"Oh my god day! I haven't seen you in so long!" Leila squealed as he ran to hug Luca.

Leila's squeal was a joyous explosion, shattering the quiet cafe atmosphere with a burst of excitement. Omar, ever the calm counterpoint, offered a warm smile and a nod.

Luca had decided to meet up with Leila and Omar, changing up the small routine he had for the past couple of days.

Luca, caught in the whirlwind of Leila's enthusiasm, found himself swept up in the hug, returning the embrace with equal fervor. He had missed these two, missed their shared laughter, their infectious energy, the way they could make even the most mundane Tuesday afternoon feel like a celebration.

"It has been a while," he agreed, finally disentangling himself from Leila's grasp. "I've never gone this far without seeing either of you."

Luca's last sentence hung in the air, a subtle shift in tone amidst the joyful reunion. Omar, his perceptive eyes catching the flicker of something deeper, raised an eyebrow.

A tense silence settled around the table, punctuated by the clinking of spoons against empty coffee mugs. Omar's words, "We heard a little bit of your situation from one of your taes," hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.

Luca felt his cheeks flush, a mixture of relief and apprehension washing over him. Relief that the burden of explaining everything was lifted, that his friends had a glimpse into the storm raging within him.

Apprehension at the unknown, at the judgment he might face, at the potential for his carefully constructed walls to crumble completely.

He met Omar's gaze, his eyes searching for any sign of disapproval, of disappointment. But all he saw was a quiet understanding, a flicker of empathy that mirrored the turmoil in his own heart.

"Thank you," Luca finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper. "For getting some of my stuff from the taes. And for... hearing me out, even though you didn't have all the details."

Omar offered a gentle smile. "Friends don't need all the details, Luca. They just need to know you're going through something, and that they're here for you, no matter what."

Leila, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, reached across the table and squeezed Luca's hand.

"Omar's right," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We may not understand everything, but we understand you. We were with you before and we'll always be with you."

Her words were a soothing balm to Luca's soul. He hadn't realized how much he needed to hear them, to know that he wasn't alone in the wreckage of his emotions, that the fragments of his carefully constructed life could still be pieced together, not into the same picture, but into something new, something stronger, something built on the foundation of genuine connection.

"I heard you were dating Theo," Leila said.

Luca nodded, "Yeah I was dating him until a couple weeks ago."

The air crackled with a new tension, different from the vulnerability of moments before.

"I do not need to tell you that that was somewhat unprofessional. I thought you saw through Theo and was his mentor just cause," Leila said.

Leila's words were like a bucket of ice water tossed into the warm, vulnerable space they had just created. The "somewhat unprofessional" comment hung heavy in the air, a judgment that shattered the delicate web of trust they had built.

Luca's confusion was genuine. He had compartmentalized his life, keeping his relationship with Theo separate from his professional sphere, from his interactions with his taes.

In his mind, he had maintained a clear line between the two, ensuring that his feelings for Theo had never influenced his mentorship.

"See through Theo?" he repeated, his voice laced with uncertainty. "What do you mean, Leila? I thought I was a good mentor to him. I always tried to be fair and supportive."

Leila sighed, her gaze unwavering. "Luca," she said gently, "Theo wasn't the exact person you knew him to be. Theo is not as friendly as he acts. He did that all to get close to you. Those moments where he was friendly to other people were just a show to show you what type of person he was."

She paused, searching for the right words. "Because you were blinded by your feelings for him. You were his mentor, Luca, not his boyfriend. There's a difference, and you blurred the lines."

The weight of her words hit Luca like a physical blow.

"But why?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "What did he have to gain from pretending to be someone he wasn't?"

"What was the end result, Dae?" Leila pressed, her voice laced with disappointment. "You think we wouldn't hear about the restraining order? You're Luca, one of the stars within the company. Rumors travel fast."

Luca felt cornered, exposed. He had confided in them about his feelings for Theo, about the complexities of their relationship, but the restraining order, that was a bridge too far. It felt like an accusation, a dark stain on his reputation.

"What actually happened, Dae?" Omar asked, his voice calmer than Leila's but no less serious. "We need to understand the whole picture before we can offer any real support."

The question hung in the air, a plea for honesty, for clarity. Luca looked at his friends, their faces etched with concern, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He knew he couldn't hide anymore.

He had to explain, to defend himself, even if it meant dredging up the painful memories he had tried to bury.

With a shaky breath, he began to speak. "You were right, Ieon, it was his play to get close to me. He's been following me for years. We recently found out about it and..."

"It's okay to be scared, Luca," Leila said, her voice softer now. "No one deserves to feel threatened or unsafe. The restraining order was the right step, even if it hurts."

Omar nodded. "We're here for you, Dae," he said. "We'll help you navigate this, figure out what to do next. But first, you need to take care of yourself. This has been a lot to process."

