"What is this, Sis?"

With trembling hands, Luna entered Leah's room while holding a white invitation card. Leah stared at herself in front of the huge mirror when Luna approached. Luna's face was pale and tight.

"Oh, Luna, my dear sister, you've arrived at last."

Leah smiled brightly as she went up to Luna. She stood for a time and then hugged her sister, whose body was rigid.

"Why did you arrive so suddenly like this? I was concerned that you wouldn't come home."

"Enough of your trite pleasantries, Sis. This invitation was deliberately sent to me too late. It's not about the invitation either, but why was I just notified? How can you..."

"Sttt, don't shout like that, ah. It will be heard by others who are busy outside; it's not good. Do you really want to start a story about how the younger sister is causing trouble on the eve of her older sibling's wedding? That is not funny."

"Explain it to me, Sis. How did you and Joshua get married?" asked Luna in a tone of voice that she made calm. Such a difficult thing.

"Love. What else?" replied Leah with a wide smile. She turned around and continued preening in front of the large mirror.

"I love him, and he loves me. Isn't that how two people decide to get married?" Leah said it sarcastically.

"Love? Since when? When did you two start dating?" asked Luna.

"Hmmm... I'm not sure. It just came to me."

"And since when did you have sex with each other?"

"Hey, I don't have to tell you everything, right? And again, it won't change anything."

"You have to explain it to me, Sis! I have to get an explanation from you! How could you get married, Joshua? He's my boyfriend!" Luna yelled, raising her voice once more.

"Lower your voice. Don't act so hysterically like that! And once more, why didn't you ask Joshua? Why did you have to ask me?"

"Oh my God! Can I get an answer?" Luna asked, getting more and more upset.

"It wouldn't change anything, so why would you know?"

"But I need an explanation! I deserve it! For the time being, he remains my boyfriend. I've still not even broken up with Joshua."

Leah stared at Luna's reflection in the mirror. This time, Leah didn't appear to be at ease. The stern expression in Leah's eyes conveyed the same frustration.

"If so, you should ask Joshua yourself. He's your boyfriend. Oops, forgot. However, I have no issue if you want to see him immediately."

"Is it that simple for you to talk to me, Sis?"

To avoid Luna's enraged look, Leah hastily turned around.

"So, what did you expect? Do you really want me to embarrass myself in front of you by crying? Or maybe I'd grovel at your feet and beg you for forgiveness like that? Furthermore, I don't need to explain anything because it's about the heart. It came out of nowhere.

Joshua and I, then, had the same feelings. We are in love with one another and share the same expectations for the future. Why not get married then?"

"But he's my boyfriend! There's no breakup between me and him!"

"Then? What's wrong with him being your lover? Even someone's husband or wife can fall in love with someone else, let alone you and Joshua just dating. No strings are attached. Don't make a big deal out of it, Luna."

Leah turned around, shook her hair, and walked confidently back towards her dressing table.

"Come on, Luna. You don't have to make the situation sound dramatic. You don't need to ask for explanations for this and that. You'll injure yourself in the end. Just accept the happenings that have just occurred."

Luna snarled, "Ah, it's easy for you to say that, because you took someone's."

"I didn't snatch Joshua. He approached me first. He was also interested in this marriage. And, last, Joshua is not a contested item."

"You are a rotten sister! How could you not tell me anything? When Joshua approached you, you should have talked to me first."

"For what, to interfere with your Columbia studies? And then Papa and Mama will blame me for messing up your studies, is that it?"

"And you don't think my current college is a mess? It's the same thing! Even now, I'm a mess! I've been cheated by you and everyone. How could no one tell me anything, suddenly telling me to go home because you're getting married?

Even worse, you're getting hitched to Joshua, the person you've known for five years as my boyfriend! And how could you accept that so lightly, Sis?"

Leah abruptly sprang up and carelessly threw her comb aside. She was furious as she neared Luna.

"So this is all my fault? What responsibility do I have for you, huh? Joshua is just a lover, not a husband. What's the big deal? What's to mess up your life?

Have you ever speculated on your relationship with Joshua? Has he been happy with you all this time? Does he really want you for his future? Have you ever asked him if he still has love for you? Ever?"

Luna did not move with the series of words that rolled off Leah's lips. Luna's self was like being slapped over and over again with the tucked-away truth.

"I bet you never asked yourself that question or asked Joshua either. Why? Because you're arrogant! You feel very beautiful, very smart, can make your own money, and many foreign companies are already eyeing you; basically, you feel you are perfect.

You are arbitrary toward Joshua because of that. You feel so "wow" that you have little regard for others. You never asked Joshua how he felt since you were so sure he loved you so much. You are..."

"Enough, Sis!" screeched Luna in a high tone. Luna couldn't stand Leah's words.

"You have no right to judge me for anything, Sis! You're just making a disgusting and demeaning defense of yourself. The point remains the same. You're a traitor. You have no shame. No self-respect. Thief."

Plak!

A hard slap landed on Luna's cheek, causing the girl's body to stagger backwards. The heat and sting, Luna ignored by not touching her cheek. Luna looked sharply at Leah, who had dared to slap her.

"Watch your mouth, Luna! I'm still your sister," Leah hissed angrily.

"What sister? A thief, sister? Stabbing from behind!"

Leah had raised her hand once more, preparing to repeat slapping Luna. However, Luna immediately restrained Leah's hand.

"What? Want to slap me again? You have no shame! It's already wrong, but you feel so righteous."

"What's wrong with me? If Joshua comes to me and begs for my love, is that my fault? Then, if Joshua only wants to live with me and even threatens suicide if he doesn't marry me, is that also my fault?"

Instantly, Luna snorted with the corners of her lips tilted, mocking Leah openly.

"Huh? Wants to end his own life, Joshua? Joshua would never threaten to commit suicide. If he had just sliced his own hand, he would be screaming."

"Why? You don't believe it? Yes, that is the reason why you didn't feel Joshua's great love."

"Joshua would never say something like that. He is the most realistic person."

"If so, why don't you ask him directly? Why did you come straight to me, huh? You don't dare to face Joshua, do you? You're too afraid to face the truth if Joshua tells you how much more he loves me than you do."

Luna's face was eerily pale, and she struggled mightily to keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks. Leah's verbal assault had seriously hurt her.

"I don't care about him. I'm also disgusted to have met him. Because to me now, he is a stranger. He is nothing more than a foolish and weak traitor. How could he choose you, who is my sister, out of so many women?"

"So what if he chose me?" asked Leah distastefully.

"It means he fell into the same pit."

"What do you mean by that, huh?"

Luna walked up to Leah and smiled enigmatically. She was obviously manipulating Leah's emotions based on the look in her eyes.

"We're both the same, Sis. If you think I'm arrogant, then so are you. And if Joshua chooses you, that means he's the dumbest man ever. Enjoy the stupid and weak man who becomes your future husband."

***