Chapter 8: Campus Storm
658words
"That girl who lives with the Moon family?"
"They say Professor Jay specially mentored her..."
I walked down the hallway, surrounded by whispers. This morning, the results of the school art competition were announced, and my work "Belonging in Moonlight" had received unanimous praise from the judges. I should have been joyful, but the attention made me instinctively want to withdraw and hide.
"Congratulations!" Lina hugged me excitedly. "I knew you would win!"
I managed a smile. "Thanks. Just lucky."
"Lucky? Please, that painting was heartbreakingly beautiful." Lina linked her arm with mine. "But are you okay? You look a bit pale."
I shook my head. I couldn't tell Lina that since the full moon night three days ago, I had begun experiencing a series of inexplicable physical anomalies—headaches, hypersensitive senses, mood swings.
"Just didn't sleep well," I evaded.
At lunch, I sat alone in a corner, trying to avoid the crowd. My hearing seemed unusually acute, able to catch conversations from afar.
"...the Moon family is really strange, don't you think?"
"My cousin says he saw them in the forest last month during the full moon..."
"...like beasts..."
My fingers gripped the tray tightly. These rumors had been circulating for a while, but today they seemed particularly grating.
"Don't mind those idle gossips."
I looked up to see an unfamiliar boy standing in front of me, with dark hair and sharp green eyes.
"I'm Brian, physics department," he introduced himself. "I saw your painting, very moving."
"Thank you," I replied cautiously.
Brian sat down across from me. "So, what's it like living with the Moon family? Are they really as... different as the rumors say?"
My guard immediately went up. "What rumors?"
"You know," Brian lowered his voice, "the weird behavior on full moon nights, their family's secret rituals..."
"Those are nonsense," I cut him off coldly.
Brian was undeterred. "Really? Then why do they disappear every full moon? Why do their eyes glow in certain lights? Why—"
"Enough!" I stood up abruptly, my voice louder than intended, drawing attention from surrounding students. "The Moon family are the best people in this town. They took me in, gave me a sense of home. I won't sit by while someone spreads rumors about them."
Brian seemed startled by my reaction but quickly regained composure. "Looks like they've completely won you over. Poor Ella, do you really think they see you as family?"
I felt a surge of anger, so strong it surprised even me. The edges of my vision seemed to blur, and a strange tingling sensation spread through my fingertips.
Just as I was about to lose control, a hand steadily landed on my shoulder.
"Everything okay, Ella?" Luke's voice was calm and powerful.
Brian's expression immediately changed from provocative to fearful. "Professor Luke, I was just chatting with Ella."
Luke's golden eyes stared sharply at him. "Is that so? Perhaps you should go prepare for this afternoon's physics exam, Brian. I hear Professor Stan's tests are quite... challenging."
Brian quickly stood up and left, giving me a meaningful look before departing.
Luke turned to me. "Are you alright?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my emotions. "I'm fine. Just... those rumors about your family..."
Luke's expression softened slightly. "Rumors are inevitable. We know the truth, Ella, thank you."
"I just told the truth," I answered softly.
Luke nodded, a flash of approval in his eyes. "By the way, congratulations on your award-winning work. Father is proud of you. We all are."
In the afternoon art class, Jay announced the competition results, giving special praise to my work. When I walked to the front to receive the award, I felt the gaze of the entire class, but the only one that truly mattered was the pride in Jay's eyes.
"Your talent has finally received the recognition it deserves," he said softly as he presented the award.
