Luna was asleep… At least, that’s what it looked like on the surface. Her body lay still, her breaths slow and steady, but her mind was far from peaceful. Deep within her subconscious, she was somewhere else entirely, trapped in a world that was both foreign and painfully familiar.

The dreams had come again. The same fragmented, disjointed visions that had haunted her since childhood. They were always the same, yet somehow different. Flashes of places she had never been but felt like home, voices she didn’t recognize yet stirred something deep in her chest, emotions she couldn’t place but weighed heavily on her soul.

Tonight was no different.

She stood in the middle of a vast, open field beneath a silver moon, its glow casting an eerie luminescence over the swaying grass. The land stretched endlessly in all directions, empty yet suffocating, as if the very air carried a weight she couldn’t shake. A cold wind howled around her, rustling the grass in chaotic whispers, but despite its sharp bite, she felt nothing. No chill, no discomfort, just an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, like she had been here a thousand times before.

Her breath came out in slow, measured exhales as she took in her surroundings. The field was eerily still, untouched by time, yet there was something else, someone else. Ahead, standing just beyond the reach of the moon’s glow, was a shadowy figure. Watching. Waiting.

Their form was indistinct, shifting like smoke, their features blurred, hazy, as if the world itself refused to let her see them clearly. She squinted, her heartbeat hammering in her ears. The harder she tried to focus, the more obscured they became, like looking through a fogged-up glass.

Something, or someone, didn’t want her to see them. The realization sent a chill down her spine.

"Who are you?". Luna asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The figure didn’t answer, but it took a step closer, reaching out its hand.

"I will come back," the voice echoed through the dream, distant yet pleading, carrying a weight of longing that sent a shiver through her. It wasn’t just a statement, it was a promise, one laced with desperation, with something unspoken lingering beneath the words.

Luna’s breath hitched as a strange force tugged at her, invisible yet powerful, wrapping around her like unseen hands pulling her forward. Her chest tightened, her heart clenching with an ache she couldn’t explain. The sensation was familiar, like a melody.

Then, suddenly

A sharp, splitting pain shot through her skull, searing and blinding, as if something inside her mind was being torn apart.She gasped, staggering back, her hands flying to her temples in a desperate attempt to ease the agony.

"I will remember"

"Luna, wake up"

"Remember!"

Her entire body jolted, as if struck by an unseen force. A sharp gasp tore from her lips as her vision blurred, the world around her tilting violently. It wasn’t pain, no, it was something else. A shockwave rippling through her very being, as if something had awakened inside her.

The air around her crackled, charged with an energy she didn’t understand. The ground beneath her feet felt unsteady, as if she were standing at the edge of something vast and unknown. Her breath hitched, her fingers twitching at her sides.

She swallowed hard, pressing a shaking hand against her forehead. Cold sweat clung to her skin. Her other hand gripped the blanket tightly, as if it could ground her back to reality.

"Not again," she whispered hoarsely.

Her head throbbed, a dull ache lingering from the intensity of the dream. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to calm down, but her pulse was still racing.

The clock read 2:34 AM.

Luna sighed, running a hand through her hair. It was always around this time. Every night. Like clockwork.

Her phone buzzed beside her. She blinked at the screen.

Aria:Another bad dream?

Luna hesitated before typing back.

Luna:Yeah… Same as always. Maybe worse this time.

The typing bubbles appeared almost instantly.

Aria:Luna, this isn’t normal. You need to see a different doctor. Or a therapist. Someone.

Luna exhaled sharply, gripping the phone tighter. She’d heard this before. From Aria. From doctors who handed her prescription after prescription that never worked.

Luna:No doctor has been able to stop them. The pills just make me drowsy, but the dreams never go away.

She hesitated before sending the next message.

Luna: And it doesn’t feel like just dreams, Maia. It feels real.

The typing bubbles appeared again, then stopped. A few seconds passed. Then,

Aria: What do you mean… real?

Luna bit her lip. How was she supposed to explain it? That every time she dreamed, it wasn’t just a passing vision, it was something deeper? That when she woke up, she could still feel the lingering emotions from the dream as if she had actually lived through it?

She didn’t reply.

Instead, she set the phone down, pulling her knees to her chest. The dream’s voice still echoed in her head.

"I will come back."

Come back where?

She didn’t have the answer.

Luna didn’t sleep again after waking from the dream. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling in deep, measured breaths as if trying to slow the frantic beating of her heart. The dream had never been this clear before.

