Star suddenly felt cornered. His friends were relentless — they knew how to push him, even when he tried to hide what was going on inside.
Aliana's heart raced a little. She didn't expect the conversation to turn so personal so fast.
Star hesitated — the words were tangled in his mind, just like they had been for years.
"I... I don't know how to explain it," he finally admitted, his voice quieter than before. "It's like... after we said goodbye that day, something inside me kept pulling me back to those moments. I thought if I just worked hard enough — kept myself busy — the feelings would go away. But they never did."
Aliana's cheeks flushed. The friends watched closely, almost holding their breath.
Star struggled to find the right words. "It's not just... missing you. It's more complicated than that. I didn't understand it at first — maybe I still don't — but every time I thought about you, there was this... ache. Like something wasn't finished."
Silence.
And then Aliana, her voice soft but clear, spoke.
"I think... I might have felt the same way."
The room seemed to tilt for a moment.
The friends' jaws dropped — even Kade, who was usually the smooth-talker, was speechless.
Star blinked slowly. "You did?"
Aliana nodded, looking down for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "I tried to push it away too — focused on my job, my life — but... the feelings never really disappeared."
For the first time in years, the unspoken was finally spoken.
And though neither of them could put an exact name to what they felt, the room was thick with a new kind of tension — not painful, but tender... like something long buried was finally beginning to surface.
The friends, sensing the weight of the moment, exchanged quiet glances — a silent agreement to give Star and Aliana the space they needed.
The environment was silent for a few more seconds — the kind of silence that wasn't awkward, but heavy with meaning.
Star and Aliana stood there, both seemingly unsure of what to say next. Their friends, sensing the weight of the moment, quietly slipped away to the other part of the mansion, leaving the two alone.
Even Kade, who normally couldn't resist cracking a joke, kept his mouth shut for once.
Star finally broke the silence, his voice softer now. "I... didn't think I'd ever hear you say that."
Aliana gave a small, hesitant smile. "I didn't think I'd ever get the chance."
Star looked at the floor for a moment, his thoughts racing. "It's strange," he admitted. "For so long, I thought pushing my feelings away was the right thing. I told myself that you needed to stay with your family — to rebuild what you had. That I didn't have a place in your life anymore."
Aliana's expression softened. "And I thought you were better off without me," she said quietly. "I thought you'd move on — build your own life. I didn't want to hold you back."
There it was — the painful truth neither of them had ever said out loud.
Star let out a slow breath. "But we both ended up... stuck," he murmured. "Trying to move forward while still holding on to something we never fully understood."
Aliana's eyes glimmered slightly, though she blinked quickly — refusing to let her emotions overwhelm her. "I guess we were both just... scared."
Star met her gaze. "Maybe."
The mansion's grand windows let in the soft golden light of the setting sun, casting long shadows along the sleek floors. It was a strange contrast — the beautiful success Star had built around him, and the raw, uncertain emotions now hanging between him and Aliana.
Then, Aliana broke the silence again — this time, with a small laugh. "Look at us," she said softly. "Two grown adults, still stumbling over our feelings like we're teenagers."
That made Star chuckle — a real, genuine laugh. "Yeah... I guess some things don't change."
A more comfortable silence settled between them now.
Aliana looked out the window, her arms crossed lightly. "I never really told you this, but... I'm proud of you, Star."
Star blinked. "Proud?"
She nodded. "Of course. I remember the boy who could barely look strangers in the eye. Who only ate cup noodles because he didn't know anything else. Who flinched at every sudden sound."
She turned back to him, her voice steady. "And now I see a man who's confident, successful, and... kind. Someone who still cares about the people around him — who built this place not just for himself, but for his friends. You've come so far."
Star's throat felt tight at her words — not from sadness, but from something warmer.
"I couldn't have done it without all of you," he said softly. "And without you."
Aliana looked away for a moment, a faint blush on her cheeks.
Before either of them could say anything else, there was a sudden loud thud from the other room — followed by Kade's unmistakable voice shouting, "Luna, I told you not to touch that!"
A chorus of laughter and protests echoed through the mansion, breaking the tension in the air.
