Potential love interest except without potential

The next morning, I woke up in a timely manner with the whole house. It was 8:03 when I woke up but I could hear the hustling and bustling of busy footsteps outside my door. I opened it to see maids carrying luggage that looked like my family's.

Something inside me hit hard. It was like a tripwire went off in me, that exact second tears streamed down my face. I closed my door to hide my embarrassment and laid face-first into my pillow to muffle my sobs.

After a few minutes, I realized I'd miss them if I kept crying uselessly. I got up and wiped my face, completely ignoring the fact I was still in pajamas and walked to the front of the house. They weren't at the door so I checked the dining room and there they were.

"Ma!" I said and ran to my mom in a hug. My mom was never the affectionate type, but she hugged me back.

"You can come back with us, you know?" Mom told me, I felt my heart burst with happiness. I would of undoubtedly shook my head yes if I hadn't seen the distressed look on King's face. Then, my heart felt heavy. I was stuck, I wanted to still be near King but I also wanted to be with my family. Luckily, my glimmer of joy came to the rescue.

"Em? Why are you crying? You know what, let's wait 'til after breakfast to answer that,'' She nodded.

I let go of mom and took my seat. I quietly started eating, glancing around every once in a while.

Miria and John looked indifferent, as did El, and mom. Emy looked irritated and King looked angry. Mr. Sir thinks I'm going to leave? Better not disappoint. Ugh, I'm so childish, here I am, having to decide between family and a potential love interest (emphasis on potential) and this is what I'm doing.

A few minutes later, we were all done eating, but the adults were having a conversation.

I nodded at all of us to go out of the dining hall, the kids I mean.

We all wordlessly walked out of the room.

"So what do I do here?" I asked frantically. Surely they all knew I was conflicted if not all, just El was left out of the loop.

"What do you do where? Aren't you staying here to marry the king so I can become a duchess? That's what I will be when you marry the king, I searched it up," El ranted. I laughed, maybe she could stick around. Make things brighter?

"I like her," King stated with a slight smirk.

"Well, if you really wanna go home that bad I could stay here for you-"

"Uh, actually if she wants to go home we move on to the next house," King was quick to cut her off.

The way Emy's face dimmed and her lips poked out made what King said a slap to the heart.

Ugh, I shouldn't have come here. All these emotions finna ruin my gateway into preteenage.

"Should I stay or should I go," I tried to take all of my irritation out of my voice but I think some might've slipped through.

"Well, I read it's best to stay where you're happiest, so wherever you're happiest stay there," Usually Ella had my back in these situations, but right then she put me on the spot.

"Alright, it's obvious that I love my family more so I'm going home," then I leave the competition with my family...

And end up heartbroken seeing King with his next one. I join the group of jealous extestants and grow old, always regretting my decision and seeing King with all of his 9 children that I didn't bear.

"I think I'm in love with King, so I'm gonna stay here, you guys'll obviously always be family though," And King doesn't like me that way, sends me home, and again grows happy and old with another girl and their 9 children. That. I. Did. Not. Bear.

It seemed like I was only scared about was King being with someone else, (and having 9 children that I didn't bear) which means I have a crush on him. I guess now's the best time to realize.

"The attention has been on you long enough! Just decide already, it's not like you were meant to live like this anyway so just come home!" Emy stomped like a toddler throwing a tantrum and huffed.

Everything I was just thinking about, all my worries, disappeared into thin air.

"What?" I asked her in a growl-like voice.

"You've always been the lucky one, never me! Never! You're the one with a prettier name! You're the one born lighter-skinned! You're the one who has long hair! And now, you're the one to get my lifestyle with a guy that's my type!" Emy turned to King, "YOU'RE NOT EVEN HER TYPE!" She screamed.

"But honestly, of course, the slut would be getting all the attention! I mean, look at you! You look like an absolute whore and the fact that you've seen King without his shirt on probably means you'll be found pregnant in no time! I get into a go-kart race and break my own shin for a little fucking attention but no! IT'S ALWAYS YOU!" Miria, John, and mom came dashing out of the dining hall.

"What's all this screaming about?!" Mom asked worriedly.

"Nothing, I'm staying," I knew my lip trembled when I talked and I heard my voice was shaking. My vision was blurred with tears and I had to bite the inside of my lip unbelievably hard to make sure it didn't shake while closed.

I tried to slowly walk back to my room, but as soon as my feet started moving they broke wind on their own.

"Mind telling me what hap…" I heard mom's irritated voice trail off.

I was heading to my room but I knew they'd find me there and I wanted to be alone. I grabbed Remmy from my bed and made my way to the arcade room. I turned to the same couch King and I had snuggled up on and cuddled Remmy as close as I could.

He had to be soaked with tears because I was crying the whole Pacific Ocean.

I never knew Emma felt that way about me, I thought we were so close as sisters.

Her opinion matters so much to me, so much!

I just can't believe this.