The figure. The voice. The feeling of being pulled somewhere.

"I will come back."

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push away the memory. It didn’t work. Of course. The words echoed in her mind like an old song stuck on repeat.

“This is getting worse…” she whispered to herself.

Luna sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers gripping her phone tightly, her eyes scanning the screen for the hundredth time. Maia had sent her a long list, places she could go, people she could see. Psychics, dream analysts, meditation groups.

"You have to try something," Aria had texted earlier. "You can't keep living like this, Luna. You need sleep."

Luna sighed, tossing the phone onto her nightstand.

She knew Aria was right. The exhaustion was becoming unbearable. Her body ached, her mind felt foggy, and she had lost count of the number of times she had nodded off at college, only to jerk awake, gasping, with images from her dreams burned into her vision.

Still, psychics? Dream analysts?

She wasn’t that desperate.

Was she?

She rubbed her temples with slow, deliberate circles, as if trying to knead away the tension building beneath her skin. A deep sigh escaped her lips, but the relief she sought never came. Instead, a sharp, pulsating ache throbbed at the base of her skull, intensifying with every beat of her heart. It was relentless, like a drum pounding inside her head, each pulse echoing through her bones.

She blinked rapidly, her vision blurring for a moment. The dim light of her bedroom felt too harsh, the shadows in the corners shifting in ways that made her stomach churn. Exhaustion clung to her like a second skin, wrapping around her limbs, dragging her down. Her gaze drifted toward the clock on her nightstand, the glowing red numbers standing out starkly in the dimly lit room.

4:56 AM.

The sight of it made her stomach twist with frustration. How had the night slipped away so quickly? It felt as if she had only just crawled into bed, only to lie there, restless and awake, trapped between exhaustion and the gnawing fear of sleep.

The numbers on the clock remained unchanged, glowing ominously in the darkness, a silent reminder of how little sleep she had gotten. How little sleep she ever got. A deep, weary groan escaped her lips, barely more than a whisper in the silent room. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before forcing them open again, blinking against the haze of exhaustion clouding her vision. She had done it again

Another sleepless night. Another battle lost to the creeping anxiety that coiled in her chest, tightening its grip every time she much as thought about closing her eyes.

Her fingers curled into the sheets, gripping them as frustration bubbled up inside her.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath, her voice hoarse from disuse.

“Just five minutes," she whispered, pulling the blankets over her body and sinking into the mattress.

Her eyelids drooped.

And almost immediately,

She was back.

The air was crisp and cold, wrapping around her like unseen hands. The grass beneath her feet was damp, soft yet chilling against her bare skin. Overhead, the silver moon shone brightly, casting an eerie glow over the endless field stretching before her.

Luna shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

It was the same dream. The same place.

The same nightmare.

But something felt different this time.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowly turned her head.

And there it was.

The figure.

A shadowy silhouette standing in the distance, just as it always did.

But tonight, theyweren’t standing as far away as before.

It were closer.

Much closer.

A sudden chill ran down Luna’s spine, seeping into her bones like ice water. She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself as an unsettling prickle crawled over her skin. The air around her felt different, thicker, heavier, as if the very atmosphere had shifted.

Her breath came out in short, uneven gasps, her chest rising and falling erratically. She struggled to steady herself, but the suffocating weight pressing against her made it impossible.

She had seen this figure in her dreams for years. Always watching. Always waiting. A silent presence lingering in the shadows, just beyond her reach. But never this close.

The silence was suffocating, pressing down on her like an unseen weight. Even the wind had stopped whispering through the field, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

And then

The figure moved.

A single step forward.

And then another.

A hand emerged from the darkness, slow and deliberate, pale as if untouched by the sun. The skin, eerily smooth, reflected the silver glow of the moon, casting an almost ethereal aura around it. It was long-fingered, slender, and oddly delicate.

For a moment, nothing happened.

The world around her seemed to still, as though time itself had stopped holding its breath, waiting for what would come next. Even the howling wind that had once echoed through the endless field had faded into silence. The night felt heavy, pressing against her chest, suffocating her in its quiet.

The figure tilted its head slightly, watching her. Studying her. Its presence pulsed against the air, thick with something unexplainable, something ancient.

Then, in a voice that sent ice shooting through her veins, it spoke.

“Luna.”

A whisper. Soft. Familiar.

