Rose walked through the bustling halls of Merry Dream High, her mind racing with thoughts of her new friendship with Kai. The sweet memory of their hug lingered, yet a part of her was still hesitant. Would this decision lead to more trouble or better days ahead? As she turned the corner, she spotted Lui leaning against a locker, chatting with a group of friends. His dark hair fell perfectly over his forehead, and his cool demeanor always commanded attention.
"Rose!" Lui called out, a smile breaking through his usually indifferent expression as he noticed her. But as she approached Lui said bye to his friends and took Rose somewhere quiet, that smile faded slightly, replaced by concern. The scars of his heartthrob image always masked the caring friend inside.
"Hey, Lui," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
Before she could say anything else, Lui's gaze narrowed. "What's with the grin? You look... different."
"I—uh..." Rose stammered. "I just made a new friend."
"New friend?" Lui echoed, his brow furrowing. "Who?"
"Just someone in the class," she replied, trying to play it cool even though she could feel his intense gaze.
"Is it that Kai guy?" Lui's tone went low, a hint of irritation creeping in.
"Yeah, it is," she admitted, her heart racing. "He helped me today when… when I was in the gym."
"Helped you?" Lui echoed incredulously. "Once? And you're already cool with him?"
Rose winced at his sharp tone. "He's not like the others, Lui. He said he wants to be friends to protect me."
"Protect you?" Lui scoffed. "You think someone like him can protect you? He's known for trouble. What if he puts you in even more danger?"
"Lui! You don't know him like I do," she shot back, sadness creeping into her voice. "He's different. I've seen a side of him that you don't see."
"Different how? Just because he saved you once? You're judging purely on his looks and charm."
"Stop it!" Rose's voice trembled, the frustration bubbling over. "You don't understand! Just because you have it easy doesn't mean everyone else does! I'm tired of feeling alone while you're all... popular and perfect."
His heart sank at her words. He hadn't realized how his actions, or lack thereof, had affected her. "I'm sorry, Rose. I didn't mean to shout," he said, his voice softer, carrying the weight of regret. "I just… I worry about you."
Rose glanced away, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears before she nodded. "I know you care, but I can take care of myself. I can't keep relying on you to fight my battles."
With that, a silence hung between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. Finally, Lui sighed. "Okay, I'll… I'll try to accept it. Just be careful, alright?"
A tiny smile broke through her sadness, and she leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Lui."
The teasing grin that spread across Lui's face was unexpected. "Wow, Rose! Are you crushing on me? First, you hang out with a new friend, and now this?"
Rose's cheeks flushed crimson, a mix of embarrassment and surprise. "No! It's not like that!"
Lui chuckled lightly, but inside, he felt a pang of something deeper. Was she really happy with someone else? The thought unsettled him. "It sure sounds like it to me," he teased.
"I am not!" Rose protested, swatting him on the arm playfully, but her heart raced at the thought of him seeing her feelings, even if he didn't know the truth.
As they walked side by side, tension began to lift just a bit. Yet Lui couldn't shake the feeling of worry he had for her. Maybe he needed to start paying more attention to his best friend — not just her grades or how she looked among their peers, but what happened when she wasn't around, especially with someone like Kai now in the picture.
"Seriously, Rose," he said, his voice quieter now, "promise me if anything happens, you'll tell me, okay?"
She nodded, warmth returning to her smile. "I promise."
And as they headed home together, Lui couldn't help but steal glances at Rose, trying to understand the whirlwind of emotions that had just unfolded between them.