Sad Childhood

Jean Mary was bothered by her realizations. She was anxious by the thought that someone might come into the middle of the night, drag her out, and who knows what will happen next?

She felt regretful accepting her fate. She should have just ran away with her parents somewhere. But they are not powerful to do so. Her parents' source of income is located in this town. If they ran away, they do not have the luxury to live a life comfortably abroad. Even though the Reynolds left a sum of money it was not enough to feed them their entire lives. Also, given the exchange rate, and cost of living abroad, it was not a nice idea. She had so much thoughts that night, as a result, she didn't have a good night sleep.

Jean Mary woke up that day feeling so tired, when she opened her eyes, she immediately saw a woman with disheveled hair and dark circles around her eyes. She shouted in surprise but calmed down right after she realized that it was just her reflection.

"Jeez, I forgot that there is a big mirror there. I thought I am still in my small room. It's just me, so Jean Mary, chill." She talked to herself."My thoughts have been filled with so much scary things." Jean stood up and prepared for school.

When Jean Mary reached the dining room for breakfast, she was startled to see different kinds of vegetables on the table.

"Ms. Caster, the young master guessed that you are a vegetarian because you didn't eat your dinner last night. He ordered me to buy these for you." Mr. Smith explained.

Jean Mary looked at Jan but Jan was in his usual self looking downward, eating and not minding them. And again, she noticed that he is still wearing the same black hooded jacket.

Jan has a poor fashion sense and loves to repeat his jacket. Maybe, Mr. Smith could not handle all the household chores and he had no time to do the laundry. Jean Mary guessed.

Jean Mary just shrugged off her shoulders and said with a smile to Mr. Smith, "Thank you for your kindness."

Jean Mary thought that Jan was quite sensible for knowing she's a vegetarian.

But...

Mysterious and scaaaarrrryyyyy. @_@

Jan and Jean Mary after breakfast went to school together. Mr. Smith served also as their chauffeur.

Poor Mr. Smith, an all around servant of the Reynolds. Another realization that hit Jean Mary is that the Reynolds family is into slavery and sadistic too for giving too much burden to an old man. (T_T)

Jan and Jean both seated at the back of the Reynolds' Rolls-Royce expensive car. But Jan stayed at the back of the driver's seat and try to squeeze himself into the corner. Jan maintained a one seat apart distance from her.

Jean Mary smirked. "It should have been me doing that and not him", she told herself.

It was her second day with Jan, but they didn't have a formal conversation yet. So Jean Mary decided to initiate a conversation. She's not that talkative with other people except with her closest friends like Anne and Grand but for the sake of having lighter feelings when she's with Jan, she decided to make friends with him. It was her plan to make Jan feel comfortable with her, so he could spill their family secrets with her. Maybe Jan would slip some words unconsciously that will fit into the puzzle of their family's reputation and dark secrets.

"I haven't formally introduced myself to you. I am Jean Mary Caster. My mom is Mae Caster and my father is John." Jean Mary started their conversation.

"I know." Jan said to her.

"Pfft." She sneered. He spoils the momentum, Jean thought, but she continued.

"Anyway, I know that you know it already but didn't you find it amazing? Both you and my father's name is pronounced similarly. My father's name is spelled J-O-H-N while yours is J-A-N."

"I know how to spell." Jan replied her coldly.

"!!!!!!" Seriously? Jean Mary gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes, because her patience was running out already. But she took a deep breath and calmed herself. She had to endure it to succeed.

"I am trying to be nice here." She said to herself. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. "Come on Jean, relax." It is Jean Mary's mantra in her mind every time Kaye would bother her. And she is applying it now for Jan too.

"Ow. I thought you didn't." It was a sarcastic remark from Jean. And no one spoke a single word.

When they reached the school Jan opened the door and went out immediately without looking back at her. What an ungentle person. She's trying to be nice but what she received were just cold shoulders from him. Jean Mary was pissed off.

"He didn't even wait for me." Jean said it out loud that Mr. Smith heard her.

"Ms. Caster, please understand the young master for his actions. The young master doesn't know how to socialize, he doesn't have any siblings or experienced a motherly love. His father was busy managing their family's business, and he is not close either to his relatives because they have a misunderstanding due to inheritance. He was homeschooled because the master is afraid that Jan would be kidnapped by their relatives or competitors in business. You are the first person who got a chance to be near him. Even his father is a stranger to him." Mr. Smith told her.

Jean Mary's heart melted upon hearing how sad Jan's childhood was. He was literally isolated from the rest, and he didn't experience what a real family is. So Jean Mary decided to pardon Jan for his cold attitude earlier. Jean Mary also considered the idea that Jan is not a bad person after all so, her fears for that family reduced by 10%. Still, she would not be complacent to drop her guard against that family not until she uncovers the mysterious reason why the previous Mrs. Reynolds died. She has at least a month to do so.