Star chuckled. "Sounds like they're making themselves at home again."
Aliana smiled. "Like you said — it's their home too."
Star's gaze softened as he looked at her. "It can be yours too... whenever you want."
Aliana's heart skipped a beat at his words. "Star... are you saying—"
He quickly shook his head, realizing how bold that sounded. "I-I mean, not like that! I'm just saying you're always welcome here. You don't have to stay away — not anymore."
Aliana's smile didn't fade. "I know what you meant."
And for the first time in years, Star and Aliana weren't just old friends with complicated feelings — they were two people standing at the edge of something new. Something uncertain, yes — but something that, finally, they were both willing to face.
No longer running.
No longer hiding.
Just... finally stepping forward.
And somewhere in the background, the sound of Kade, Luna, and the others arguing over who broke what echoed through the halls — a reminder that, no matter what happened next, neither of them would be facing the future alone.
Aliana returned home, her mind still buzzing from everything that had happened at Star's mansion. The memories of their conversation — the unspoken emotions, the quiet confessions — lingered in her thoughts. But when she stepped inside her house, she carefully kept those feelings locked away, choosing not to mention them to her parents.
Her mother was in the living room, flipping through a magazine, while her father sat in his usual chair, watching the news. They both looked up when she entered.
Her mother spoke first. "So? How was it? Meeting that magician friend of yours again?"
Aliana kept her tone casual. "It was... nice. He's really grown. The show was a success, and he invited me to see his new house."
Her father arched an eyebrow. "A house?"
She nodded. "A mansion, actually. He built it not just for himself, but as a place for his friends too."
Her mother exchanged a glance with her father but didn't comment. The silence that followed wasn't tense like it used to be — it was just neutral. Different.
Then, after a moment, her father leaned back in his chair and said, "Whatever it is, Aliana... it's none of our concern anymore."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
Her mother set the magazine down and sighed lightly. "You're 26 now. You're not a child anymore. Your life is yours to live — your choices, your decisions."
Her father nodded. "It would be a shame if we kept trying to control you now." He gave a small, almost regretful smile. "You're a high school teacher, for heaven's sake. It'd be ridiculous for us to still treat you like a little girl."
Aliana didn't know what to say. This was... new. Unfamiliar.
For years, they had dictated her every move — where she went, who she spoke to, even trying to arrange a marriage for business. And now... they were stepping back.
Her mother's voice broke the silence again. "Though, I'll say this — you should start thinking about marriage soon."
Aliana let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "Of course."
Her father chuckled softly. "We're not going to push you into some business deal again, don't worry." His tone was lighter than she'd expected. "But you should at least start considering it. You're not getting any younger."
Aliana smirked. "As long as it's not another 'strategic alliance' for profit."
Her father raised a hand in mock surrender. "No more of that. If you find someone, that's your choice." His expression turned slightly more serious. "All we ask is that if you do, we meet him — just to make sure he's... safe for our daughter."
Aliana felt a strange mix of emotions — relief, surprise, and something else she couldn't quite place.
"I understand," she said softly.
Her mother gave her a small smile. "We just want you to be happy, Aliana."
For the first time in a long while, Aliana didn't feel like a puppet in someone else's plan. She felt... free.
And yet, as she sat down with her parents and the conversation shifted to lighter topics, her mind wandered back to Star — to his hesitant words, his lingering gaze, and the way her heart had raced when he said the mansion could be her home too.
Freedom, she realized, didn't mean her heart was any less tangled.
But at least now, it was her choice to untangle it.
A few days later, Aliana finally reached out to Star's friends. They were all surprised when she calmly told them that, now that she was free to make her own decisions, she wanted to figure out her feelings — and understand Star's as well.
Kade, always the bold one, immediately grinned. "So... you're saying you wanna date Star?"
Aliana flushed a little but held her ground. "I'm saying I want to understand what we feel. I don't want to keep dancing around it. I'm already 26 — I don't have time to be confused forever."
Luna chuckled softly. "She's got a point."
Eric, leaning back thoughtfully, added, "It's smart. Understanding yourself is important. But what about Star? Have you asked him?"
Aliana shook her head. "No... but I want to."
