Chapter 4 of " idiot, do you love me? "

1:32 P.M., October 21.

The afternoon was crisp, with a bright blue sky and white clouds drifting overhead. Inside, the cafeteria buzzed with students eating, laughing, and gossiping. Kai stood holding his tray, scanning the crowd for Luna, but she was nowhere to be found. Deflated, he slumped into an empty seat and absentmindedly tried to scoop his soup with a fork, his mind miles away.

Suddenly, a boy slid into the seat beside him. "Hey, dude! I'm Leo."

Kai looked over and offered a polite smile. "Hello, Leo. I'm Kai."

"I know who you are. I know everything about everyone in our class," Leo replied with a grin.

Kai’s eyes lit up, and he leaned in eagerly. "Do you know Luna, then? Where is she? How do I become friends with her?"

Leo froze for a second before breaking into a teasing smirk. "Why are you so interested in her? Huh? Do you like her?"

Kai’s ears turned bright red. He laughed nervously, his voice cracking with embarrassment. "Who, me? Like her? No way! I... I just want to get to know her, that's all. First of all, do you actually know anything about her or not?"

Leo chuckled and nodded. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you."

Kai scooted closer. "Spill it."

Leo’s expression sobered. "Luna keeps to herself. She lost her parents in a car accident when she was ten. Now she lives on her own and works part-time at a café just to get by. She never really talks or smiles at anyone."

Kai’s smile vanished, his eyes softening with sympathy. He stared down at his tray for a moment before looking back up. "Where is she right now?"

"Beats me," Leo said, shrugging. "She usually skips lunch and hides out in the library reading."

Without another word, Kai stood up, leaving his food untouched.

Minutes later, he stepped into the quiet, sunlit library. He walked down the aisles until he finally spotted her tucked away in a corner table, calmly absorbed in a thick literature book. Taking a deep breath, he walked over and stood beside her table.

"Found you," he said softly.

Luna looked up, startled, her expression guarded. Without waiting for an invite, Kai pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. "What are you reading?"

"A book," she answered flatly, hoping he would take the hint and leave.

"I love you!" Kai blurted out.

Luna froze, her eyes widening in shock. "What?"

Realizing what he had just said, Kai panicked, waving his hands. "I—I mean I Love You More by Emil Sher! It's a book title, Luna. You should really read it someday."

Luna stared at him for a beat before letting out a quiet sigh and a small, involuntary chuckle. "Yeah. Maybe I will."

She went back to reading, though she didn't tell him to leave. As she looked down, a loose strand of hair fell across her eyes, and she scrunched her nose in annoyance.

Without thinking, Kai leaned across the table, gently brushed the hair off her forehead, and tucked it behind her ear.

Luna went completely still. Her fingers tightened around the cover of her book, and her lips parted slightly. A second later, she leaned back, trying to act as if nothing had happened, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

Kai smiled softly and whispered, "Perfect."

"You are really an idiot," she muttered under her breath.

"Huh?" Kai asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"Nothing, just..." She trailed off, looking away.

"Just what, Luna?" he pressed gently.

She suddenly stood up, snapping her book shut. Leaning down, she poked his cheek with her index finger and said, "Just stop acting so innocent!"

Kai tilted his head, still confused.

Before he could ask anything, a familiar voice called from behind them.

"Luna?"

Her expression changed instantly.

Kai turned around, wondering who it was, but Luna's reaction caught his attention more than the voice itself.

For the first time, she looked genuinely nervous.