A/N: There is no set schedule for chapter releases, but I will do my best to update whenever possible.

Enjoy~~~

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The evening air was cool as Luke Dawnbringer strolled alongside Elara, their footsteps crunching softly on the gravel path that wound through their college campus. Stars dotted the sky, casting a cosmic glow over the two friends who had known each other since childhood.

Luke stole glances at Elara, her beauty illuminated by the moonlight. She was the epitome of grace and intelligence, a top student who turned heads wherever she went. Sometimes, even Luke wondered how he could be so lucky to have her as his childhood friend.

"Did you see that physics exam?" Elara laughed, her eyes bright with amusement. "It was brutal! But I think I did okay. How about you?"

Luke chuckled, masking a hint of insecurity. "I scraped by… barely. But you know me—I'm just happy if I pass." He offered a smile, hoping she wouldn't notice the underlying sadness.

Elara nudged him playfully. "You're too hard on yourself, Luke. You always do better than you think. I mean, you helped me study, didn't you?"

"Helped? More like I just kept you company while you aced it." He gestured to himself, feeling the familiar ache of envy. He had always been the friend, the supporter—never the one shining in the spotlight like Elara.

As they continued to walk, Luke listened to her animatedly talk about her future—graduate school, internships, and dreams of making a difference. He admired her passion, but it only deepened the ache in his chest. He wished he could be more than just her friend, more than the guy cheering her on from the sidelines.

"Luke," Elara said suddenly, her tone more serious, "you've always been there for me, and I really appreciate it. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He smiled, but her words weighed on him. He wanted to confess how much he truly cared, how every laugh and shared secret felt like a glimpse of a beautiful future. But he couldn't find the courage.

"I'm always here for you, Elara. You know that."

They turned a corner and passed a group of guys, a few of whom had openly declared their feelings for her before. One of them, Jake, called out, "Hey, Elara! So, you're with Ryan now? You could do way better!"

Elara rolled her eyes, her cheeks tinged pink. "It's not like that, Jake. Ryan and I… we just started dating. It's new, and, well, complicated."

Ryan was the classic college heartthrob: captain of the football team, with chiseled features and athletic build that made him the envy of many. His piercing blue eyes seemed to charm everyone around him. Not only was he athletic, but he also kept up respectable grades, balancing his studies with sports effortlessly. Coming from a slightly wealthy family with several city shops, Ryan had it all—looks, brains, and charisma.

Yesterday, Ryan had confessed to Elara, and Luke had expected her to turn him down like she had others before. But to his shock, Elara blushed and smiled, finally accepting Ryan's proposal. Luke's heart had sunk.

He had hoped that tonight might be the moment he could finally tell her how he felt. Instead, the ground seemed to crumble beneath him. Now, she was dating someone else, making it harder than ever for him to confess.

"Do you want to grab some ice cream?" he suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

"Sure!" Elara's face brightened with a smile. "You know I can never resist mint chocolate chip!"

They walked to the nearby ice cream parlor, chatting about everything and nothing. Each laugh and shared moment felt bittersweet to Luke. He longed to reach out, pull her close, and tell her how he felt, but the thought of confessing now, after she had just started dating Ryan, felt impossible. He couldn't risk their friendship—not now.

The familiar jingle of the parlor bell greeted them as they stepped inside. Elara scanned the menu, her excitement contagious. "I'll have the usual!" she said, bouncing on her heels.

"Of course," he teased, stepping up to the counter to place their order.

As they waited for their ice cream, Luke's mind drifted. He recalled countless nights together as kids—building forts, sharing secrets.

The time Elara climbed the tallest tree in their neighborhood and nearly fell. He had rushed to catch her, his heart pounding with fear.

"Luke?" Elara's voice pulled him from his reverie.

"Huh? Yeah?"

"Are you okay? You seem a little distant tonight."

He forced a smile. "Just lost in thought, I guess. It's nothing."

Elara tilted her head, studying him. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I'm always here for you, too."

"Yeah, I know." The words felt like a dagger to his heart. He wanted to tell her everything but stayed silent.

Once they had their ice cream, they sat on a bench outside, the night air crisp and refreshing. Luke watched as Elara took a big scoop of her mint chocolate chip, her face lighting up with delight. "This is the best!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

"Glad you like it," he replied, his smile dimmed by unspoken feelings.

Just then, Elara's phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, her face softening. "It's Ryan," she said, a hint of joy in her voice.

"Go ahead and answer," Luke said, forcing himself to stay calm.

"Alright." She tapped on her phone. "Hey, Ryan. What's up?"

Luke watched as she talked, noticing how her eyes lit up whenever she smiled or laughed at something he said. A pang of jealousy twisted in his stomach, but he reminded himself that she deserved happiness—even if it wasn't with him.

After a few minutes, Elara ended the call and turned back to Luke, her expression slightly conflicted. "Sorry about that. We were just talking about our plans for the weekend."

Luke nodded, trying to hide the sting. "That's cool. Are you excited?"

"Yeah, a little. It's new, but we're both figuring things out." She gave him a searching look. "What about you? Any plans?"

"Just studying, as usual," he replied, keeping his tone light.

Elara frowned slightly. "You should do something fun too, Luke. Studying can wait. You're always there for me, supporting me." She hesitated, her brow furrowing. "I don't think I've ever thanked you properly for that. I just… want you to be happy."

"You don't have to thank me. I want to be here for you," he replied, his heart aching to say more.

As they continued to talk, the night grew deeper, and stars twinkled overhead. Luke's heart raced. Should he confess his feelings, knowing the risk? The weight of unspoken words pressed on him.

"Luke," Elara said suddenly, her voice soft. "I've been thinking about how important you are to me."

"Really?" His heart hammered in his chest.

"Yeah." She gazed at him earnestly. "You've been my best friend for so long. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Luke's heart ached at her words. He wanted to tell her he had loved her quietly for so long, but the moment slipped away. All he could manage was a weak smile.

Before they could continue, a sudden commotion erupted nearby.

"Move! Get out of the way!" a masked person shouted.

Luke looked up to see a figure rushing toward them, a gun glinting under the streetlight. Time seemed to freeze.

"Get back!" Luke shouted, instinct kicking in. He pushed Elara out of the way just as the gunman took aim. A sharp, searing pain pierced his side as he crumpled to the ground.

"Luke! No!" Elara cried, dropping to her knees beside him, her hands hovering over his wound, trembling. "Stay with me! Please!"

*Wiii-wiii-wiii!*

Sirens wailed in the distance, but everything felt far away. Luke's vision blurred, and he fought to stay conscious.

"Elara," he gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "I..."

"Don't talk, Luke! Help is coming!" Her eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down her cheeks.

He could feel himself slipping, his heartbeat slowing. "I… need to tell you…"

"Please, don't!" Elara's voice broke as she pleaded.

With his last ounce of strength, he forced out the words he'd kept buried.

"I love you..."

And then, everything faded to black.