds share a public kiss. The joy on their faces contrasted so painfully with the storm brewing inside him. He couldn't bear it any longer. As the crowd cheered, Wai quietly slipped away, heartbroken.

As he headed to the back of the faculty building, his thoughts consumed him. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going until he suddenly bumped into someone—Star. The figure in front of him, the once radiant and envied Star, looked shockingly different. Thinner, worn out, his glow was completely gone. "Wai." Star's voice cracked as he recognized him, panic flashing across his face. Without thinking, Star quickly stood and tried to grab Wai's arm as he moved to walk past him. "Please, Wai, hear me out."

Something in Star's voice made Wai hesitate. He turned to look at Star, confusion mixing with the hurt that already weighed heavy in his chest. Why does he look like this? Wai wondered. What happened to him? "What's with you?" Wai finally asked, frowning. "Where have you been?" He couldn't comprehend why Star looked so miserable when he felt like the one who should be devastated. He was the one who lost Lunar, not Star.

Before Wai could question him further, Star suddenly dropped to his knees, tears pouring down his face. His voice trembled as he cried out, "Wai, please, I'm so sorry for everything. I'm sorry for ruining your reputation. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. If it hadn't been for my jealousy towards Lunar, I would've never hurt you like this." Star's sobs filled the empty space between them, raw and broken. Wai stood there, stunned, watching the person fall apart right before his eyes. He felt an overwhelming mix of emotions—anger, betrayal, but also pity. He had never expected to see Star like this, brought so low by his own actions.

As Wai dragged Star to a quieter, more secluded spot, Star couldn't stop apologizing, his voice trembling with guilt. The repeated apologies grated on Wai's already frayed nerves until finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Please, stop apologizing and start explaining," Wai snapped, his voice sharper than he intended. Star flinched at the sudden outburst, his eyes wide in shock. His lip trembled, and fresh tears began to pool in his eyes. Seeing Star on the verge of breaking down again, Wai let out a sigh, trying to keep his frustration in check. He didn't expect Star to be this fragile. But before Wai could say anything, Star spoke, his voice shaking.

"The reason I went missing... there's this person—this stalker or something—they've been messaging me non-stop. At first, it was just harassment, but then it got worse. They kept threatening me, Wai. They know about the footage, they know it was me who released it." Star's voice cracked, and he wiped at his tears with trembling hands. "They said they'd expose me to everyone, tell my family. And... they're even threatening to ruin my family's life. I've been scared out of my mind. I didn't know what to do."

Wai's irritation melted into shock. He had been so focused on his own pain, his heartbreak over Lunar, that he never imagined someone else had been suffering behind the scenes. The thought of someone harassing Star to the point of forcing him into hiding rattled him. "Wait... who? Who on earth knows about this?" Wai asked, his mind racing. He felt a surge of protectiveness over Star, despite everything. If someone was really targeting him, they had to figure out who it was and fast.

Star looked at Wai, desperation in his eyes. "I don't know. They've kept themselves hidden, using fake accounts. But they know everything, Wai. I think they've been watching all of us." Star's voice dropped into a whisper as if the fear of being overheard had suddenly consumed him. Wai's jaw clenched, anger brewing inside him. Someone was playing a dangerous game, and they were using Star as their pawn.

As they part away, Star entered his classroom, the low hum of whispers immediately filled the air, echoing around them like a chorus of judgment. Star kept his head down, his body stiff, knowing all too well that his disheveled appearance was attracting attention. He could hear snippets of the conversation—questions about where he'd been, about the drastic change in his once-polished look. It felt suffocating.

At the back of the room, Moon sat with his headphones on, distracted by his own thoughts until the whispers about Star's return caught his attention. His heart skipped a beat as he looked up, his face lighting up at the thought of seeing Star again. But the moment he laid eyes on him, his expression fell. Star was a shadow of his former self—pale, fragile, and visibly shaken. The boy who once turned heads with his impeccable style and air of confidence now looked as though he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Without thinking, Moon shot up from his seat and hurried over to him. As he approached, he noticed the tear stains on Star's cheeks, his eyes puffy from what looked like hours of crying. The sight made Moon's chest tighten with concern. "Star..." Moon whispered, wrapping his arms around him in a protective embrace. Star collapsed into his arms, burying his face into Moon's shoulder, sobbing quietly. Moon gently stroked his back, trying to soothe him, though the fear and sadness radiating from Star were palpable.

"Star, what's wrong? What happened to you?" Moon asked softly, his voice thick with concern. Star, still trembling, tried to speak through his sobs. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Moon..." Star's voice was barely a whisper, choked with guilt. "I've made a huge mistake..." Before Moon could ask further, a notification buzzed on everyone's phones, including his. The murmurs in the classroom quickly turned into a chaotic uproar. Moon, startled by the sudden shift, grabbed his phone from his pocket. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the screen.

It was the footage.

The very same footage that had gone viral—the one of Lunar and Wai that everyone had seen. But this time, there was more. The video had been leaked again, only this time it showed Star's face—clear as day—holding the phone and recording it all. The classroom erupted. Students who had once admired Star turned on him viciously. "I thought he was an angel, but he's nothing but a devil!" "Rot in hell, Star!" "I can't believe I ever trusted him!" Curses flew, and the air grew thick with animosity. Moon, acting quickly, pulled Star out of the classroom before things could escalate further. He could feel Star's entire body shaking in his grasp as the hallway filled with more angry voices.

The students outside the class were no different—shouting insults and hurling accusations. "He doesn't deserve to be here!" "We want Star gone!" "How could he betray everyone like this?" Star's worst fear was coming true right before his eyes. His body trembled as he cried harder, unable to stop the wave of panic that gripped him.

Moon gritted his teeth, pulling Star through the crowd, shielding him as best he could. They pushed their way through, but as they neared the club room, they were greeted by an even larger, more hostile crowd. Students gathered in front of the door, chanting for Star's withdrawal. Some had begun tearing down the organizational charts, vandalizing the club's board, making the chaos even worse. "We demand Star's expulsion!" they chanted in unison, fists raised, their faces twisted in anger.

Moon had enough. With a surge of strength, he pushed through the mob, practically dragging Star behind him. They made it to the club room door, and Moon hurriedly shoved them inside, slamming it shut and locking it behind them. The noise outside was deafening as the students pounded on the door, but at least for the moment, they were safe.

Inside the room, Star collapsed onto the floor, utterly defeated. His sobs echoed in the silence, the weight of everything finally crashing down on him. Moon knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. "Star, listen to me. We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this." Moon's voice was steady, but underneath, he was furious—at whoever leaked the footage, at the students outside for turning on Star so quickly, and at the entire situation that had spiraled out of control.

But most of all, he was heartbroken. Seeing Star like this, so broken and vulnerable, made something deep inside Moon ache. He had to find a way to help him.

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