Chapter 1

When I rushed home from Escal, my family was sitting on the couch chatting.

A large plate of cherries sat on the coffee table.

Brannon picked out a few of the biggest ones and pressed them into Luna’s hand.

“These are sure to be sweet. Try them.”

Whenever I was home, such expensive fruit never once appeared on the fruit platter.

At the sound of my arrival, all four of them turned their gazes toward me at once.

Brannon sighed. His first words were a reproach.

“You’re the only one who loves to sleep in. You didn’t even know we’d left.

“But then again, you were the one who insisted on a graduation trip, back then.”

I clutched my luggage. My fingertips went numb.

It was true that I was the one who had insisted on a graduation trip. But the destination I chose was Colewa.

When we arrived at the airport, I finally realized Brannon had bought three tickets to Escal.

His reason was that Luna wanted to go to Escal to see the Northern Lights.

To make sure she got to see the Northern Lights, I stood in line for eight hours in the biting cold.

But the moment Luna said, “I’m tired,” they turned around and headed back.

Luna stood up and walked toward me.

“Meglena, it’s all my fault for sleeping in. We were in such a rush to leave that we forgot about you. I’m sorry.”

Then, she shot Brannon a scathing look.

“Hurry up. You should apologize too.”

Brannon, who had never been one to back down to anyone, spoke sweetly and affectionately.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was wrong, my little queen.”

But his gaze never left Luna.

Mom and Dad also chimed in with a laugh.

“Brannon was with you every step of the way through the college application process. Don’t you dare bully him once you get to college.”

“I’m used to it, Mrs. Hearn.”

It seemed like Brannon had only just remembered that I was applying to college.

“As for Meglena Hearn, her score is definitely a bit lower than Luna’s, but if she chooses Southshire University, she’ll be in the same ballpark. At most, her major might be a little less prestigious.”

They all assumed I was not as good as Luna.

But I had performed way above expectations on the SATs, scoring much higher than either of them.

Back then, I had sent him a screenshot of my score and asked him to help me figure out which major at Attarport University I could apply for.

He still had not replied to me.

Yet, he had put together a 36-page presentation for Luna, listing every university she stood a chance of getting into.

Luna sweetly hooked her arm through mine. She looked completely innocent.

“The three of us should go to Southshire University together so we can look out for each other. Plus, the climate there is warm year-round. We’d be able to wear little sundresses every day.”

Brannon’s face was full of doting affection for her.

But I was allergic to UV rays. In hot, humid weather, my skin would break out in eczema.

I simply could not stay in places that were too hot.

No one remembered any of this. They only remembered how pretty Luna looked in dresses.

I sat on the couch and reached out to a senior at Attarport University forum.

Brannon and Luna were huddled together as they scrolled through Southshire University’s forum while discussing their upcoming university life with my parents.

After a while, their laughter gradually died down.

Brannon looked up and casually asked me, “You applied to Southshire University, right? Did you score high enough?”

“Of course.” I set my phone face-down on the coffee table. “I did.”