"You must be kidding, but I don't like this joke anymore," Cior said, trying to laugh it off, though her voice had a slight tremor.
"Heh, stop lying. I heard it with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes," Mateo replied, his gaze unwavering, pinning her to the spot.
"When and how? I was never a girl!" Cior protested, feigning outrage but feeling panic bubbling inside her.
"Then prove it," Mateo shot back, leaning closer. "You never take off your shirt even when we're in the training ground and everyone else is shirtless. You don't get involved in those jokes either. Suspicious, isn't it?"
Cior's heart pounded as her thoughts raced. He's too close to figuring it out! She clenched her fists, looking for a way out. "You're imagining things, Mateo!" she retorted, attempting to sound confident.
Mateo didn't flinch. "Oh yeah? Then why don't you just—"
Before he could finish, Cior's hands moved swiftly, opening a portal beneath their feet. "Sorry, Mateo, but I don't have time for this!" she exclaimed as they both fell through.
They landed with a soft thud in the middle of a vast, open green field, the sound of birds chirping around them. Mateo blinked, disoriented, as he realized what had just happened.
"Where the hell are we now?" he asked, sitting up and brushing off grass.
Cior stood up, brushing her clothes hastily. "Nowhere important. Just thought you could use some fresh air," she replied, avoiding his gaze.
Mateo narrowed his eyes. "Really? Running away doesn't change the truth, Cior."
Cior groaned internally. Why does he have to be so persistent?!
Mateo, persistent as ever, cornered her again. "Why are you running, Cior? Just admit the truth already!"
Cior finally snapped, exhaling sharply. "Fine! Yes, I'm Lunette. Yes, I'm a girl. Happy now?" she said, throwing her hands up.
Mateo blinked in disbelief. "Wait, what? Why would you lie about something like that?"
Cior's frustration melted into a tinge of sadness as she looked at him. "Because... because I was helpless," she admitted, taking a step closer to him.
Mateo, after dodging several of her deflections, now found himself leaning against a tree, his guard momentarily down. "Helpless? Why?" he asked, his voice softening.
Cior stepped even closer, her face just inches from his. Her intense gaze made Mateo's breath hitch. "Because I want revenge," she said, her voice low and deliberate, her words hanging heavy in the air.
"Revenge?" Mateo echoed, his brows furrowing in confusion. Before he could ask more, Cior moved decisively.
She kissed him.
Mateo's eyes widened in shock, his mind racing as the sudden realization of what was happening hit him. But this wasn't just any kiss—it was part of her ability, one she rarely used. In that instant, she began removing his memories of the past two weeks, wiping away everything that connected to her secret.
As she broke the kiss, she stepped back slightly, her expression conflicted. "I'm sorry, Mateo. It was necessary," she whispered, watching his face flush bright red.
"You—you—you stole my first kiss!" Mateo stammered, his voice rising as he pointed an accusatory finger at her. His embarrassment was short-lived, though, as the effects of her ability kicked in. His knees buckled, and he collapsed unconscious onto the grass.
Cior knelt beside him, brushing the hair out of his face. "You'll forget this soon, Mateo," she said softly, her voice tinged with regret. "But thank you for caring."
Cior, now carrying an unconscious Mateo, teleported them both to her quarters. The boys, already in the common area, immediately noticed the unusual sight.
"Hey, where have you both been?" Amias asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Nowhere, just some extra training," Cior replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Extra training, huh? Then why is he unconscious—and what's up with his swollen lips?" Arven asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Cior hesitated for a moment, then shot back, "He fell down, okay? Now let me go and lay him down!"
Ziven raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Such a shortie carrying such a giant. Impressive, Cior."
Amias stepped forward. "Give him to me. I'll help you out."
"No need!" Cior replied, her voice a little too loud, clutching Mateo tighter. "I can do it myself."
Arven leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, grinning knowingly. "You're acting suspicious, you know that?"
"Whatever," Cior snapped, ignoring their prying eyes as she stormed off, dragging Mateo along.
Once she reached Mateo's room, she laid him down on the bed and sighed in relief. Glancing around, her eyes landed on his desk—and more importantly, his diary. A sense of dread washed over her. What if he wrote something about my secret? she thought. Without wasting a second, she flipped through the pages, scanning for any mention of her identity.
And there it was. Notes, suspicions, and even sketches.
"Of course he would document everything," she muttered under her breath. Tearing out all the incriminating pages, she crumpled them up and shoved them into her pocket. "Sorry, Mateo. This is for your own good."
She adjusted his blanket, making sure he looked comfortable, and teleported back to her room. Collapsing onto her bed, she stared at the ceiling, her thoughts racing.
"I hope everything stays fine... I need to be more cautious," she murmured.
Back in the common area, the boys exchanged glances.
"She's definitely hiding something," Arven said with a smirk.
"Swollen lips, unconscious Mateo, and that overreaction—something's off," Ziven agreed, stroking his chin mockingly.
Amias shrugged. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out eventually. Cior's not as sneaky as he thinks."
Meanwhile, Cior sighed in her room, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing among her friends. "Those guys… such idiots," she mumbled to herself, pulling the blanket over her head.