Secrets, Lies, and Deception

Chapter 1: First Day

1st of August. 7:30 AM.

It's my first day back at school, and I'm already late, and my goodie to shoe mother is nowhere to be found. Our apartment is small, yet it's a big mess like someone crashed it the night before and had sex all over the place.

I hurriedly went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. In the middle of rinsing my hair, the most cliche thing happened is the water was cut off. "Urgh!" I shouted in frustration, used the stupid bidet to thoroughly rinse off the bubbles, and then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge to brush my teeth.

It's no surprise to see all the unpaid bills attached to the refrigerator door. The rent payment was overdue, electricity, and even the water was also overdue.

This wasn't how my life was. I'm supposed to be living my best life, not hiding in some hole like a rat who's afraid to go out because people might find out how difficult and disgusting my life has been.

Soon as I was finished getting ready for school, the door to our apartment just flew open revealing Mom pushing her tongue down to some guy's throat, who happened to look the same age as me.

"MOM!! FOR GOD'S SAKE!" I yelled, which caused both of them to stop, which eventually led the guy to immediately walkout. Turning to my mother, she looks at me with disappointment in her eyes.

"Oh, come on, Luna! As if you're not used to this, it's the only way I'll be able to pay the bills," Mom said, reaching for a cigarette in her purse.

"STOP IT!" I announced, yanking the cigar from her hand. "If you think what you are doing is paying off every debt we owe, then I shouldn't have been fucking working on weekends!"

"Are you lecturing me now? Aren't you the party girl, Luna? You should know that it's not simple bedding one guy to another."

"Stop it, Mom! I may not have been perfect in the past, but I have no time babysitting you. I'm going to school."

I stormed out of the apartment, furious about what she had become. After everything we have been through, I expected her to be the mother I needed, after all those years, but it's all her fault, and I'll never forgive her.

I stopped the cab a few blocks from the university near a coffee shop. I paid the driver with the little cash I have left in my wallet. A few years back, I didn't have to worry about having any money left, but now I am learning how to budget.

I bought a coffee cup at the lowest price in that shop and headed straight to our campus entrance gate. It feels nostalgic to walk up to the stairs and see all the students hugging, kissing, and laughing as they see one another after a long break. Of course, as soon as people saw me, I hear whispers and stares were raining on my parade.

"Well, well, well... Look who's back. Why are you walking, Lu? Are you poor now?" a girl who has this brunette hair blocked my way with her one eyebrow raised. Two more followed behind her. The one on the left is the heiress of some company, and the other is the daughter of a Councilor. The brunette girl is the heiress of a fashion clothing line known worldwide.

"Don't dare to think that just because you're back, you get the seat at the throne again, Luna."

"Oh, that seat that you think you have just because of my absence? Well, let's see if that throne won't just come running back to me, Valerie."

Oh yes, the name of the brunette girl is Valerie Ramirez. "The" face of every fashion magazine. Rich and bitch. Just like me during the old times.

Valerie smirks and throws out a big hug around me and says, "Gosh, Lu! I thought you would never come back. A year of disappearance from the school and then suddenly you're back? A little warning would be much appreciated, you know?"