Secretly in Love with the Brother Next Door

The rain poured heavily, but comfort was not hard to get.

Nathan Brooks, at 13, sheltered me under a bright yellow umbrella, creating a small haven like a moon on a rainy day.

My gray life suddenly had a glimmer of brightness.

After that, I often hid at his place, like a refuge from a storm.

At 10, I awoke to the sound of a baby crying and peeked out the door to see Nathan reaching for his one-year-old brother’s neck until the sound of keys at the door stopped him.

At 15, after my mother left and my father drowned his sorrows in drink, Nathan went off to college.

I chose boarding school over returning home.

From neighborhood gossip, I learned Nathan was adopted by his parents.

At 18, when my father tried to use me to settle his debts with loan sharks, Nathan stepped in to save me, standing against those tough men.

When he protected me, I thought I loved him, though I suspected it was just a misperception caused by the stress of the situation.

By 20, when I was living alone in the old house, Nathan asked if I wanted to move out and then gifted me the place next to his.

He seemed so lonely when he visited that day, his eyes said it all.

His parents had disowned him for pushing his 10-year-old brother down the stairs.

At 23, we were together.

Today, at 26, we split up.

I had unexpectedly discovered his darkness was my secret joy.

People are often captivated by the allure of something unique and unexplored, just as I alone seemed to see the dark side of the moon.

But I loved him, like the moon. I loved his fullness, his crescent, his darkness and his brightness.

Of course, I wanted him to love me, just as I loved him.

When I went to gather my things, as I expected, he was still at home. The relentless rain outside continued, and he sat in the dark living room, making it seem even more like a gloomy day.

He sat on the couch as if waiting for me, an ashtray on the table filled with cigarette butts.

His face was haggard, his jaw shadowed with stubble, his white shirt crinkled. Hearing me, he looked up, his eyes red with sleeplessness.

A glint appeared in his distant gaze.

“Lillian, can you not move out?” His tone was full of pleading.

I looked at his chapped lips and poured him a glass of warm water, keeping my demeanor cold, like someone trying to regain a bit of dignity after being rejected.

“Nathan, even if I love you, I won’t demean myself. You’ve chosen Luna, haven’t you?”

After speaking, I turned and went into the room to start packing. I deliberately left behind enough to provoke memories, hoping they would disturb his sleep.

As I pulled my suitcase out of the room, he called out my name, his voice tinged with desperation.

“I can’t bear to see you with someone else. Can you stand to see me come home with someone else?”

Before I could respond, the glass shattered in his hand, followed by the crisp sound of the fragments scattering. I could almost hear his sanity breaking along with it.

My little moon couldn’t hold back, could he? What would he do if I really brought someone home?

A sense of victorious joy rose within me, though I feigned panic on my face.

“Nathan, are you alright?”

I approached him as he spoke softly.

“Lillian, stay back, there are shards.”

Nathan, blood streaming from one hand, picked up the pieces at his feet. I watched his blood drip onto the white tiles, spreading red like roses in the snow.

It hurt, but I was also pleased – I’m such a complicated creature.

Consider it a small punishment.

I fetched the first aid kit and gently treated his wound, blowing softly.

“Lillian, I…” he started, his expression looking as if he wanted to say more, but his phone rang.

Seeing his conflicted look, I knew it was Luna.

I quietly packed up and left without him speaking further.

Hmm, it seems his moon has a strong allure.

What of it.

You better hurry back to me, my little moon, or else, I might not resist punishing you further.

After leaving, the first thing I did was apply to his company.

With my past achievements, getting hired was a breeze.

Of course, I had to stay close to remind his heart of what it really wanted.

On my first day in the jewelry design department, I met Luna Gray.