𝐷𝑅𝐸𝐴𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝑂𝐹 𝑌𝑂𝑈 | 𝐽. 𝑃𝑂𝑂𝐿𝐸

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑁𝐼𝑁𝐸

Luna Perez
12:45 P.M
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I wrestled with a whirlwind of thoughts—twenty one years on this earth and never had I ever run away from home. That was more of a thing that my sisters and brothers seemed to partake in, not me. The newness of my experiences overwhelmed me, and I grappled with the uncertainty of how to navigate it all.

The question of if I should confide in Jordan about all of this stayed in my mind. I hadn't spoken to him all day. He probably lost interest in me anyways. Guys do that right? But, then again, Jordan doesn't seem like the kind of guy to do that. Was I just overthinking his silence? Maybe. Probably.

Don't judge me.
I've never had a boyfriend before.

For too long, I had let my father's control dictate my choices. His ultimatum, forcing me to choose between love and family, was the breaking point. It made me realize how little support he had ever offered for my aspirations. The realization hit hard, and in that moment, I knew I couldn't allow his influence to shape my life any longer.

I was done playing by his rules.

I was determined to break free from the control, chart my own path. The first order of business was finding a place to live and figuring out how to provide for myself. I understood that shutting people out wasn't the solution, so instead, I turned to the one person I knew I could offer guidance for this new chapter of my life:

Javiér.

"So," Javiér says, stepping into his office.
He looked sharp in a freshly pressed white button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal a glimpse of tattoos my sister adored, paired with black slacks and stylish Gucci sneakers.

"What's up, Lu? You came to my doorstep at two in the morning, and now you're gonna have to tell me what's going on. Your sister would murder me if she knew that I knew you were here and I didn't tell her."

I took a deep breath, my words stumbling out in the dimly lit office. "Javiér, I went to Jordan's basketball game. They televised the kiss between us, and when my father found out, he made me choose between my family and Jordan. I couldn't handle it, so I ran away. I just...I need to know how to start over, be on my own."

Javiér smirks, a knowing look crossing his face. "So, you clearly picked Jordan."

He leans back against his desk, eyes scanning my face for a moment before asking, "Are you really willing to start living on your own?"

I pause, the weight of my decision settling in. "I'm not exactly ready," I admit, feeling the vulnerability of my situation. "But, I'm willing to...do whatever it takes."

Javiér nods, his expression serious. "Okay, what's the deep root of this whole issue? Not Jordan. Not your dad. Why do you feel like you need to run off and suddenly be on your own?"

I take a moment, gathering my thoughts. "It's about...reclaiming control over my life, Javi."

"And why do you feel like you need to reclaim control over your life?" Javiér asks, his tone gentle, probing for the deeper truth.

I let out a shaky breath, the words tumbling out with raw honesty I hadn't realized was bubbling beneath the surface. "Because...for the first time in my life, I'm doing something that I want and my father is trying to snatch that away from me. I've been doing everything he's ever wanted me to do my entire life...and the moment that I find someone that makes me happy, he tries to stop it. Then, when I was approached about signing a record deal, he tried to stop me from that. I just...I wanna be happy."

As Javiér is about to open his mouth and offer more guidance, we're both interrupted by the resounding slam of the front door. "JAVIÉR! WHERE ARE YOU?" Xiomara shouts from the living room.

I freeze, exchanging a quick glance with Javiér, who blows out a shaky breath and grins. "Well, looks like she found you."

Both Javiér and I rise from our positions in the office, making our way into the living room. I walk tentatively behind him, entering a room filled not only with Xiomara, but all my siblings: Xiomara, Angelica, Mariana, Angelo, Aria and Mateo. To my surprise, Jordan is there, accompanied by Ralen, Kyle, and J2. Christian, Theo, Daniela, and Keon—they're all standing there, looking at me with a mix of concern and relief.

Xiomara rushes up to me, embracing me tightly. "Aye dois mío! Estas bien! Gracias a Dios!" she exclaims, relief evident in her voice as she holds onto me.

Mariana approaches, her expression a mix of relief and frustration. "What the hell were you thinking? Running off and not telling us!" she exclaims, her voice echoing the worry that must have consumed them since I left. Granted, it's only been one day...

I shrug. "I needed to clear my head..."

Angelica frowns. "So you decided to leave for an entire night and not tell us? I mean, Jesus, Luna, I know dad made you pick between Jordan and him, but—."

Jordan steps forward, his eyes widening in surprise. "Wait what? Your dad is making you pick between me and him? Is that why you vanished?"

Nervously, I rub my arm up and down, glancing down at my feet. "Well, that's not the only reason..." I admit, the weight of unspoken truths lingering in the room.

Turning to Javiér, I gather the courage to voice my thoughts, my voice shaky but determined. "The other reason is that I want to take up the opportunity to sign for the record deal. But...I need someone to represent me. I want you to be my manager...because you know how these things work, and you're responsible and people respect you and—"

Javiér grins, his eyes lighting up with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You sure this is something you wanna do? Because things like this, they take time, Luna."

Angelo, ever the pragmatist, chimes in with a nod. "Right, and how do you think you're gonna be able to provide for yourself? You're gonna need to get a job...find a place—"

Before Angelo can continue outlining the hurdles ahead, Jordan steps forward, his declaration cutting through the tension. "She can stay with me."

Ralen, caught off guard, nods in agreement before hesitating. "Yeah, she can! Wait—she can?"

J2 slaps the back of Ralen's neck, cutting off any further doubts with a firm, "Yes, she can!"

I smile softly, touched by their readiness to support me, yet still hesitant. "Really, are you sure?"

Ralen begins, with a slightly teasing tone, "Well, it's a pretty crowded house already with me, Jordan, the cats—"

But Jordan, ever so decisive, shoves Ralen to the side, and nods, his gaze meeting mine with unwavering certainty. "Yes, we're sure. I love you, and I want you to be happy; to fulfill your dreams. I'll help you take the first steps."

Hearing Jordan's words, a warmth spreads through me, a mix of relief and newfound determination. It's a moment of clarity amidst the chaos, a promise of support and love that I hadn't dared to expect as I mumbled a small "Thank you".

Aria, practically bouncing off the walls, smiles brightly as she exclaims, "Okay! So call up that guy who owns the label! Tell him you're in for it!"

"OUR SISTER IS GONNA BE FAMOUS!" Mateo shouts, triumphantly, the excitement contagious as the room erupts into a mixture of cheers and laughter.

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END OF CHAPTER NINE