Arthur arrived home from school. As he stepped inside, he found that Luna had already opened the gym. Without hesitation, he changed out of his uniform, grabbed a towel, and made his way downstairs. Helping Luna with their routine had become a quiet ritual for them—one of the few moments when the chaos of their lives melted away into something simple and shared.
During dinner, Arthur couldn't shake the events of the day. "Luna, how did you manage to come to my match? You were so busy."
Luna smiled, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I just finished work early and thought I'd surprise you. It was worth seeing you win." Arthur nodded, grateful but distracted. "Nora asked me to wait for her at the school gate afterward. She wanted to thank me... for winning the bet." Arthur paused, his fork freezing mid-air. "She also said I was more than a friend to her."
"Oh?" Luna raised an eyebrow. She leaned back in her chair, her smile widening. "And how did that make you feel when Ben asked her to be his girlfriend?"
Anger flickered in Arthur's eyes, and he set down his fork. "I wanted to punch him."
"That's what I thought," Luna said, her voice soft but knowing. "Arthur, you've started liking Nora, haven't you?" Arthur shifted in his seat. "No. I see her as... friend. That's all."
"Arthur," Luna said, leaning closer. "Don't deceive yourself. You don't get angry at Ben just because she's a friend. And you're not the only one noticing her. Nora's beautiful and popular. Guys like Ben will come along, and they won't wait."
Arthur stayed silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air.
"You don't want to regret this later," Luna pressed. "If you care about her, tell her. Don't let someone else take that chance." He sighed, glancing down at his plate. "What if it ruins everything? What if she rejects me?"
Luna's eyes softened. "From what I've seen, I don't think she will. She might feel the same."
Arthur considered her words, a knot forming in his stomach. "I'll think about it."
"No," Luna said, shaking her head. "Tell her tomorrow. Don't drag it out. The sooner, the better."
The next morning, Arthur walked to school with a heavy heart. The weight of Luna's advice lingered, and the thought of confessing to Nora made him more anxious than he cared to admit.
When he arrived, his friends were already gathered around his desk, talking and laughing as usual. Nora approached, offering a soft greeting. But Arthur couldn't meet her eyes. His nerves betrayed him, and instead of responding, he headed straight for the restroom.
Nora watched him walk away, a frown crossing her face. Something felt off, but she shrugged it off and joined the conversation with Arthur's friends.
When Arthur returned, class had already started, and during lunch, he made sure to sit at a distance from Nora. He couldn't risk her noticing how nervous he was. But Nora, sensing the growing distance, moved a little closer to him. Arthur, realizing she had followed him, shifted away. Nora noticed the subtle retreat but chose not to say anything.
By the time PE arrived, Arthur's mind was clouded. While the rest of the class played, he sat under a tree, lost in thought. Nora, running across the field, spotted him alone, something that was unlike him. Arthur always played during PE. She stopped mid-game, worried, and called over Richard. "Why isn't Arthur playing today?"
Richard glanced at Arthur, then back at Nora. "He said he didn't feel like it."
Nora frowned and jogged toward Arthur. She sat beside him under the tree. "Why aren't you playing?"
Arthur blinked, startled by her sudden presence. "I was playing. Just needed a break."
Before she could question him further, he stood up abruptly. "I'm going back to the game."
Nora watched him walk away, something gnawing at her. Something wasn't right.
After PE ended, Nora gathered Richard, Henry, and Jane. "What's going on with Arthur today?" she asked, glancing between them.
Henry scratched his head. "He's been off since this morning. He's not avoiding us, but... he's avoiding you."
Nora's heart sank. "Avoiding me? Why?" Jane shrugged. "We're not sure. But whatever it is, it's weighing on him."
Richard chimed in. "We should talk to him after school. Nora, why don't you bring him to the rooftop? We'll meet you there."
As class resumed, Nora tossed a small crumpled ball of paper at Arthur's desk. He unfolded it, his heart skipping a beat.
*Come to the rooftop after school*
Arthur's chest tightened, panic settling in. Did she know? Had she figured out why he was acting strange?
He stared at the note, his mind racing.