A couple of weeks had passed since Mira handed me the keychain she wanted me to give Eline... and she still hadn't stopped bringing it up.
So I finally said through text, "Fine—but on one condition."
"Shoot!"
"If you know her locker code and send it to me right now—then yeah."
"You better promise!"
"...Alright."
I honestly thought that would be the end of it. There was no way she'd know Eline's locker code. I thought I'd be off the hook.
I was very wrong.
She sent it to me like it was nothing—just a string of numbers.
I stared at the message on my phone. Isn't this... a violation of privacy? Damn. Is she really that powerful?
This didn't sit right with me. Not at all. And honestly, I felt bad for Eline.
By the time I reached her locker, I was already uneasy. I stood there with my phone in my hand, staring at the code.
"...Sorry, Eline," I muttered under my breath. "This feels wrong."
I glanced around me, then back at the numbers. "But I made a promise."
My fingers hovered for a second.
"...Please don't work."
I entered the code.
Click.
It opened.
I froze for a moment, staring at it.
That uneasy feeling settled deeper in my chest, but I had already come this far.
I leaned in slightly. "I won't look," I whispered. "I promise."
I placed the box inside right away, careful not to look at anything else, then closed the locker gently.
"...Sorry."
I stepped back, still unsettled, like I had crossed a line I wasn't supposed to.
—
It is still early, so I made my way up to the rooftop and dropped onto the bench, pulling out my earphones and plugging them in. Music filled the space, drowning out everything else.
For a while, I just sat there, letting the wind pass through, trying not to think about what I had just done.
Eventually, I checked the time.
It was almost first class.
I pushed myself up, stretched lightly, and headed toward the stairs. As I walked down, my phone buzzed.
A group text from Mira.
omg she's using the keychain
Eline said yes to me
we're officially together now!
I slowed.
What?
I opened our direct messages and typed quickly.
yes to you? what do you mean? when did that happen?
The reply came almost instantly.
luna, there's a note inside the box asking her to be my girlfriend
and i said if she says yes, to wear the koi keychain on her bag
i'm so happy she said yes
I stopped.
A note?
Girlfriend?
For a second, my mind went blank.
Then it hit all at once.
She said yes.
To Mira.
My foot missed the next step.
Everything tilted, and before I could react, I fell hard. The stairs came up too fast as I lost my balance and tumbled down a few steps, landing awkwardly.
Pain shot through my ankle, sharp and immediate.
"...ah—"
I sucked in a breath and tried to push myself up, but the moment I shifted—
"Hey! Are you okay?"
Voices rushed in, footsteps closing in around me.
"Wait—careful," one of them said, crouching beside me. "Don't move too fast."
"I—I'm fine," I tried to say, but the moment I put weight on it—
"Ah—no..."
My ankle gave out.
"I can't," I muttered, gripping the railing. "My ankle—"
"Okay, don't stand," another said quickly. "We've got you."
They helped me sit up slowly, one of them steadying my shoulder.
"Can you put weight on it?"
I shook my head, wincing. "Not really."
"Alright. Let's get you to the nurse."
One of them offered an arm. "Here—lean on me."
I hesitated for a second, then nodded. "...Thanks."
They helped me up carefully, supporting most of my weight as we moved. Each step sent a dull ache through my ankle, but I managed.
By the time we reached the nurse's office, the pain had settled into something heavier, more constant.
The nurse wrapped my ankle, placed an ice pack over it, and told me to stay off it for the day.
No classes. Just rest
"I'm going to call your grandma," the nurse said gently. "You shouldn't be walking on that."
"You don't need to," I said quickly, pushing myself up slightly. "I'm fine."
She gave me a look.
I hesitated, then glanced down at my ankle, the swelling already starting to show.
"...Does it look that bad?" I asked, quieter now. "Do I need to go to the hospital?"
The nurse paused, then nodded slightly.
"I'd rather you get it checked," she said. "It could be more than just a minor sprain. They'll want to make sure nothing's broken."
"Hey—uh—Luna—sorry—"
A voice cut in from the doorway. One of the music club members stood there, holding something in his hand.
"...You left this," he said, stepping closer.
My phone.
Or what was left of it.
The screen was completely shattered, cracks running across it like it could fall apart any second.
"It fell pretty bad, like... two floors down."
"...I picked it up for you."
I stared at it for a moment, then reached out and took it.
"...Thanks. Z"
"...No problem Luna. I'll let the guys know. Alright, get well soon."
...
Eline said yes.
...I see.
I had a feeling... someone else would be the one for her.
...But it still hurts..
Before I can stop it, tears start to form. I can't even hide it anymore.
