Twice Rejected

At the supermarket

Koko's POV



"Are you okay?" 



I looked up to see Henry staring at me. I forced out a smile. "You have asked me that thrice now. And I will keep giving you the same answer. I am fine."



"You are not. You clearly heard what Scarlett said just now."



" 

Scarlett?" I asked.



"The lady that just left. Don't mind her talks, okay?"



"Why should I mind?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant. But I was failing miserably.



"You don't mind someone else taking your mate from you?" He asked, raising his brows.



Just the sound of the words coming from his mouth alone was giving me pains in my heart.



"I knew you were not fine! Just take a look at your face turning pale. You can't hide the fact that you are hurting."



I ignored his words and focused on waiting for the car. It must be close by, because it was almost thirty minutes already.



After a while, I asked him a question, I had wanted to ask since the lady addressed him. The lady looked elegant. If such a person was addressing him as if they had known for a long it means he wasn't an ordinary person.



Another reason was that he seemed to call Niyol by his name.



"How… how did you know my… I mean Niyol and that girl?"



He replied, looking away. "That girl and Niyole… I mean all of us were just childhood friends. My parents and her parents were sent to the human realm to lead some companies there. We just got back today."



"You mean, your parents too?" I asked.



"No. We only came with our batch of trainees for this year's warriors training. We are only staying for the duration of the training which is around three or four months." He replied.



Does it mean that the girl I saw just now would be around in the next three or four months? 



As I was pondering on the issue, the driver finally arrived. I turned to say goodbye to Henry.



"Thank you so much for today. I really do appreciate," I said.



He just smiled and nodded. I walked towards the car as the driver opened it. I got in and waved him goodbye as we drove out of the supermarket.



The car stopped at the entrance of the palace and I got down before the driver could open it for me. I didn't want to get used to all of these. I felt that all these might just be a dream. 



It might just be that I was fantasizing after all.



With a heavy heart, I walked into the palace looking down. I was able to find my way because I was getting used to it.



I walked briskly to my room and closed the door tightly. I didn't want anyone to disturb me. I sat on the bed and all the curses from earlier came rushing into my head.



Heavy drops of tears kept trickling down as I couldn't help but bawl my eyes out. I allowed myself to cry without stopping.



I had been happy these few days and I completely forgot who I was. How could I have dreamt of a happy ending with someone so powerful?



Will his love withstand the criticism from his people? Will he be able to defend me at all times? 



Sometimes I really wanted to agree with the people calling me bad luck because I think they were right.



How could I be so unlucky? All the bad things seemed to find their way to me. And even now that it seems my luck was about to change, criticism started to creep in again.



The names I had wanted to run away from were coming back to me in full force. Every time I ran, I seemed to always encounter people that would bring me back to reality.



I wonder what would have happened if Henry hadn't stood up for me. And I was sure this was only the beginning. 



I was still crying when I heard a knock on the door. I didn't want to answer, but the extremely familiar voice made me change my mind.



I quickly wiped away the tears in my eyes before going to open the door. I saw the face that I so much dread to be alone with, Niyol's mother.



She ignored me and walked into the room. My head still bowed, I stood aside quietly. I didn't know why she decided to visit me, but I was filled with fright.



Since my last encounter with her where she was threatening me fire and brimstone, I had vowed to avoid her at all cost.



"Are you going to remain standing?" Her cold voice sounded in my ears like I was being poured an extremely chilled bucket of water.



I shivered and stuttered at her words, but quickly recollected myself as I sat on the couch opposite her.



I didn't dare raise my head up.



"I heard you went to the supermarket today. How was the trip?" She asked.



I knew she must have heard about everything from that Aunt Maria. I guess she just wanted to hear my side of the story.



"It… it was fine." I replied. That was the only answer I could give her, right?



"Fine? Do you mean it was fine to embarrass my son or it was fine to call yourself his mate?" She asked. I noticed her pitch was getting higher.



I didn't think I could answer her question. How do I answer such a question?



"Are you tongue-tied? Or you think it's funny?"



"I'm sorry for any trouble that I might have caused. I promise I won't go out again without your approval."



"Will you also leave my son with my approval?" She asked me.



"That…" I didn't know how to answer her.



Then she said, "You are not sorry. If you are truly sorry, you shouldn't have been back here. Do you think my son would get married to you?"



"Do you think you mean anything to him? He is just infatuated because it has been a long time since he had a woman. He would get tired of you soon, especially when the right woman comes along."



I smiled bitterly. Would that right woman happen to be the woman earlier at the supermarket? Would Niyol really leave me when he sees that woman? 



"If you know what is good for you, you had better leave now before you are humiliated more than you already are. Do you think the pack members would allow a cursed girl like you as their Luna?



"I already asked about you and I can't believe you are such a wicked soul! I wonder why the moon goddess would pair someone like you with my son."



"If you can kill your father and sister, I can't see why you wouldn't harm even your mate! Wasn't that why you were driven away from your pack?"



"You are a murderer!"



Her every word hit me hard in my heart and I couldn't stop biting hard on my lips to stop my tears from falling. 



How could she sentence me without hearing my side of the story? Was it because I was different?



"Mother! How could you say such a thing to Koko?" I heard Laci say.



It seemed I forgot to lock the door and Laci must have heard her mother's words.



"Are you still going to scold me the same way as your brother?" Niyol's mother asked without showing any remorse.



"Why are you treating her that way? You don't even know her." Laci said.



"What else do I need to know other than the fact that she can't marry your brother because of her cursed eyes? Do you know the crime she must have committed in her past life to be branded with such eyes?" 



"Mother! That's absurd!"



"I have said my piece and if she is really harmless as she claims, then she would leave quietly. Unless she has another reason for clinging to your brother." The Queen mother said.



She got up from the couch and left, banging the door shut.



Laci Drew closer to me, drawing me into a warm embrace. I let the bottled-up tears flow freely.



"I am sorry, Koko. I shouldn't have left you alone. I am sorry." Laci apologized.



"It's not your fault. It is no one but my fault. I think I dreamt too much." I said, bitterly.



I hoped too much. I still believed I was the fairytale princess my father used to tell me I was. I still hadn't left that world of fantasy yet.



Maybe I thought I was a real-life ugly duckling who turned into a swan. Or I was Cinderella who met her prince charming. 



Alas! It was time for me to wake up.



"I think your mother is right. Your people would never accept someone like me as Luna. They will never accept someone who is believed to be cursed. Someone who was accused of killing her father and sister!" I said, wiping my tears.



"Stop all this, Koko. You and I know you are not a murderer. Even those accusing you know you are not a murderer. They are just prejudiced." Laci said.



"They are not, Laci. I really appreciate your kindness, but I think I can no longer stay here anymore." I said, standing up decisively.



She stood up as well and held my hand tightly." Do you want to leave my brother too?"



I was confused by her words. What does she mean by too?



"Koko, you can't leave him. My brother would die! Just… just give him a chance to prove to you that he can take care of you. Please, for my sake." Laci pleaded, holding my hands tightly.



" But Laci…"



"Please, Koko. My brother wouldn't be able to bear the self-guilt again."



" What do you mean by that?"



"Koko, if you leave, my brother would keep blaming himself, because it was rumour that led to his first mate's death," Laci said.



What? I never knew.



Laci cleared her throat as she narrated everything that lead to Erika's death. I listened as my heart felt heavy at the thought of Niyol's suffering.



If I leave, will he feel the same? Will he become the person he was after his mate's death?



What should I do?

Chapter 42 - Twice Rejected