Chapter 43 - Foolish
Luna forced a smile. "No."
The boy didn't have a trace of a smile on his face. He stared at her steadily, his gaze probing, assessing.
Luna's hand clenched into a fist without her realizing it. She tried hard to hold the smile, her breathing gone light.
In the end, Leo didn't ask any more questions. He picked up the trash and left.
At the time, Luna never could have imagined that would be the last time she saw Leo.
It wasn't until a week later, when she got a call from the police and went to collect his ashes.
And Chloe got the bag she'd been wanting.
So naturally, Luna assumed Leo had sold a kidney to buy Chloe a bag. A hopelessly lovesick fool.
-
Luna had been quiet for too long. Her pupils were unfocused.
Leo frowned and reached out, waving a hand in front of her face. "Are you possessed?"
"...No."
Luna snapped back. Her nose stung. She fought it back for a long time, barely keeping the tears at bay.
"Didn't sleep well." She grabbed an excuse and hurried toward the living room. "I'm going back to take a nap."
Leo watched her back, feeling like she was acting strange today.
Luna rushed back to her bedroom, crouched on the floor, tears spilling out one after another.
How could she have lived so foolishly in her previous life.
-
Chloe maxed out her card and barely covered the bill.
She took a cab and cried the whole way. When she got home and opened the door, a heavy smell of hot pot hit her.
Her parents sat on the couch. The coffee table was spread with hot pot and all kinds of beef and lamb. The TV in front of them was playing a popular mystery show.
They were eating and laughing. Hearing the noise, they turned around.
Her mother spoke first. "Oh, Clo's back."
Her father raised his glass. "Want to grab a few bites?"
Chloe looked at them calmly. In that moment, her heart went cold.
At the darkest moment of her life, her parents could actually laugh.
"I'm not eating."
She changed her shoes, walked over to the TV, picked up the remote from the table, and under her parents' shocked stares, turned off the TV.
The room fell silent.
Her mother licked her glossy lips. "Clo, what are you doing?"
Chloe's tone was resolute. "I'm only saying this once. I'll pay this month's rent. Next month is on you."
"What?"
Her father had just picked up a beef meatball and was bringing it to his mouth. Hearing this, his chopsticks slipped and the meatball rolled right off.
"Clo, what are you doing?"
Her mother was frantic.
The rent on this place was expensive. Not counting utilities, it was nearly three thousand a month. She and her husband weren't working. Their savings were running low. They couldn't afford it.
"I'm only sixteen." Chloe's voice rose. Her eyes were red and raw. "You two are relying on me to support you. Have you no shame?"
"What kind of talk is that?"
Her father was a classic male chauvinist. He couldn't stand anyone defying him, especially his wife and daughter.
He slammed his chopsticks on the table and lashed out. "Don't think just because you made a little money, you're some big shot who can lecture your elders."
Her mother said nothing. She just looked at Chloe with disappointment, as if backing up her father's words.
Chloe suddenly felt a powerful wave of suffocation.
Why?
Why were her parents like this?