DISEASE

> "I gave them everything, and they still asked for more."

Dinner was quiet. Too quiet.

Mun had learned to fear silence more than anger. At least anger meant she still existed.

Nix was laughing at a video on his phone, chewing chicken her mother cooked specially for him. Mun got rice and lentils. Again. No salt.

"I got full marks today," Nix said, grinning.

Her mother kissed his forehead. "You're my golden boy."

Mun looked down. The spoon trembled in her hand.

"I submitted scholarship applications abroad," she mumbled.

No one looked at her.

"I did everything alone. I wrote essays. I researched deadlines. I even emailed professors—"

Her mom cut in, "You should help in the kitchen more instead of wasting time. These dreams aren't for people like us."

"But I—"

"You'll end up with nothing. Just like your cousin Rina. Dreamed big, now she's married and has a kid. At least she's useful now."

Useful.

That word stabbed deeper than any insult.

She wanted to scream. Wanted to throw her plate. Wanted to cry. But crying didn't work here. Crying only made her weak.

So she smiled.

A sharp, tired smile that said, I'm still here.

They'd never love her the way they loved Nix. No matter how many trophies she brought home, how many nights she stayed up studying, or how many dreams she folded into applications.

Love was a reward. And she hadn't earned it.

Not in their eyes.

But one day…

She would love herself enough to leave.

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