"Tell us how everything's been. You know some quite influential people, Dae," Leila instantly changed the mood as she wriggled her brows.

"My taes are influential?" he asked, brow furrowed in confusion. He knew they were successful, talented individuals, but "influential" wasn't a term he readily associated with them.

Leila's signature playful grin stretched across her face. "Miles? Retired actor turned CEO? And Noah? Hush money darling, hush money. His family practically owns half the hospitals in the city."

The unexpected question caught Luca off guard. He had been so focused on his own turmoil, on the wreckage of his relationship with Theo and the looming cloud of the restraining order, that he hadn't even considered the potential benefits of his taes' connections.

He looked at Omar and Miles, their faces mirroring Leila's playful curiosity. A spark of something flickered within him, a tiny seed of hope pushing through the cracks of his despair. Maybe, just maybe, his taes weren't just a source of emotional support, but also allies in navigating the treacherous waters of the art world.

"Oh, I didn't know," Luca admitted. "I met them through another friend and they're also Wei's taes. Well they were his taes first. I've been staying at their place while I figure out my living situation."

"Why not stay at your current place?" Omar asked.

"It doesn't feel right anymore," he finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'd rather not be worried about my safety, and that place stopped being a safety haven the moment I realized Theo went there before."

The admission was heavy, a confession of fear and vulnerability. He had believed in Theo, built a fragile trust, only to have it shattered into a million sharp fragments. Now, even the walls he called home felt unsafe, a constant reminder of the storm that had ravaged his sense of security.

"That's actually perfect," Omar chimed in, a grin spreading across his face. "You have a roof over your head and people who care about you."

Leila's voice, soft and gentle, pierced through the tension. "How's Wei?" she asked, her eyes searching his.

Luca blinked, surprised by the abrupt change in subject. "He's... he's okay," he stammered, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh, what is this I'm seeing? Luca blushing?" Leila cooed.

Luca's cheeks, already warm from the previous conversation, flushed a deeper shade. He couldn't help it. Leila's teasing was like a familiar needle, pricking at his carefully constructed facade, drawing out a flustered reaction.

"It's not like that," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze. ""It's just..."

He trailed off, his mind going back to the tattoo that was on Wei's back.

"Oh my god, he's getting even redder," Leila fangirled as she started hitting Omar's arm.

Omar chuckled, nudging Leila with his elbow. "Alright, alright," he said, his voice warm with amusement. "Let the man breathe." He turned to Luca, his smile turning gentler. "What is it, Dae? What's got you flustered?"

Luca hesitated, his gaze drawn downwards. He didn't want to seem obsessed, but the memory of the tattoo on Wei's back wouldn't leave him.

"I actually don't know," Luca admitted.

"Don't know?" Leila parroted, her voice laced with mock disbelief. "Come on, Dae, we're not fools. We saw the way you looked the moment I asked, and the blush that's been blooming on your cheeks since we mentioned his name."

Omar's chuckle was soft, but his words held a knowing weight. "He's right, Luca. You're terrible at hiding your feelings. Especially when they're for someone like Wei."

A jolt of surprise ran through Luca. He hadn't meant to be so transparent, but their words struck a nerve, exposing a vulnerability he hadn't even acknowledged to himself.

"No," he protested, his voice barely a whisper. "It's not like that."

He trailed off, the words catching in his throat. He couldn't deny the way his heart stuttered whenever Wei was near, the way his gaze lingered on the curve of his smile, the way his stomach filled with butterflies whenever their hands brushed. It was all there, a symphony of unspoken feelings playing out just beneath the surface.

Leila, ever the observant one, leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But what, Dae?" she pressed gently. "What's stopping you from admitting it? Are you scared? Is it because he's your ex?"

The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truth. Luca's carefully constructed denial started to crumble under the weight of her question.

Luca flinched, the word "ex" hitting him like a physical blow. He hadn't even considered that possibility, hadn't dared to think of Wei in that light.

"Ex?" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "What are you talking about?"

Leila's playful smile faded, replaced by a gentle concern. "Don't play dumb, Dae," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We all know about you and Wei. We already knew that he was the reason you first came here like that."

Luca's breath caught in his throat. "You... you knew?" he stammered, his cheeks burning with a mixture of embarrassment and relief.

He had been so careful, so guarded, trying to keep his feelings for Wei buried deep beneath layers of denial. But it seemed his friends, with their keen eyes and mischievous hearts, had seen right through him.

Leila's smile returned, gentler now, tinged with understanding. "Of course we did, Dae," she said. "It's kind of written all over your face whenever he's around. We saw the way you light up when he smiles, the way you can't seem to take your eyes off him..."

"What are you scared of? The feeling is mutual?" Leila asked.