The friends decided to talk to Star first. When they brought up the idea of him going on a few casual dates with Aliana — just to explore their feelings — Star didn't say no. He didn't seem fully convinced either, but the fact that he didn't refuse was enough for them.
So, they arranged the first date.
The First Date
It was set in a quiet café, away from the city buzz — somewhere private enough that Star wouldn't be swarmed by fans.
But from the moment they sat down, things felt... off.
Star kept fidgeting with the menu, flipping it over again and again, his eyes darting to everything except Aliana. Aliana, on the other hand, found herself overthinking every single word she said — was she being too formal? Too casual? Too pushy?
When the waiter came, Star mumbled his order so softly the waiter had to ask him to repeat it twice. Aliana, flustered, ordered the first thing she saw on the menu.
The conversation was stilted. They spoke about the weather, about Star's latest magic show, and Aliana's teaching schedule — but it all felt forced.
At one point, Star accidentally knocked over his glass of water, and in his panic to clean it up, he made it worse by using his magic to lift the liquid mid-air — only to lose control, causing it to splash everywhere.
The waiter gave them a look, and Aliana buried her face in her hands, half-laughing, half-dying of embarrassment.
The date ended with both of them awkwardly saying goodbye and neither of them daring to mention how strange the whole thing had been.
The Second Date
Determined to fix the first disaster, the friends organized a second date — this time at a small park, hoping a natural, open environment would ease their nerves.
It started off better — they strolled along the pathways, talking about how much life had changed over the years. But just as they began to relax, a small crowd gathered around Star.
People recognized him.
Despite his fame, Star was still uncomfortable with large groups of strangers, and Aliana could see him getting anxious. She tried to shield him, telling people he was on his day off — but the crowd only grew.
In the end, Kade and Jake had to show up to clear the area and take them back home.
Another failed attempt.
The Third Date
Thinking a more private setting might work, Luna suggested a simple dinner at Star's mansion. Just the two of them.
But things didn't go as planned.
Star, feeling the pressure to make the evening special, overdid it with his magic — levitating the plates, lighting the candles with small bursts of flames, and even summoning an illusionary violinist to set the mood.
Aliana found it both impressive and overwhelming.
When the magical violinist's music became too loud, and a floating plate accidentally clattered to the floor, Star looked mortified.
They spent the rest of the evening in an awkward silence, cleaning up the mess.
The Fourth Date
The friends, now growing a bit desperate, decided to try something simple again — a walk through the local market.
At first, things seemed normal. They browsed through the stalls, chatted about small things, and even shared a few quiet laughs.
But then, Star spotted a magician street performer doing tricks — and suddenly felt an urge to "prove" himself.
Before Aliana knew it, Star was locked in an unspoken "battle" with the street magician — countering each of his tricks with bigger, flashier magic.
A small crowd gathered once again.
Aliana, both amused and exasperated, pulled Star away before the situation could spiral out of control.
After the Fourth Date
By this point, Star was visibly disheartened. He sat with his friends later that night, staring blankly at the wall.
"I don't think there's any point in this," he finally said, his voice soft. "It's just... not working."
Eric frowned. "You can't expect something like this to just work instantly, Star."
Luna added, "Yeah, these things take time."
But Star shook his head. "I don't even know what I'm doing... or what I'm feeling. Every time I'm with her, I feel... something. But I don't know if it's what I'm supposed to feel. Maybe I'm just confusing the past with the present."
Aliana's Thoughts
On her end, Aliana was equally frustrated. Sitting alone in her room, she found herself tapping her fingers against her desk, her mind racing.
"Why isn't this working?" she muttered.
She had expected their connection to just click — to fall back into place like it had years ago when she first met Star. But now, there was a strange barrier between them.
It wasn't that they didn't care about each other — they clearly did — but something was missing.
Something important.
And Aliana was determined to figure out what it was.
It was a normal midday at the high school where Aliana taught — the sun was high, and the soft hum of students flipping through books and writing notes filled the air. Aliana was explaining a math concept to her class when a sudden, sharp announcement echoed through the school's speaker system.
