My Dear Lunar

31 - HOW? ☾

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The next morning, tension hung in the air as everyone gathered for breakfast in silence. They had all agreed it wasn't safe to leave the house, not with the risk of being caught looming over them. Despite the comfort of being at home, unease gnawed at each of them, their minds burdened by the chaos that awaited outside.

As they quietly ate with Emir, a sudden notification broke the stillness. Star's phone buzzed on the table, catching his attention. His face paled as he unlocked it and read the new message. His hands trembled, and before he could say a word, the phone slipped from his grasp, clattering loudly onto the table.

Everyone turned toward him, eyes wide with confusion and concern. "Star, what's wrong?" Lunar asked cautiously, noticing the fear spreading across Star's face. Star swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper, "The person... they know our whereabouts." A cold chill swept over the room. Moon was the first to react, quickly picking up Star's phone. His jaw tightened as he stared at the screen. "You've got to be kidding me..." His voice was laced with disbelief.

He turned the phone around, showing the group a freshly sent photo. It was an image of them—right at that very moment, seated around the breakfast table. The realization hit them like a punch to the gut. The psycho who had been tormenting Star wasn't just watching from a distance. They were close, too close. Even the sanctuary of their own home wasn't safe anymore.

Fear rippled through the group, their bodies stiffening as a wave of panic set in. Sweat trickled down their necks as they scanned their surroundings, suddenly feeling exposed. How had the stalker gotten this close without them noticing?

Emir's eyes darkened as he processed the image. His protective instincts kicked in, and his mind immediately raced to solutions. He stood from the table, taking control of the situation. "This can't continue," he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with determination.

He turned to his people, who had been quietly stationed around the house. "Tighten the security, now," Emir ordered, his tone commanding and firm. "I want every corner of this property watched. Find this person—whoever they are, and bring them to me."

Despite the tension, Emir's calm resolve gave them a sliver of reassurance. But even as they nodded in agreement, the unsettling truth remained: whoever was behind this was relentless, and they had just made it clear they could reach them anywhere.

The moment the loud sirens blared through the house, panic instantly consumed everyone. They rushed to the windows, their hearts pounding in their chests as they spotted multiple police cars parked outside. The flashing red and blue lights only heightened the sense of urgency.

Chaos erupted within the house. Sky and Blue scrambled, looking for any possible exit routes, but it was hopeless—the police had surrounded the property. The tension in the air thickened, everyone moving frantically, hearts racing in desperation. Lunar's eyes darted around the room, fear overtaking his senses. "There's no way out!" he stammered, his voice trembling.

But amidst all the panic, one person remained composed—Emir. His calm demeanor was unshaken as he stood, watching his sons and their friends spiral into a state of disarray. Without a word, Emir straightened his suit and calmly made his way to the front door.

The others froze, unsure of what to do as Emir confidently walked outside to face the police. He greeted the lead officer with a nod and a polite smile. "Hello, sir. Good morning," Emir spoke with a firm yet cordial tone. "What can I help you with today?"

The police, despite being on official duty, couldn't help but show respect toward Emir. His name held significant weight, and his influence in the community was well known. The officer in charge returned the greeting with a respectful bow.

"Good morning, Mr. Emir," the officer began, his voice carrying a more formal tone. "We're here to conduct an investigation regarding the incident at Chulalongkorn University—the bloodbath that took place."

The others, still watching from inside the house, felt their blood run cold. They exchanged nervous glances, fully aware that this could lead to severe consequences. The weight of the situation pressed down on them like a suffocating cloud.

One by one, they were escorted out of the house, their hands shaking with anxiety as they were placed into police vehicles. No one dared speak, the reality of the situation sinking in as they headed to the station. This was serious, and for the first time, it felt like there was no escaping the repercussions.

At the station, they were led to a waiting area, instructed to sit until the investigation could begin. Time crawled by slowly, each second feeling like an eternity as they braced themselves for whatever would come next. The uncertainty gnawed at their nerves, and the silence only added to their unease.

But then, after what felt like hours of waiting, something strange happened. An officer approached them, his face unreadable. "You're free to go," he said simply. They exchanged confused looks. "The case is closed," the officer added, not offering any further explanation.

Bewildered, they stood up, glancing at one another in disbelief. How could something so serious just disappear like that? Still, they didn't question it further. A wave of relief washed over them as they were led out of the station and back to their cars. The ride home was quiet. Though they were free, the lingering mystery of how the case had been resolved so abruptly remained. Nevertheless, they breathed easier, knowing they had escaped the worst—for now.

As they arrived home, a heavy atmosphere hung in the air. Emir was already waiting for them, seated with one leg crossed in the living room, his expression unreadable but stern. The tension in the room was palpable. Each of them—Sky, Lunar, Blue, Jewel, Moon, and Star—walked in silently and took a seat on the large sofa, instinctively knowing Emir had something important to say.

As soon as they sat down, Emir's voice broke the silence. His tone was cold, hardened by the weight of what had transpired. "You should be lucky that you have me," he said, locking eyes with each of them. His gaze was sharp, filled with authority. "If it wasn't for my influence, you'd all be rotting in a jail cell for the rest of your lives." His words hit like a sledgehammer, and all of them instinctively lowered their heads, unable to meet his eyes. The reality of what they had escaped was still sinking in.

Emir leaned forward slightly, his presence dominating the room. "Now, this case has been settled, but don't think for a second that you're off the hook." He shifted his focus, fixing his gaze on Star. The intensity of the stare sent a wave of anxiety coursing through Star, his hands trembling slightly.

"We have another problem to deal with," Emir continued. "Quick, give me the number of that person who's been tormenting you." Star, eager to obey, scrambled to open his phone. His heart raced as he handed it over, showing the number and messages from the person who had been threatening him for weeks.

Emir took the phone from Star's hand, glancing at the screen before calmly taking a screenshot of the chat and sending it to himself. His calmness only added to the intensity of the moment. "I'll give you one job," Emir said, his voice commanding. He looked at each of them with a sense of finality. "Once I find out who this person is, you better dig deep and find out why they've done this." The gravity of his words settled over them like a heavy blanket. This wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about getting to the root of a deeper problem, one that had now entangled all of them.

Emir stood, signaling that the conversation was over. "Don't take too long if you want to be safe," he warned, his voice a low growl as he turned on his heel and walked toward his room, leaving them all sitting in silence, weighed down by the task that lay ahead.

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