Luna stopped right in front of Caleb, so close that the warm, cinnamon-tinged scent of her perfume flooded his senses. Her heels clicked once against the floor before she stilled, shoulders angled ever so slightly toward him.
"Caleb…" her voice was low, almost teasing. "Come with me for a bit. We need to talk… just the two of us."
Lucy shot up from her chair so fast the legs screeched against the floor. Her face hardened, nostrils flaring. "Are you out of your mind, Luna?! You're… flirting with him right in front of me?! You've got no shame!"
Luna turned slowly, eyes narrowing, her chin tilting up by a fraction. "I just wanted—"
"Stop acting innocent!" Lucy cut her off sharply, pointing a stiff finger toward her. "You crazy woman, you've been flirting with Caleb so much he's gonna marry you?! You've crossed the line!"
Luna froze mid-breath, her faint smile fading as her gaze cooled to ice. "Caleb… what?"
Lucy stepped forward, heels grinding against the floor, her eyes blazing. "Don't play dumb."
Caleb just watched, his hands resting loosely at his sides, making no move to stop them.
Inside, he sighed, Looks like it's time to play the part again.
Luna looked at Lucy, her brows knitting slightly though her posture remained poised.
"Caleb… what? What do you mean?" Her voice was flat, but there was a faint tremor in the last syllable.
Lucy took another half-step forward, her gaze sharp as a blade, shoulders tense as if holding herself back from grabbing Luna's collar.
"You've been using Caleb just to feed your own feelings? You think I can't see through you?"
Luna tilted her head slightly, a slow blink breaking the stare, not meeting Lucy's anger with the same fire.
"I don't understand… I just want Caleb to be safe."
Lucy's jaw clenched, the corners of her lips trembling before she spoke again. Damn… this is dangerous. She shot a sideways glance at Caleb without turning her head. Especially with Luna obsessed with him. And now… Caleb was falling for this bitch.
Caleb stood silently between them, his head slightly lowered, but his eyes tracked every movement of their lips from behind his mask.
Why does this make me happy? he thought.
There was a strange feeling in his chest—warm, thrilling, yet slick and poisonous.
He felt like the only one holding a piece of the truth…
About Luna secretly keeping his photos like some stalker.
About how she still didn't know Caleb already knew everything—
From Lucy falling for his mother… to the fact that his mother once almost killed him.
Caleb finally spoke, his voice calm but heavy from behind the mask. His gloved fingers tapped lightly against his thigh once, a subtle beat to keep his breathing even.
"Enough… this is my fault. I've just been stressed. I just wanted to feel safe… and Luna… she's always made me feel safe. But… I realize… maybe these feelings aren't supposed to exist."
Luna went quiet for a moment, her eyes locked on Caleb. The corners of her lips twitched before almost curling into a wide smile.
"It's okay, Caleb. You're a man, I'm a woman. It's normal… don't doubt your feelings."
Lucy jolted, her voice exploding as she stepped forward so sharply the air between them seemed to crack. "Are you insane, Luna?!"
But Luna only met Lucy's eyes with a piercing stare, shoulders rolling back.
"What, Lucy? After failing to win Caleb's mother's love… now you're aiming for her son?"
Lucy's gaze snapped to Caleb, her face going pale, her words stumbling.
"Caleb… no… it's not like that—"
Caleb stood still, then straightened slightly, his weight shifting evenly onto both feet.
Oh… right… it's time to pretend to be shocked.
"…What?" he said shortly, as if in disbelief.
Inside, he let out a long sigh.
God, faking shock is exhausting…
Lucy stood frozen, her eyes locked on Caleb as if searching for a crack to deny Luna's accusation.
"I told you, it's not like that, Caleb…" her voice sounded almost pleading, but the edge of anger was still there.
Luna just raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smirk.
"Oh, so now I'm 'this woman'?" she said coldly. "Funny… just a moment ago you were so fired up defending yourself. How amusing."
"Shut up, Luna!" Lucy stepped closer until their breath almost mingled, her hands curling into fists at her sides.
"I'm not going to let you drag Caleb into your filthy world."
From behind his mask, Caleb's eyes drifted slowly from Lucy's face to Luna's, catching every twitch of a brow and tightening of a jaw.
Filthy world, huh… If only you two knew, I've been living in it long before either of you started pointing fingers.
Luna crossed her arms, nails tapping lightly against her sleeve.
"You talk like you're some kind of angel, Lucy. But I know—you've got your own motives."
Her gaze shifted to Caleb, softening—or at least, looking soft.
"If you really want to stay away from me, Caleb, just say it. But don't let yourself be swayed by someone who's obviously holding a personal grudge."
Lucy almost laughed, the sound sharp and sarcastic.
"Personal grudge? I'm just protecting him!"
She looked back at Caleb, her tone gentling.
"You know I'd never want to hurt you…"
Inside, Caleb allowed himself a small smile.
Damn… this is like watching two actresses fighting for the lead role. Difference is, I'm the director and the screenwriter.
He lowered his head slightly, giving the impression of confusion.
"I… I don't know who to believe."
Ha, look at them… now they're competing for my sympathy. This is going to be a fun game.