Chapter 5: Unspoken Tensions

The morning air was cool, and the faint sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore seeped into the beach house. Inside, Megara woke up to find the sun barely breaking through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. As she sat up, her gaze shifted to the bed across from hers, where Moon sat with her arms crossed and a frown etched across her face. Something was off.

Megara stretched, her limbs still heavy from sleep, and then slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to disturb her friend. She padded to the kitchen, the cold tiles sending a jolt through her bare feet. Two mugs were quickly filled with coffee, the rich aroma filling the space, grounding her.

When she returned to the living room, Moon was still sitting in the same spot, staring out the window with a look of quiet contemplation. Megara sat next to her, offering one of the mugs.

“Here,” she said softly. “I thought you could use some coffee.”

Moon took the mug but didn’t drink it right away. Instead, she stared at it for a long moment, as if trying to gather her thoughts.

Megara couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on with you? You look like something’s bothering you.”

Moon hesitated before answering, her voice low. “I don’t know... it’s just... everything feels off. There’s too much tension here.”

Megara raised an eyebrow. “Tension? Between who?”

Moon turned her gaze to her friend, her expression serious. “Is there something you’re hiding from the group? Something you haven’t told us?”

Megara blinked, surprised by the directness of the question. She laughed lightly, trying to brush off the moment, but Moon’s eyes were too intense for her to ignore. The smile faltered on Megara’s lips as she met her gaze.

“No, I don’t have anything I’m hiding.” The words came out too quickly, a little too smooth, but Moon seemed to buy it. At least for now.

She didn’t press further but instead asked, “Why the sudden curiosity, Moon?”

Moon just shook her head and took a sip of her coffee, not wanting to say more. Megara, however, felt a sinking feeling in her stomach—what was Moon really thinking?

Before the conversation could go any deeper, a loud voice interrupted them. “Hey! What’s going on in here?”

Sandy entered the kitchen, his usual grin plastered on his face, but his eyes were darting nervously to Sana, who was trailing behind him, looking a bit uncomfortable. They had been talking as they entered, but their conversation immediately quieted when they saw Megara and Moon in the middle of their conversation.

“What are you two talking about?” Sandy asked, a playful smirk on his face.

“Oh, nothing,” Megara replied quickly, trying to ease the tension that had crept up. “Just… morning stuff.”

Sandy raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but before he could say anything else, Vin walked in, looking agitated.

“Where is Ruby?” he asked, his tone demanding.

Moon glanced at him and replied calmly, “She’s still in her room.”

Without a word, Vin stormed off toward Ruby’s room. Megara and Moon exchanged a look, silently wondering what was going on. The tension between them was palpable, but it wasn’t until they heard the angry voices coming from outside Ruby’s door that the situation truly escalated.

“Vin, stop it!”

It was Jack’s voice—filled with frustration and warning. The next sound was the unmistakable thud of a hand slamming against the doorframe.

Vin’s voice followed, loud and furious. “You have no right to be here! Stay the hell away from Ruby!”

Megara’s eyes widened in shock. What was going on between Vin and Jack?

Sandy, Sana, and Richard rushed toward the door as the argument escalated. The door swung open to reveal Jack and Vin locked in a tense confrontation. Vin had Jack by the collar, his face twisted in anger. Jack, for his part, looked slightly taken aback, but there was a hardness in his gaze that didn’t match the situation.

“Vin, let go of him!” shouted Richard, appearing at the doorway, his voice demanding attention.

Richard stepped forward, placing a hand on Vin’s shoulder to pull him away from Jack. The two men locked eyes, a silent challenge passing between them.

“Enough, Vin,” Richard said, his tone firm. “What the hell is going on here?”

Vin didn’t answer, his chest heaving as he glared at Jack, his jaw clenched tight.

“Why the hell was he even invited?” Vin spat, his voice trembling with anger.

Mia, who had been quietly observing the scene from the doorway, stepped in then, her usual nonchalance masking the sharpness in her voice. “I invited him,” she said, her words cutting through the tension like a blade. “What’s your problem with that, Vin?”

Vin glared at her, his fists tightening. “You knew what would happen if you invited him. This whole damn thing’s a mistake.”

Without waiting for a response, Vin stormed off, slamming the door behind him. The house seemed to fall into an eerie silence as everyone exchanged glances.

Mia followed Vin’s retreating figure, but Ruby finally opened her bedroom door, her eyes wide in innocence.

“What happened?” she asked, her voice light and curious.

The group chuckled nervously at her sudden appearance. She seemed unaware of the chaos that had just unfolded. But Jack’s expression was different—his face tense and hurt as he stood at the door.

“Nothing,” Ishi replied, her tone dismissive, though a glint of amusement danced in her eyes. “Just a little family drama. Nothing to worry about.”

Ruby, ever oblivious, tilted her head. “Well, I’m glad I did miss the fun!” she said, flashing her brightest smile.

The others couldn’t help but laugh, but Jack felt a pang in his chest. Vin’s actions had unsettled him more than he was willing to admit, and Ruby’s sweet, innocent demeanor only served to make the tension heavier. But none of them knew what had really been brewing beneath the surface. Not yet.

Sandy cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "Ah, well... Looks like things got a little heated, huh?" He smiled, but his attempt to ease the situation was futile.

Ruby nodded, still grinning, but noticing the discomfort on everyone’s faces. “Is everyone okay?”

“It’s nothing,” Moon replied, stepping forward to reassure her, though her  words didn’t seem as convincing as she hoped.

Sana was the first to answer with more certainty, her voice light but tinged with a knowing edge. “Of course. Just some harmless tension.”

As everyone attempted to settle back into their routine, Megara noticed Moon’s eyes lingering on Jack. She couldn’t help but wonder—what’s happening between them?

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