"Are you okay?" the nurse asked, glancing at me. "Is it that painful?"
"Yes," I said quietly.
She nodded and reached for something. "Alright, we'll give you a painkiller."
I didn't correct her. I didn't tell her that my ankle wasn't what hurt. That it barely even registered compared to this.
It was my heart.
That was the one aching.
I wipe my tears, but they just keep falling.
Eline... I hope I get to see you smile even more now.
As long as you're happy.
—-
I'm early at campus again today. Thinking about Luna already puts me in a good mood, something soft and warm settling in my chest before the day has even begun. I can't wait for first class, and for a moment I consider stopping by the garden to read a bit.
I'm smiling to myself as I walk.
Then I see her.
Luna is ahead of me, walking faster than usual, her pace more focused than I've ever seen. I slow down without thinking, my brows drawing together slightly. Why is she here this early?
Something about it feels off.
So I follow her, carefully keeping my distance. She doesn't notice me at all. She keeps walking until she suddenly stops right in front of my locker.
I stop.
At first, a small smile forms on my lips, amused and curious. But then a thought hits me, and the smile fades just slightly.
What is she doing?
I step behind the corner just enough to stay out of sight, leaning slightly so I can see without being seen. My heart starts beating a little faster as I watch her.
Then I hear it.
A soft beeps.
Is she opening my locker?
I pull back quickly, then peek again, my mind already racing. How does she even know my code?
This time I don't look away. I stay just long enough to see clearly.
She has something in her hand—a small box. She opens my locker and places it inside, moving quickly but not carelessly, like she doesn't want to stay there longer than necessary. She closes it right after, glances around briefly, then walks away, her steps slightly faster than before.
I stay where I am, hidden, watching until she disappears down the hall.
Then —
I walk straight to my locker, my fingers already reaching for it as I open it.
And there it is.
A small, neatly placed box.
I take it out slowly, turning it slightly in my hand before opening it.
Inside is a keychain.
A koi fish.
Beautifully made and detailed, but what catches my attention most is that it doesn't feel complete. It looks like one half of something, like it's meant to connect with another.
A small laugh escapes me.
It reminds me of the keychain I gave her.
My fingers brush lightly against the edge of the box again, and that's when I notice the note tucked inside.
I unfold it carefully and begin to read.
Eline,
This koi is part of something whole.
You are the yin to my yang.
If you wear this on your bag, it means you're saying yes.
Yes to being mine.
— your M
...
...M??
My mind drifts back to that night... to the way she talked about the moon—how Luna literally means moon.
...That's it.
M for Moon.
Everything falls into place so easily it almost feels ridiculous.
Of course it's her.
I saw her. She was here. She opened my locker, put this inside, and left right after. The way she moved, the way she glanced around—
...it all makes sense now.
She's just shy.
A soft laugh escapes me as warmth spreads across my face. I lift a hand to cover it, already feeling the heat on my cheeks.
"She's so cheeky..." I murmur under my breath, unable to stop the smile forming.
"...and adorable."
"Oh my god."
"Hey—what's going on?"
Rin and Ivy's voices pull me back.
They walk up, immediately noticing my expression.
"What happened?" Ivy asks, narrowing her eyes.
I hand the note to Rin without saying anything.
She reads it, her brows lifting slightly. "Your M?" she says, glancing up at me. "Who's M?"
"Luna!!"
Rin looks at Ivy. Ivy looks back at her.
"Are you sure?" Rin asks carefully.
I nod, still smiling as I lift the keychain slightly.
"I saw her, she was here earlier. She opened my locker, put this inside, and left right after...so yeah... I'm a hundred percent sure."
—
I head to first class and take my seat at the back, waiting for Luna to show up.
I turn the keychain in my hand, staring at it for a moment.
...So she feels the same way for me. A small smile forms on my lips.
"Eline."
I look up.
Mira.
She slides into the seat beside me.
Before I can even say anything—
"I thought you'd turn me down." She smiles. "I'm really happy you said yes."
"...What?"
Mira tilts her head slightly, then reaches into her bag. She pulls something out. The other half of the koi keychain.
"I can't believe we're official now."
"...Wait."
I look between her and the keychain in my hand.
"...This was from you?"
Mira nods, smiling. "Yeah. M for Mira. Why?"
Everything inside me drops.
"...No." I shake my head. "No—this was a huge mistake." My voice comes out sharper than I expect. "I thought this came from Luna. I saw her put it in my locker."
Mira frowns slightly. "What? No. It was from me."
She smirks. "I just asked her to put it there."
My fingers tighten around the keychain.
"...No."
"Here!" I place it in her hand. "Take it back... and don't you ever mention this to anyone else!"
