Lunch should have ended peacefully.
But of course…
Nothing in my life was that simple anymore.
I opened my lunch box, trying to ignore the awkward tension from earlier.
"Finally," I muttered, "some normal food."
"Normal?" Kiara leaned forward. "Boring."
"You haven't even seen it."
"I can tell."
"Wow."
I took a bite, deciding not to argue.
Beside me, Meera quietly opened her own lunch again.
She hesitated for a second…
Then slowly pushed it a little closer to me.
Not saying anything.
Just… offering.
I noticed it.
Of course I did.
"…You're really stubborn, aren't you?" I said softly.
She looked up.
"Huh?"
"You're still trying after what just happened."
She gave a small smile.
"I just thought… you might like it."
For a moment—
Everything else faded.
"…Yeah," I said. "I'd like that."
I reached out.
But again—
A hand stopped me.
I froze.
Slowly turned my head.
Luna.
"You're ignoring what I said," she spoke calmly.
I frowned.
"And you're repeating yourself."
"She might not mean harm," Luna continued, "but you don't know that."
Meera's expression dropped again.
"Why are you saying it like that…?" she asked quietly.
"I'm stating a possibility."
"That's not fair."
"It doesn't have to be."
The air grew tense.
Again.
Kiara rested her chin on her hand, watching everything with interest.
"This is getting spicy…"
"Not helping," I muttered.
I looked at Luna.
"Listen," I said, trying to stay calm, "I appreciate the concern. Really. But you're overdoing it."
"I don't overdo things."
"You do."
Silence.
For a moment, our eyes met.
And that same pressure returned.
"…You don't understand," she said quietly.
"Then explain it," I replied.
She didn't.
Instead, she looked away.
That was new.
Luna… avoiding something?
Before I could think more—
"Forget it," I sighed.
I picked up Meera's lunch.
And took a bite.
The moment I did—
Meera's eyes lit up slightly.
"…It's good," I said honestly.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
She smiled.
A genuine one.
And just like that—
The tension shifted.
Slightly.
But not completely.
Because beside me—
Luna went silent.
Completely silent.
I didn't need to look to feel it.
Something had changed.
Kiara noticed it too.
Her smile widened just a little.
"Well…" she said, stretching lazily, "this is more fun than I expected."
"This isn't a show."
"For me, it is."
Of course it was.
I leaned back in my chair.
"This is exhausting…"
"Get used to it," Kiara replied.
I glanced between all three of them.
Meera — gentle, trying to keep things together.
Luna — quiet, distant… but clearly affected.
Kiara — enjoying every second of it.
"…Yeah," I muttered.
"This is definitely not normal."
And deep inside—
I knew one thing.
This wasn't just a small disagreement.
This was the beginning…
Of something much bigger.