"Wait. You're dating the guy without knowing that?" Kwon asked, not denying the comment about Carl's character.
"Somehow, that makes me sound bad." Isaac sat back down in his seat in a defeated slump.
"How'd you know that they were dating?" Luna asked.
"It wasn't hard to tell."
Aunt Phoebe turned large, sparkling eyes onto Isaac. "You're seeing someone? Tell me more about this Simon."
Isaac started talking, his words flying out a hundred miles a minute. Luna seriously hoped that Isaac didn't mention anything about them throwing a party while Aunt Phoebe was away.
Her aunt rarely ever got mad, but Luna had a feeling that she would become mad and, even worse, disappointed if she ever found out that Luna snuck behind her back and held a party while she was away.
Luna turned to look at Kwon. She kicked his foot from underneath the table. 'let's go.' she motioned towards the living room with her chin. Kwon gave a brief nod before following her to the living room.
"Didn't want to stay and listen to that riveting story?" He joked.
Luna shook her head. "He'll talk like that for hours. That's precious time we could use to study."
Kwon smiled and it caused Luna to pause in her action of sitting down. It was strange to her to see such a relaxed and easy-going expression on Kwon. It was one she hadn't seen in years.
"Why does it feel like studying is the only thing you like to do?" He asked in a deadpan voice.
"It isn't." And it wasn't. She also liked practicing spells and potions, reading, and hanging out with Isaac. And watching Adam.
Kwon raised a skeptical eyebrow, not believing her words. "Right," he drawled out, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Luna was about ready to argue with him when she suddenly stopped, her mouth hanging slightly open. When did she start feeling this at ease with Kwon? He felt almost like an acquaintance instead of a nemesis.
* * *
Mark came out of the bathroom, drying his hands on his pants. Luna's aunt was leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom door.
"I would like a word with you before you leave."
The sun was starting to set and he and Luna had grown tired of studying. They decided that it was time for him to return home.
Mark gave a grave nod. There were two subjects that she would likely be hinting about wanting to speak with him about. And neither of them boded for a delightful conversation.
Luna's aunt's eyes narrowed and a spark of purple magic jumped from her fingertip. Surprised by the sudden use of magic, Mark followed the purple spark with his eyes. It collided into his shoulder, shocking him.
"You're a witch," Luna's aunt called out confidently, having observed him with keen eyes.
Mark felt his body stiffen at the sudden reveal. His hearing turned staticy and his blood ran cold. His heart had been gripped with momentary fear.
Even though he knew logically speaking that Luna and her aunt were witches, it still filled him with alarm. It was understandable that he felt like this with his secret out in the open because he had been taught by his father and his paternal grandmother to always hide his magical self and to never let anyone find out.
Another bolt of purple magic struck him in the same shoulder, in the exact same spot, effectively drawing him out of his mind. The fear that had a hold of him melted away as he was finally able to think logically.
"I am." Mark admitted, automatically understanding that this person in front of him was someone he should not lie to.
"Hmm." She tapped a finger against her upper arm. "How'd you know that it was a love potion you had consumed?"
"I wasn't completely sure. . .it was just a wild speculation since I never even heard of a love potion before."
Luna's aunt gave a small bob of her head, a smirk forming on her lips. "I would suppose not since it's a personal recipe invented by yours' truly."
Mark felt like his eyes were going to pop out of his head at this unforeseen piece of information. Luna's aunt was a renowned businesswoman who lorded over her very own cosmetics company. It was surprising to find out that she had created such a potion, and had the audacity to look smug about it.
Wait, he shouldn't be so concerned about this. What he should be concerned about was that she didn't seem to be angry with him. "Aren't you mad? I'm literally deceiving your niece."
The smug grin on her face turned into a smile that could literally chill one's blood in their veins. "I am and I'm not. She deserves it for doing something so reckless." The terrifying smile she wore slipped off her face, to be replaced by one much softer. "I also think this will be a good chance for her to get over Adam-I'm not saying I approve of you. But as good-looking as he is, all he has up in that pretty little head of his is a bucket of bolts. Someone like that would never make my niece happy."
". . .So. . . you'll let me keep up the charade?"
Luna's very unpredictable aunt gave another nod of her head. "I will, as long as you don't do anything to harm her. You may act as smitten as you want so that she may open her eyes and realize that there are others out there that could be a much more suited match for her other than Adam."
Mark felt his chest tightened. He didn't want to cause Luna any more harm. He had grown weary of causing her irreversible pain. "I won't. I'm tired of hurting her," he admitted in a strong voice filled with conviction.
"Good." Luna's aunt turned to walk away but paused, throwing a look over her shoulder. Lime green hair shimmered in the light cast from the fixture above them. "The potion only lasts for twenty-four to forty-eight hours."
Mark's shoulders sagged when he realized that his time was running out.
"On very rare occasions, it has lasted up to a week. Use that time wisely."
Mark stood in stunned silence, staring at the space where the woman had previously stood. That had been a completely unexpected conversation.
He was starting to feel like Luna's aunt was a very unconventional woman.
But that unconventional woman had given her permission to allow Mark to woo her niece. Though she did make it clear that he wasn't allowed to date her, if the hidden meaning behind her words was anything to go by. Not that he was confident enough to sway Luna away from Adam. So it wasn't like he would ever have the chance to date her anyway.
This charade had only been a way for him to change the way he acted around Luna without raising her suspicions towards him. Nothing more.