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Chapter One: Roy's POVEverything just clicked when I first saw Luna. I couldn’t quite explain it, but when she walked into that room, everything felt like it was supposed to be. She was so... different. Her laugh was soft, like the sound of a breeze through trees, and the way her eyes glinted when she spoke—so smart, so full of ideas, so sure of herself—it made me feel like she could see straight into my soul. I knew right then that I needed to be around her. I needed to protect her. After all, what’s a relationship without a little bit of protection, right?I had started to follow her without thinking much about it. Just small things at first. I’d happen to be at the same café when she was there, or I’d run into her on campus during lunch. And then... Well, I started to show up at her soccer games. It wasn’t like stalking; no, no, no, not at all. I just happened to be there, enjoying the game, like any other fan. But deep down, I knew she could feel my eyes on her. She had to. And when she smiled, even if it was just a tiny, fleeting smile, I felt like the whole world stopped. Like it was our moment.That’s when I knew it: she liked me. I mean, I’d see how she’d pause when I walked by, or how her cheeks would flush a little when our hands brushed during a group project when he had science. No one else would understand, but I did.Tonight, I had followed her again. She was at practice, and I knew it was just a matter of time before she realized I was there, watching her. I sat in the bleachers, acting like I was reading something on my phone, but in reality, I was watching every move she made. She was perfect. Just... perfect. The way she kicked the ball, how her eyes narrowed in focus, her determined posture. She looked so strong."Hey, Roy," a voice called out to me. It was Aaron, my best friend.I grinned and waved. Aaron never quite understood my... connection with Luna. He always thought I was taking things too far. But he didn’t know the magic, the bond that was forming between us.“Hey, man! Just watching the game. Luna’s looking good out there, huh?”Aaron raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a small frown. “I don’t think you should be here, Roy.”I tilted my head, confused. “What do you mean? I’m just supporting her.”Aaron didn’t look convinced, his eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms. “You’ve been showing up at her practices and games, following her around... It’s starting to look like you’re stalking her, man.”“Stalking?” I laughed, throwing my head back. “No, no, it’s not like that at all. I’m just... getting closer to her, you know? She’ll see me around more, and we’ll start talking. Then she’ll realize how amazing we’d be together. You’ll see.”Aaron stared at me, his face softening into something between frustration and sadness. “Roy... I know you’re my best friend, but you need to back off. She’s not interested in you like that. And you’re making it worse by following her all the time.”His words stung, but I smiled, convinced he was wrong. “I don’t know, Aaron. I can feel it. I know she’s going to come around.”Aaron sighed and looked away, shaking his head. “Just be careful, Roy. You don’t want to make this weird.”I didn’t understand what he meant. I didn’t want to make it weird. I just wanted to be close to her. To make her see me for the guy I was—someone who could protect her, someone who could take care of her. And when that happened, everything would fall into place. Just as I’d like…
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Chapter Two: Luna's POVI didn’t understand why Roy kept showing up. First, it was just at random spots around campus. Then it was the Starbucks I usually go to after class. And now—now it was at my soccer games.
I never invited him. I never even told him I was going. It wasn’t like I was trying to hide it or anything—I just didn’t expect him to be there, sitting on the bleachers, always staring at me. I didn’t get it. What did he want from me?
And the worst part? He kept talking to me. Not in a flirty way, but in that weird, overly friendly way that made me feel like he was trying to be more than just a classmate. He’d pop up, always with that smile of his, like he had some kind of secret we were both in on.
But I didn’t want that. I didn’t want anyone, really. I wasn’t like the other girls at school, and I never had been. Relationships didn’t appeal to me. Love didn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t feel what others seemed to feel when they talked about their crushes, when they held hands, when they made plans for the future. None of it made sense to me. I didn’t need it.
Still, Roy wasn’t giving up. I could tell that much. He was like this puppy that just kept showing up, wagging his tail, thinking that if he kept coming back, I would eventually throw him a bone.
Today, I was at practice, doing what I loved, when I spotted him again, on the bleachers, grinning like a Cheshire cat. I swear, he was always there. Always smiling. Always watching. I didn’t know how to tell him to go away. I didn’t know how to make him understand that I wasn’t interested. Not in him, not in anyone.
It wasn’t that I hated him. Roy was a decent person, I guess. He was kind when we spoke, a little clueless, but not malicious. But I couldn’t bring myself to feel the same way. And I didn’t want to hurt him, but it was becoming harder to ignore that he wasn’t taking the hint.
I finished practice and walked off the field, grabbing my water bottle. Roy was already standing at the gate, waiting for me. Of course he was. I didn’t know what to say to him.
“Hey, Luna!” Roy called as I got closer, his voice full of energy. He was always so...
jolly
.
I forced a small smile. “Hey, Roy.”
He grinned even wider. “You were amazing out there today. You know, I’ve been to every game and practice for the last two weeks. You’re really something special.”
I froze. Two weeks?
Two weeks
?
“Roy,” I said, trying to keep my voice even, “I think you should stop coming to my games. It’s a little much.”
His smile faltered for just a second, but then he bounced back. “What do you mean? I’m just showing my support! I’m your biggest fan!”
I shook my head. “It’s not that... It’s just... it feels like you’re following me, and I don’t think you should do that. I’m not... I’m not looking for anything.”
He tilted his head, looking confused. “What do you mean? Don’t you want to get to know each other more?”
I sighed, feeling a sharp pang of frustration in my chest. “Roy, I’m aromantic. I don’t want a relationship. I don’t want
any
relationship, not in the way you think. And I don’t want you following me around, thinking that’ll change anything. Please understand that.”
Roy’s face fell, his cheeks flushing pink, but he nodded slowly. “Oh. I didn’t know. I thought... I thought we could be... close. I mean, we’re already friends, right?”
I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t angry at him. I just felt
bad
—for him, for me. I never wanted to hurt anyone, especially not Roy. He didn’t deserve to feel this way. But I wasn’t going to change for him. I couldn’t.
“Maybe we could just be friends,” I said quietly. “But not... not like this.”
Roy didn’t say anything else. He just nodded again, turned, and walked away.