Trust No One; Mother

*Flashback*

"Hehe..Hihi…" Two figures were standing, one tall and the other very small.

"Cooking with mama is so much fun!" The little one commented.

"Of course it is!" She replied.

"But remember, Moon, not everything will be fun every day of your life. There are days where no happiness will occur. Not everyone will play with you with the same feeling as you do. Everyone wants something from you. They are all selfish."

Little Moon listened carefully to her mother. "So..Mommy has something you want from, Moon?"

The mother's face changed in a second, mixed with complex emotions. However she quickly changed her face. "Of course, mommy wants something from you." She smiled.

"..." Moon looked at the woman.

"I'm selfish too!" She hugged the little kid. "I want a lot of love!" She pinched her puffy cheeks.

She had a little thought, does mommy really love me?But her little worry was rapidly gone.

"T-then Little Moon, w-will give mommy lots and lots of love!" She hugged back.

"To give me your lots of love, you have to grow up big and strong."

"Moon will definitely become strong and big for mama! She'll study hard and make a lot of money! She will become as tall as mama too!" She said thinking of the far future.

The look of her expression changed again. "Mommy?" Moon was worried.

She came back from her daze. "Ah. Nothing. Ah yeah, you have to grow up strong and protect mommy." Moon was wondering what was wrong with her mother.

"Now now, let's stop talking about the future. How are you going to become a better person in the future if the present you, is clinging to her mother like a baby?" Moon let go from her grasp. "Go take a bath and go to bed."

"B-But the cookie?" She asked.

"You are a good girl right? Mommy will stay here, and wait for the cookies to cook. Tomorrow morning you could have them. Besides, no sweets before bedtime, yes?"

"Okay.." She responded. She went to the small bathroom the house included.

Taking a small bucket she wiped herself and brushed her teeth. Once finished, she wanted to wish 'goodnight' to her mother. Down the small hallway, she saw a faint light in the dining room.

Weird she thought, wasn't her mother in the kitchen?

"Remember your duties, Irene. You can't take your own decisions. Don't be selfish." A deep voice voiced out.

Hein? She thought. This wasn't her mother's voice. Moon took a small peep, it seemed a guest had come. The man was wearing a hood, it seemed his hair was purple. Was that her long lost father? Moon had her hope high.

"..." Irene pursed her lips. "I'm not sure..I don't know if I can really do this."

"Don't you want revenge for what they did? You have to do this. And it was originally all your fault. Bear the consequences. I waited already ten years, don't add more zeros."

"..."She looked down. "Anyway, don't talk so loudly. Moonlight might hear us." She sighed.

Moon held her hands on her mouth. She shouldn't be here eavesdropping.

"Ah yes..Moonlight… Educate her properly. You should train her." He stood up and opened the door. "See you soon,Irene. Remember the plan.If you fail this, all of our sacrifices will be gone." He shut the door.

"..." Irene dazed at the door.

Moon carefully sneaked back to her room. She was shocked. Somebody was using her mother?! She was so angry and shocked.But it was mother's fault too? What did she do in the past? She won't tell me even if I ask.."

She slumped back on her bed. "What can I do? I'm only seven…" She felt useless.

Sleepiness fought over her body,falling to a deep sleep.

===

The next morning, she ran to the kitchen expecting her mother. It was deserted.

This might sound selfish, but breakfast was supposed to be on the table ready to be eaten.

Did her mother oversleep?

She ran to her mom's bedroom. "Mother?"

Her mom was preparing to go to work. She wore a cape hiding her face. Moon would often think that her mother's job was a thief.

"Ah..Moonlight.From now on, I have to go to work early. Can you do your breakfast alone?"

Weird. Her mother will never call her with her full name, nor coldly.

"Of course! I can do mommy's too!"

"Great, then I'll count on you then." She picked up her suitcase. "I also have to work late from now on. Please also make supper. The recipe book is in the cabinet."

Moon nodded. Irene tapped on her head. "I'll go then. Goodbye." She walked out.

Moon felt sad. Her normal days spending time with her mother were cut in half because of work.

Moon couldn't bear being a part of her mother's side.

"I can't cut my school's hours..Then..I should minimize my sleeping hours..Wake up early, sleep late,this will be hard.."

For the past few years, her schedule looked something like this.

Wake up at six, make breakfast, say goodbye to her mother, go to school at nine. Go back home at three,finish her homework and do house chores. Maybe take little naps in between.

At eight her mother comes home and they eat dinner. Then she sleeps at ten, it wasn't a very healthy schedule, but at least it worked.

And day by day, her mother became colder and stricter than before.

===

One day, after a birthday party, Moon ran home crying. She cried and cried. Once the clock showed eight the door opened. She ran straight to her mother's embrace.

"Mommy! Sniff Sniff." She hugged her and wept.

"I'm here, Moon.Tell me what happened this time."

"When I e-entered,t-they threw tomatoes at me. T-They said it was a thing they did on birthdays. So I threw one tomato to the birthday girl, everyone was mad at me. I-I don't know what I did wrong! They threw me out..Why did they only throw on me?"

"Moon…" Irene bent down to look at her eyes. "This is called discrimination. They don't like you but the girl. They are biased against you. They want to make fun of you. I told you everyone wants something from you. Everyone has a black heart, filled with malice. They love to make fun of you. They used you. You are too good for them."

"I am?" She lifted her head.

"You are too naive my child, if you do not want to be betrayed, don't trust anyone. No one. You can only rely on yourself. Listen to me my child, I have been through this too. No one is perfect."

That day broke, Moonlight. Her heart built invisible walls. She trusted no one. She was cold to anyone else, afraid of being hurt and deceived again.