Like a memory she couldn't quite grasp.

Her breath hitched.

The world around her felt smaller, closing in, trapping her in this moment.

And for the first time, she wondered, had she met this figure before?

"H-How do you know my name?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The figure said nothing.

Another step.

Luna’s fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms. She needed to move. She needed to wake up.

“Who are you?” she demanded, forcing strength into her voice.

Still, no answer.

The figure took one final step.

And then,

It reached out.

Luna gasped, stumbling backward.

But before she could escape,

Fingers brushed against her skin.

A soft, reassuring sensation wrapped around her, like a fleeting touch against her skin, gentle, yet undeniably present. It was neither warm nor cold, just a delicate pressure that sent a strange shiver down her spine. It felt familiar, almost like the ghost of a memory she couldn’t quite grasp, something distant yet intimately close.

For a brief moment, the sensation lingered, as if trying to comfort her, to anchor her amidst the chaos unfolding around her. It was soothing, almost lulling her into a sense of peace. Her vision slowly darkened, the edges of her world fading into nothingness. Her breath caught in her throat, shallow and unsteady, as if she were sinking into the depths of an unseen force.

And then,

The last flicker of light vanished.

The air around her grew still, heavy with an eerie silence.

Her body gave in to the darkness.

Everything went black.

A sudden gasp tore from Luna’s lips.

She shot up, gasping for air, her heart pounding so hard it echoed in her ears. The room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of her bedside clock.

5:03 AM.

She sat there, frozen, struggling to steady her breathing. Her body felt heavy, weighed down by the lingering traces of the dream. Sweat clung to her skin, her nightshirt damp and uncomfortable. The sheets beneath her were twisted, as if she had been tossing and turning all night.

Reality slowly seeped back into her senses. The outstretched hand.. the pale, almost glowing fingers reaching for her, was burned into her memory like an afterimage imprinted on her eyelids. She could still feel it, the strange static in the air, the pull in her chest, the unshakable feeling that whoever, or whatever it was, it wasn’t just a dream.

"Just a dream," she murmured, but the words felt empty, meaningless.

Her gaze flickered toward the clock on her nightstand.

5:03 AM.

She sighed, staring at the clock. Too early to start the day, yet too late to go back to sleep. Not that she wanted to.. not after that.

With a groan, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet meeting the cold wooden floor. She sat there for a moment, elbows on her knees, rubbing her face as if she could wipe away the lingering unease. Her skin was still clammy, and the remnants of the dream clung to her like a second shadow.

"I need coffee," she muttered, her voice hoarse from sleep.. or maybe from something else. Pushing herself up, she shuffled toward the door, her body sluggish with exhaustion. The apartment was silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, she flicked on the light, wincing as the sudden brightness stung her eyes. She reached for the coffee maker with muscle memory alone, filling it with water, scooping in the grounds, pressing the button. The familiar routine was comforting, something solid to hold onto.

As she waited for the coffee to brew, she leaned against the counter, arms crossed, staring blankly at the cabinets. Her fingers tapped against her arm, restless.

She didn’t want to admit it, but something felt off.

The dream was different this time. It wasn’t just a jumble of fragmented images. It was vivid. Tangible. And that voice, whoever it was.. felt real.

The coffee maker beeped, a sharp sound cutting through the silence, pulling her back to reality. Luna blinked, shaking off the fog in her mind as she reached for a mug.

She poured the dark liquid, watching as steam curled into the air, dissipating into nothing. Wrapping her hands around the warm ceramic, she let out a slow breath, as if exhaling the weight of the dream along with it.

She took another sip of coffee, savoring the warmth that spread through her chest. The dream still lingered in her mind, but she didn’t let it bother her. It was always like this.. strange, fleeting, and impossible to make sense of.

Her fingers tapped idly against the ceramic mug as she glanced at the dark hallway leading back to her room. The house was quiet, the world outside just beginning to stir. A faint glow peeked through the edges of the curtains, hinting at the approaching sunrise.

She exhaled slowly, running a finger along the rim of her mug. If she wrote it down, would it help? Would it make any difference? These dreams had haunted her for as long as she could remember, slipping through her mind like water through her fingers.

Shaking her head, she pushed off the counter and made her way back to her room. The house was still cloaked in darkness, the only light coming from the faint glow of the streetlamps outside. Everything was quiet, still, as if the world hadn’t yet woken up.

