Mending the Lunar Scars

Chapter 3

Raya's eyes scanned the cafeteria, her mind still reeling from the encounter with the mysterious senior she had bumped into at yesterday's party. She had almost forgotten about Stephy's presence beside her until her friend's excited whisper cut through the noise.

"Oh my gosh, Raya, did you hear that? Alex's party tonight! We have to go!" Stephy exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Raya hesitated, her mind still reeling from her encounter with the mysterious senior. She wasn't sure if she was in the mood for a party, especially after the tense atmosphere at the end of the day. But she didn't want to let Stephy down.

Raya followed Stephy's gaze to the senior Alex who had made the announcement. She felt a twinge of unease, remembering the strange encounter she had earlier that day. However, she didn't want to dampen Stephy's enthusiasm.

"Yeah, sure, I'll go with you," she said, trying to sound casual. But deep down, she was a little apprehensive about attending the party.

Stephy squealed, bouncing up and down in her seat. "Oh my gosh, Raya! It's going to be so much fun! I'll pick out our outfits, and we can get ready together!"

Raya smiled, trying to hide her growing apprehension. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face another party so soon after the one last night. But she knew she couldn't let Stephy down.

"Okay," she said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Let's do it."

Raya forced a smile, already regretting her agreement. She had planned to keep a low profile, not get dragged into a party so soon after the one last night. But Stephy's excitement was infectious, and she didn't want to ruin her friend's fun.

As Stephy started rummaging through her closet, Raya couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. She knew she should have listened to her gut and declined the invitation. But it was too late now.

Back in their dorm room, Raya tried to reason with Stephy. "Listen, I know you're excited, but I really don't want to draw attention to myself. Can't we just hang out in the background and observe?"

Stephy pouted. "But it's going to be so much fun! We'll meet new people and maybe even dance."

Raya sighed. She knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

"Okay, fine," she said, finally giving in. "But we're leaving as soon as I get tired."

Stephy cheered, throwing her arms around Raya in a hug. "You're the best!"

Raya's eyes widened as Stephy revealed two daring, sexy dresses. One was a low-cut, shimmering gown in a deep emerald green, and the other was a short, revealing cocktail dress in a fiery red.

"Stephy, I don't know..." Raya stammered, feeling a pang of anxiety. She wasn't sure if she was comfortable wearing something so revealing.

Stephy laughed. "Come on, Raya! You need to step out of your comfort zone. These dresses are perfect for a party like this."

Raya hesitated, torn between her desire to please Stephy and her own discomfort. She knew she should probably just go with the flow and enjoy the night.

"Okay," she finally said, sighing. "I'll try it on."

As she slipped into the emerald green dress, Raya couldn't help but feel a pang of insecurity. She wasn't used to wearing such revealing clothing, and she wasn't sure if she could pull it off.

But when she looked in the mirror, she was surprised by what she saw. The dress flattered her figure, and she looked more confident than she had in a long time.