Sinner

Chapter 70

*Esmee POV*

*English*

Something feels different with Joylce. I look at Joylce; my loving, quick-witted, strong, usually emotionless leader who is hiding something from us. I must confess that I saw something a couple of nights ago which I probably shouldn't have.

"Joylce," I say as we reach the bathroom.

"Yes, Esmee," Joylce says softly, showing me a kind smile.

"Um, are the anti-fans getting to you," I ask, trying my best to avoid her kind gaze?

"Of course not, why is seeing the anti-fans comments about us bothering you," she asks, holding on to my hand.

Do I tell her?

"You're sure," I ask as the feeling of guilt settles into my stomach as this is the first time I have questioned Joylce like this.

"Of course, have ever lied to you before," she asks.

"No," slips from my mouth.

"Why are you asking," she asks me.

I can't lie to her.

"Um a couple of days ago, your door was open and I walked past your room to see you crying," I blurted out.

She widens her eyes then stumbles back a couple of steps. Her feet looked like they weighed twenty-two kilograms while her shoulder dropped and her breathing hitch. Her arms lifelessly dangle on the sides of her body.

This was a mistake!

"Um... Well... I don't want to talk about it," she says as she hugs herself.

My chest starts aching seeing my emotionless leader freak out like that, this wasn't pain that I saw when Chaeryeong cheated on Joylce. This was more intense pain.

"It's a long story," she says as her emerald green eyes water up and she plays with her ring.

"You don't have to tell me," I say avoiding all eye contact as looking at my leader in this state feels illegal.

"I'm going to change," she says quickly running into one of the stalls.

I looked at myself in the mirror and all I could see was Joylce crying, alone in her bed. I remember her hugging a photo frame, I shake off the painful memories of Joylce and change into my outfit after walking into a bathroom stall.

I open the bathroom stall door to see Joylce sitting on the counter waiting for me. She staring at her phone. She looks like she is focused on her phone and I see her typing fast.

Who is she texting?

"You look amazing," I say, making her smile.

"Thank you, you don't look half bad yourself," she says.

"We should head out," I say making her nod her head.

We walked out of the bathroom.

*Korean*

"Oh sorry... Hyunjin?" Joylce says as she looked at the visual of StrayKids.

"Joylce, wow you look .... Amazing," he says looking at Joylce up and down. Joylce quickly covers her body and rolls her eyes.

"Save it," she spits out.

"What?" He asks.

"Why are you here?" She asks as she crosses her arms and glare at handsome.

"Felix wanted to tag along, why are you so angry at me," he asks.

"I don't want to speak to you," she says.

"Joylce, we haven't talked since that night. I thought you would miss me," he says.

Joylce just walks past him like he was nothing.

"Did...I do something," he mumbles to himself before walking into the bathroom.

What just happened?

"Esmee noona," Yeosang says making me look up at him. "Wow," he mumbles as his cheeks are flushed.

"Yeosang...hi," I manage to say as I look at the shirtless guy.

"You-you loo-ok amazing," he says as I feel my face get hot.

"You too," I say as I mentally curse.

How does Valentina do this?

I look at him before looking away. I notice him do the same.

"Um... Ashton was looking for you," he says as I feel his eyes glued me. I attempt to not stare at him but I'm currently failing at it.

"We should go," I say as walk in front of him. Aashi looks at me with a smirk on her face.

Why is she looking at me like that?

What did she do?

What is she planning?

I trip on a soda bottle and fall back but I was caught before my body touched the hot sand.

"Noona, you should be more careful," Yeosang's soft voice says.

"Sorry, I didn't see the bottle, " I say as I stare at his face looking at his soft smile.

We stayed like that for a couple more seconds studying each other faces like we had a test in a couple of seconds.

"OMG LOOK AT THEM!" I hear Fathima yell.

"THEY'RE IN LOVE!" Maddie yells.

"JUST DATE ALREADY!" Johnny shouts supporting his girlfriend.

"MY HEART CAN'T DEAL!" Felix adds.

Making me quickly get off of him.

"Sorry," I say as bow and quickly run to where Aashi is.

*English*

"You," I say pointing at Aashi.

"Me," she says as the others overhear.

"You made me fall," I accuse her.

"What if I did," she says leaning back and smirking at me.

"Ugh, I looked like an idiot in front of him," I say as I feel my blood boil.

"You always look like an idiot," she calmly says as we hear someone open a bag of popcorn.

We look up to see Soyoung open a bag of popcorn.

"Continue fighting," Soyoung says as Fathima eats a handful of popcorn.

"He must think I'm dumb!" I shout.

"Don't worry he into dumb bitches like you," Aashi smugly responds.

"I hate you," I say.

"Sweetie you know you love me," Aashi says.

"Never," I say as I cross my arm.

"Oh please, I know you more than anyone here," Aashi says as we hear the English line eating.

"UGH, YOU ARE SO ANNOYING!" I shout.

"Yeh I know, but at least I made you fall into his arms like you always wanted," Aashi says with a smirk on her face.

Ugh, she is not wrong.

I widen my jaw before quickly closing my jaw.

"I never wanted that," I say as I fidget with my bikini bottom.

Aashi raises her eyebrows.

"Surrrreeeee," she says making me roll my eyes.

"Whatever," I say as I get a handful of popcorn and shove it down my throat.

We ended up taking a bunch of merch photos and ate at the beach. Joylce continues to avoid Hyunjin's failed attempts at communication. Yeosang held my hand.