She nudged her bedroom door open and stepped inside, setting her coffee down on the desk. The dim light from her bedside clock barely illuminated the space, casting long, soft shadows across the walls. She exhaled slowly, stretching her arms above her head, feeling the stiffness in her muscles from another restless night.

Turning toward her closet, she pulled the doors open and stared at the neatly arranged clothes in front of her. It was too early to think too hard about what to wear. Something comfortable. Something simple. She ran a hand over the fabric of a few sweaters before finally grabbing one and tossing it onto the bed along with a pair of jeans.

The room was cool, the early morning air lingering from the open window. She quickly changed, pulling the sweater over her head and adjusting the sleeves. The silence felt heavier in the dark, pressing in around her as she sat on the edge of her bed. Luna grabbed her phone from the nightstand, checking the time.

5:27 AM. Still early, but there was no point in trying to go back to sleep now. The dream had already unsettled her enough, and forcing herself back into slumber would only bring more of the same.

With a quiet sigh, she tucked her phone into her bag and slung it over her shoulder before stepping out of her room. The house was eerily silent, the air still carrying the coolness of the night. The wooden floor creaked softly beneath her bare feet as she made her way down the hallway.

Stopping by the bathroom, she flicked on the dim overhead light and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her dark eyes looked tired, framed by faint shadows that hinted at another restless night. Stray strands of hair had escaped from her ponytail, falling loosely around her face. She reached up, gathering her hair into a messy bun before turning on the faucet.

She cupped her hands under the cold water, letting it pool in her palms before splashing it onto her face. The shock of it jolted her fully awake, chasing away the last traces of sleep. But it didn’t wash away the memory of the dream. No matter how much she tried to shake it off, it still lingered.

Luna exhaled slowly, gripping the edge of the sink for a moment before straightening up. She dried her face with a towel, ran a hand down her sweater, and turned off the light.

Back in the kitchen, she grabbed an apple from the counter and leaned against the sink, taking small bites. The city outside was still cloaked in darkness, but hints of deep blue were creeping along the horizon, a slow sign that morning was on its way. A car passed by in the distance, its headlights briefly flashing against her window before vanishing down the road.

Her gaze drifted to the clock on the wall.

5:42 AM. If she left now, she’d be early. Maybe too early.

But staying home wasn’t an option.

She tossed the half-eaten apple into the trash, grabbed her keys from the hook by the door, and pulled on her jacket. The fabric was soft and familiar, worn from years of use, but warm enough to fight off the morning chill.

Taking one last glance around the quiet house, she inhaled deeply before stepping outside.

The scent of coffee and fresh pastries filled the air as Luna stepped into the café, the small bell above the door chiming softly. A gentle warmth wrapped around her, a stark contrast to the crisp morning air outside. The café was already buzzing with quiet conversations and the occasional clink of ceramic cups against saucers. It was peaceful, familiar, the kind of place that made it easy to forget the weight of a sleepless night.

She spotted Aria sitting at their usual corner table, idly stirring her drink while scrolling through her phone. When she looked up and caught sight of Luna, her brows lifted slightly.

"You look like hell," she said, not unkindly.

Luna sighed as she slid into the seat across from her. "Good morning to you too."

Aria pushed a steaming cup of coffee toward her. "You’re going to need this."

Luna took it without hesitation, wrapping both hands around the warm ceramic. She breathed in the rich aroma before taking a cautious sip, letting the heat settle into her bones. The exhaustion clinging to her hadn’t faded, but at least the coffee was a start.

"Another rough night?" Aria asked, watching her over the rim of her own cup.

Luna hummed in response, resting her elbow on the table and propping her chin in her palm. "Same old, same old. Just me and my endless loop of weird dreams."

Aria tilted her head slightly. "The same ones?"

Luna hesitated, staring into her coffee as if the swirling liquid might give her an answer. "Sort of. But this time, there was… someone there. A shadowy figure. And they spoke. Told me to come back."

Aria frowned, setting her phone aside. "Back? Back where?"

"No clue." Luna took another sip, shaking her head. "Not that it matters. It’s just a dream. My sleep-deprived brain making things up for fun."

Aria rested her chin on her hand, studying her. "You know, dreams don’t just come out of nowhere. Maybe there’s something your mind is trying to tell you."

Luna gave a small, tired smile. "Or maybe I just need better sleep."

"You’ve been saying that for years."

