LUNA'S SKILL

Luna has been staying home as the days pass. She feels bored and is searching for jobs. Even though her man told her that she doesn't need to work because she's pregnant, Luna refused and said, "I can't help but see myself every day without a job, David. Don't worry. Even though I'm pregnant, I will still ensure that my body is in good condition."

"Baby, why do you really want to do that? I can support us on my own."

"I can manage myself, David. I'm just looking for a job that is not too strenuous during my pregnancy. What if I become an online seller? That sounds good, right?"

David took a deep breath and laid his arms on her shoulder for comfort. Even though he tried to explain, Luna really wanted to have a job.

"I know you really love business, Luna. But let's talk about it another day. Will you join me? I'll be attending the Jewelry Fake or Real Competition in Thailand. The competition will be held tomorrow."

"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Luna was disappointed, but the man comforted her before she could cry.

"I'm sorry, baby. Our things are ready now. The competition will only last one day. And let's spend the week there."

David received a pinch from her and just laughed. Luna quickly fixed herself. The man smiled as he watched her waiting downstairs. What a beautiful pregnant woman! Luna was filled with excitement on their way, asking about the rewards after winning.

"A person who can guess correctly from levels one to five will receive a huge amount of money. The winning prize is worth THB 100,000,000. And I've heard that many jewelry shop owners will attend the competition. Do you think we can win it, baby?"

"Of course, we can, David. Let's bring it home. I promise we will win."

"I hope we can, baby."

After a long flight, the airplane landed safely in Bangkok, Thailand. David booked a hotel room. It only took them 10 minutes to travel to the venue for the next morning. Luna held the wall and almost fell, supported by her man's arms when she suddenly felt dizzy. Despite feeling dizzy, she smiled and nodded when her man asked if she was okay.

"You can rest now. I'll call room service."

Her man helped her move into their room. David secured every corner of the room before calling room service. Luna was quietly sleeping when the food was delivered. He approached her, sat on the couch, and gently moved the hair covering her face away.

"Rest well, baby."

His gentle kisses landed on her forehead afterward. He let her rest and started arranging their things. Their night went smoothly, and excitement arose in the morning. David was surprised to find Luna already fixing herself in front of the mirror when he woke up.

"Hey, it's too early in the morning, baby."

"It's already 8:50 in the morning, David. I tried waking you up, but you only said the event starts at 10 a.m. Get up now. Let's eat together afterward."

David held his forehead and immediately rushed to the bathroom. Luna was waiting in the kitchen. He quickly went to the kitchen after getting ready. As they reached the venue, Luna noticed her man's hair and started fixing it along with his tie.

"You're still handsome even if you look messy."

"Thank you, baby."

David took the invitation and showed it to the attendants before they could enter. Most of the people inside were dressed professionally. Luna counted them all, and there were twenty.

"There are no vacant seats in front."

"It's okay, David. Let's sit at the back."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Come on. The competition will start in a few minutes."

Luna calculated their distance, and it was six meters away from the stage. Her man asked if she was okay, and she simply nodded in response. The host of the competition finally appeared in front, and everyone fell silent. Luna smiled when her man turned to her, and the first level began after a short introduction. A necklace was presented inside a crystal box, illuminated by a spotlight to determine if it was fake or real.

"Don't you think it's real, baby?" her man asked.

"Give me a moment. We only have thirty seconds to guess."

Luna used her keen sense of sight to examine the necklace, determining it was made of glass soaked in two colors: green for the pendant and blue for the necklace. When the spotlight hit it, the colors were vibrant and eye-catching, but without the light, the colors faded. It was fragile and easily breakable, with the reflection only visible under the spotlight, David.

"What do you mean? Do you think it's fake?"

"Yeah. Raise the voting paddle for 'Fake' when the time is up."

He followed her instructions and was surprised when she was right. Only they got the correct answer. The host of the show was astonished. The host explained afterward, confirming Luna's accuracy. The necklace was indeed made of glass soaked in two colors, with only the spotlight reflecting its shine, making it easily breakable.

"You did it, baby."

"No, we did it."

