Layla's POV
Laughter still echoed through Ace's living room, soft and warm like the kind of sound you want to bottle up and save for cold nights. We were scattered across couches, tangled in blankets, pillows thrown recklessly at each other as if time hadn't passed. As if none of us had shattered. For a moment, I almost believed that.
But then the doorbell rang.
Everyone turned their heads.
Ace stood up with a dramatic groan. "If that's a damn assassin, I'm too full to run."
The door opened and in walked Noah, slightly out of breath, adjusting his glasses with one hand and holding his laptop bag in the other.
Ace blinked. "That was fast. What info did you find so quick?"
Noah looked around, confused, then said, "Oh wait — no, not yet. That takes time."
Aster rolled his eyes. "Then why'd you rush here like the house was on fire?"
Noah smirked. "Well, I heard everyone was still here… and I'm hungry. Y'all gonna have dinner without me?"
Ace muttered with perfect sarcasm, "Wow. The urgency."
Valerie burst into laughter, literally collapsing to the floor and dragging Summer down with her.
"You're unbelievable," Summer mumbled, laughing as she tried to untangle herself from Valerie's limbs.
"Since everyone's here," Sofia said loudly, hands on her hips, "Let's make this an official reunion. I'm calling Victor, Selena, and your siblings, Layla."
I grinned. "Why not? Lev will be happy."
She was already dialing.
Summer groaned, "Okay, so now I have to wait another two hours?"
I chuckled. "Not really, Summer. Our houses are just thirty-five minutes away."
Soon, the room scattered into smaller conversations. Someone turned the TV on. Shine dragged Claire into a card game. King, Ace's older brother, walked in halfway through the madness holding a wine glass and looking half amused, half exasperated.
"Seriously?" King asked, eyeing the disaster of cushions and laughter. "You people eat like you haven't been fed since 2019."
"I haven't," Alice said dramatically, clutching her stomach.
King rolled his eyes. "I had the chefs prepare an actual feast. You better appreciate it."
Aster grinned. "So this wasn't DoorDash?"
King threw a cushion at him. "You're lucky I like you."
Then he looked at me. "Welcome back, princess. Try not to ruin my dining table with any emotional breakdowns."
I snorted. "No promises."
Right then, the doorbell rang again.
I stood, heart rising. When I opened the door, my world stilled for a heartbeat.
Lara. Lily. Lev. And behind them Victor and Selena.
Victor blinked like he'd seen a ghost. "Layla?"
Selena let out a low whistle. "Damn. I thought y'all were joking."
Victor shifted awkwardly. "Hey… good to see you."
"You too," I said softly.
Before I could say anything more, Alice screamed from the hallway, "DINNER FEAST TIMEEEE! EVERYONE INTO THE DINING ROOOOOMMMM! I'M HUNGRYYY!"
King clapped once, sharply. "You heard the girl. Move your spoiled asses."
Chaos followed.
We all rushed in like children in a royal banquet. Aster slid into the seat beside me. Valerie plopped on my other side, already eyeing the food like a queen ready to conquer her plate. King took the head seat, swirling his wine like he was judging a fine painting.
The maids entered, serving course after course — like something out of a Michelin-star dream. Crystal glasses clinked, forks scraped, and the room buzzed with clashing conversations and sibling fights over who ate more mashed potatoes.
Lara was bickering with Lev over a bread roll. Shine was threatening to hide Selena's spoon if she kept eating her dessert too fast. Even Noah, poor guy, was caught in the middle of three conversations and a tug-of-war between Summer and Sofia over who got the last scoop of vanilla.
By the time dessert came, everyone was tipsy on sugar and nostalgia.
Shine held up a tub. "ICE CREAM TIME!"
Selena and her cheered in unison. We devoured it like kids. For the first time in forever, it felt like the world outside didn't exist. Just us — in a safe pocket of time.
Noah checked his watch. "We lost track of time. It's almost 11."
Selena clapped her hands. "Sleepover?"
Everyone, including me, dismissed it.