Luna sighed, swirling the coffee in her cup. "I know. It’s just... exhausting, you know? Waking up feeling like I ran a marathon in my sleep."

Aria nodded. "I get it. But if these dreams are getting stronger, maybe you should try something new."

Luna raised an eyebrow. "Like what? Meditation? Dream journaling?" She exhaled softly, rubbing her temple. "I’m not sure writing them down would make them any less weird."

Aria shrugged. "Might be worth a shot. At the very least, you could try to piece together if there’s a pattern."

Luna took another slow sip of her coffee, letting the warmth seep through her. "Maybe."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the hum of the café filling the spaces between them. The clatter of cups, the quiet murmur of conversations, the soft hum of a song playing through the speakers.. it was steady, grounding.

After a while, Aria spoke again. "You ever think about talking to someone about it?"

Luna gave her a tired look. "Like a therapist? Been there, done that. They just called it stress and prescribed better sleep hygiene."

"And have you actually tried their suggestions?"

Luna rolled her eyes. "I tried. But I still wake up at ungodly hours feeling like I forgot something important."

Aria sighed but didn’t argue. "Alright, alright. Just... keep an open mind."

Luna didn’t respond right away, just stared into her cup as if searching for an answer at the bottom. Eventually, she sighed and leaned back. "I’ll think about it."

Luna exhaled slowly, letting the warmth of the coffee seep into her fingers. The exhaustion weighed on her, a dull heaviness pressing against her skull, but in the steady hum of the café, it was easier to push aside.

Aria swirled her spoon through her drink, watching the dark liquid spin lazily. “So, you’re really just brushing it off?”

Luna leaned back in her chair, stretching her legs out beneath the table. “What else am I supposed to do?”

“Maybe start paying attention to them? Write them down. Keep track of when they happen, what changes, what stays the same.” Aria leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. “If you start looking for patterns, you might figure something out.”

Luna scoffed, setting her cup down with a quiet clink. “I barely have time to keep up with assignments. You really think I can add dream analysis to my to-do list?”

Aria didn’t seem amused. “You make time to talk about them.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It just is.”

Aria let out a slow breath, tilting her head slightly as she studied Luna. “You know, just because you ignore something doesn’t mean it goes away.”

Luna looked away, watching the faint movement of people outside the café window. The city was waking up.. cars rolling down the street, pedestrians crossing at half-rushed paces, the occasional cyclist weaving through traffic. The sky was still a pale gray, the last traces of night fading into morning.

She knew Aria wasn’t wrong. The dreams weren’t stopping. If anything, they were becoming more vivid. But what was she supposed to do? Believe they meant something? That they were more than just a product of her exhausted mind?

“I don’t know,” she admitted finally. “Maybe it’s just stress.”

Aria lifted a brow. “Stress doesn’t usually come with cryptic shadowy figures and strange voices.”

Luna took another sip of coffee, savoring the brief warmth it brought. “Maybe mine does.”

Aria sighed, but there was no frustration in it.. just the quiet patience of someone who had known her long enough to see through her dismissals.

“You’re really not curious at all?” she asked after a moment.

Luna hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around the cup. “I mean… maybe a little.”

Aria smirked. “That’s a start.”

Luna rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The soft murmur of the café filled the space between them.. the distant sound of the espresso machine steaming milk, the occasional rustle of pages turning, footsteps moving in and out.

“You’re going to class after this?” Aria asked, finally breaking the silence.

Luna stretched her arms over her head, stifling a yawn. “Yeah. Not that I’ll absorb anything in this state.”

“That’s what the coffee is for.”

Luna lifted her cup. “To staying awake.”

Aria tapped hers against it lightly. “To figuring things out. Eventually.”

They sat there for a while longer, neither in a rush to leave. The morning unfolded slowly, steady and unhurried, the weight of sleeplessness pressing against Luna’s limbs but not quite dragging her down. Maybe she was exhausted. Maybe the dreams were getting stronger. But for now, it was just another morning, another conversation, another small piece of normalcy that made everything feel a little easier.

Luna grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder, taking one last gulp of her coffee before glancing at the time again. 7:48 AM.

Her stomach dropped. "Aria—"

Aria was already checking her phone, and her relaxed posture stiffened. "Oh. Oh no."

Luna shot up from her seat, nearly knocking over her chair. "We have twelve minutes. Twelve minutes, Aria!"

