I was winning.Or at least, I thought I was.
Days of silence. Days of ignoring his smirks, his notes, his half-whispered teases. My friends thought I was crazy for keeping it up, but part of me felt powerful—like I was the only one who could make Peryn squirm.
But Peryn wasn't squirming. He was plotting.
That afternoon, after school, I stayed back in the classroom to finish my notes. The corridors were already emptying when I heard the scrape of a chair behind me.
"You're really not gonna talk to me?"
His voice was quiet, but it carried a sharp edge.
I didn't reply. I kept writing.
Peryn sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "You know, Luna… I fought Rao just so we could sit together. Do you think I'd do that for anyone else?"
I froze mid-word.
He moved closer, leaning on the edge of my desk. His eyes were darker than usual, the playful spark replaced with something raw.
"Sayuri? Akio? Kairen? You think I care if they sit near me? No. It's you."
My heart stumbled, but I forced myself to keep my face calm.
"Why are you telling me this?" I whispered, finally breaking my silence.
"Because—" He cut himself off, fists tightening at his sides. "Because I can't stand it. You ignoring me. You looking at anyone else. I hate it."
His words hit me like lightning.
I stared at him, wide-eyed, as he bent closer, his voice dropping into something almost desperate.
"I like you, Luna. Not as a friend. Not as some classmate I tease. I… I like you."
The world went still. My pen slid out of my hand and clattered to the floor.
"You—what?" I breathed.
"I said it once. I'll say it again if you want." His jaw clenched. "I like you. And if you keep ignoring me, fine… but don't think for a second that I'll stop."
My silence was shattered. My heart was racing so fast I swore he could hear it.
And for the first time, I didn't know what scared me more—the fact that he confessed…or the fact that I wanted to say it back.