Drivers were waiting outside — a perk of being filthy rich and emotionally unstable.
People began grabbing their jackets, hugging goodbyes, and lingering longer than they had to.
I turned to Ace. "Thanks, like always."
He grinned, eyes warm. "Anytime. Call me if you need anything."
I nodded. Then, I caught Aster watching me. His stare didn't waver.
I looked at him. "See you later."
He didn't reply.
That… hurt. It was like being cut with silence.
I walked to the car quietly. Lev was half-asleep beside me, Lara and Lily were giggling over a YouTube video. I leaned my head against the window.
My phone buzzed.
Message from Aster:
Layla, make sure you call me if something happens. I'll be there.
Goodnight. Sleep well.
Be safe.
My lips twitched into a smile.
Me:
Don't worry. I'll be alright. Remember? I'm strong.
Goodnight, estúpido (idiot).
Aster:
Okay. Whatever you say… but still.
I'm here.
I closed my phone and smiled wider, heart soft. I missed him. More than I could say.
We reached home.
Once I got to my room, I collapsed on my bed — still in my jeans and boots. But I couldn't sleep. Not yet. Not with my mind tugging me back to a different time.
-Flashback-
I was born in Manila.
For the first few years, I only knew the warm streets, the scent of jasmine, and the way my mother laughed before the world turned sharp. Then we moved to Spain.
Spain was… colder. But beautiful. Dangerous, elegant, and so painfully rich. My parents enrolled me in the most elite school she could find — one filled with royalty, mafia heirs, political legacies, and hidden monsters.
That's where I met them.
Valerie. Summer. Sofia. Ace. Aster. And eventually Noah.
The girls and I clicked instantly. Ace took time but he came around.
Noah was nerdy, sweet, obsessed with manga and shockingly popular.
And then… there was Aster.
He hated me. I hated him.
He teased me. Tripped me. Yelled at me. Once dumped cold water on my head. Another time, I fell down the stairs because of him. My butt hurt for three days.
Worst? Tenth grade.
A basketball slammed straight into my face. Nose bleeding. Everyone laughed — including Aster.
Valerie, Noah, and Ace tried to defend me, but the damage was done. I skipped school for two days.
When I came back, I was cold. Distant.
Aster avoided me. Guilt in his eyes.
One day, he pulled me aside. "What can I do to make up for it?"
I said, "A real apology."
He replied, "I don't do sorries. Anything else?"
I rolled my eyes and walked away.
Then, just before Christmas break, I found something in my locker.
A velvet box. Inside a ruby pendant. And a note.
"Sorry."
It was the most honest word he had ever said to me.
So, I did something stupid.
I got him a matching ruby bracelet. Left it in his locker with a note that simply said, "Thank you, Aster :)"
On the last day, he wore it. I wore the pendant. When we crossed paths, he smirked, "Nice necklace."
I smirked back. "That bracelet? Whoever gave it to you must have great taste."
He smiled — and that boy never smiled.
That was our turning point.
The next two years, we became friends. Good ones. All seven of us — inseparable. We partied, studied, and yes… occasionally helped our families with mafia "assignments."
We were royalty of the underground. Trained with guns. Fluent in codes. Raised on secrets.
College came. And with it — more danger. Higher stakes. Bloodier missions. But through it all, we stayed together.
Somewhere between enemies and allies… Aster became something more.
-End of flashback-
I jolted out of the memory.
Sighed. Changed into my nightdress and walked to my vanity. I opened the drawer.
There it was. The ruby pendant.
Still shining.
I placed it gently on the tabletop, climbed into bed, and let my body sink into the silence and slept.
My phone rang.
I groaned. Ignored it.
Bathroom. Wash face. Brush teeth. Routine.
Phone rang again. Relentlessly.
I walked back and checked the screen.
Luna.
Calling. Again. And again.
Now that… was strange.
She never called this much.
I sat on my bed, frowning as my finger hovered over the screen.
I picked it up.
"Luna?"
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