The second level is showing, and it features a black gemstone. Everyone else already has an idea except them. Luna is confused as to why there is boiling water next to the black gemstone. However, she examines it.

"Don't you think it's fake?"

"The gemstone appears unoriginal, but I can prove that it's real. Look, if you focus on its appearance, you might think it's unoriginal because you can see spots in different parts of the gemstone. Did you notice the boiling water next to it? That boiling water can prove the gemstone is real. If we place the gemstone in the boiling water, the colors covering the gemstone will fade, and the original color will appear. This means they used a thick color to make it appear fake to everyone, but upon close examination with the boiling water, it's real."

David raised the voting paddle for 'Real,' and the host was surprised again as the second level went to them. Luna simply smiled while everyone looked at them with disappointment and anger.

"You did it again, baby."

"No, we did it again."

The show continued excitingly as they reached the third level, which featured a bracelet with a diamond pendant.

"Don't you think it's real, baby? The bracelet looks gorgeous."

"Yeah, gorgeous like me. Just kidding. Anyways, the bracelet is stunning, but it's fake. The lower part of the diamond pendant is tarnished."

"What? How can you see that?"

"Focus your eyes on the pendant."

David tried to focus on the lower part of the diamond pendant but felt sick afterward. The distance was meters away, making it impossible for him to examine the bracelet.

"I'm feeling sick, baby. I can't examine it any longer."

Luna chuckled secretly and raised the voting paddle for 'Fake.' They were rewarded again, and people inside started to feel annoyed with them. It seemed like they could take home the huge prize money. As they reached the fourth level, it was an antique bowl. Luna immediately recognized the bowl from the 1970s when she visited Bangkok, Thailand with her parents when she was 10 years old.

"The bowl is from the 1970s. My parents and I visited Bangkok, Thailand once, and I remember seeing that antique bowl displayed in the museum."

"Does that mean it's real?"

"Yes. It wouldn't be on display if it were fake."

David raised the voting paddle for 'Real,' and they got it right again. However, the fifth level was the hardest to examine. It was a crown with a more intricate design, featuring emerald, diamond, and pearl. People inside immediately closed their eyes, feeling dizzy after seeing the crown's design, including her man. However, Luna kept her eyes open, examining the crown.

"The crown has emerald, diamond, and pearl. It looks pretty good. But if we compare it to the second crown, that one looks good too. Let's examine them, honey. Do you have any observations on these two crowns?"

"I think... their weights are not the same."

"Absolutely. Now, let's look at their sizes."

"I think... they look... the same, I guess?"

"What if I win? What are your wishes for me?"

Her man was silent about what his offer would be if she could examine it.

"Would you mind if I make you my gold assayer at my Jewel Shop?"

"I'd love that, honey. What's your answer? Is it fake or real?"

"You can do it, baby."

"As you wish, honey."

Luna raised the voting paddle for 'Fake,' and her man was stunned when the host acknowledged that Luna was the only one who correctly examined the crown.

"But how did you know it was fake, baby?"

"Try examining it again, honey. It's not a crown. It's just a block that was furnished and decorated with an emerald, diamond, and pearl. We can consider those three as real, but the body of the crown is not, honey. Now, I'm going to be your manager."

Luna winked at her man and laughed flirtatiously, placing her palm on her lips but still looking gorgeous. All the attendees left the venue disappointedly. David received the THB 100,000,000 with Luna's help.

"Are you okay?" her man asked while they were sitting in the living room.

"Why? Is there something wrong with my face?"

"My wife is quite smart. I wasn't expecting that."

"I'm not that smart. I was just examining it."

Luna was about to leave when her man pulled her closer and sat her on his lap.

"Promise me that I'll be your gold assayer."

"Of course, baby. My one current gold assayer is now signing off and I only have one assayer left. I don't want him to leave, but I can't stop him because of his decision. You're going to be my gold assayer, baby."

"And what are we going to do with that huge amount of money?"

"I'll donate it, baby."

"That's a great idea."

Luna held onto his arm as her vision began to blur, stopping herself from vomiting. She simply nodded in response when her man asked if she was okay. Seeing that she was not in good condition, her man carried her to the room to rest.