"Okay, okay, no need to panic," Aria said quickly, shoving her phone into her pocket and grabbing her bag. "We just need to—"

"Move. Now," Luna cut in, already weaving through the café tables toward the exit.

Aria followed, nearly colliding with a server carrying a tray. "Sorry! Sorry!" she called over her shoulder before catching up to Luna, who had already pushed the door open.

The morning air was colder now, but there was no time to focus on that. The streets were busier, people walking at a normal, unbothered pace while Luna and Aria were anything but.

"We should’ve left earlier," Luna muttered, picking up her pace.

"You should’ve checked the time," Aria countered.

Luna shot her a glare. "Oh, so this is my fault?"

Aria shrugged as she jogged beside her. "Well. You were too busy overanalyzing your dream, and I was too busy listening."

Luna huffed but didn’t argue. They didn’t have the time. Their college campus was still several blocks away, and walking wasn’t going to cut it.

"We need to run," Luna said, already tightening her grip on her bag.

"Ugh, I hate running."

"Then enjoy getting marked late," Luna shot back before taking off.

Aria groaned but followed. The sound of their rushed footsteps joined the morning noise.. horns honking, distant chatter, the occasional bark of a dog. They dodged past slow walkers, barely waiting for the pedestrian light before crossing the street.

Luna’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. Aria wasn’t far behind, both of them fueled by sheer desperation at this point.

"How much time?" Aria asked between breaths.

Luna glanced at her phone again. 7:54 AM.

"We have six minutes!"

Aria cursed under her breath. "Move faster!"

They pushed forward, cutting through shortcuts they had memorized from previous close calls. The sight of their college building in the distance gave them a boost of energy.

Then, just as they turned a corner, Luna slammed into someone. Hard.

Luna stumbled back, barely managing to keep her balance. Aria nearly tripped over her own feet. The guy they had crashed into barely flinched.

"Luca?!" Luna exclaimed, eyes narrowing.

Tall, perpetually unbothered, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets like he had all the time in the world. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he’d just rolled out of bed, and the smirk tugging at his lips only made Luna more annoyed.

Luca, standing there completely unfazed, blinked at them. "Oh, hey. You guys are late too?"

Luna felt her eye twitch. "Obviously."

Aria groaned. "Luca, why are you just standing here?! We need to move!"

He stretched lazily, rolling his shoulders like he had all the time in the world. "Eh, we’ll make it."

Luna stared at him in disbelief. "Make it? Luca, it’s 7:55!"

He shrugged. "Four minutes. Plenty of time."

Aria threw her hands in the air. "Luna, we’re leaving him. Let’s go!"

Luna hesitated, watching Luca’s completely unbothered expression, before shaking her head. "You’re impossible. Fine, see you in class.. if you even make it!"

She grabbed Aria’s wrist and took off again, leaving Luca behind. He didn’t even look concerned.

"Why is he like that?!" Aria huffed as they ran.

"No idea!" Luna replied, dodging past a group of students strolling toward campus like they had all the time in the world.

The front gates loomed ahead, students still strolling inside at a normal pace. At least they weren’t *that* late.

7:58 AM.

They had made it. Barely.

Breathing heavily, Luna and Aria slowed down, entering the building with seconds to spare. Luna wiped her forehead with the back of her sleeve.

"Never again," Aria panted beside her.

"You say that every time," Luna muttered.

"Yeah, well, this time, I mean it."

Luna gave her a look before glancing at the hallway ahead. They still had to make it to the lecture hall, but for now, at least they weren’t

'officially' late.

Just another rushed morning.

Then, to Luna’s utter disbelief, Luca strolled past them, completely calm, completely unbothered.

"See? Told you there was time," he said with a lazy grin.

Luna glared at him. "Go trip on the stairs, Luca."

"Love you too, Luna," Winks then walked beside Aria.

Luna exhaled heavily and exchanged a look with Aria.

"Just another morning," Aria said with a tired smile.

"Yeah," Luna agreed, finally allowing herself to relax. "Just another morning."

The three of them walked down the hallway, their hurried footsteps echoing against the stone walls. Their breathing was still uneven from rushing, and the moment they reached their classroom, they were met with the sharp gaze of their professor.

"Try not to be late again," the professor said in a firm but controlled voice. "Especially you, Luca."

Luca winced, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, professor. Won’t happen again."

