"Dae, at least let me know where you put it before you hang up on me," Luca sighed as he was rummaging through Lucy's room, his phone held by shoulder and ear.

He waited for the phone to ring a couple of times before he gave up and thought about where Lucy would have left her papers.

She usually was not the forgetful type but ever since her class was held as the group to be in charge of their university's anniversary festival, she has been glued to that instead of doing her work.

Always the one with being glued to making sure everything was perfect, Luca had to keep alarms on his phone to make sure he would remind Lucy to do basic life tasks.

She has an assignment that needs to be handed in person in a couple hours and she happened to forget that too. Which is why Luca is trying not to turn the house all over itself looking for it.

Luca brushed through the files and files of paper that Lucy had happened to have lying around.

This was not how Luca wanted to spend the rest of his day. He just got a couple days off for vacation and this happened to be his last weekend before he goes back to work.

"Dae, can't you clean up after yourself?" he mumbled out loud as he found random clothes in odd places of the room, "you put dirty bras in the laundry basket, not in between your files."

As he was looking around, he realized a couple days ago, Lucy put some papers in the plate holders in the kitchen. Why she thought it was a good idea, Luca did not know.

As Luca scoured the kitchen for the elusive papers, he couldn't help but shake his head at Lucy's peculiar choice of hiding places. He discovered a few papers tucked away in the plate holders, mingling with the cutlery, and it became clear that her festival responsibilities had taken a toll on her organization skills.

"Why she thought this was a good spot, I'll never understand," Luca muttered to himself as he collected the papers and neatly stacked them on the kitchen table.

Each sheet was filled with notes, sketches, and diagrams related to the university's festival. Luca couldn't help but be intrigued by the intricate plans and designs.

As he flipped through the pages, he noticed one particular drawing that caught his eye. It was a detailed sketch of a lantern, adorned with elegant patterns and symbols. They happen to be going with a lantern theme this year. Luca recognized the design from the festival's promotional materials Lucy once brought home.

"Lucy has quite the artistic touch," he mused, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Just then, his phone buzzed with a text message. It was Lucy, her tone frantic.

Lucy: Tayaaa!

Lucy: Did you find them yet? I need those papers ASAP!

Lucy: I can't fail this project!

Lucy: 😭

Luca sighed, as he quickly snapped a photo of the papers he had found and texted it to her.

Luca: Found them.

Lucy: Thank youuuuu!

Luca gave a small smile at Lucy's response as he went to put her papers in a protected folder. The things he does for his little sister.

As he was packing his bag, he got distracted by the view of the bustling streets from the living room. It was currently golden hour time which made the view of the city below such a sight to see.

Luca, making sure everything was alright, made his way out of the apartment and to the garage where his bike was parked.

The engine roared to life with a familiar purr, and Luca couldn't help but smile. Despite not having custom work done, he loved this bike. He loved it's sleek design, the powerful hum of the engine, and the way it hugged the curves of the road. It wasn't just a mode of transportation; it was an extension of himself.

As he navigated through the city's labyrinthine streets, Luca relished the feeling of control and exhilaration. The bike allowed him to weave through traffic with ease, dodging cars and buses with the grace of a dancer.

The golden hour painted the city with a warm, amber hue, casting long shadows that danced on the pavement. Luca's bike became an instrument of precision, leaning into turns as he leaned with it, a symphony of man and machine in perfect harmony.

The wind whispered secrets in his ears, carrying with it the scent of street food and the distant notes of music from a nearby park. It was a sensory experience like no other, one that invigorated him and made him feel alive.

As he approached the university, he felt a twinge of disappointment that his ride was about to end.

He parked his beloved bike in the university's designated area, where other students had left their two-wheel companions. Luca gave it a pat on the seat, silently thanking it for the moments of freedom and excitement it had provided.

He went up to the gates and provided his ID and the reason as to why he was entering the university at this time. The festival is open to the public after 7.

Although Lucy was in her second year at Pion University, Luca had never visited the campus before. Instead, he had earned a scholarship to attend Kai University, an esteemed institution known for producing top-tier students in their respective fields, with a particular emphasis on media-related disciplines.

While Pion University certainly had its merits, Luca needed a breath of fresh air.

As Luca entered the campus, he couldn't help but be impressed by the grandeur of Pion University. The architecture was a blend of modern and classical, with ivy-covered buildings and meticulously maintained gardens. It was a stark contrast to the chaos just beyond its gates.

He navigated his way through the bustling campus, following the directions Lucy had provided in her text.

The university was abuzz with activity, with students and faculty members putting up the finishing touches on various festival attractions. Colorful banners and lanterns adorned the walkways, giving the campus a festive atmosphere.

It was clear that Lucy and her classmates had planned hard to make this a really nice festival.

He spotted a familiar figure which he confirmed to be Lucy once he went closer. She was wearing a festival t-shirt, jeans, and had a determined expression as she was discussing something important with a couple of her friends that Luca happened to recognize.

Lucy then randomly snapped her head towards Luca's direction, as if sensing his presence and ran up to him.

