Beneath the Moonlit Sky. | R - 18+

Part 3 - Underneath the surface

(I couldn't think of any titles so bear with me, please!)

                        Chapter 3:

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, but Yumi could still feel the weight of Eunchae's presence even after she had stormed off. The way Eunchae’s gaze had lingered sent a shiver down her spine. Yumi is not naive—she knew this wasn’t the end of it. Eunchae would find some way to retaliate. She always did.

“Don’t let her get to you,” Floryn say, noticing Yumi’s worried expression as they packed up their trays. “People like her only have power if you let them.”

Yumi nodded, trying to take comfort in Floryn’s words, but it was hard to shake off the years of fear and humiliation she had endured. Eunchae had made it her mission to make Yumi’s life miserable since freshman year, and no one had ever stepped in before—not until today.

They walk out of the cafeteria together, and for the first time, Yumi felt the curious eyes of other students on her. She had always been used to blending into the background, unnoticed and unremarkable, but sitting with Floryn had changed that. People whispered as they passed by, some surprised, others envious.

Floryn didn’t seem to care about the attention. She walked with the same confidence as ever, her head held high as if she belonged anywhere she went. It was a trait Yumi envied.

“So, what’s next for you?” Floryn asked as they reached the lockers. “Art class, right?”

Yumi nodded, opening her locker to retrieve her sketchbook. “Yeah, it’s one of the few things I actually look forward to.”

“Mind if I walk with you?” Floryn asked, leaning casually against the locker next to Yumi’s.

Yumi blinked in surprise. “You want to come with me to art class?”

Floryn shrugged. “Why not? I’ve got free time until my next class.”

Yumi hesitated for a moment. It felt strange having someone take such an interest in her life, especially someone as popular as Floryn. She wasn’t used to the attention, and part of her wondered if it was too good to be true. But Floryn had stood up to Eunchae, and that counted for something.

“Sure,” Yumi said with a small smile. “I’d like that.”

As they walked toward the art room, Floryn kept the conversation light, asking Yumi about her favorite artists, what kind of things she liked to draw, and even teasing her about her shy nature. Yumi found herself laughing more than she had in a long time, the tension in her shoulders slowly easing.

When they reached the art room, Yumi half-expected Floryn to say goodbye and leave, but to her surprise, Floryn followed her inside. The art room was one of Yumi’s favorite places in the school—sunlight filtered through the large windows, casting a warm glow on the scattered paintbrushes and easels. It was the one place where Yumi felt like she could truly be herself, without the judgment of her peers.

“You weren’t kidding when you said this was your happy place,” Floryn said, glancing around the room. “It’s got a really nice vibe.”

Yumi nodded, her fingers tracing the edges of her sketchbook. “Yeah, it’s… peaceful.”

Floryn’s eyes landed on Yumi’s sketchbook. “So, can I see what you’ve been working on?”

Yumi hesitated, feeling a familiar pang of insecurity. She had never shown her drawings to anyone before. Her art was personal—an extension of herself, a way to express the emotions she kept bottled up. But something about the way Floryn asked, with genuine curiosity rather than judgment, made Yumi feel safe enough to share.

“Okay,” Yumi said softly, opening her sketchbook to a page she had been working on. It was a drawing of the moon, with soft beams of light cascading down onto a forest. Beneath the moonlit sky, two figures stood side by side, their faces obscured by shadows.

Floryn’s eyes widened as she looked at the drawing. “Yumi, this is incredible! You’ve got real talent.”

Yumi’s cheeks flushed with warmth, a shy smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure if anyone would like it.”

“I love it,” Floryn said, her voice filled with admiration. “You have such a unique style. You should be showing this off, not hiding it away.”

Yumi looked down at her sketchbook, feeling a mixture of pride and vulnerability. It was strange, hearing someone praise her art like that. She had always drawn to escape, to express the things she couldn’t say out loud, but maybe Floryn was right—maybe it was time to stop hiding.

Just as Yumi was about to respond, the door to the art room creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside. Yumi’s heart dropped when she saw Eunchae standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips.

“Well, isn’t this cute,” Eunchae said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve got yourself a new friend, Yumi? I guess you’re moving up in the world.”

Yumi’s body tensed, her fingers clutching the edges of her sketchbook. The brief moment of peace she had felt vanished, replaced by the familiar dread that always accompanied Eunchae’s presence.

Floryn stood up, her eyes narrowing as she faced Eunchae. “What do you want?”

Eunchae’s smile didn’t falter as she sauntered into the room, her eyes flicking between Yumi and Floryn. “Relax, I’m just here to talk. No need to get all defensive.”

Yumi swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Eunchae’s gaze. She knew better than to believe that Eunchae was just here to “talk.” This was another one of her games, a way to remind Yumi that she could never escape her.

Floryn crossed her arms, her stance unwavering. “Whatever you’ve got to say, make it quick.”

Eunchae’s smile widened as she leaned against one of the desks. “Oh, I just wanted to remind Yumi of something. You see, no matter how many new friends you make, you’ll always be the same scared little girl who lets people walk all over her. Isn’t that right?”

Yumi’s breath hitched in her throat, the sting of Eunchae’s words hitting deeper than she wanted to admit. For a moment, the room felt too small, the air too thick, as the old feelings of helplessness washed over her.

But then, Floryn took a step forward, her voice steady and calm. “You’re wrong.”

Eunchae raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Oh? Enlighten me.”

Floryn didn’t falter. “Yumi’s stronger than you think. You don’t get to define her, and you sure as hell don’t get to scare her anymore.”

Yumi’s eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. The weight of Floryn’s words sank in slowly, the belief in her voice sending a flicker of warmth through Yumi’s veins. No one had ever stood up for her like this—no one had ever believed in her like this.

For a brief moment, Eunchae’s confident facade slipped, but it was quickly replaced by a cold, calculating smile. “We’ll see about that.”

With that, Eunchae turned on her heel and walked out of the art room, leaving behind an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

Yumi let out a shaky breath, her body trembling from the adrenaline. “I… I can’t believe she just…”

Floryn placed a reassuring hand on Yumi’s shoulder, her gaze soft. “She’s not as tough as she acts. People like her are all talk.”

Yumi nodded, her heart still racing. It was hard to believe that someone like Floryn, who barely knew her, would go to such lengths to protect her. It made Yumi wonder—what did Floryn see in her that she couldn’t see in herself?

As the sun began to set outside, casting long shadows across the art room, Yumi looked down at her sketchbook, her fingers brushing against the drawing of the two figures beneath the moonlit sky.

Maybe Floryn was right, Maybe i do                  have a talent at something.

(Sorry if it had bad grammar, this was rushed.)