“Everyone becomes happy and appreciates the moon in their own special way. Children watch their shadows and play in its light, people gather at the square to tell stories and dance through the night. A lot of happy things happen when the moon shines.”
—Ishmael Beah
. . .
(September 14th)
It was nearing close to 6 in the evening when Steven finally came back to visit with an unassuming looking box filled with takoyaki and a thermos bottle cleverly hidden inside the backpack he brought with him.
“How’s school?” Hiro asks, squinting to get a better look at him while Steven hurriedly takes out the food and thermos.
“They have no idea you’ve been shot,” Steven muttered distractedly as he took some of Hiro’s clothes out of the backpack to show him, “Here’s the change of clothes you told me you want to get, your very important caffeine fix and–”
“What do you mean they don’t know?!” Hiro demanded.
“What?”
“Don’t you ‘what’ me, Anderson! What the hell is going on? Didn’t you reported to anyone why I couldn’t work today?!” Hiro snapped, feeling the very thin strand of patience he has left snapping right away.
His body hurts and aches if he moves too much or the wrong way, he’d been stuck and left bored inside this damn room staring at the walls for an entire day and the better half of the night (because Lunamor, no matter how much she glared and hissed at the doctors, isn’t allowed to overstay) so sue him if he’s feeling crabby!
“Geez, dude. Calm down. Your girlfriend already has it all figured out,” Steven says, waving a dismissive hand at him.
Hiro swore his face felt like it was burning.
“She’s not my–!”
Steven snorts, “Lunamor sure doesn’t act like it.”
Hiro tries to keep his face blank, “It’s not what you think…”
“Save it, Zen. The cat’s already out of the bag, anyway. So don’t you dare try to worm your way out of this one.” Steven casted him a glare, “I know there’s something going on between the two of you.”
W-Well, yeah…
Basically, that’s how things should go.
That’s how the public was supposed to see him and Lunamor via terms of the contract, anyway. And besides, it’s Steven… was Hiro supposed to continue deny it even if it was a bald-faced lie and the closest thing to the truth at the same time?
Hiro sighs, lowering his head, “I’m sorry…”
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not even mad.”
Hiro squints at him, suspiciously.
Ever since Hiro’s break-up last New Year’s Eve with his ex-girlfriend, Steven had been invested with Hiro’s love life and considering that Lunamor, of all people, was involved now…
“I’m admitting that I am in a relationship with my… a former student of mine–who was currently your student, by the way–and here you are, telling me that you’re not even mad about that?” Hiro’s eyes narrowed even more, “I don’t buy it.”
Steven shrugs, “Well, you did save my life last night.”
As if on cue, Hiro feels his side ache.
Right where he felt that damn bullet.
“You’re a chatterbox,” Hiro finally says in a dry tone, grateful that his voice keeps all traces of pain out of it, “…but death is a bit too much for you, don’t you think?”
Steven snorts at his lame attempt for a joke but the sad, regretful look in his friend’s eyes doesn’t go quite away, “Anyway, no one asked too much about your absence because while I did report about what happened last night, Lunamor also suggested that I tell them to keep it all hush-hush because of security matters since that bastard who pulled all those shot on us is still out there… so while everyone who matters does know the real reason why you couldn’t make it to your classes for the time being, the rest only knows that you’ve called in sick because of a flu or something. Do you get what I’m saying?”
Hiro didn’t know that Lunamor already had a plan how to proceed since she stayed with him for as long as she was allowed (until he told her to go home and get some sleep). He also didn’t know if he should be grateful for her being so cunning or be alarmed at how easy she was able to control the narrative without even having to face any of those people.
If Lunamor was the one who informed the others of the situation, they would have started asking questions why she knows about it, or they might start questioning about her involvement.
They would have been too suspicious…
But if it were Steven, there wouldn’t be too much of an issue since he is a close friend of Hiro’s and one of the professors from the academy.
Looking at how things turn out in the end, Hiro assumes this had been Lunamor’s line of thinking and what she was hoping for: to keep things private, all the while leaving everyone (with the exception of Steven) still none the wiser regarding their rumored… relationship.
That is, maybe until Hiro recovers.
Either way, Hiro was grateful that she’s on his side.
Hiro swallowed, uneasily. Because just to be sure– “Y-you… you didn’t tell them about me and Lunamor or anything… right?”
This time, it was Steven’s turn to squint at him and Hiro tries not to squirm nervously, “Are you embarrassed that you’re dating your old student or does this have something to do with your age gap?”
