Chapter 3: I'm sorry...

 Monday Morning 

Kevin and Luna waited in the office, each holding their posters.

A girl walked past Luna.
“Wow, love your design, Luna!”

“Thanks,” Luna replied, smirking at Kevin.

Kevin clicked his tongue and looked away, hiding a grin.

The principal approached, taking Kevin’s poster in hand.

“Good work, Kevin. I like this.”

“Thank you, sir,” Kevin said, raising an eyebrow toward Luna as if to say: Right back at you.

Luna slid her thumb across her throat while the principal continued speaking to Kevin.

Kevin covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.

Luna found herself giggling too.

Wait… why am I actually enjoying this? she thought, surprised.

Before the thought could linger, Mrs. Daniels called them over.

Both showed her their posters. She examined each carefully, watching their glances, reading their reactions.

“Well…” she began, returning the posters.

 “Both are fine, but we only need one.”

Luna asked, “You can decide which one works best, right?”

Kevin nodded.
“I agree.”

Mrs. Daniels sighed.

“Are you two still on about last year’s incident?”

“No,” both said at the same time.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Hmm. I’m not convinced. Look, you two have until tomorrow to decide which one to use.  Don’t let last year get in the way of this okay.”

Both looked away in shame.

She placed her hands on their heads.

“You’re both exceptional students. I have faith you’ll figure this out.”

 

Then she walked off.

“Tomorrow,” she called over her shoulder.

Luna exhaled.

“Wanna play rock, paper, scissors to see whose poster we use?”

Kevin arched an eyebrow.

“That’s so childish…”

“Fine, count me in “

Kevin said with a grin, and shook his head, but a small smirk tugged at his lips.

This girl… is ridiculous.

 A few minutes later...

Luna and Kevin stood across from each other like two top-tier fighters in an anime battle.

“You ready?” Luna asked, staring him down intensely.

Kevin laughed softly.
“Yes,” he said, taking a deep breath.

Rock, paper, scissors!
Luna: Rock
Kevin: Scissors
“1-0!” she shouted.

“Don’t get cocky,” Kevin replied.

Rock, paper, scissors!
Luna: Scissors
Kevin: Rock
“1-1,” he said with a smirk.

Next round—

Kevin won. Then again.

 

“Okay, it’s 3-1. Still wanna go?” Kevin asked nonchalantly, which made Luna’s blood boil.

“Why are you so annoying?” she demanded.

Kevin tilted his head, confused.

“You keep asking that question.”

“You act like everything—and everyone—is above you!” she snapped.

Kevin frowned slightly.

And that annoyed her even more.

Then, turning back toward him, “Did your mother not teach you manners or something?”

The word mother hung in the air.

Kevin froze.

His face went still.

Like something in him had just… shut down.

For the first time since Luna had known him…

He looked completely lost.

And then—tears rolled down his cheeks.

He wiped them away, swearing under his breath.

“Asshole!” he muttered, then walked away.

Luna opened her mouth to say something—I’m sorry—

The words reached her throat…

But stopped.

She just watched him go, left in confusion and guilt.

After School

The class leaders gathered to give updates on their respective tasks.

Luna walked in, still thinking about what had happened earlier.

Asshole!

She remembered the way his words hit, the way he’d looked at her, the sharpness in his voice.

And somehow… she had felt like the asshole.

She approached her seat and froze. Kevin was already there, seated next to hers.

She sat down, swallowing her confusion and guilt.

Mrs. Daniels looked at them.

“Have you two decided, or do you need until tomorrow?”

Before Luna could answer, Kevin spoke.
“We’re going to use Luna’s.”

“Wait… what?” Luna blinked at him.

Without looking at her, Kevin added.

“Yours is more bold and colourful. It should catch more attention and make students interested.”

Luna’s head spun.

How can he do that… and still be mad at me? she thought.

She clenched her fists so tightly the skin on her palms burned, leaving tiny red marks.

Mrs. Daniels glanced at Luna.

“So… that’s what you two agreed on?”

She looked at Kevin, who was still focused on Mrs. Daniels, unreadable as ever.

Then she turned back to the teacher and said

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay then,” Mrs. Daniels said with a small smile.

“We’ll use your design Luna.”

Other class leaders whispered among themselves about how well Luna’s design had been presented.

As everyone packed up, Luna glanced at Kevin, wanting to say something—to apologize, clarify, anything at this point.

He caught her eyes for a fraction of a second.

“Not today,” he said softly, then walked out of the classroom.

Luna watched the door close behind him.

Something about the way he said it stayed with her.

Not today.

It felt… tired.

Luna looked down at her poster in her hands.

For some reason, winning didn’t feel like winning anymore.

And she still didn’t understand why.