chapter 1: The Perfect Girlfriend

LUNA POV

Standing in the kitchen of our small apartment, I watched as my boyfriend cuddled with his childhood best friend, Maya, on the couch. They laughed and ate popcorn while I worked myself to the bone, preparing breakfast before the road trip.

I began to feel jealous—my chest hurting. I should be the one in his arms, not her. The intensity of my jealousy grew as the plate I was holding slipped from my hand and smashed on the floor.

That got my boyfriend’s attention. Liam, still holding Maya, turned his head toward the kitchen and said sarcastically,

“Break it all. That’s what you’re good at—destroying everything I work for. You don’t know the worth of things since you don’t work, and you don’t know how to take proper care of anything.”

He glared at me as he held Maya more securely so she wouldn’t fall.

“I’m sorry, so sorry. I’ll be careful next time,” I said quickly, bending down to pick up the pieces of glass scattered across the floor. One of the shards cut my finger, and I screamed, jerking up and knocking over the pan of hot oil onto my arm. The burn and the cut made me cry out again.

Liam looked up with displeasure written all over his face.

“Can’t you be quiet? Why must you always be dramatic? Do you always have to try to gain my attention? You don’t need to resort to such means anymore—I’m already dating you.”

“I apologize… for the tenth time today. I’m sorry,” I whispered, holding in the pain. I didn’t want him to say I was being dramatic again. I needed to be strong to prove I was worth his love.

“I don’t want to hear any more noise from you. You’re stressing Maya, and she needs to be calm to enjoy the movie,” Liam barked before turning back to the television.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered again, enduring the pain as I cleaned the glass shards. Then I returned to cooking, reminiscing about how I first met Liam.

He was one of the heartthrobs back in college, while I was just one of those girls who blended into the background. No one would notice if I was gone. I never planned on falling for Liam, but it just happened.

I had attended the party of the year, hosted by the “Big Six”—Bryan, Liam, Daniel, Richard, Eric, and Maya.

Five handsome guys who had been friends since high school, and one girl. The Big Six were the most admired people on campus. Even though it was five guys and one girl, the group was still called the Big Six—and Maya was drop-dead gorgeous.

I only went to the party because my roommate brought me as her plus one. She was a social butterfly who attended every event on campus. According to her, I needed to experience something to prove I was really in college, since I never attended social gatherings.

So, that’s how I found myself at the party—completely packed, filled with not just anyone but the high class of the school, along with desperate girls who would do anything to spend a night with the Big Six. How they all managed to get in, I’ll never know. But my roommate always could.

Standing by the pool while my roommate went to socialize, I assured her I would be fine. But little did I know, I wouldn’t be.

Just a few minutes later, a crowd rushed past me—or rather, a crowd of girls—pushing me into the pool.

I couldn’t swim. I had always thought I would learn one day, but my father was strictly against women learning anything other than cooking and cleaning. He only allowed me to attend college so I could “help my husband” with work-related matters. That’s why I studied business management—so I could understand office work and help my future husband if he ever brought it home.

As I sank and nearly lost consciousness, I saw a man diving into the pool. I couldn’t see his face, but he felt like an angel. My mother always said: anything you didn’t learn to do, your husband would always be there to help you.

When I opened my eyes, the first person I saw was Liam. His hair was wet, his shirt gone, while girls all around blushed at the sight of him.

“Are you okay, pretty?” he asked.

I stared at him. This was my savior. My angel. My husband.

“Yes… yes,” I stammered, as he walked away. Other girls glared at me with jealousy, but the only thing I could think was—this was my husband.

“Luna… Luna!”

I heard my name. It was that same beautiful voice.

“Do you want to set the building on fire?”

I immediately snapped back to reality. Liam stood inches away from me, having just turned off the stove.

“If you want to kill yourself, do it alone. Do you want to destroy Maya’s lungs too?”

Right on cue, Maya began to cough. Liam rushed to her with a cup of water while I stood frozen in the kitchen, staring as he cared for her.

Looking at me with dissatisfaction, he said,

“You can’t get anything right. You know what? Get the bags—the boys will be here soon. We’ll stop to eat before you poison Maya.”

The eggs were already burnt and inedible. I cleaned the kitchen quickly and went to bring out the suitcases.

Maya had packed five suitcases—for a two-day road trip and a week at a hotel.

“Why so many suitcases?” I muttered, struggling to drag seven of them downstairs.

On the last one, Liam and Maya stood up to leave as the others were due any moment.

Liam glanced at me with disgust.

“Do you want to break Maya’s bag? Give that to me.”

He lifted the bag in one swoop.

“Oooh, Liam, you’re so strong,” Maya gushed, touching his chest while giggling.

Just then, two vehicles pulled into the driveway. Bryan was driving one, while the other three guys of the Big Six rode in the car behind.

“I thought we were taking one car?” Liam asked.

Richard replied, “We know Maya. If she takes anything less than four bags, then something is wrong.”

“Come on, guys, a girl needs choices. It’s a road trip, vacation, and reunion, for crying out loud,” Maya laughed.

“Well, you’re not the only girl,” Eric teased. “Luna is also a girl.”

Maya scoffed immediately. “You won’t count her as one.”

The boys burst out laughing—except Bryan. He was always cold and mysterious. He didn’t even smile at Maya’s joke. I was used to it by now—Maya making jokes at my expense while everyone laughed, including Liam… everyone except Bryan.