"Taya! You brought it right, right? You brought my papers right?" Lucy exclaimed as she gave her brother a hug, who hugged her back.

"I brought your papers," Luca replied, waving a folder of her papers in front of her face.

"You're the best, Taya! I don't know what I would do without you, " Lucy's eyes lit up with gratitude as she took the folder and scanned through the pages, making sure everything was there.

"Imagine if I didn't check my phone?" he gasped.

"That's not fair! You know I can't take another L!" Lucy cried out loud as she vigorously shook her brother.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, trying to stop her.

"Hello Ain Luca, " greeted two of Lucy's friends.

"Hello Mira, Xia," Luca smiled at the two, "I haven't seen you two in a while. How have you two been?"

"Oh my god A'Luca. Did you know that one of the professors is a salsa dancing champion? I didn't know until I was scrolling through and noticed that there was a time he didn't have facial hair," Mira exclaimed.

"Gurl, you know that he doesn't even know who you're talking about. Sorry A'Luca," Xia apologized.

"It's fine. When I take you girls out next time, you'll tell me about it, okay Mira?" Luca promised.

The three girls all exchanged amused glances before nodding enthusiastically.

"I'll let Lucy know when I can take you guys out," Luca smiled as he looked at Lucy, sighing a bit as she looked through her papers.

"Anything missing?" he asked.

"Uh...I don't think so. You want to come with me to bring this up?" she asked, "Xia and Mira can continue overseeing the festival. We're just in charge of a couple parts. Everyone's tasks have been divided."

"Aren't you the program manager?" Luca asked as they waved to the girls and headed out to the business building.

"I am but I'm in charge of the creative side more. There are like three other people since it's the entire department working on this. It's a lot especially since not all the majors know each other," Lucy discussed as they waited for the elevator.

The elevator doors opened, and Luca and Lucy stepped inside. As they ascended, Luca couldn't help but notice that Lucy started to look anxious.

"What's wrong Dae?"

"Nothing," she said a bit too quickly.

Luca just hummed but did not push further.

Once the elevator reached their destination, they stepped out into a corridor lined with office doors.

Lucy led Luca to her professor's office, where she needed to submit her assignment. The door was slightly ajar, and they could hear a heated discussion inside.

Lucy hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the door handle. Luca could sense her nervousness and gave her a reassuring smile before gently pushing the door open, revealing the source of the heated discussion.

Inside the office was Professor Noor, discussing with a student. The student looked visibly upset as the professor was visibly shaking her head.

"I'm sorry," Professor Noor said, shaking her head. "This paper is not up to par. It's clear that you haven't put any effort into it. I'm going to have to give you a failing grade."

The student looked visibly upset. "But I did work hard on it!" he protested.

"I'm sure you did," Professor Noor said. "As was told by the plagiarism software. You gave this paper plagiarized and late. Three weeks later. I am not grading this. There is no use to grade this. It would make sense if you used sources but there's nothing here."

Lucy and Luca exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of surprise and empathy as they witnessed the tense situation unfolding before them. Professor Noor, known for her strict adherence to academic integrity, was not one to take plagiarism lightly.

The distressed student, still protesting, looked on the verge of tears. "Professor, please, I didn't mean to plagiarize. It was an honest mistake. Can't you give me another chance?"

Professor Noor sighed, her expression softening ever so slightly. "I understand that mistakes can happen, but plagiarism is a serious offense. I'll have to report this to the university's academic integrity committee. They will decide the appropriate course of action."

As the conversation between the professor and the student continued, it was evident that the situation was taking an emotional toll on both parties.

The student's desperation and regret were palpable, while Professor Noor maintained a stern yet compassionate demeanor.

The siblings felt like they were invading by listening to this conversation.

"Taya, I'm going to leave the papers in her mailbox and come back later. This is a private matter, and I don't want to intrude."

Luca agreed and the two made their way back to the elevator once making sure that Lucy's papers were in the mailbox.

As the two were waiting, the student that was arguing with Professor Noor ran past them, down the stairs.

"Oh, they left," Lucy looked a bit surprised but then shrugged, "I guess I will go visit her."

"I will pray for you," Luca said with a serious face, and Lucy punched him in the shoulder as the two went back to the office.

Sitting by her desk was Professor Noor with Lucy's assignment in hand.

"Hello Lucy," she greeted, "I'm sorry for whatever you must have heard."

"Heard? I didn't hear anything. I was talking with my brother and realized you were busy and I didn't want to disturb you."

Professor Noor nodded appreciatively. "Thank you for your understanding, Lucy. It's sometimes challenging to handle these situations, but they are important to address."

Lucy noticed that the professor's expression, though composed, carried a hint of weariness.

"I appreciate your discretion," Professor Noor continued. "Now, about your assignment-thank you for submitting it promptly. I'll make sure to grade it as soon as possible."

Lucy smiled, grateful for Professor Noor's professionalism. "Thank you, Professor. I worked hard on it, and I hope it meets your expectations."

Professor Noor returned the smile. "I have no doubt it will, Lucy. You've always shown dedication to your studies."

