The Luna And Her Tragic Fate

Chapter Four ~ Family

~Lexy's P.O.V~

"Lexy! Dinner's ready!"

I heard Mom's voice from the corridor. I came to lie down after everything that had happened to try and wrap my head around why this man wanted me. Who was he trying to deliver me to? If my crimson protector doesn't kill him, is he ever going to stop? Did my crimson protector kill him? Can I be at peace now? No, I can't let my guard down. I shook my head trying to shake away all the thoughts when I smelled Mom's food and smiled. I got off my bed and wandered down the stairs toward the kitchen. It smelled like she was making her famous lasagne, after all. She makes the best lasagne. I've tasted many restaurants' lasagne and never savored one as good as hers. She said it's a recipe passed down through generations and that I will one day learn to make it when I've matured enough to take on the responsibility of keeping her second-greatest secret. Of course, her most paramount secret was our father's job.

I proceeded to a seat at the dinner table and saw Marcus was already there with a fork in his hand, and his eyes glistened as he stared at Mom dishing the food onto his plate. We constantly bicker, and the young ones follow our example.

"Keep your instincts at bay, you animal," I said teasingly, with a smirk.

He rolled his eyes. "Maybe you should try going on a diet, you fat-"

"Marcus!" Mom scolded.

"You got a message from your girlfriend" I pointed at his phone, which was vibrating.

"I don't have a girlfriend," he said mockingly.

I snickered when his phone vibrated again, but the message was from another girl. "Oh, another message but from your other girlfriend,"

"Stooop," he said, annoyed while typing on his phone.

"Don't get vexed at me. It's your phone", I said in a teasing voice.

"I'm not getting vexed. I'm just saying none of them is my girlfriend."

"Why not, though? I don't understand why you give those girls hope but never commit. It's wrong. If you don't want to date any of them, then don't see any of them," I said annoyingly.

He laughed. "Who's getting annoyed now? I'm not dating any of them because they're not girlfriend material, but a guy like me has needs. Ask Tryn. He can tell you all about a guy's needs", He said while wiggling his eyebrows.

I blushed instantly. Even my ears turned red and hot. "Don't bring my relationship into this! We were discussing your player lifestyle!" My heart pounded. I hoped he wouldn't bring this up in front of Mom. Please, please. Just change the subject.

"Speaking of, have you and Tryn ever gone-"

"NO!! STOP!! That has nothing to do with you!" I interrupted before he could finish that sentence. How could he think mentioning this in front of our mother was acceptable? I mean, seriously! I scowled at him. I was threatening him with my eyes. Telling him he is about to start a war if he doesn't quit while he's ahead. I've got way more on him than he has on me.

"Okay, okay. Fine. I'll stop, but the next time you take up my love life, I will-"

"I won't." I interrupted him again and furrowed my brows.

He smiled and stared at Mom to see why his food took so long.

I sat down in defeat.

Ray and Rosy came to join us at the table.

Raymond and Rosette. Twins. They are nine. We call them Ray and Rosy. They have dark brown hair like our father, but Ray has got mom's green eyes. He has a medium bronze skin tone and is round and chubby, including Marcus' appetite, but unfortunately, not his love for sports. Instead, he is a goofball who always tries to play pranks on us. Whereas Rosy has brown eyes, like our father, and a medium bronze skin tone, she is thin and petite. She is extremely emotionally sensitive and can't handle negative interactions except with Ray.

"RAY! Those are my napkins!" Rosy exclaimed.

"No, it isn't Rosy. I just got them from the kitchen! Go ask Mom!" Ray roared at her.

Marcus and I looked at each other, and our eyes widened. To say oh no. This is our fault, and Mom was in the nick of time.

"Ray, don't yell at your sister. Talk it out." Mom said softly and calmly.

Rosy tittered. "You got in trouble, tee hee."

"I'll show you trouble!" He grabbed Rosy's cheek and pinched it scorching red.

Rosy yelped and started crying, and Marcus quickly intervened and picked Rosy up to console her.

"Raymond Reed! I told you to talk it out, not do battle! Apologize right now!" Mom scolded Ray.

"I'm sorry, sis." His head hung with regret.

"It's okay," She sniffed.

"Here." He gave her the napkins.

She jumped out of Marcus' arms and hugged Ray.

"You two aren't off the hook either. They only started because they were following your example. Dishes after dinner. No excuses." Mom said in a stern voice.

"Yes, Mom," we grumbled in unison.

I walked to the kitchen, where Mom put on oven gloves and took the second batch of lasagne out of the oven. She stood holding the oven dish when I asked her, "Mom, when will I learn this recipe? I'd like to know the secrets of your heritage before I die, you know." I whined.

