When Rose went up on stage Joy excused herself and went to the rest room. After doing her business, she washed her hands on the faucet when she noticed a woman in her fifties stiffling her nose just beside her.
Joy turned her head and saw that the woman is oddly familiar. It seemed like the woman noticed that someone is staring at her so she looked at Joy through the mirror.
Joy can't still figure out who the woman is but the latter seemed to know who Joy is.
"Aren't you Sungjae's girlfriend?"
Joy gasped. How did she know? But then the woman continued. "Are you still together now? I saw you back then when you were still in high school, you were always with him."
Ah! Now Joy remember, she's Sungjae's step mom, she wasn't able to recognize her maybe because she aged but she's still beautiful.
Joy smiled." It's true that I'm his girlfriend but it's only been a while sinve we've started dating, what you saw back then was me pursuing him. " She corrected in humurous way.
The woman laughed. "Omo, jinjja?" She can't believe that the lady in front of her is the one who went after her son.
Joy giggled nodding her head. "Ironic, isn't it?"
The woman shake her head and answered. "Not at all."
Joy noticed that the woman's face looks red and puffy.
"Have you been crying?... Arhm, madam?" Joy asked respectfully, contemplating whether what to call her.
The woman smiled shaking her head. It was just Sungjae being cold to her and all, she just can't get used to it. It's been 10 years but he hasn't warmed up to her yet which she understood completely but if only he knew that her feelings for his father is genuine... She could only sigh.
Joy knows where the woman came from but she's not one to judge a character for she' s been there as well. It must be hard to socialize with other people there.
"Uhm... Do you have someone with you?" Joy started.
"My husband is busy talking with people from other company, I left since I can't relate."
Joy smiled. "Then can I go with you? I want to eat but I'm embarassed to go out there."
The woman gave her a gentle smile and nodded. She knew she was just offering to go with her since she probably looks pitiful but she felt happy nonetheless.
Both of them walked side by side towards the buffet while talking. For some unknown and silent reason, they seemed to find similarities between them. Their eyes shone with delight as they keep on finding things out about each other.
Joy looked around if she could find Sungjae but wasn't able to with all the people inside. Rose was only on her 2nd song since she stops after and interacts with the people first.
After taking a plate of her own, Joy put some vegetables on her plate still interacting with Sungjae's mother.
"I see that you're wearing a suit, are you a bodyguard?" His mom asked.
"ne.."
"You look different from before."
Joy giggled. "I thought so too." By appearance she can agree but honestly, she really didn't change much from before, still hopelessly inlove with a guy. She doesn't know why her heart aches so.
After putting food on her plate Joy and Sungjae's mother was about to go on a vacant table when she turned around, she saw Sungjae standing not far away from them.
Just the sight of him brought a smile on her lips that she smiled widely showing her gums at him, her eyes forming a quarter moon.
"Oh no, he looks quite angry." The woman beside her said.
Joy turned to her and back to Sungjae again, true, he looks quite angry. He's clenching his Jaw and his stare looks deadly.
"It must be because you're with me, I'm sorry."
Joy looked down on the woman and saw that her head is hanging low. It was just for a short while but she can see what the woman is really like.
Joy turned her head towards Sungjae and saw him taking big strides towards them.
Joy knows that Sungjae will confront his mother but he'll surely won't make a scene so she decided to take action first.
"Can I ask you to please put this on the table? I'll just talk to him." Joy asked his mother, handing her her plate which the woman gratefully accepted with an apologetic smile.
Joy nod her head and walked towards Sungjae so he doesn't have to face his mother. Despite the anger on his face, Joy still showed her smile at him.
"Hi" She greeted. She wondered if he saw her text.
When Sungjae was near her, he reached for her hand and held it so he could take her on a corner near a staff room where no one passes by. "Why are you with her?" He asked immediately.
When Rose emerged on the stage, Sungjae then realized that Joy is there at the summit and looked around to find her on the buffet table with that woman.
"We bumped with each other at the rest room and I was shy to get food myself so I asked for her company."
"Still why?" He persisted. "You know right? About her, my family and my past. You know all of it."
"I know but she's not that bad, why don't you give her a chance?" she tried.
Sungjae snapped. "A chance? To that woman?" He scoffed. "Not a chance."
"Still it wouldn't hurt to talk to her, she's been through many things too, I think she's nice." Joy said protecting the woman.
"What the hell do you know? You're not in my place, you don't know what I've been through after that woman appeared in my life, in my family's lives."
Joy sighed. She knew where his anger is coming from and truthfully she doesn't know how to help him with his family so she'll just end their conversation when Sungjae added,
"That woman was all over my father since then, dad must've just took a pity on her." he said looking where the woman is, busy chatting with a woman her age on their table.
His statement struck a chord in Joy's heart. It clenches her there, choking her up.
She heard the people clap and saw that Rose is on her way down the stage. Joy took it as a chance.
She bit her lips and smiled at him.
"I have to go." her 20 minutes is up.
Sungjae knew it was her cue to leave. He held her hand one last time and felt it cold and sweating, he looked up and studied her face.
"You look pale, have you eaten yet?"
Joy shook her head still smiling taking her hand away from him.
"Maybe later... I'm going."
Sungjae can't help but get worried but even before he could reach out to her, she already turned her back on him and hastily left towards the backstage.
Sungjae decided that he'll just call later and ask her. With that in mind, he was about to went back to his table when a guy with head hanging low and with a cap on went past to him in a hurry making him step back.
What the hell...
Irritated, he ignored the guy and walked towards his table.
***
A/n
Brace yourself guys cause I think 2-3 chapters left though there's nothing to brace about for 😂.
Sorry for the long wait and thank you for the patience, votes and especially the comments! I take them to heart and try myself to write a bit better than before.
It's our last week in school and today I just got the time to edit this chapter, It's really hectic when school is about to end, I'm a 3rd yr college by the way turning to 4th yr so I hope you understand the late updates.
Grrr... And here I told myself I won't write A/ns. Sorry, you can just ignore them, I don't mind.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN! SEE YOU NEXT UPDATE ☺️☺️