Luca didn't know how to respond.

His mind thought about the sweet moments he had with Wei.

But it would also drift off to the pain he felt when he left.

The fear gnawed at him, insidious and persistent. It whispered of heartbreak, of foolishly clinging to the embers of a fire long extinguished. It told him to stay safe, to keep his feelings buried in the cold, dark earth of denial.

But then, he looked at Leila and Omar, their faces etched with a mix of concern and encouragement. Their love, their unwavering support, was a beacon in the storm of his emotions. They believed in him, in the possibility of something beautiful blossoming between him and Wei.

And as he met their gaze, a spark ignited within him, a flicker of defiance against the tyranny of fear. He wouldn't let the past dictate his present. He wouldn't let the shadows of yesterday eclipse the potential for a brighter tomorrow.

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice raw with honesty. "I'm scared. Scared of getting hurt again, of trusting someone who once walked away."

His words hung in the air, heavy and unburdening at the same time. He had finally spoken the truth, not just to them, but to himself.

Leila reached out, her touch a gentle balm on his hand. "It's okay to be scared, Dae," she said, her voice soft but firm. "But fear can't hold you back forever. You deserve happiness, you deserve to love and be loved in return."

Omar nodded, his eyes reflecting understanding. "And Wei," he added, "he's not the same boy who left all those years ago. He's grown, he's changed, just like you have. Maybe this time, things could be different."

Leila, ever the pragmatist, nudged him back to the present. "Think about it, Dae," she said, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous spark. "Has he brought any of those old feelings back the moment you first saw him after all these years?"

Luca's mind flashed with images: the way Wei's eyes had lit up when he saw him, the lingering touch of their hands when they shared a brush, the shy smile that mirrored the one that haunted his dreams. His heart, once a tightly clenched fist, began to loosen its grip, a tiny bud of hope pushing through the cracks.

Maybe, just maybe, the feelings hadn't been buried as deeply as he thought. Maybe, just maybe, the ashes of the past held not just the bitter sting of betrayal, but also the embers of a love that could be rekindled.

A choked laugh escaped Luca's lips, a tear slipping down his cheek despite his best efforts. It wasn't a tear of sadness, no. It was a tear of gratitude, of overwhelming relief at having these two incredible people in his corner.

"I don't know what I did to deserve the two of you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You see right through me, even the parts I try to hide. You push me, challenge me, but always with love and support."

He squeezed Leila's hand, then Omar's, feeling the warmth of their friendship seep into his bones. They were his anchors, his lighthouse in the storm, guiding him towards a future he had once thought was impossible.

"You deserve each other, you know," Omar said with a grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Luca's heart skipped a beat at Omar's words. Deserve each other? He had never dared to think of it that way. He and Wei, two halves of a broken whole, fumbling towards each other through the wreckage of their past.

But Omar's casual statement, coupled with the hopeful glint in his eyes, sparked a tiny flame of possibility within him. Could it be true? Could they, after all these years, find their way back to each other, not as echoes of lost love, but as new creations, stronger and more resilient than before?

He looked at Leila, whose mischievous grin held a hint of wisdom. "If this second chance doesn't work, there is always more," she said, her voice light yet firm.

The words were a balm to his fear, a gentle reminder that life wasn't a binary equation of love and heartbreak. There were shades of grey, detours, unexpected turns, and maybe, just maybe, even multiple chances at happiness.

He knew she was right. He had spent too long clinging to the ghost of what could have been, letting the fear of another heartbreak keep him from embracing the present. But now, with his friends by his side and a flicker of hope burning in his chest, he was ready to step off the precipice, to see where the wind might carry him.

"You're both right," he said, a newfound determination settling in his voice. "I deserve to be happy, and I deserve to take chances. Even if this doesn't work out with Wei, even if I have to face heartbreak again, at least I'll know I tried. At least I won't be haunted by the 'what ifs' anymore."

"Let's go grab dinner before we need to leave," Leila said as she guided her two boys towards a nearby restaurant.

Luca followed Leila and Omar, a lightness in his step he hadn't felt in years. The fear hadn't vanished entirely, it still lurked at the edges of his mind like a watchful shadow. But now, it was overshadowed by a sunburst of hope, a kaleidoscope of possibilities painted across the canvas of his future.

As they walked, the city hummed around them, a symphony of car horns, distant laughter, and the rhythmic tap-tap of a street musician's drums. Luca felt a strange sense of connection to it all, as if the city itself was mirroring the rhythm of his own heart, a nervous flutter punctuated by the steady beat of determination.

The restaurant, tucked away on a quiet side street, was a haven of warmth and aroma. The air was thick with the scent of spices and simmering sauces, a promise of comfort and shared laughter. They found a cozy corner booth, the worn leather seats offering a familiar embrace.

