Unaware Lifestyle.

Chapter 13: The night of truths.

Ruckus's eyes clouded, lost in thought, as he gazed at Lyra laughing with Whimsy and Bunker.

"Not all girls are lucky like Lyra,"

He said wistfully, his mind wandering to his own love life.

Ethan, caught off guard by Ruckus's sudden seriousness, asked,

"What do you mean, Ruckus?"

Ruckus's eyes narrowed, accusation simmering in his voice.

"Are you dating her behind my back, Ethan? You should have let me know, given me a chance with her."

Ethan's expression turned defensive,

"Ruckus, what are you talking about? Lyra and I are just friends. I helped her with a makeover, that's all."

Ruckus snorted, skepticism etched on his face.

"Just friends? You expect me to believe that?"

Bunker, sensing the tension, chimed in,

"Ruckus, come on, man. Don't be ridiculous. Ethan's not hiding anything from you."

But Ruckus was unconvinced, his mind racing with thoughts of missed opportunities.

As he watched Lyra's radiant smile, Ruckus couldn't help but feel like he was stuck in a rut.

"Men like me are old cargo, no young girl would want to date me,"

He thought, his self-doubt spiraling.

Whimsy, oblivious to the tension, continued to chat with Lyra, unaware of the turmoil brewing in Ruckus's mind. Ethan placed a hand on Ruckus's shoulder,

"Hey, man, let's talk about this later. Lyra's transformation is a celebration, not a competition."

Ruckus shook off Ethan's hand, his pride wounded.

"I don't need your pity, Ethan. I just need a chance with someone like Lyra."

With that, he stormed off, leaving the group in an awkward silence.

As the tension dissipated, Lyra turned to Ethan, concern etched on her face.

"What's wrong with Ruckus, Ethan?"

Ethan sighed,

"He's just struggling with his own insecurities, Lyra. Don't worry about it."

But Lyra's eyes lingered on Ruckus's retreating figure, her heart going out to the troubled soul.

As the group's curiosity about Lyra grew, they bombarded her with questions, asking her to reveal more about herself. Lyra's eyes darted around the room, her mind racing with uncertainty. Could she trust these people with her secrets?

Ethan noticed Lyra's discomfort and stepped in, his voice firm but gentle.

"Hey, Ruckus, leave her alone. She doesn't have to answer if she doesn't want to."

Ruckus's eyes narrowed, his face twisting in a scowl.

Undeterred, Ruckus turned to Ethan, his tone accusatory.

"Where did you meet her, Ethan? How did you two become so close so fast?"

Ethan's eyes met Lyra's, and he hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

"I met her in the woods,"

Ethan began, his voice measured.

"She...helped me when I needed it most."