Falling

Lunch

Yuna

"Shine, you look really popular in school," I whispered, leaning slightly toward him as Mr. G droned on about equations.

He didn't look at me immediately, but the smirk that curled on his lips told me he'd heard me loud and clear. Finally, he turned his head, his gaze settling on me with a glint of mischief. "Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked, feigning casual curiosity, though my heart hammered in anticipation.

"Nope," he replied smoothly, his voice just loud enough for me to hear. "But I want one."

That caught my attention, and I raised an eyebrow, giving him a playful smile. "Ohhh?" I teased, leaning in just a little closer. "Who's the lucky girl?"

His smirk deepened, his voice dropping as he said, "Someone."

I blinked, his vague answer leaving me both intrigued and slightly flustered. "Someone?" I echoed, trying to sound unimpressed, but my voice betrayed me with a hint of curiosity.

"You'll figure it out," he said, the confidence in his tone sending a flutter through my chest.

"Maybe I will," I muttered, turning back to my notebook to focus—well, at least try to.

As I scribbled down what Mr. G was writing, my eyes caught something on Shine's hand. A tattoo. A bold design of a dragon wrapped in crimson sparks, the details sharp and captivating. It was hard to look away, and before I knew it, I was leaning toward him again.

"Shine," I whispered, tapping his hand lightly to get his attention. "What does this tattoo mean?"

He glanced down at his hand, his expression softening for a brief moment before his lips curved into another smirk. "You really want to know?" he asked, his tone almost daring.

"Of course," I replied, narrowing my eyes at him. "Don't leave me hanging."

"Well..." He leaned in closer, his face just inches from mine, his voice dipping low enough to send a shiver down my spine. "I'll tell you when I can. But," he added, locking eyes with me, "your brother has the same tattoo."

That stopped me in my tracks. "Wait, what?" I asked, my voice louder than I intended. I quickly glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention before whispering, "Seriously? I've never seen it."

"You will," he said, his smirk softening into something almost... protective. "Soon enough."

My breath hitched, and I felt my cheeks flush. The way he said it, like he knew something I didn't, made my heart race. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my tone edging on playful suspicion.

He chuckled softly, his hand brushing mine as he leaned back in his chair. "You'll just have to wait and see," he said, leaving me with nothing but that infuriatingly charming smirk.

I turned back to my notes, but concentrating was impossible. Shine was a walking enigma, and now he'd managed to make himself even more intriguing. What did the tattoo mean? And why did he keep looking at me like that—as if I was the answer to some unspoken question?

One thing was certain: Shine wasn't just trouble—he was the kind of trouble that I couldn't help but be drawn to.

"Miss Yuna," Mr. G's voice snapped through the air, making me jump in my seat. "I don't think you're focusing in my class. Come up front and solve this question."

I froze. Oh no, was he catching on to me? Did he see me sneaking glances at Shine? I hesitated for a second, but my legs moved before I could stop them. My heartbeat quickened as I walked to the front of the class, trying to appear casual despite the heat building in my cheeks.