"...You'll just embarrass yourself."
The professor shows up and begins the lecture. Thirty minutes pass and Luna still isn't here.
I send her text asking where she is but no reply.
My gaze drifts toward the door again.
Where is she? Did something happen?
I push my chair back quietly and step out of the room. I start walking—then faster.
I check the rooftop first. I look around, but it's empty. I move quickly across the building, heading straight for the music room.
I push the door open. A few guys are inside, chattering. Their voices quiet down slightly when they notice me.
"...Is Luna here?"
They look at each other, then one of them steps forward.
"Oh—Luna? She's not here."
"...Do you know where she is?"
"Yeah... she fell earlier. We brought her to the nurse."
"Fell?!"
"Yeah, it looked very bad. She couldn't really stand on it."
"Uhm.. Do you know when it happened?"
"First bell," he says right away. "Right before class started. I remember because I got late too."
"...Was she okay?!?"
"Nah, she looked like she was in a lot of pain. She was crying nonstop."
"Oh my god.."
I pull my phone out quickly and start calling.
"Oh—are you trying to call her? That won't work. Her phone broke when she fell. It dropped like two floors down. Completely shattered. See, I was the one who picked it up for her, but she didn't even react when I gave it back."
"...Ok.. Thanks."
"No problem. You might want to check the nurse's office. That's where we left her."
I make my way to the nurse's office as fast as I can, barely slowing down as I reach the door. I push it open, catching my breath.
"Hi—excuse me—"
"Oh, hi, Eline."
"Is Luna still here?"
"Luna? Oh—no, she left right away. We told her to go to the hospital to get her ankle checked."
"Hospital?!? It was that bad?!?
"Yes, it was pretty bad. She fell down the stairs and twisted her ankle. It was bruised and swollen. I don't think she'll be able to walk on it anytime soon."
"...Do you know where she is now? I—I can't get a hold of her."
"Well... she asked to borrow a phone earlier. She said she just needed to call her dormmate real quick. I think her name starts with an S... uh—Silk, I believe."
"Ah—yes. I know her. Thank you."
I turn immediately and start running toward Luna's dorm. It's a long run, and even when I'm out of breath, I don't stop.
I reach Luna's dorm and knock on the door.
A moment later, it opens.
"Oh—Eline? Is that you? What's a girl like you doing at my doorstep?"
"Hi, Silk. Sorry to bother you. Is Luna here?"
"Luna?" She shakes her head. "No, you just missed her a few minutes ago." Then she steps aside quickly. "Oh—geez, how rude of me. Come in. You look like you ran all the way here."
She grabs a bottle of water and hands it to me.
"Thanks."
"Anyway, I helped her get into a rideshare. She said she's heading straight back to their place and will just look for a hospital nearby. Sorry, I don't know anything else after that. You know we can't really talk about land stuff."
I nod, a little distracted, my gaze drifting around the room.
Then I see it on her desk. The box of chocolates I gave her during Hearts Day.
I walk toward it, reaching out—
"—Oh, please don't touch that."
"...Why?"
"Luna will throw a fit if she finds out." Then, almost like she's letting me in on a secret, "She said it came from someone special."
"...She said that?!?"
"Yeah."
The keychain is sitting on her desk too.
"...Oh. This is here." I pick it up lightly. "No wonder I don't see it hanging on her bag anymore."
"Mhm.. Yeah.. She took it off because she thinks it wasn't really meant for her."
"...What do you mean?"
"Well," Silk says, thinking, "she said she saw that person before. She was on her way to work and passed by a keychain shop near the bazaar. That person was holding that same chocolate box and that keychain, but around that time, they hadn't even talked yet. So she thinks... it was actually meant for the locker next to hers. Mira's."
...
Okay, sure. I get it. When I gave Luna that keychain, we hadn't even talked yet.
But come on, Luna...
I'm sure you've noticed the way I act around you.
I don't even want to sit with Mira.
I always find a way to be close to you.
Silk looks at me again. "You guys are lab partners, right? Has she ever told you anything about this mystery person?"
"...No. She hasn't."
Yes, Luna hasn't told me her feelings for me yet.
"Yeah, that sucks," Silk sighs. "I've been dying to know. She seems to really like them. Like, a lot a lot."
"...Seriously?!?"
"Yeah." She leans back a little. "There are times before I head to class, I'll see her just staring at that keychain for a while... then she'll go back to doing her work... then look at it again."
"...I'm very happy to hear that. Thanks, Silk.. I'm going to head back."
"...Sure."
...Luna...
Now I know..
You really feel the same way for me..
...But I can't get a hold of you..
...So please..
...come back soon..