Chapter 3

At the graduation ceremony the next day, I took to the stage to give a speech as valedictorian.

My homeroom teacher, Ms. Sutton, looked very pleased. Her face was full of tender kindness.

“You performed exceptionally well on the SATs. It’s a testament to all your hard work.

“Go on, share your experience with the younger students.”

I nodded to her. Then, I stepped up to the podium in the auditorium.

It was not until I mentioned my parents’ support that I realized their eyes were not even on me.

Instead, they were listening to Luna’s awkward spoken foreign language practice and showering her with praise.

“That’s great! When we travel abroad in the future, we can count on Luna.”

But my foreign language grades had always been at the top of the class. Yet, they had never once praised me.

Just as I was about to continue, my phone on the podium vibrated.

Brannon sent me a message.

[The homeroom teacher let you give this speech just because you were class president for three years. You don’t need to drone on for this long.]

[Hurry up and wrap it up. Luna’s getting a little tired.]

Instantly, all my words got stuck in my throat.

My vision blurred with tears. The tip of my nose stung with a tingling sensation.

I set down the microphone, gave a hasty bow, and fled the scene.

When it came time to take the graduation photos, I made sure to save the spots next to me for my parents and Brannon.

The next second, a figure shoved me to the edge of the crowd.

Brannon pulled Luna over to the center spot. “Luna absolutely loves taking photos. She looks best in the middle.”

When the photo came back, half of my body was cut out of the frame.

Our homeroom teacher looked at me with a touch of sympathy.

“Would you like me to ask your family to take another one?”

I clutched the fabric on my pants and shook my head with a wry smile.

“Thanks, teacher, but there’s no need for that.”

The next day, everyone got ready to attend the graduation banquet.

Just before we left, Mom pulled me and Luna aside.

“This card is for your living expenses. There’s some money preloaded on it.”

Then, she made a point of telling me. “Spend it sparingly.”

As I watched Mom’s hunched back as she walked away, a warm feeling welled up inside me.

Just as I was about to get into the car, Luna opened her mobile bank app.

“Wow, a grand total of 100,000 dollars!

“Meglena, hurry up and check how much you have! Mom specifically told you to spend it sparingly. It’s definitely way more than mine, right?”

I hesitated before tapping to check my balance. When I saw the amount, I froze.

It was a total of 3,000 dollars.

It was not even a tenth of what Luna had.

Looking at that pitifully small amount of living expenses, I tapped on another card.

It was supposed to contain the 30,000 dollars for my tuition that I had saved from part-time jobs during winter and summer breaks.

But no matter how many times I refreshed the screen, the balance remained at 0.

Just then, Brannon came back to pick up his things. I grabbed him by the arm, my eyes red and teary.

“Where’s the money in my account? You’re the only one besides me who knows the password.”

Brannon paused for a moment, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

“Luna loves to dress up, and your parents have always spoiled her. So, I used that money to buy her a luxury handbag.

“You’re different. You’re frugal and love to pick up hand-me-downs. Since we go to the same school, you can still pick up hand-me-downs in the future. You won’t need any money.”

I suddenly burst out laughing.

I laughed like a madwoman.

He knew full well how much effort I had put into saving that money.

He also knew how much I wanted to live independently and move out of this house.

But he went and ruthlessly trampled on my last shred of hope afoot.