Over steaming bowls of pad thai and spicy curry, they talked. They talked about their dreams, their fears, their hopes for the future.

Omar, ever the realist, grounded them with practical advice and humorous anecdotes. Leila, with her intuitive wisdom, gently nudged them towards their vulnerabilities, helping them to name and confront the shadows they still harbored.

Luca, for the first time in a long time, didn't hold back. He spoke of his anxieties about facing Wei, his fear of rejection, the lingering doubts that whispered about his own worthiness of love.

After the dinner, Luca decided to walk home. He made sure Leila and Omar had safely reached their car and left.

As the streetlights swallowed Omar's taillights, a wave of quiet washed over Luca. The bustling city hummed around him, but it felt distant, muffled by the swirling thoughts in his head. The warmth of their shared dinner lingered, a fading ember against the cool night air.

He took a deep breath, the crisp air filling his lungs and momentarily clearing his mind. He knew he couldn't stay in this bubble of comfortable nostalgia forever.

He started walking, the familiar rhythm of his steps calming the storm within. Each stride was a brushstroke on the canvas of his night, a deliberate movement towards the unknown.

He walked and walked until he reached the familiar shopping district where Kai and Wei both happen to reside in.

The familiar storefronts, bathed in the warm glow of neon signs, blurred together as Luca walked. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions - fear, excitement, and a gnawing uncertainty.

Luca reached the park, the familiar scent of freshly cut grass and blooming jasmine filling his lungs.

He stopped by a small pond, the water reflecting the fragmented cityscape like a shattered mirror. He stared at his own reflection, barely recognizing the man staring back. T

The fear was still there, etched around his eyes, but beneath it, a flicker of hope danced, a tiny ember refusing to be extinguished.

He needed to do something. He couldn't stand there paralyzed, trapped in the prison of his own overthinking.

He took a deep breath, the air crisp and invigorating. He closed his eyes, letting the city's hushed whispers wash over him, each sound a brushstroke on the canvas of his resolve.

He pictured Wei's face, the warmth of his eyes, the way his lips curved into a smile that could melt glaciers.

Suddenly, a voice broke through his indecision, a voice that sent a jolt straight to his heart.

"Thought I'd find you here."

Luca barely opened his eyes as he glanced at Wei through the side of his eyes.

"You thought you would find me here?" Luca asked.

Luca kept his eyes half-lidded, watching Wei from the corner of his vision.

He saw the flicker of surprise, the quick catch of breath, before Wei's face settled into a calm, almost teasing expression.

"Maybe," Wei said, his voice a low rumble. "Maybe I just knew you'd be drawn to the moonlight, same as I was."

He took a step closer, and even through closed lids, Luca felt the warmth of Wei's presence radiating towards him.

"Or maybe," Wei continued, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "I just hoped you'd be brave enough to face your ghosts with me."

The words hit Luca like a tidal wave, dredging up a tangled mess of emotions he'd spent years burying. Fear, hope, anger, longing – they all swirled within him, threatening to pull him under.

He opened his eyes, meeting Wei's gaze head-on. The years had etched lines around Wei's eyes, sprinkled his hair with silver, but the warmth in those dark depths remained unchanged. It was the warmth that had once drawn Luca in, the warmth he'd clung to even as the flames around them started to lick higher.

"My ghosts," Luca echoed, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Or yours?"

As Luca spoke, a myriad of lights turned on. The two looked in awe as they were surrounded by a large number of fairy lights, decorating this moment.

A ghost of a smile played on Wei's lips. "Maybe both," he admitted, taking another step closer. "But maybe," he added, his eyes searching Luca's, "tonight, we can paint them into something beautiful, something that doesn't haunt us anymore."

Luca felt the dam within him begin to crack. He wanted to believe in that "maybe," wanted to see their ghosts transform from chilling whispers to brushstrokes on a canvas of forgiveness and a future yet unwritten.

But fear still clung to him like a shroud. "Are you ready for that, Wei?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Ready to face what we left behind?"

Wei met his gaze with unwavering determination. "More than I've ever been," he replied. "And I hope you are too, Luca. Because if you're not, then maybe the moonlight isn't enough."

Luca could turn away, retreat into the shadows and let the ghosts continue their haunting dance. Or he could take a step forward, face the fear and the pain, and hope that together, they could paint a future where the moonlight chased away the darkness, leaving only the luminous glow of a love rekindled.

He took a deep breath, the scent of jasmine and moonlight filling his lungs. "Let's paint, Wei," he said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his heart. "Let's see what the moon can reveal."

And with that, they turned towards each other, two souls ready to confront their ghosts, not with fear, but with the hope that even the most shattered masterpiece could be reborn under the soft, forgiving glow of the moon.