Aveline
I woke up and found my sister already staring at me like some kind of judgmental owl.
"Good morning," I mumbled, stretching like a confused noodle.
She tilted her head. "You remember where you were last night?"
I paused mid-toothbrush, foam in my mouth like I was mid-mental crisis. Wait—last night?
...Ruby.
Oh God.
I turned slowly, like a horror movie protagonist facing the monster. "Sister… did you…?"
"Nope," she said, popping the "p."
"Your hot mafia girlfriend carried you in bridal style, laid you in bed like a Disney prince, and you—oh my God—rested your head on her chest like a literal kitten in love."
She clapped her hands dramatically. "Do you even hear yourself? She carried you, with an injured arm. She didn't wake you. She just—UGH."
I spat my toothpaste and groaned.
"She's such an idiot. An idiot with abs and chaos in her eyes."
"Ok, I'm done with life," I muttered, wiping my mouth.
My sister wasn't finished. She grabbed me by the collar like I was a rebellious anime character.
"Eat. Or I'll make you."
She wasn't even mad. That was just her "serious" mode, which was way scarier than full-volume yelling.
---
I finally got to uni after breakfast, and the second I stepped out of the car, I spotted Alia waiting for me—our designated gossip queen and shoulder to cry on.
She ran over and hugged me tight.
She kissed my cheek like she owned the right. (Lowkey… she kinda did.)
"Hey hey hey," she whispered in my ear. "Did you hear? About the big event this Saturday? It's hosted by Lune Foundation. VIPs, celebs, powerful weirdos. The host is already here."
I blinked. "Wait—Lune Foundation? Hosting here??"
"Yes, bunny girl, and the host is so damn hot. Tall. Red hair. Deep voice. Walks like she owns every room and your soul."
She fanned herself. "Literal husband material."
Red hair? Tall? Deep voice?
Oh no.
No no no no—
That's her.
"That's Ruby," I muttered.
"Huh?" Alia blinked. "What did you say?"
"Nothing! Sorry! Class time—gotta go, talk later, love you, bye!"
I ran like my emotional stability depended on it (because it did).
---
I was going up the stairs when karma decided to smack me.
My foot slipped. Gravity was like: let's dance, baby.
But before I could introduce my face to the floor, two strong hands caught me.
Familiar hands.
Warm. Protective. Smelling faintly like expensive cologne and violence.
I opened my eyes and—
Ruby.
Of course it was her.
"Are you an idiot," she whispered in that deliciously low voice, "or just a professional troublemaker?"
I could only blink.
Thank GOD no one saw us.
"Can you let go now…?" I muttered.
She smirked. "Sure. But if you fall, not my problem."
She started pulling her hands away—
"Nope!" I yelped and grabbed her again like a dramatic raccoon.
She caught me again, like she knew I would.
"I swear," I muttered. "Your arm's injured. Why are you catching me like a knight in mafia armor?"
She scoffed. "So what?"
"So WHAT?!" I whisper-shouted. "You're not a damn cyborg, Ruby! That's your arm. The one that literally got SHOT, remember?!"
She chuckled. "You care, huh?"
I rolled my eyes so hard they almost fell out.
"Idiot," I mumbled again.
She let me go, and I stood there, arms crossed like I had any authority over my own emotions.
---
"Why the hell are you even here?" I asked, staring her down.
Ruby smirked, eyes glinting like mischief in moonlight. "You really didn't connect the dots, huh?"
Then she leaned in just a little.
"I'm the damn owner of Lune Foundation, little rabbit."
I blinked.
She winked.
I ascended into heaven.
She turned around and walked away, suit crisp, red hair glowing like fire under sunlight.
"Be ready."
She didn't look back.
Be ready for what?!
---