Chapter 4 – Moonlight Promises

Liya's fourteenth birthday arrived like a quiet breeze—not loud or extravagant, but soft, expectant, and full of emotion. Though she was never the kind to ask for anything, deep down she hoped this year would feel different. The past few months had brought so much warmth into her life, and much of it came from the boy who seemed to understand her silences more than her words.

Emmett.

Since they started growing closer, school days had become bearable. Even joyful. Their friendship had evolved into something unspoken, filled with soft glances, inside jokes, and a rhythm only the two of them seemed to understand.

But not everyone stayed kind.

As Liya's birthday week approached, her presence started attracting attention—some of it unwanted. She was smart, talented, beautiful, and came from a prominent family. That combination painted a target.

A group of older boys from the drama club began hanging around her music room. At first, it was teasing remarks. Then whispers. Then, one afternoon, one of them brushed past her too closely in the hallway.

Liya froze.

She didn’t want to make a scene. Didn’t want to seem weak. So, she kept her head down and walked away.

But Emmett saw.

The next day, it happened again—this time near the staircase. The senior boy leaned too close, whispering something about how pretty girls shouldn’t walk alone.

Before Liya could step back, Emmett was already there.

“Is there a problem?” His voice cut through the hallway, calm but sharp.

The boy raised his hands. “Relax, man. Just saying hi.”

“She doesn’t need your hi,” Emmett said, stepping between them. “Back off.”

The tension was instant. Eyes turned. Whispers stirred.

But the other boy just scoffed, muttered something under his breath, and walked away.

Liya looked at Emmett, heart pounding.

"You didn’t have to—"

“Yes, I did,” he interrupted gently. “I won’t let anyone mess with you.”

She wanted to say something more, but her words caught in her throat. Instead, she just looked at him with something that wasn’t quite gratitude… and wasn’t quite love either.

But it was something.

A Secret in the Making

Unbeknownst to Liya, Emmett, Macsen, and the rest of their inner circle had been planning something for weeks. Not just a celebration—but a memory. Something she could hold onto when things got hard again.

They chose the old greenhouse behind Jeremiah’s home, long abandoned and covered in ivy and dust. Over the course of several nights, they scrubbed, cleaned, and decorated it until it felt like a dream.

Anya brought soft cushions and flower petals. Jade arranged fairy lights with Grayson, who tried to act indifferent but clearly wanted it perfect. Jasper arranged Polaroids of old memories. Jeremiah handled the playlist—slow songs, soft piano, and some of Liya’s own violin recordings mixed in.

Emmett, meanwhile, worked on something personal: a silver moon pendant engraved with her initials and a quiet promise.

He held it every night before sleeping, wondering how he’d find the words to give it to her.

The Birthday Night

That evening, Liya had a small celebration at home with her brothers and cousins. They laughed, teased, shared stories, and gave her books, sketchpads, and accessories.

Macsen arrived halfway through the celebration with his usual mischievous grin.

“Let’s go get ice cream,” he said. “Your actual present’s waiting.”

Liya raised an eyebrow. “Ice cream at 8PM?”

“Trust the chef,” Macsen winked and blindfolded her before she could protest.

She laughed the whole way there, swatting at him. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

When the blindfold came off, Liya gasped.

The greenhouse was glowing.

Fairy lights danced above her like fireflies. Lanterns flickered on either side of a petal-strewn path. Her favorite soft piano music echoed in the air. A low table sat in the middle, surrounded by velvet cushions and framed photos of her and the people she loved.

She looked around—Jade, Grayson, Anya, Jasper, Jeremiah.

And then her eyes found Emmett.

He stood quietly in the corner, holding a single pink rose, his usual black hoodie exchanged for a navy-blue button-up that made her heart skip.

“You guys…” she whispered. “What is this?”

“Your second birthday,” Jeremiah grinned. “The one you’ll actually remember.”

They all laughed, and for the next hour, they played games, ate cake, and told stories—about her tantrums as a kid, how she used to cry whenever someone broke her crayon, and how she once beat Macsen in a mini go-kart race at age ten.

“I let her win,” Macsen lied.

“No, you didn’t,” Liya smirked.

A Promise Beneath the Moon

As the night wore on and the laughter mellowed, Liya stepped outside the greenhouse to breathe in the quiet. The night was crisp, the moon soft above her.

She didn’t hear Emmett approach until he was right beside her.

“Cold?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No. Just... overwhelmed.”

“In a good way?” he teased.

She looked at him, eyes shining. “The best way.”

They stood in silence for a while. Just the two of them. The air between them buzzed—comfortably, but undeniably changed.

“I’ve been thinking,” Emmett finally said. “About how you always show up for people. Even when you're hurting.”

Liya turned to him. “You do that too, you know.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes right away.

“There were days after my mom died,” he whispered, “where I didn’t want to speak to anyone. But you’d just sit next to me and share your lunch or talk about weird things like how strings on violins can break if the tension is wrong. You brought me back to life, Aali. Bit by bit.”

She blinked rapidly, a lump forming in her throat.

“I don’t know what I’d be without you,” he said softly.

Then, he pulled something from his pocket.

It was a small silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon, delicate and beautiful. Her initials—A.N.J.—were etched on the back.

“I saw this and thought of you,” he said, voice slightly shaking. “You’re like the moon. Quiet but always there. Even in the darkest nights.”

She didn’t speak. Her fingers reached for the pendant, trembling.

“I wanted to give this to you tonight… with a promise,” he continued. “I know we’re just kids. And people will say this won’t last. But I want you to know—whatever happens, I’m not leaving. I’ll always protect you. Always show up. I promise.”

Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t hold them back.

She nodded slowly, pressing the pendant to her chest. “Then I promise too. To never let you feel alone again.”

He reached for her hand, and she let him. No hesitation. No fear.

Just warmth.

In the quiet, under the silver moon, their hands intertwined like it had always meant to be this way. Not lovers yet. Not fully understanding love either. But beginning something honest. Pure. And real.

That night, long after everyone else had gone to sleep, Liya sat in her bed holding the pendant, heart full.

She opened her phone and began typing:

“I think I might be falling for you.”

She stared at it for a while.

Then smiled.

And deleted it.

For now, the promise was enough.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***