A panicked voice, likely from a staff member, cut through the calm:
"Attention! The school is under lockdown. I repeat — the school is under lockdown. Lock your doors immediately and stay quiet!"
The classroom fell into stunned silence.
The students stared at Aliana, wide-eyed and frozen in fear. Aliana's heart pounded in her chest, but she knew she had to stay composed.
"Stay calm," she said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her mind. "I'm locking the door. No one makes a sound. Move away from the windows."
She rushed to the door, locking it from the inside and pushing a nearby cabinet in front of it as an extra layer of security. She then drew the blinds, ensuring no one could peek in from the outside.
The students — some trembling, others crying softly — huddled together at the far end of the classroom. Aliana knelt down beside them, keeping her voice low but firm.
"I know you're scared, but listen to me," she whispered. "We are safe as long as we stay quiet and hidden. I won't let anything happen to you."
Her mind was racing. Who was behind this? Why a school?
What the staff member hadn't said — but Aliana quickly realized — was that this wasn't just any lockdown drill. It was real.
From the faint sounds echoing through the hallway, she picked up what seemed like angry voices and heavy footsteps.
Bandits.
The school must have been targeted for ransom — perhaps planning to kidnap students and extort money from their families. But this wasn't a simple robbery — the attackers were bold enough to cut off the school's phone networks, disabling any direct line to the police.
No way to call for help.
One student, a boy named Ethan, whispered shakily, "Miss Aliana... what if they get in?"
Aliana gave him a reassuring look, though fear gnawed at her stomach. "They won't. I promise."
But she knew promises were only words. If those men were armed and desperate, it wouldn't take long for them to realize the police weren't coming — and they might start breaking into rooms.
She needed to protect her students, but with no way to call for help, she felt cornered.
Her mind wandered for a brief second — Star.
If he were here... he'd protect everyone with his magic...
But he wasn't here.
It was just her.
And she wasn't about to let anyone harm her students.
The minutes felt like hours. Aliana and her students remained huddled in the corner of the darkened classroom, the only sounds being soft sobs and nervous breathing. It had been nearly half an hour since the lockdown began, and for a brief moment, Aliana thought maybe — just maybe — the bandits had moved on.
But then—
BANG! BANG!
A sudden, violent knock echoed through the classroom door.
The students flinched, some muffling their screams, while Aliana's heart leaped into her throat.
Another BANG! — this time louder, more desperate.
A gruff voice snarled from the other side. "We know you're in there! Open up, or we break it down!"
The bandits were running out of patience.
Aliana didn't respond. She placed a finger over her lips, signaling the students to stay quiet, their tear-streaked faces filled with terror.
But the bandits didn't wait.
CRASH!
The lock gave way as the door splintered open. The makeshift barricade Aliana built with the cabinet slowed them only for a second before the men — about three of them, faces covered, guns in hand — forced their way inside.
"Get over here!" one growled, eyes scanning the students like prey.
Aliana immediately stepped in front of her class, arms spread wide.
"Leave them alone!" she said, her voice shaking but fierce. "You want something? Take me. Just don't touch the kids."
The bandits exchanged a glance, one of them smirking cruelly.
"Fine," he said, stepping forward. "But first, we're taking a few of these brats—"
Before he could finish, Aliana grabbed a chair and swung it at him with all her strength. The chair struck his arm, knocking his gun to the floor.
"Run!" she screamed to her students.
In the confusion, the kids bolted for the door, scrambling over the broken barricade. The bandits, now furious, lunged for Aliana.
She kicked the gun further away across the floor, hoping to buy more time. One of the bandits grabbed her arm, twisting it behind her back, but she didn't stop fighting — elbowing him hard in the ribs with her free arm.
The second bandit, now angrier, struck her hard across the face, making her stumble to the ground.
The last thing she saw was the last of her students escaping through the door.
Good.
They were safe.
But she wasn't.
One of the bandits grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to her feet.
"You're coming with us," he hissed, yanking her toward the door.
The faint sound of sirens began wailing in the distance — the cops were finally on their way, but it was too late for her.
The bandits, realizing they were running out of time, hauled Aliana out through a back exit — disappearing before the police could surround the school.