I looked around, making sure Saichi wasn't anywhere nearby before letting out a deep breath. I'm so sick of this. Always hiding from him, always pretending I'm fine.
Then suddenly, someone's arms wrapped around me.
"Luna! Good morning!" I turned, startled.
"Kio?"
"I missed you already," he said in that annoyingly cute tone of his. He finally let go, and I began to walk away, but he caught my hand—his touch gentle yet possessive.
Students nearby turned their heads, whispering as they watched us.
"Did you know I transferred to your section?" he said, eyes gleaming.
I froze, "What?"
In the novel I knew, he never transferred. He was supposed to meet Sol at the acquaintance party—so what the hell was happening?
"I just wanted us to be classmates," he said excitedly.
I frowned. There was nothing in the story about me being the reason for his transfer. None of this was supposed to happen.
"Me? You want to be in the same class as me?" That's… weird. From what I know, Kio only ever liked Sol. He hated everyone else.
He hated humans because, in his eyes, they always left him. Humans will enter your life, then leave you when you beg them to stay forever.
But Sol was different—she stayed, even when Kio was sick.
So why the hell was he being clingy… to me?
"Yeah," he said softly. "I really like you, Luna. I don't know why, but I feel like we'd get along."
"Kio, I need t—"
"Luna."
The voice that called my name made me freeze. I turned. It was him. Cl.
His eyes immediately fell on our intertwined hands. I tried to pull away, but Kio only tightened his grip.
"You seem to be having fun with another guy," Cl said, his tone calm but sharp.
"Luna, who is he?" Kio asked.
"Ah… he's—"
"I'm her boyfriend. And you are?" Cl interrupted.
My gaze dropped to Kio's hand still gripping mine. He tightened it even more.
Boyfriend? Wasn't it all just pretend? We agreed it was just an act when Sol was around… right?
"I don't introduce myself to thieves," Kio said coldly.
"Thieves?" Cl muttered.
Kio ignored him and smiled at me instead—a gentle, unsettling smile.
"I'll see you later, Luna."
He released my hand and walked away, leaving an uncomfortable silence behind.
Cl smirked, his eyes burning with accusation, "Not even a month, and you already found someone else? You do know cheating is bad, right?"
I crossed my arms, giving him a mocking look.
"Remember, Cl—we're only pretending. There's nothing real between us." His smirk faltered. "So, see you later," I added flatly. "I still have something to do."
And with that, I left him standing there.
...
I sighed deeply. I didn't know what else to do anymore. I just wanted to go back—to my real world.
"Can you please introduce yourself?" the teacher said.
He wasn't joking.
Kio stood there, his gaze fixed on me—and only me. Not even a single glance at Sol. What the hell is happening?
In an instant, he was beside me, his arms suddenly wrapping around my shoulders. Gasps filled the room.
"Luna! I can finally see you every day!"
I froze.
"K-Kio, e-everyone's staring," I stuttered.
"I don't care."
He sat down next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I sighed. I hadn't even done anything yet. I could feel Cl's glare burning through me from across the room, so I quickly looked away.
"Uhm… Frias, why don't you introduce yourself to the class?" our teacher said.
Kio ignored him completely, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Kio, you have to introduce yourself," I whispered awkwardly.
"No. I don't want to."
I groaned, covering my face with one hand.
"Kio, just do it," I hissed, leaning closer to his ear. "Unless you want to get detention again."
He sighed, obviously annoyed, before standing up lazily.
"Demure Kio Ledesma Frias. Fourteen."
That was all he said before sitting down again. The whole class fell silent. Everyone stared at him—everyone except Kio, who only stared at me, his chin resting on his hand as if the rest of the world didn't exist.
...
"Luna!" Cl waved from across the hallway.
I was about to approach him when Kio suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me away. We ran—through empty corridors, past the garden—until we reached the back of the school.
"Kio? Why did you drag me here?" I asked, breathless.
He smiled—a soft, unsettling smile that made my chest tighten. He pulled a lunchbox from a paper bag and spread a blanket on the ground, sitting down casually before patting the space beside him. I sighed and sat down next to him, my eyes staring straight ahead.
"You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend," he said, his tone calm but his eyes dark. You didn't ask, I wanted to say. And besides… it's fake. "Can you break up with him? For me?"
I turned to him, startled. "Huh? Why would I do that?"
"Because he's not worth it. You know Millan's reputation, don't you? He's the most famous playboy on campus," he said coldly.
I smirked. I know. I know everything—his secrets, Cl's secrets, even yours, Kio.
"Don't worry about me," I said.
"I really want you to break up with him, Luna." Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand, pulling me closer until our faces were just inches apart. "I want to be the only one who can get close to you," he whispered. "We're friends, right? So just do me a favor… please."
His voice was low—sweet, but dangerous.
"You know I can't do that, Kio."
He looked away, disappointment flashing in his eyes.
"You're all the same," he murmured bitterly. "You'll leave me too, in the end."
Before I could even speak, he stood and walked away, leaving the lunchbox behind.
I stared at it in silence. Kio became clingy with Sol because he feared being left behind. Everyone he ever loved… abandoned him.
He only ever loved one person.
And Sol only loved him as a friend.
But why… why does it feel like he's becoming clingy with me?