CHAPTER 2

Luna quietly watched as the muddy water flowed from the edges of the roads and fell down the drain, wishing she could go with it.

Her mother hadn't opened the curtain even after she screamed, shouted and banged against the window for an hour,

It had stopped raining after the first half hour and she still continued her rant, but it made no difference.

And now she sat on the sidewalk outside the mansion with her head on her arms folded above her knees as water still dripped from her clothes and onto the pavement.

Many cars had passed by but no one stopped for the weary looking girl sitting on the sidewalk with a suitcase packed beside her.

Fucking heartless elites.

She thought bitterly as a car slowed down in front of her and then drove away.

That's it, humanity has died. Over the course of five years I'm not sure what else has happened but empathy has died for sure.

She handled her mp3 without turning it on, scared that it might have stopped working because of the rain. She sighed and put her head back on her arms and closed her eyes.

Please let this be a dream, I don't know what I'll d-

A fast car's zooming sound grew closer and closer so Luna looked up halting her silent prayer. It was the same car that had slowed down in front of her earlier.

The car skidded to a stop a few steps away from her and a guy stepped out.

Luna eyed him curiously as he came and stood in front of her, his hazel eyes wide as he stared at her.

"Moon..." he breathed out.

Luna's eyes widened remembering how there was only one person who called her that.

Mark

Without saying another word he grabbed her suitcase and placed it in the back seat of his car. Luna smiled excitedly and sat in the passenger seat before he could ask her.

The name Luna meant 'The moon' in Latin and it was also the name of the Moon Goddess. She was born on a full moon and that day the uncontrollable tides had been the burning issue so her grandmother decided to name her Luna.

When Luna had told her best friend, why her name was Luna he had just frowned and said, "Isn't it better to just call you Moon? I think it sounds prettier"

And ever since then he had called her Moon.

The drive was short as he lived right next door, but the whole way Mark kept stealing glances at her.

Embarrassed of her state Luna fidgeted in her seat and looked out the window quietly.

He parked right in front of the entrance and took out her suitcase and walked inside.

She silently trailed behind him as he rushed through the mansion calling his staff.

"Mrs. Dean! Jerry! Bring us fresh towels and hot soup."

He stopped in front of the fireplace and sat down on the sofa motioning for Luna to do the same.

As she nervously sat there avoiding eye contact she looked around the place,

It had all been changed, a new color scheme, new flooring.

And before she could comment on the interior, a dog's loud barking made her whip her head around.

A beautiful husky with icy blue eyes came running to Mark and climbed in his lap.

Luna let out a small gasp as she looked closer at the dog playfully nudging his owner with his nose.

"Is that..." she began

"You remember!" Mark smiled, "Yep this is Storm, your parents let me have him." He scratched the dog's neck.

"So, what do you think? Did I raise him well?"

Luna stared at the dog with eyes full of adoration, she reached out to pet him but immediately retracted her hand when he barked loudly at her and then growled.

She tried not to show her hurt but Mark noticed her frown and shooed the dog away.

"He was just a pup when you adopted him, it would've been a miracle if he had remembered you."

Is it foolish of me to have wished for that to be my first and last miracle?

She gave him a tight smile and shivered involuntarily, her wet clothes felt ice-cold now thanks due to the air conditioning. Mark rushed to her side and draped a towel on her back and another one covering her from the front.

His actions made her feel warm on the inside and on the outside, reminding her of the crush she used to have on him and how he used to make her feel giddy and fuzzy all the time.

As he adjusted the towels, his hands moved to her shoulder and he let them stay there for a few seconds and stared at her eyes.

Taken aback by their close proximity she lowered her gaze shyly.

"Here is the hot soup you asked for." Mrs. Dean announced, walking in the room with a tray.

Luna let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and moved slightly breaking out of his hold.

Mark cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck.

She smiled at the old lady and followed her with her eyes willing her to look at her and recognize her.

When they were kids, Mark and Luna always used to trail the woman hoping she would let them have more of the delicious brownies she made, but she never did because of Mark's mother's orders.

But being the stubborn brat that he was, Mark used to sneak into the kitchen and eat some while Luna kept a look out.

"What are you doing?" Mark asked making her break her gaze away from the old woman who was dusting the shells.

"I just want to see if she'll recognize me"

Mark furrowed his eyebrows, "She's an old lady Moon, she forgets to make me lunch sometimes, she can't possibly remember you."

Luna frowned, "Oh... really?" she looked down her lap and started drinking the soup.

Oh my god this is heavenly.

She tried hard not to look too greedy, but couldn't help but gobble it down. Juvie food – or the garbage they tried to pass off as food – was only edible if you were extremely hungry.

And much to her relief Mark wasn't looking at her, instead he asked Mrs. Dean to bring clothes for Luna from his sister's room.

Upon hearing the mention of his Elder sister, Luna was urged to ask about her, "How is Diane?"

Mark leaned back against the sofa, "She and your sister are playing in self earned billions." He smiled "Their clothing brand keeps on soaring higher and higher,"

Luna smiled at the adoration in his eyes, he always did love his sister, who wouldn't? Diane Kelsey was the most loving person, the opposite of her self-centered sister.

"Speaking of your sister." Mark said "Did she visit you?"

Luna shook her head, "René wrote short letters which were attached to the shopping bags she sent but never visited."

"Oh." Mark said and an awkward silence fell around them.

"Did you change your number?" Luna suddenly spoke up looking at the bowl in her lap, avoiding his guilt ridden eyes.

"Yeah... my mom forced me." He didn't have to say anything else, Luna knew Mrs. Kelsey well enough.

A fierce woman who knew how to get what she wanted, but that still didn't lessen the hurt she felt remembering how she used to use her limited call time on calling him only to get his voice mail. She called for three months straight until the officer in charge told her to stop being an obsessive bitch.

Luna was about to take another bite, when he spoke up again, "I think you should go to your uncle and see if he takes you in."

Wow have I now resorted to wishing to be taken in?

"What do you mean?"

"You're parents must've not welcomed you right?" Luna didn't answer him,

"I kind of saw this coming... I mean you haven't been mentioned in that household for years now as if you're Voldemort or something."           

Is he actually trying to make a joke out my tragedy?

"I'd let you stay here... but you know my Mom."

Just stop talking.

"I talked to my PA and he'll have your passport, visa and ticket to Seoul ready by morning."

Luna knew nothing could temper with his decision, Mark was the most obedient son and he would do anything to keep his mother pleased.

So, she nodded, "I'm kind of tired so I guess I should sleep now."

"Oh of course, and please if you need anything just tell me."

I need you to not kick me out.

Luna gave him a tight smile and turned to follow the butler to her room, her nails digging into her palms.

"Oh and Moon?"

She turned around eagerly,

Please ask me to stay.

"Yeah?"

"I won't be able to see you off tomorrow morning because I have a get together that I have to go to right now and I'll probably return tomorrow night since it's in another city so..."

"Yeah okay... Good bye then" she gave him a weak wave and he returned it with a smile and a nod.

Luna turned around and walked with the butler her breathing wavering.

Is five years really such a long time that you have forgotten all the times we made each other laugh?

And what about all the times we dried each other's tears?

How can you go from being one of the most appreciated people in my life to the one who I now want for to disappear as if he never existed?