MasukThe late afternoon sun washed Moonshine College in soft gold, casting long shadows across the stone pathways and manicured lawns. Paper lanterns swayed gently overhead, their pale silk skins catching the light as students hurried back and forth with boxes, ribbons, and bundles of glowing wires. Laughter echoed everywhere and the atmosphere was that of excitement.Lily walked beside Maya and Lexa, her arms folded loosely as she listened to Lexa talk.“And this,” Lily said, gesturing dramatically toward the central quad, “is where everyone pretends they’re calm during the Moon Festival while secretly hoping they don’t embarrass themselves in front of their mates.”Maya laughed. “Accurate.”Lexa smiled.“You make it sound like a survival exercise.”“It is, emotionally” Lily replied seriously, then broke into a grin despite the tension coiling in her chest.They moved along the path that curved around the library, the massive stone building glowing warmly in the sun. Banners had alread
The cafeteria buzzed with noise with voices overlapping, chairs scraping, cutlery clinking against trays but at the far corner near the tall glass windows, Lena sat as if the chaos belonged to another world entirely.She looked relaxed, too relaxed.Her legs were crossed elegantly, one manicured finger tracing slow, idle circles on the table as she watched students walk past with open amusement. She felt like she was some kind of God watching as her subjects moved around without having the slightest idea what she has planned for them.Laughter floated through the air, excitement thickening as everyone talked about the Moon Festival scheduled for tomorrow night. Lanterns were already being placed outside, banners were practically on every wall on campus, happiness was everywhere and Lena hated it.Across from her, Ethan leaned back in his chair, one arm draped casually over the backrest, his eyes sharp and calculating. He watched her closely as if he was anticipating some kind of de
The prison gates slid shut behind them with a heavy, echoing clang that seemed to linger long after the sound faded.Lily flinched despite herself.The late afternoon sun was lower now, casting long shadows across the parking lot, but the warmth of the light did nothing to ease the chill that had settled deep in her bones. She stood still for a moment, breathing in the open air like she had been underwater and had finally surfaced.Lucas was the first to speak.“Okay,” he said tightly, unlocking the car with a sharp click. “We’re leaving, now.”No one argued.They climbed into the car in near silence. Lily slid into the back seat between Maya and Liam, her hands folded in her lap, fingers laced so tightly her knuckles ached. Graham took the front passenger seat, his jaw clenched, one arm braced against the door as if holding himself back from turning around and marching straight back inside.The engine started and the car rolled forward.Only when the prison disappeared from the rea
The moment Alex sat down on the opposite side of the reinforced glass, the air in the visitation room seemed to tighten.Lily felt it immediately, like an invisible hand closing around her chest.The guards stepped back into their positions, arms crossed, eyes watchful but uninterested. To them, this was just another normal visit, but to Lily, this was the past walking back into her life with a calm expression and a knowing smirk.Alex leaned back in his chair slowly, deliberately, as if he had all the time in the world. His prison uniform hung loosely on him, but there was nothing weak about his posture. His eyes, sharp, dark, and calculating, never left Lily’s face.“Well,” he said at last, his voice smooth and unhurried, “this is… unexpected.”Lily didn’t answer right away.Lucas stood close to her left, his arms folded, jaw tight. Liam was on her other side, shoulders squared, eyes cold and assessing. Graham lingered just behind, his presence solid and imposing, while Maya stay
The high, gray walls of the prison loomed ahead, stark and imposing against the pale morning sky. Each stone seemed to radiate years of anger, regret, and secrets. Lily’s stomach tightened as the car slowed near the entrance, her pulse hammering in her ears. She hadn’t seen Alex in what felt like a lifetime, and though she was no longer in love with him, the memories of trust, closeness, and hope mingled uneasily with the fear and anger she now carried.Maya, sensing her tension, reached over and placed a gentle hand on her arm. “Deep breaths,” she said softly, her voice calm and steady. “We’re here for you. Just… stay calm. Focus on why we’re here.”Lily nodded, taking in the sight of the guard and the tall fences topped with coils of razor wire. The barbed wire glinted in the morning sun like a crown of thorns, a stark warning to any who dared cross it. “I know,” she whispered, her voice tight. “It’s just… strange, you know? Standing in front of him after all this time.”Lucas,
Lily stood in her dorm room, staring at the prison schedule on her phone. The room was quiet, the soft hum of the air conditioning mixing with the occasional creak of the old building. Sunlight spilled across the floor in thin, golden strips and despite the warmth of the sun, Lily felt cold inside. Her mind was too full of everything she had to do today.The Moon Festival was only two days away, and the dorms were buzzing with activity. Students hurried past her window, carrying decorations, practicing music, and discussing their plans, but Lily barely noticed any of it. Her thoughts were elsewhere, fixed on a person she had never expected to confront again.She had already informed the rest of the decoration team that she couldn’t join them. While everyone else would be busy putting up lanterns, testing lights, and perfecting music, Lily had something far more personal, far more dangerous, to deal with. She was going to see Alex.Her heart thumped in her chest. Years had passe