Mom chuckled softly. "I was going to teach you the day after your birthday, but I guess if you're so impatient, I could teach you next week." She smiled at me.

I gasped. "Yes!" I exclaimed and danced in the kitchen. I did a small victory dance as if I'd just won a war and then trotted to the dining room table.

"Oh, goodness, Mom, no, please. Don't teach her. She will kill us with the dish you're so proud of." Marcus said.

"Oh, shut up you. I'm going to be better at it than Mom, and then you'll die of overeating," I growled at him.

He c****d his head. "That's a good way to die. Right, Ray?"

"Mhmm… I'm drooling just thinking about it.

We all just chuckled happily.

I wanted to see Xander's pictures again, so I made my way to my room before I had dinner. I used the excuse that I needed to get my phone because I was awaiting a call from Tryn.

As I returned, I observed a photo of Xander and me for a while, dreaming of the days before he disappeared. I reminisced over our sincere heart-to-heart moments and our fun memories together. I could, without fail, tell him anything without fear of judgment. We even spoke about my periods and safe s*x. He was affectionate and doting, and I always had an exhilarating time with him. That genuine connection was suddenly taken from me and left me feeling abandoned. For a while, it felt like I couldn't live without him. I wanted to end my own life. I never tried, but the thoughts and intent on how to do it were there. I felt so inconsolable and dreadfully dark for a long time. I faintly started feeling a slight shimmer when I met Tryn. The sole thing that kept me from committing suicide was the idea of Xander returning. How would he feel if he returned and I was gone? Probably comparable to what I was feeling when he disappeared. I couldn't do that to him, so I decided to keep fighting this war inside me to feel better for him. I couldn't give up on our life together so hastily. In a way, he was still there for me and protected my life even when he was lost.

After indulging in my nostalgia for a few minutes, I walked to the dining room and took a seat at the dinner table where Ray and Rosy sat with Marcus. Marcus had a sad look on his face. They had seen me stare at Xander's photo and felt sheepish to start a conversation with me since they knew Xander's disappearance was a delicate subject for me and tormented me daily. I noticed them staring at me for a brief period as I took my seat, and then everything was hushed. Ray and Rosy had their heads down and appeared to be disheartened. They were only studying me with a side-eye. Marcus decided to try and change the atmosphere with our usual bickering.

"You better start eating before Raymond gets a hold of your dinner," Marcus said, making a foolish face at me.

I played along since I knew the little ones could feel the anguish radiating from me. "He's not an animal like you." I stuck out my tongue at Marcus and fluffed Raymond's hair while smiling at him.

I realized it was his way of reconciling with me, and I cherished it since it would have been a stumbling block easing the tension by myself. Ray and Rosy seemed to be gleeful again.

"Mommy! They're starting at the dinner table again!" Rosy says in a blaring, annoyed voice.

"When will you two ever just call it quits?" Mom asks as she brings in an extra serving for Marcus and Raymond.

"Why does he get more too?" Marcus asked, looking at Mom like a puppy who hadn't been fed for days.

"Because you two are both my growing boys."

Marcus didn't look impressed.

"Big brother, I want to eat a lot, so I can grow big and strong like you," Ray said, eulogizing Marcus.

"Oh my, then you need to eat two more servings with me tonight!" Marcus answered, beaming with brotherly love and a hint of pride in his eyes.

"That's easy! I want to have a lot of girls too!"

All of our eyes widened in surprise at that answer.

"Don't worry, little bro! I'll teach you all you need to know, but you'll have to do sports with me too. That's what girls like. Big strong men," Marcus said while flexing his muscles at Ray.

Ray's eyes glowed, but ultimately he said, "Hmmm...Maybe next year, big bro,"

We all laughed at him, knowing he dislikes sports a lot.

Even though we used to be five siblings, and Marcus should be used to it by now, he still wanted to be Mommy's baby, just for a moment. Maybe that's why he overspreads himself with ladies. It could be a distraction for him, or he is looking for the one girl who reminds him of his mom or someone who can give him the same comfort a Mother can.

We sat at the table eating dinner and creating small talk when Rosy asked, "Mom, when is Dad coming home again?"

Mom seemed shocked for a split second, caught off guard by Rosy's sudden question, but quickly pulled herself together and put on a brave face. "Soon, honey. He might be back in time for Lexy's birthday."

Rosy immediately got excited at Mom's answer and gave Mom a great big smile. "Yey! I can't wait to see what he brings us this time!" she replied to Mom.