All Chapters of OUR MOON HAS STRINGS: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The next day was lighter, almost carefree. The fairgrounds had a mini-soccer match on one side and sack races on the other. Valery joined the cheering crowd with Margret, laughing as boys and girls tripped over their sacks- falling flat on their faces.Then came a first-year boy, holding out a folded note. Valery took one glance at the handwriting and felt her stomach dip. She already knew who it was from. She told herself she wouldn’t go, but the boy muttered, “He said you’d understand,” and somehow that did her in.She lied to her friends about needing to powder her nose and made her way through the crowd.***When she walked in, she suddenly felt overwhelmed. Valery had avoided the hideout completely, and now she understood why. This room was covered with memories of their time together. One step in and they crashed over her. The bean chair slouched in the corner, the little fridge humming faintly - their fridge, where Derrick always had some cold soda ready. She could almost hear

Saturday morning… Valery was on her best behaviour. She polished the furniture, scrubbed dishes, even straightened her own room the night before just to get ahead of her mother.“I’m heading to the library!” she called, shoes already on.“This early?” her mother asked, suspicious.“Exams are coming. I need to study,” Valery said quickly.“Can’t you do that at home?”“Let her go, dear,” her father interrupted from the couch, eyes still on the news. “She needs a serene environment.”“Thanks, Dad!” Valery darted over, hugged his neck, and fled before her mother could change her mind.Ten minutes later, she called Riley.“I’m almost there,” he promised.Fifteen minutes later, he showed up, and Valery was not pleased. “What if my dad had seen me waiting out here? You’d have killed me.”Riley begged for mercy, holding his hands up as they slipped out of sight together.The gate they approached was tall, sandwiched by brick walls. At first glance, Valery thought it was just another oversize

Lunch went by quietly. The tinkle of silverware was the loudest thing in the room. Ryan could hardly stomach his food, pushing things around his plate while sending sharp, silent glares across the table. Riley, in contrast, was comfortably at ease - chewing calmly, even smiling from time to time, as though nothing in the world could bother him.Valery sat upright, keeping her focus on her plate. She could feel Ryan and Hecate’s stares prickling her skin, but she didn’t let it show. She stuck to the safer options, egg fried rice, sweet and spicy chicken sauce and a small portion of stew. She ate with the kind of neatness she’d read in etiquette books. ‘Don’t fidget. Don’t rush. Chew properly.’When the table was cleared, Hecate suggested they move to the garden. Riley led the way and Valery followed. Ryan came too - not because he was told to, but because he didn’t trust his brother’s tongue.The garden stretched wide, dotted with neat rows of flowers. They settled at a round table und

At the Bensons, the mood was lighter - on the surface, at least.Margret and Valery sprawled across the living room carpet, cushions tossed haphazardly around them. Laughter spilled out of their mouths as they watched the evening series on the coloured TV screen. Mrs. Benson laughed too, her voice warm and hearty, rising above the conserved studio audience. Mr. Benson shook his head from behind his newspaper, a reluctant smile forming on his lips despite himself.Valery clutched her stomach during one scene, gasping through giggles. “If he trips one more time, I swear I’ll-”“He will,” Margret cut in, laughing harder. “He always does.”The two of them collapsed against each other, their laughter bubbling until their ribs hurt. It felt easy. Safe. Like they didn’t have a care in the world.But not everyone joined in the fun. Jennifer, Valery’s elder sister, sat curled in the corner with her phone glowing in her hands. Earphones plugged in, nails tapping the glass, her face was painted

During break, Valery stayed behind in class. She put her head down, pressing her cheek against the cool wood of the desk, hoping a nap would pull her away from reality for a while.But soon, she felt a hand brush lightly over her arm, followed by a kiss on her head. She jolted up, wide-eyed.Riley chuckled, leaning lazily against her desk. “Who did you think it was?”Valery blinked, scanning the room. They were the only ones there. Her heart thumped in her chest, grateful to the heavens.“Let’s grab something to eat,” Riley said.Valery lowered her gaze again. “I’m not hungry, Riley.” Her words were small, like she was trying to convince herself more than him.Riley slid a palm beneath her cheeks, lifting it away from the desk so her eyes met his. “But I’m hungry,” he teased. “And as a responsible girlfriend, aren’t you supposed to make sure I eat properly and take my meds? I can’t find my appetite eating alone.”A reluctant laugh escaped her, quiet but real. “You’re impossible.”“Im