A while later...

Raya powerlessly lay on the bed with tears running down her cheeks like someone who had been defiled.

And honestly, she felt like she had been defiled.

She was simply acting dumb so that she could fish for some benefits. Unfortunately, the girls didn't act according to the script.

Instead of trying to bootlick her. They instead chose to attack.

They all attacked her before she knew what was going on.

And an unwanted tickle party with her being the unlucky soul who could only laugh even though they wanted it to stop began.

Like what kind of people were they?! Even if they didn't want to bootlick her, they could at least talk it out right? Why immediately go on the attack like it was the most natural thing in the world?

Were they bullying her because she was still young? Yes, that had to be it. They were all ageist!

"Are you going to tell us now or do you want a second round?" Audrey asked while holding her hands out at Raya threateningly.

"No! Please don't. You'll kill me from laughter. I'll talk... He switched places with me a while back because he had matters to take care of. It was because he didn't want to wake anyone up. And he's already coming back. Maybe in two minutes he'll be here. You can talk to him about the rest... Bye!" Quickly sold Muku out.

She was planning on throwing him under the bus anyway, so there was no problem with that.

And now with the "incentive" she was more than willing to do it. And she didn't even tell them about what Muku did before going out. So he couldn't find any fault with her for what she did.

Fearing that they might still tickle her anyway. Raya didn't stick around after telling them what they wanted to know.

"!!!!"...

The girls were all alarmed by how she disappeared.

None of them had ever seen her do that before, after all.

However, they had seen too many crazy things to be too surprised. And it didn't take them long to figure out what was happening...

"So that's the space element..." Layla commented in a calm but intrigued voice.

"Yes it's amazing but what are you all doing here?" Hope who still hadn't forgiven their presence there asked them in an annoyed voice.

"...We know you're his sister but you must understand that the rest of us are his love interests. And it's only a matter of time before that's confirmed. So our presence here makes sense. If anything, it's your presence which is problematic. Sure, he's your brother and all. But you're now a nineteen-year-old girl. A young woman in fact. So don't you think it's a little inappropriate for you to be so physically close to him? Are you sure you see him as a brother?" Layla replied calmly after the others remained quiet.

Audrey didn't have to say anything since she wasn't part of the people being addressed. On the other hand, Chloe and Freya weren't usually the confrontational type so they were at a loss for what to say. The two girls felt that maybe they really had been too rushed in going there...

Layla on the other hand, was as straightforward and unrepentant as Jade. She just didn't speak unnecessarily. And since it was necessary to speak at that time... Of course, she spoke.

"Layla!" Audrey tried to rebuke Layla but the girl didn't wait for her to finish.

"No Mom. Someone had to say it. She needs to hear it and properly think about it. After all, what if she misunderstood what she thought and felt? Isn't that just a recipe for regret?" Layla defended herself.

"... Oh so that's how you see it. If that's the case. Let me make it clear then. Never since the first day I saw him have I thought of him as a love interest. Even before it was official, I always looked at him like the brother I never had. So your worries are unfounded. I only act the way I do because I love him so much. And I don't think age should get in the way of one's expression of their love. As long as my thoughts are pure, what does it matter how it might look to others? In any case, I appreciate what you said since I can tell you said it for my own good. But there's no misunderstanding. I know what I feel clearly... Now if you'll excuse me. I have something to take care of" Hope stayed silent for a few seconds before she explained herself as clearly as she could.

She didn't stick around after that. And none tried to stop her.

"...."

Layla quietly looked at her walking away without even blinking but didn't say anything....

.....

A while later in Hope's room...

The girl could be seen lying on her bed looking at the roof seemingly stuck in thought.

She didn't do anything else since she left the others.

At this time she was reliving all the memories she shared with her brother in her head.

Interestingly enough, while she was usually very forgetful, she remembered every memory related to Muku.

The realisation of this made her chuckle to herself. Then she began thinking about what Layla said to her...

"Impossible. I'd never think of my brother like that. Layla was just overthinking things" Hope spoke to herself in a low voice.

However, unlike the first time when she addressed Layla. Her confidence seemed not to be as steady.

It wasn't by much, but it was significant enough. And that worried Hope.

She had just woken up, but she began feeling sleepy again. And soon enough, she fell asleep again.

It seemed she had mentally drained herself just from thinking about Muku and what Layla said...

.....

In Muku's room...

Muku, Jade and Emily all sat on the bed looking at each other.

Jade still hadn't moved from that one spot for obvious reasons. She just sat up.

Muku wanted to call Hope over so that she could heal her, but he found her sleeping in her room.

So he let her sleep, it's not like Jade was in a rush to go anywhere anyway. And she didn't even feel pain as long as she didn't move her legs.

He had also addressed the others about his sudden disappearance and eased their worries, so the trio didn't have to worry about being disturbed.

As far as the others knew, Muku and Emily were just keeping Jade company as she healed from a bloodline backlash.

None of them had a bloodline so they pretty much believed anything they were told about bloodlines.

And even if they had one, bloodlines behaved differently, so no one would suspect that they were being lied to...

"So... What did you want to talk about?" Muku asked before things got awkward.

"You have complete control of your mindscape, right?" Emily asked seriously.

"Yes?" Muku replied.

"So have you gone through your earliest memories yet?" Emily continued.

"Yes?... Oh... Jade told you?" Muku immediately caught on.

"Yes... Now tell us" Emily replied in a rather rude tone.

"Okay. Unfortunately, unlike Freya, I can't access my memories from the very first one. All I can remember starts from, I think when I was five years old, standing in front of a random house. Then I was taken to an orphanage after the family found me... So yeah, I can't tell you anything related to Jade's visions. I think I have a mental block on me or something" Muku explained everything without taking notice of Emily's rude tone.

He would be pissed off too if the person he loves slept with his friend. Even if he knew that it would happen at some point.

And honestly, as a dude, he'd be more than pissed. He might go berserk even. Yeah, it was a double standard on his part, but girls have a lot of those so he could have one at least right?

"Oh... That sucks" Emily replied in a calmer and warmer voice.

This was likely because of what Muku said. While he said it nonchalantly, anyone with a brain would understand how tough life would be for a five-year-old child without any memories on top of that.

"Wait... The family didn't keep you?" Jade exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes? What's surprising about that? If anything, it's the normal reaction after finding a random kid on your front door. Your case was quite lucky honestly. And don't try to apply movie logic to real life. Not many people would keep a random child who just appeared out of nowhere. I'm surprised your mother didn't drop you when your hair and eyes changed colour to match hers honestly. I know I would have" Muku explained logic to the girls with a little joke at the end as not to make the situation too grey.

And he truly believed what he said about it being normal that he was sent to an orphanage. He didn't hold any grudges against the family who did it.

In fact, it was more than what others would have done. Some people might have chased him away and immediately moved on or even trafficked him.

So yeah, there was nothing to feel bad about. His earlier years might have been lonely, but they weren't miserable or bad.

"Yes... But still, who does that to a child" Emily replied with tears coming out of her eyes.

Yup, that's right, hearing Muku's story had completely melted her heart. She instantly forgot the negative feelings she had for him and Jade.

Before Muku knew it, she was already in his arms crying her eyes out like she was the one who went through the tough times.

Muku and Jade looked at each other with wry smiles on their faces. Once again they were reminded that despite everything, Emily was just as nice as she had always been.

Like Muku didn't even try but he still won her over... Only Emily was that easy to melt!