Hiro immediately looks at his fidgeting hands, just to avoid looking at his friend’s disapproving stare. Because for all Steven’s jokes and teasing, even he wouldn’t do such a thing.
…and the answer was probably both.
That is, if Hiro really were dating her.
“Besides, it’s kind of obvious that she’s into you, you know,” Steven continues airily with a wave of his hand, effectively snapping Hiro out of it.
And just like that, Hiro’s expression turns flat.
“What,” Hiro said.
“Lunamor,” Steven answered, smoothly snatching a piece of Takoyaki from Hiro before finishing it off with a single bite in one go, “She looks at you a lot.”
If possible, Hiro’s expression flattens even further.
“Whenever you’re not looking,” Steven continues as he chewed a bit on his takoyaki, ignoring the deadened look on Hiro’s face, “…she watches you.”
…HA.
As if!
That’s the stupidest thing he’s ever heard.
Hiro rolls his eyes, before immediately wrapping his arms around his box of Takoyaki before Steven tries to snatch another one again. “It probably looks like she watches me because she’s actually just staring off in my general direction or something.”
“Or maybe she’s waiting for you to do something weird or dumb so she can have a good laugh,” then, Steven smirks, teasingly, “Aren’t you off always doing something dumb, though?”
“That was YOU!”
“HA!”
“No, for real,” Hiro snaps.
“Hey, at least you’re being honest now. I’m glad… you know, I was really worried when I saw you two having some sort of fight back in the cafeteria since Lunamor’s supposed to be like, crazy rich, you know? And as far as the story goes, those types of people are trouble when they are crossed,” Steven pats him by the shoulder before turning away to pick up his backpack and place it on the bedside table, missing the way Hiro’s face falls at that.
Steven’s… not wrong.
“You know… she’ll probably end up having an affair,” Steven suddenly said, looking and sounding like he was thinking out loud.
Aaaand just like that, Hiro’s awe of his friend’s intuition (no matter how much Steven had missed its intended mark but was way too close for comfort) instantly shatters into millions of pieces. How the hell did this idiot even got straight into that conclusion? Why the hell was he even friends with this bozo again?!
“Oh… shit, man, I was just saying–!” Steven floundered when Hiro began chucking pillows over his direction, aiming for his head, “I didn’t mean anything bad like that–HEY!”
“She won’t,” Hiro snapped. “Lunamor is not like that!”
One of the terms of their agreement clearly states that the two of them aren’t allowed to be involved with another person during their faux relationship. So, Hiro would know that Lunamor wouldn’t cheat on him. At least… maybe if she does find someone else, she’ll have their contract void.
The door suddenly creaks open, and Hiro found himself perking up despite the sudden rush of mortification that Lunamor may have somehow heard–
“Well, Steven has a point,” Gia muttered as she steps inside the room, turning a bit to close the door behind her, “She’s way too young for you and that girl sure does have money. And rich people always have affairs.”
Hiro frowns.
Seriously? What’s with her?
“But those people aren’t Lunamor,” he says.
Sure, Lunamor may be rude and such a brat most of the time but that isn’t to say that the kid doesn’t have her moments of being nice. And from what Hiro can tell, Lunamor doesn’t seem the type to cheat.
Gia huffs, “How can you be so sure?”
“Because there is no way in hell, Cassandra Lunamor would have been subtle about it,” surprisingly enough, it was Steven who answered, “… let alone have the time to cheat, she’s too busy for that.”
“Why are we even talking about this?” Hiro groaned.
“Maybe because, I don’t know? You need to break up with her?” Gia suggested as she let out another huff, before passing him the fruit basket she brought along with her, “Eat lots of those. You lost a lot of blood, and you need to–”
“Cut the bullshit, Georgianna.” Steven hissed.
Hiro flinches, “What–?”
Gia’s eyes narrowed.
“…Excuse me?”
“Look, I know you don’t like the kid, but you didn’t have to be such a real bitch about it.” Steven snapped, “…she’s his girlfriend and was just trying to help! What do you even know?!”
Hiro blinks, stumped.
Did… did something happened last night while he was unconscious? Did Lunamor started a fight with one of the nurses while she was here, and Gia somehow got caught in the crossfire? No, that can’t be right… judging from how Steven was reacting, Gia might have done something to set Lunamor off.
“Mio Dio!”
All three of them flinched and turned towards the doorway where Doctor Florentino was now standing, looking surprised, “What is this? Why is there fighting in this room again?!”