The professor only sighed, clearly unconvinced, before gesturing toward their seats. Aria, already feeling a wave of embarrassment, quickly lowered her head and rushed to her desk, hoping to disappear into her books. Meanwhile, Luna all but collapsed onto her chair, panting as if she had just run a marathon. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her exhaustion evident in the way her shoulders slumped forward.

“I swear,” Luna groaned, pressing her forehead against the desk, “we should have just skipped breakfast. Running on a full stomach is a nightmare.”

Aria shot her a sideways glance. “You were the one who insisted on getting a second plate of pancakes.”

Luna lifted her head just enough to glare weakly at Aria before groaning again and burying her face into her folded arms. Luca, on the other hand, seemed unbothered, already rummaging through his bag for his notes as if nothing had happened.

The professor cleared his throat, signaling the class to focus. “Alright, let’s begin. Today, we’ll be continuing our discussion on the history of the three great kingdoms. Open your books to page one hundred and thirty-two.”

The class collectively flipped their pages, the sound of rustling paper filling the room. Aria took a deep breath, willing herself to focus despite the lingering embarrassment of being called out.

Luna, still looking half-dead, turned her book open with minimal effort, her eyes drooping slightly. “Ugh. Why is history so exhausting?” she muttered under her breath.

Luca smirked. “Because you never actually study.”

Luna shot him a glare before flipping to the right page. The professor began his lecture, his voice steady and commanding, recounting the formation of the great kingdoms, their conflicts, and the political shifts that shaped their current state. The words flowed over Aria like background noise as she jotted down notes diligently, her pen gliding across her notes.

A few seats away, Luca tapped his fingers idly against his desk, his mind already drifting elsewhere. He had never been particularly interested in history, and today was no exception. The only thing keeping him remotely engaged was the fact that the professor’s gaze kept sweeping over him as if expecting him to zone out at any moment.

Time passed, and soon, the lecture reached its midway point. The professor, noticing some of the students' drooping eyelids, sighed. “Alright. I can see that some of you are struggling to stay awake.” His eyes landed on Luna for a fraction longer than necessary. “Let’s take a short break before we continue.”

Luna immediately perked up, as if she had been revived from the dead. “Oh, thank goodness.”

Aria chuckled softly, stretching her arms before turning to Luca. “You okay? You look like your soul left your body halfway through.”

Luca grinned. “It did. But it’s fine, I’ll manage.”

The three of them stood up from their seats, stretching slightly before heading toward the large windows at the side of the room. Outside, the campus was bathed in sunlight, the gentle breeze rustling the trees. Students could be seen walking across the stone paths, some deep in conversation, others heading toward their next classes.

Luna sighed dreamily. “I wish we had classes outside. I bet I’d actually pay attention then.”

Luca raised an eyebrow. “No, you wouldn’t. You’d just fall asleep under a tree.”

Luna gasped in mock offense. “How dare you? I am a scholar with a thirst for knowledge.”

Aria snorted. “You literally just said history was exhausting.”

Luna waved a hand dismissively. “Details, details.”

Their lighthearted conversation continued until the professor called for the class to resume. They returned to their seats, and the lesson picked up once more, though with a slightly more tolerable atmosphere now that they had a short break.

As the lesson progressed, Aria found herself focusing more, absorbing the information with keen interest. Despite the initial chaos of their morning, she felt herself settling into the rhythm of the class. Even Luna managed to stay awake, barely.

By the time the class ended, the tension from earlier had completely faded. The three of them gathered their things, preparing to leave when the professor called out, “Luca, a word?”

Luca froze mid-step, glancing at his friends before sighing. “Go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Aria and Luna exchanged looks but nodded before exiting the classroom. Luca turned to the professor, bracing himself.

“Luca,” the professor began, folding his arms. “You’re a bright student, but your habit of being late is becoming a pattern. If you don’t start taking your studies more seriously, it will affect your future.”

Luca nodded. “I understand, professor. I’ll do better.”

The professor studied him for a moment before sighing. “See that you do.”

Luca gave a small smile before finally leaving the room. As soon as he stepped outside, he spotted Aria and Luna waiting for him down the hallway.

“So? How bad was it?” Luna asked.

Luca shrugged. “Eh. Just another lecture about my ‘habits.’”

Aria sighed. “Maybe if you actually tried being on time, you wouldn’t have to hear it so often.”

Luca smirked. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Luna laughed, shaking her head as they walked down the hall together, ready to take on the rest of the day.