The Moon Shines when the Sun Isn't Around

Part 5

Oreo walked into class, her mind preoccupied. She was used to the routine by now: sit down, wait for King to show up, and then their daily back-and-forth banter would kick off. He'd probably have snacks for her again, like always, and they'd exchange their usual playful insults. That was their thing now, and in a weird way, it had become something she looked forward to.

But today felt different the moment she stepped inside. Something was off, though she couldn't put her finger on what. She looked over to her desk, expecting to see King already there, lounging lazily like he always did. Instead, someone else was sitting in his seat.

Some random guy, talking to a few other students, completely oblivious to the fact that he was in *King's* spot. Oreo froze for a second, her usual confidence faltering. She wasn't sure why, but seeing someone else there bothered her more than she expected.

She shook it off and sat down at her desk, pulling out her notebook, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that kept gnawing at her. It's just a seat, right? What's the big deal? But as the minutes passed, her frustration grew.

Just as she was about to send King a text, she heard his familiar voice behind her.

**King:** "Oh, looks like someone's decided I'm no longer needed." 
His voice had that usual teasing tone, light and casual, like he didn't have a care in the world.

Oreo glanced up, and there he was, standing a few feet away, smirking at her like always. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, his backpack slung over one shoulder. But something about his easy confidence today just rubbed her the wrong way. Maybe it was the fact that someone else was sitting in his seat, or maybe it was because she'd had a terrible morning—spilled coffee, missed her bus, and forgotten her homework. Whatever it was, she wasn't in the mood for jokes.

**Oreo:** "It's just a seat, King." 
Her voice came out sharper than she meant, but she didn't care. She wasn't in the mood for games.

King raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the shift in her tone, but he wasn't the type to back off so easily. He walked over to her, leaning casually against the edge of the desk beside hers.

**King:** "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're getting soft. What, did this new guy bring better snacks than me or something?" 
He nodded toward the guy in his seat, who was still chatting away, completely oblivious to the tension in the room.

Oreo shot him a look, but King didn't seem to catch on. He kept smiling, pushing her buttons in the way he always did, clearly thinking she'd fire back with something witty, something playful. That was their dynamic, after all.

But today, she didn't feel like playing.

**Oreo:** "Seriously, King, it's not funny." 
Her voice was strained, and she could feel her patience wearing thin.

King, still clueless, chuckled.

**King:** "What, no jokes today? You're telling me you don't have a backup snack dealer now?" 
He leaned in slightly, his smirk widening. "Or are you just too loyal to me? Gotta admit, I didn't think you were the loyal type."

That did it. Something inside Oreo snapped.

She'd had enough.

--- Pt5.5

**Oreo:** "Just shut up, King!" 
Her voice came out louder than she intended, and the sudden outburst caught the attention of the other students nearby. Conversations stopped, and several heads turned to look their way.

King froze, his smirk fading as he stared at her, confused. He opened his mouth to say something, but Oreo wasn't done.

**Oreo:** "You think everything's a joke! Every time, it's the same thing—tease, tease, tease. I'm sick of it!" 
Her face flushed with anger, her hands clenched into fists on top of her desk. She could feel the frustration bubbling up, and once she started, she couldn't stop.