Strange.
Hiro didn’t even hear the door open…
Wait.
Did he just say ‘again’…?!
“Ah, Signore Zen!” Doctor Florentino was saying now as he approaches Hiro’s bedside, smiling, “So happy to see you so lively! Now, tell me. Are you feeling well-rested enough?”
Hiro glances at his friends.
Gia looked a bit incensed. But at the same time, she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here right now. While Steven… looks familiar enough with the doctor.
Have they met already?
Possibly.
“I’m okay now,” he shrugs, “Although sometimes, some parts of me feels like they were throbbing or something from time to time but it’s fine. I can manage since it doesn’t hurt much.” Hiro pointedly ignored Steven who was giving him a look that clearly says you didn’t tell me that.
“Ah, I see…” the doctor nodded. “That’s good.”
“Good…? What are you talking about? How is that–?” Hiro frowns, squinting up at the doctor, “…What’s that noise?”
“What noise?” Gia asks.
“Don’t you hear it?”
Steven stills for a moment; most likely trying to listen or make sense of the sound Hiro was talking about before he marches off to the window.
He pushes aside the curtains.
“–HOLY SHIT!” Steven screeches.
Gia points at the sight of the helicopter hovering closer and closer towards the window, mouth closing and opening like a fish… yet no words came out of her as she continues to gawk while Hiro feels his face turning as white as his entire room when he saw the same crescent moon symbol on the side.
Isn’t that…?!
Opening the side door, Lunamor suddenly appeared still dressed in her school uniform, microphone in hand while the other grabs on to hang on the helicopter… and Hiro instantly feels like wanting to smack her over the head for doing something so scary and dangerous.
Lunamor had offhandedly mentioned last night that his room was near the top floor of the building since he’s actually using her private hospital room (Hiro doesn’t even understand why she needs to have her own room in a freaking hospital) so what the fuck is she doing dangling so many feet above ground?!
Does she want to go splat or some–?!
Looking at their faces through the window, Lunamor’s expression remains placid even as her ponytail continues to fly behind her like a whip, her clothes rustling because of the wind.
Raising the mic to her lips, she did not break eye contact with him even as she began to speak, and as her voice was carried loud and clear over to the speaker in his room, Hiro couldn’t even find it in him to react as he processed her words.
“I am taking you out for dinner. Tell them to bring you to the rooftop. Bring your things along with you because you won’t be coming back.”
“…”
For some reason, that sounds ominous.
“She can’t just have him discharged–!” Gia fumes.
“She can and she will,” Doctor Florentino intones, his voice ringing sharp and clear amidst the helicopter’s noise, “Signorina Lunamor was worried, more so with your accusations and deems it fit to keep Signore Zen close with her.”
“But…!”
“I don’t think this is any of your concern, Ms. Rossi,” Doctor Florentino asserts in a dangerously soft voice that Hiro very nearly didn’t hear.
“…and hello, Professor Anderson.”
Steven blinks at hearing his name before beaming and waving enthusiastically like a little kid at Lunamor who simply stares at him for a moment before giving out a wave of her own.
…What the hell.
Since when are they close?!
“Where are we even going?” Hiro grumbled.
“Hm, I’ll ask,” the Doctor suddenly whipped out his phone and began texting what Hiro presumed, was his question.
Hiro watched while Lunamor pauses before a familiar looking man steps into view by her side, holding out her phone for her to see something. She seemed to be looking at the Doctor’s message now, judging by the slightly annoyed look on her face.
“Casa di Luna.”
Hiro narrowed his eyes at her.
Casa di Luna is in Mt. Moon… that’s a four-hour drive! And did she just seriously told him to pack his things?!
“…or maybe Moonlit,” she shrugs, “I’m not sure.”
And she’s even undecided about it?!
“Wait. Moonlit… is a beach resort, right?” Steven asks.
This time, Hiro is full-blown glaring at her.
That’s not dinner THAT’S A VACATION!
“Oh,” her voice comes back again, “I also got you your eyeglasses.”
“You know, Gia…” Hiro started; his voice barely picked up amidst the noise as they all watched the helicopter ascend towards the rooftop to most likely land. “I think Steven was right.”
Gia startles, “Huh? About what?”
“There is no way Lunamor can successfully have an affair.” Hiro runs a hand through his hair, laughing a little helplessly to himself as he watches her wave at him before she goes out of view. “Oh… what am I going to do with that girl?”