No one spoke for 15 minutes straight the next morning at the table until uncle Changmin asked Luna about which university she wanted to go to.
"University? Are you sure you'll be able to find one which will take a middle school droupout?" Min asked while buttering her toast.
"Oh no no, our Luna is a genius, she had completed highschool at the age of 13" uncle Changmin spoke proudly.
Min choked on the juice she was drinking and Jihoon snickered.
Upon hearing praise, a similar scene appeared in Luna's mind,
☾
"Gosh sis! What are you so smart for?" Francis ogled Luna's report card at the dinner table and handed it to their Dad.
"If you're giving your SATs at the age of 12, you'll be running for President at 21!"
Francis exclaimed making exaggerated hand movements.
Rene scoffed, "Great make her a bigger social freak than she already is."
Luna and Francis both rolled their eyes.
"You're just jealous that Luna is smarter at 12 than you'll ever be." He said.
"Incompetence may be annoying but overconfidence is terrifying. You'll never exceed in life if you're too satisfied with what you have in the present." Their father said with unimpressed eyes and their mother nodded her head silently.
Luna pouted and played with the food on her plate.
Ofcourse he'll be the pessimistic one as always. If one day one of us three will find a way to end world hunger they'll still be able to find a flaw!
She thought sarcastically.
Her phone pinged and it was a message from Francis, she looked up at him and he pointed to his phone and mouthed 'Read it'
She checked the message
' If you pass the SATs with good grades and graduate highschool this year, Ill gift you the biggest library in the world.'
Luna beamed at her phone and then at her brother, she discreetly brought up her hand and signalled 'okay'
Francis smiled at her affectionately and also signalled 'okay'
☾
Uncle Changmin asked Luna again and she replied without looking up from her plate,
"Any university is fine."
He smiled at her, " Ofcourse Ill choose the best for my fairy." Luna rolled her eyes " And I already found the perfect house for you."
Jihoon looked up abruptly and spoke for the first time that morning.
"What do you mean you found a house for her? She wont be staying with us?"
Uncle Changmin lowered his gaze, hiding the guilt in his eyes,
"Its for Luna's best, her university will be closer and she wont have to commute such a long distance."
Jihoon scoffed, "You dont even know which university she's going to yet!"
"Jihoon stop shouting its too early for that." Luna scolded him and he clenched his jaw.
He glared at his dad one last time and stormed off.
Luna continued to eat without saying anything else, she had already heard her uncle and his wife discussing her last night.
☾
"What were you thinking bringing a criminal in our home? Do you have any udea how threatening that is to our reputation? MY reputation?" Min shouted at her uncle, and as soon as Luna heard she halted her descent down the stairs and decided to go back up, but her feet wouldnt budge when she realized they were talking about her.
"She is my neice! This is her home just as much as it is Jihoon's!" Her uncle defended her.
"Her own parents dont care about her so why should you?!" She hissed.
"Iam not my brother, I cant kick her out too!"
Min stubbornly folded her arms, "No matter what you say, she is not staying here, if you dont ask her to leave, Ill make her leave." She warned him and walked away.
When Luna heard Min's footsteps approaching the stairs she took off her shoes and grabbed them in her hands darting up the stairs careful not to make too much sound.
After she got to her room, she shut the door and slid down it, crouching.
She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin above her shin.
I guess this isnt home either.
☾
Luna had spent the whole night clenching and unclenching her fists, hating on her uncle for not standing up for her, for letting him down.
She tried hard not to let it break her. This wasnt home, not with her uncle's new pet in it.
She passed the juice to her uncle and smiled, "Thank you so much for all you've done. I dont know how Ill ever repay you."
Guilt flashed in her uncle's eyes, "Luna.. sweetie you dont have to-" he started empathetically when she stood up and cut him off.
"If it's okay with you, Id like to go out today and explore the city."
"Oh ofcourse! Take the butler with you, he'll pay for whatever you want to buy and Ill get you your own card in a few days."
Luna bowed and was about to leave when he spoke again, " Oh and be back by 6 you have an appointment with an interior decorator."
She nodded slightly and walked out without saying anything.
☾
After the driver took her to the destination she had asked to be taken to, she wanted to get the butler out of the car so she could sneak out for a few minutes.
"Hey mister, you see that convenience store over there? I want you to go and get me five assorted dairy flavoured lollipops from there." She pointed to a shop at the end of the street.
The butler nodded and got out of the car.
She turned to the driver next, "Mister could you please go get me a pepperoni pizza with stuffed crust and extra cheese from that Dominos shop over there? Oh and a Coke too please"
The driver looked to the shop where the butler had gone, puzzled if he should let her stay in the car alone.
Ugh I dont have time for this. I cant let anyone else get that job.
Annoyed, her mouth twisted into a scowl, "Do you want me to call my uncle and have him tell you?" She snapped at him.
The driver's eyes widened in alarm, "Uh no ma'am that wont be necessary." He stuttered and got out of the car.
As soon as he was out of sight she got out and ran as fast as she could to a street nearby.
She stopped infront of an aesthetically beautiful cafè and walked inside.
Oh god please let me have this atleast.
The girl behind the counter greeted her and Luna grinned at her brightly,
"Hi, Im here for the part-time job."