As Lucy and the professor conversed, Luca quietly excused himself. As Luca quietly left Professor Noor's office, he decided to explore a bit of the university campus on his own.

He knew that Lucy might take some time with her professor, and he didn't want to rush her. Besides, he was genuinely interested in seeing the preparations for the university's anniversary festival.

As he strolled through the campus, he marveled at the intricate decorations and the effort put into creating a festive atmosphere. Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, and lanterns of various shapes and sizes adorned the walkways.

Luca couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as he walked past the festival grounds. It reminded him of his own college days at Kai University, where he had been involved in similar events.

He paused to watch a group of students rehearsing a dance routine on one of the stages. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and Luca found himself clapping along with the rhythm.

As he continued his exploration, he stumbled upon a makeshift art gallery featuring student artwork. The pieces on display ranged from paintings and sculptures to multimedia installations. Luca was impressed by the talent and creativity of the university's students.

One particular painting caught his eye-a vibrant and expressive portrait of a woman. The colors and brushwork were mesmerizing, and Luca couldn't tear his gaze away. He took out his phone and snapped a photo of the artwork, making a mental note to ask Lucy if she knew the artist.

After a leisurely walk around the festival grounds, Luca decided to head back to Professor Noor's office to check on Lucy. He entered the building and took the elevator up to the floor where her office was located.

When he reached the corridor, he saw Lucy stepping out of Professor Noor's office with a relieved expression on her face. She spotted Luca and rushed over to him.

"Taya, everything went well," Lucy said, her voice filled with relief. "Professor Noor was pleased with my assignment, and she even mentioned that she liked my ideas for the festival."

Luca smiled, proud of his sister's accomplishments. "That's fantastic, Dae. I knew you'd do great."

As they walked back toward the festival grounds, Lucy couldn't help but express her gratitude. "Thanks again for bringing my papers, Taya."

"I already said it's fine," Luca replied as he ruffled Lucy's hair.

As Luca and Lucy reentered the festival grounds, the atmosphere seemed even more vibrant than before.

The sun had set, and the campus was now illuminated by strings of twinkling fairy lights, casting a warm and magical glow over the entire area.

The festival had truly come alive in the evening hours. Laughter and the sounds of live music filled the air, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and celebration.

As they strolled through the festival, taking in the sights and sounds, Luca couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The festive spirit, the music, and the laughter in the air reminded him of the lively campus events at Kai University.

"Lucy! A'Luca!" called Mira once she spotted the siblings making their way through the festival. She was joined by Xia, who waved enthusiastically. There were a couple of other people with them-Lucy's vibrant and diverse group of friends, each radiating their own unique charm.

The rest of Lucy's friend group had gathered around, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere. Laughter and animated conversations filled the air as they shared stories and caught up on each other's lives.

The group was a mix of personalities, each one adding their unique flavor to the gathering.

It was a lively group as they explored the festival grounds together. They sampled a variety of street foods, from savory skewers to sweet desserts, and shared their favorites with each other.

They took turns trying their luck at carnival games, winning stuffed animals and prizes that they proudly carried around. Luca even showed off his skills at the ring toss, earning cheers and admiration from the group.

As the night continued, the group's energy remained high, but it wasn't long before they all began to tire out from the excitement and festivities.

They found a cozy spot beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, surrounded by the magical ambiance of the illuminated campus.

Sitting on blankets and makeshift cushions, they shared stories, jokes, and heartfelt conversations. The evening air was filled with the warmth of friendship and the soft melodies of live music playing in the background. It was a perfect moment of togetherness, where the past and present converged under the glow of the festival lights.

"Taya, can you get us some drinks? Please?" Lucy asked with her puppy dog eyes.

"Don't you have five with you?" Luca pointed out to the multitude of drinks surrounding the group.

"But I don't want these. There was a strawberry flavored one at a stall. Please? Please Taya?"

Luca chuckled at Lucy's puppy dog eyes.

"Alright, alright," Luca relented, unable to resist his sister's pleading look. "Strawberry flavor, you said, right?"

Lucy nodded eagerly, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. "Yes, please, Taya! You're the best!"

With a playful roll of his eyes, Luca got up from his spot among Lucy's friends. He ventured deeper into the festival grounds, following the twinkling fairy lights that led him to the stall Lucy had mentioned.

After a brief wait in line, Luca returned with two strawberry-flavored drinks in hand. He knew that Lucy asked for strawberry flavor since he also liked it. He didn't get any of the drinks so far.

He walked through the quiet lantern-lit pathways, enjoying the serene beauty of the festival at night. The soft glow of the lanterns added a touch of enchantment to the surroundings, and Luca felt as if he were in a different world altogether.

He was taking a sip from his drink as he looked up at the string of fairy lights. When he looked back to the path, he froze.

Luca's heart skipped a beat as he saw a familiar face standing in the middle of the lantern-lit pathway. It was a face from his past, someone he hadn't seen in years but had never forgotten.

Wei.

He stood there, his eyes locking with Luca's the moment Luca moved.

Wei's presence in front of him sent a rush of emotions through Luca. Memories of their time together at high school flooded back.