It was the first day back after winter break, second period. Which meant that I was supposed to be in class. Instead, I had been running around the school for the past seven minutes.
My legs were on the verge of giving out, and my chest burned with every ragged breath. But I didn't stop.
There is one place I haven't checked yet!
I bolted up the stairs, two at a time, until I reached the door to the roof. The door to the roof was never locked throughout the day, but we were only allowed up there during lunch. Getting caught at any other time meant a direct trip to the office.
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle that felt more like a wheeze.
Like he would care.
I shoved the door open a little too hard as a metallic groan echoed across the concrete. I stepped out, scanning the line of fences on the edges of the roof. It was empty—at least, at first glance.
Without hesitating, I jumped up and grabbed the ledge above the doorway cubicle. This was another perk of having Brothers. If I were weak, I'd get picked on every day. So I learned to keep up.
I effortlessly hauled myself up. Before I could even fully take in the view, a slow, sarcastic applause echoed beside me.
"Wow. You got up there easier than I did."
I dusted off my uniform and turned toward the sound. Just like the day we first met, he had an empty juice box dangling from his lips. He didn't even take it out to speak.
"So, what are you doing here? Don't you have class?"
I sat beside him, stretching my arms wide to catch the cool winter air. "Yeah, I do. But I just felt like skipping today." I turned to him with a teasing grin. "You're not going to judge me, are you?"
"I don't care. Do whatever you want."
A casual silence hung between us before I burst out laughing. It was so unbelievably blunt that some would even consider it cruel. Yet, my laughter didn't cease.
He stared at me, looking genuinely baffled. "Uh, what's so funny? I wasn't even making a joke this time."
"Please," I said, clutching my stomach. "You're so unserious that everything you say is basically a joke."
He frowned slightly. "Okay, never mind. Don't do whatever you want. Actually, please leave."
"Oh, stop being so overdramatic!"
That earned a small chuckle from him. Then he leaned back on the concrete, watching the sky. It was a beautiful day today, but his eyes didn't reflect that. It was a side of him that the rumours had failed to shed light on.
Huh. So this is another sight of you…
I cleared my throat loudly. No response. I cleared it louder, a sharp, intentional sound. He sighed.
"I can hear you, lady. I'm not deaf!"
I let out an awkward laugh and gave him a small, apologetic gesture in the process. "Sorry about that!"
He kept his indifferent gaze fixed toward the sky—yet a soft, almost inaudible breath managed to slip from his lips. "Well, what is it?" he asked, his voice a tad more patient.
I placed a hand against the concrete to support my weight. The cold bit into my skin, and I used that to push the words that had been stuck in my throat since the break. "I just wanted to say… thank you. For what you did–"
"Don't get the wrong idea," he cut in immediately. "I didn't do it because I like you. Well, I do—I think you're funny—but that's not the point. I did it because I thought it was the right thing. So you don't need to thank me."
"Oh. The thank you was just a formality," I said easily. "I already knew all of that."
He sat up instantly, his mouth open in a comically exaggerated shock. He pointed a shaking finger at me, his voice trembling with mock-terror. "H-how did you–"
I clicked my tongue and playfully slapped his hand away. "Stop being so overdramatic."
He deflated slightly. "My bad, I guess. Sorry for trying to have a good time," he said, his voice dropping back into that familiar, dry monotone. "Anyways, how did you know all that already?"
I let out a long sigh. "Just because I don't know you very well doesn't mean I'm stupid. What? Did you want me to go down on my knees and revere you or something? Don't be stupid. I said my thanks because, just like you, I thought it was right. So shut up and deal with it."
He blinked, then let out a surprised chuckle while raising his hands in resignation. "Well… shit. You got me."
I inhaled slowly. This was the hard part. "Listen, I know you won't like this either—but I'll do it anyway."
I stood up, placed my hands neatly in front of me, and gave him a deep, formal bow. "I'm… sorry."
He stared at me as if struggling to understand what was happening. "Uhh, for what?"
I never wronged him directly, but I judged him—just like everyone else did. He didn't know that, and he definitely wouldn't care. But I did. I wanted to make it up to him. And there was only one way I could do that.
I raised my head, flashing a lighthearted smile. "That's a secret, friend!"
He leaned away from me slightly, his expression laced with utter confusion. "Friend? Weren't we already–"
"Nope!" I exclaimed, closing the distance. "But now we are. So, from this day forward, whether you like it or not, I, Luna R, will be your friend!" I paused, my voice deepening a little. "Now rejoice."
"What are you talking about?" he muttered in pure exasperation.
I crossed my arms in mock disappointment. "Looks like someone's hard of hearing. I saidddd, we're friends now! So rejoice."
"You're not listening! I thought we were already–"
"And I said we weren't! But that's all in the past! We are now!"
Before he could say anything more, I grabbed his hand and dragged him off the cubicle. We nearly tripped and died on the way down, but that near-death experience seemed to make him forget what he was about to say.
Good…
We messed around on the roof for the rest of the period. I kept smiling, but inside, a weight had shifted.
I knew that I could never repay him for that night. It might've been small to him—but for me, it was more than just drama with my boyfriend. He helped me be… me. I could never thank him enough.
So… I'll make an oath.
No matter what happens, I will always be his friend. Even if the entire world is against him, even if his family and friends are against him, I will always support him with nothing more…
But a smile on my face.
***
The surface of the juice in my cup rippled, pulling me back to the present. Even so, I didn't move an inch from my seat. I stared at my distorted reflection. It was smiling back at me.
I guess… things have changed after all—just a little bit.
Without waiting for my reflection to settle, I gripped the cup tightly and drank the rest in one gulp.