CLICHÉ BUT TRUE

ECLAIRE wasn't sure if it was a good idea to go on an outing when the Lycan hadn't been caught yet.

However, she couldn't say no to Yeri.

"Unnie, thank you so much!" Yeri said, hugging her tight while Eclaire was preparing their lunch box for today. "I know you're worried about the Lycan. But I'm sure he's not going to attack a crowd in broad daylight. Moreover, we have Graham oppa with us!"

That was also the justification that she used to convince herself that nothing bad would happen during their day trip.

Yeri wanted to go to an amusement park with Jaehyun.

Because of the danger that the Lycan posed, she decided to accompany her sister. Of course, she'd bring Graham with them since he was the one capable of fighting the bad wolf.

"I know that Graham is dependable, but let's not depend on him too much," Eclaire said while she was busy slicing the kimbap that she made. "We should be vigilant. And when I sense that it's dangerous and we should head home, we will go home right away. Do you understand, Yeri-ya?"

"`Got it, unnie," Yeri said cheerfully, pulling away from the hug. "I'll get ready now. I wonder what outfit to wear today."

Her baby sister hummed while leaving the kitchen to head to her room.

Eclaire just smiled while shaking her head.

[Yeri is really looking forward for today's trip.]

"Noona, can I help you with anything?"

It was Graham who just entered the kitchen while rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

[Ah, he still looks sleepy.]

Well, it couldn't be helped.

She woke up early today because she had to prepare their bento/lunch box. Although they could always buy food in the amusement park, it wouldn't hurt to bring their own food in case they got hungry and the lines for the food stalls and restaurants were too long.

"Can you help me put the kimbap rolls in the bento box?" Eclaire asked Graham. "I'm going to make sandwiches."

Graham, who liked being useful to other people, beamed. "Leave it to me, noona."

She turned to the boy who was now washing his hands with soap in the sink. "Graham, I'd like to apologize in advance."

"For what, noona?"

"We're depending on you too much when it comes to dealing with the Lycan," she said sincerely. "Fighting it alone is dangerous. And yet, I put the responsibility of protecting Yeri on your shoulders. I feel bad about that. Having said that, I'm still grateful that you're with us."

Graham looked touched by what she said. "Noona, you're really kind. You don't have to feel sorry for me. It's only right that I protect you and Yeri since it was my fault as to why the Lycan was roaming free."

"I wish you'd stop blaming yourself for every bad thing that happens around you, Graham."

This time, the wolf boy was rendered speechless.

She was sincere with her wish, though.

"But what if most of the bad things that happened to me were my fault, noona?" he asked weakly. "What if my existence itself was a mistake?"

She felt a pang in her chest.

Of course, she knew very well what Graham was talking about. After all, she had read about the book that described what kind of life he had lived so far.

[It's actually your family's fault that you suffered all this time, Graham.]

But she knew that the boy treasured his family, so she refrained from talking badly about them.

"Graham, this is unsolicited advice, so feel free to ignore it if you want," she said, then she handed a hand towel to him after he was done washing his hand. "You are precious. I hope you stop pleasing everyone in order to make them like you." She gently patted Graham's head the way she would pat Yeri's head to cheer her up. "And only do things that will help you learn to like yourself."

He became teary-eyed suddenly.

It looked like Graham was touched by her words.

"You're such a crybaby," Eclaire teased him lightly, wiping the tears from his face with her hands. "Don't cry. Your eyes will get puffy."

Graham let out a soft laugh, then he nodded. "Thank you for your warm words, noona."

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'MOONSTRUCK WOLF KING' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3