The Rainbow Love

Chapter 4 - Look At The Stars

Yin's POV:

I set my tray on the table, glancing around the cafeteria. War wasn't in sight today, which was disappointing. I'd hoped to have lunch with him like usual.

"So... I have this friend," I started, only to be rudely interrupted by New.

"Here we go again. With the 'friend.' Tell us, what's your 'friend's' problem this time?"

"Why are you like this?"

"And why do you always start with that line when you're asking for advice? We're your only friends!" New shot back, grinning.

"Okay, fine. So... I have a... problem."

"Can't get it up?" Tay said, laughing like a donkey.

"That joke gets funnier every time, man," I replied sarcastically. "Just for the record, it gets hard. Okay?"

"Yeah, I don't believe that for one second." Tay kept laughing, obnoxious as ever. Why was I even friends with this dude?

"Can you drop this subject?"

"See? If you actually could get it up, you wouldn't react like that, right, baby?" Tay tried to reel New in, smirking.

New was about to open his mouth.

"New, don't even start. So... I have this proble—"

"Is it because you're into weird stuff and can't get it up?" Tay pressed.

"I GET ERECTIONS!"

Silence. Absolute silence filled the cafeteria. I could feel dozens of curious, judgmental eyes on me, their auras radiating a mixture of intrigue and discomfort. Perfect.

And just when I thought it couldn't get worse...

I heard a familiar giggle—the one I'd grown so used to over the past few weeks.

"I hope you're not having one right now," War said, setting his tray down beside mine. He leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper near my ear. "It's not exactly the right place or time for that."

Okay. His closeness does not help my case... at all. 

I wish I could kill Tay and get away with it! How could he embarrass me like this?

I forced an awkward laugh. "Obviously not. Hehe."

War joined the conversation easily, like he'd always been there, slipping right into place with New and Tay.

As I watched him, I noticed the way people naturally turned toward him, drawn to his bright energy. It was like he was always in the center, his yellow aura glowing as he laughed and talked.

And what struck me most was how, whenever someone started a conversation with him, their own aura would shift too—a soft flicker of light yellow, a touch of joy that seemed to appear simply because they were talking to him.

Over the past few weeks, I'd realized just how popular he was—how he seemed to know everyone and make everyone feel like they belonged.

And here I was, hiding behind a self-imposed wall, convinced I didn't need anyone beyond New and Tay. But watching War... it was like seeing a different world. A part of me wondered if I'd missed out, if I'd isolated myself so much that I'd forgotten what college life was supposed to be.

War was talking to Tay about some upcoming club activity, and I found myself thinking about whether I should join something, too.

It was as if New could read my mind. "Why don't you join a club, Yin?" His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see him smirking, clearly noticing the direction of my gaze. "You know, broaden your horizons... flirt with people." He said the last thing in a whisper.