Inside | HENDERY WAYV/NCT

51

He parked the car by the block. Hendery turned to Luna who stared emptily at the block in front of them. He could sense her hesitating.

"You want to drop by my house? We can hang out."
"I.... don't know," Luna muttered under her breath. She honestly didn't know what she wanted.
"Okay, we can sit in the car until you know," he smiled. Hendery looked outside and saw Yue walking home from school.

"YUE!! Over here!" He lowered the window and shouted for the younger one. Yue ran and slipped into the car.

"Luna!!!!!" Yue hugged her from the seat behind.

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Yue ran down the stairs with 2 bag. One for her and one for Luna.

"I don't know what you need so I grabbed randomly. And your makeup too. And your book and this small bunny so you don't forget about me," Yue babbled on and on as she pulled her seatbelt.

Luna turned to Yue, "Hala really did say yes? Mom?"

"Luna, of course she said yes. She wanted to rip Yun's head off just now. I bet you don't know that."

"Oh I know. I know that," Luna sighed heavily. Of course Hala would do that. Luna didn't even tell her what happened.

Yue quickly punched in Hala's passcode and pushed the door open.

"Hua DeLuna you lucky bitch I almost called the police on you! Come over here!" Hala shouted from the sofa. Yue made herself at home and immediately disappeared into the guest room. Luna sat down beside Hala and buried her face in Hala's shoulder before sobbing hard.

Hendery decided to made himself at home too and sat at the dining table, not wanting to add salt to whatever wound Luna was having. He could hear what they were talking about from his seat.

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Luna fell asleep from pure exhaustion. Hala got off the sofa and pulled the dining chair across of Hendery.

"You heard us, right?"
"Everything."
"Does that answer a lot?"
"So much," he looked down onto the table.

"Is coffee fine? Or tea?" Hala asked him. "Everything tastes the same, Hala. Just water would be fine."

Hala placed a glass of water and a plate of fruits on the table. "I know you like these pears," she smiled and took a bite. "Liked."

"Hendery, it's not all rainbows and candies with her. Life isn't kind to her. Which is why I asked you to take good care of her."

Hendery's smile faded. He fiddled with the fork in his hand. "Can I though?"

"I think, you are doing it right now. You may not know it, but she is different now. It's like I'm seeing the Luna from our childhood. That Luna."

**********************

Yue sat down on the floor, listening to everything Luna and Hala were talking about. Just like that, another part of her decided to hate Yun. Yue can never get past the fact that they're related when she grew up watching Yun being an absolute dickhead with people.

Yue watched how he would respond to their mother. How he would throw cusses over small unintended mistakes. Did he really grew up watching those and mimicking them?

Sure Mr. Li is not exactly father of the year. He does questionable things but never once he would turn to Hala, Yue or even Luna and cussed at them. He always reminded them that he wasn't the best but he's trying and if he slipped, remind him.

"Is he even human?" Yue slowly touched her left temple. Memories of 7 years ago flashed and Yue swore she would never forgive Yun. Ever.

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~ Summer of 7 years ago ~

Yue brushed Luna's hair softly. "Don't cut your hair ever again," the younger one said softty. Luna nodded and just let her styled her hair. Yue's hair wasn't the longest at the age of 9, thus she loved playing with Luna's hair.

Summer was supposed to be fun for kids, but Yue spent her childhood indoors. Away from the sun and people. Clock struck 11pm and she was supposed to go to bed but it's summer.

Luna and Yue were playing some card games when they heard the front door slammed open and Yun walking in. On normal days, they ignored him. But that day, he went straight to their room and slammed their door open.

He was drunk as he wobbled towards them.

"Move away!" He pushed Yue and sat on their cards. Yun inched forward towards Luna and tried to kiss her. Luna froze when he pulled her towards him.

"Let me go. Please," Luna begged but he was too drunk to care. Instead he forced his lips on hers. Yue got up and pulled his hair hard. She jerked Yun's head and screamed for Luna to break free.

Yun turned around and pushed Yue so hard that she hit the bed's headboard. He ran after Luna and dragged her back into that same room. "You think you can run away from me? You bitch! Be thankful we're raising you!" he ripped off Luna's shirt.

*******************

Yue almosy shouted when the door swung open. Luna walked in and plopped beside her. "Yue, please don't remember about that day. I beg of you," Luna mumbled as she leaned her head on Yue's shoulder.

"Luna, how can I forget? Can you?"
"I can't...."

*********************

"He's your brother Luna. How can you do that? You want to send him to the police? Just forgive him. I promise you he won't do it again. He is family," Mrs. Hua begged Luna to not lodge a police report. The elder kneeled in front of the 15 year old teenager and begged, while Yun was nowhere to be found.

When begging didn't work, Mrs. Hua threatened.
"You owe us a lot Luna. We raised you. You want to betray us this way?"

At the age of 15, Hua DeLuna wished it was her who got hit by a truck. She sat down on the floor breaking down as Mrs. Hua shut the door and locked it from the outside.

Hua DeLuna, a broken shield of glass.

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A gemstone so beautiful, so divine. But can't be touched nor be mine. We're cursed upon the day we were born, to love eternally only to be separated by the thorns.