Her Secret (VJoy)

[7]

The day of Taehyung's flight...

Joy looked down on her shoes then slowly lifted her face over the entrance of the airport.

She swallowed her saliva first before going after the guys.

Since they were together for three days, the guys decided to just accompany Taehyung until his flight. After that night, the remaining day was so busy with all the activities they had. Snorkeling, mountain climbing and eating food that they come across to that Joy had no time to think about what happened the other night.

She just wanted to spend time with him peacefully but after what happened to them, his actions was so obvious that the guys noticed, they sneakily gave her knowing glances but Joy refused to utter a word and ignored Taehyung's action.

When she went inside, she was the only one left to say goodbye to him. She walked until they stood face to face.

"Joy"

One last time. Just one last time.

She heaved her chest and showed him a smile.

I'll smile.

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows, he look so defeated.

"I wasn't able to shake your feelings." He stated.

She ignored what he said and focused on what she had to say. "Don't just go on parties, study too. It'll be hard, so take a rest from time to time."

"Is that all?" He asked though he looked hurt.

No. There's still more.

Joy nodded still smiling. "I'll achieve my dream here so achieve yours too."

His face changed suddenly, as if he's about to cry.

"Yah! Are you going to cry? Stop it okay? People are watching, they will laugh at you." She scolded him while hitting his arms at the same time.

He looks a child being left by his mother but still looks handsome. They might even think that she's his mother hitting her child.

His friends on the side who were just watching them end up laughing.

"Oh my god, he's so embarrassing. I want to get out of here." Wendy said while covering her face with her hand.

Taehyung spread his arms in the air pouting, waiting for Joy to hug him. The guys acted as if they're about to puke seeing him pout but the people who were around found him cute and took pictures of him.

Joy stared at the space between his arms, stopping the urge to cry. She slowly walked to him and let herself be engulfed in his embrace.

"I wasn't able to shake you now but I will, when I come back. I'll tear down that cold wall of yours Joy and make you admit your feelings to me. Just you wait. But now, let me hug my bestfriend." He said hugging her tighter.

His last statement made Joy hug him back. That's right, he's still her bestfriend. Atleast that time.

"... And if you are able to find a guy you really like, make sure that he's way better than me."

Joy can't help but scoff, he's really full of himself even at the last moment.

She patted his back. "The same goes for you mister. Make sure the girl you'd come to like will be better than me." She said with confidence, it made Taehyung laugh.

"That's the Joy I know."

They let go of each other when the intercom called his flight.

"I'm going." Taehyung grabbed his suitcase and waved at his friends while walking away from them.

Joy waved at him then her hand suddenly stopped midway, her smile, now gone.

That day, was the last day that she saw Taehyung. He was just in front of her but she missed him already.

It's not that all Taehyung-a, I forgot to tell you. You may not have been able to shake me up, but I wavered.

But above it is her firm resolution. She turned her back and walked away.

Since Jimin had a car with him, Joy was able to hitch a ride near her home. She said goodbye when they left and walked home.

As she's walking on the side of the road, she took a photo from their trip. It was her and the guys in a table with Seulgi holding the camera, since she's a good photographer she always takes a camera with her. She gave it to her when they were on their way home. It must be the reason why she's up all night last night.

They were all smiling in the picture, She was between Seulgi and Wendy while the guys are on the other side of the table. A smile crept on her face.

It was worth it.

She put her finger over Taehyung's face carressing it, hoping that the smile on his face won't ever fade. He's a free spirit, he'll surely achieve his dream. She stared at it one last time before tucking it in her wallet.

When she arrived at their home, she was engulfed by a strong smell of alcohol she almost puke.

She put down her things immediately when she entered and hurriedly searched for her mother. Their house is messier than usual, clothes are thrown everywhere and there were broken glasses in the kitchen.

Joy rolled up her sleeves and started picking up pieces of the broken glass because her mother might get hurt, there was suddenly a loud crash, Joy almost ran towards the bedroom.

When she opened the door, her mother is sitting on the side of the bed drinking a bottle of soju. She immediately took it from her hand.

"Enough mom, you're wasted. Please lie on the bed and sleep." Joy said calmly.

Her mother looked up, the bags under her eyes were dark already from lack of sleep.

"You're back?" She scoffed. "Why did you come back? Just go to that guy! He's your bestfriend right?! You'll have a better life there than here. So give me back my drink!" she reached for the bottle but Joy took it farther from her.

"GIVE IT TO ME!" her mother shouted frantically.

Joy calmed herself down. "No mom. You're not going to drink anymore. I'm confiscating your drinks. I won't let you drink alcohol anymore."

"What are you saying? I SAID GIVE IT BACK!"

"MOM!" Joy shouted for the first time, she took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Stop this already. Please, I'm begging you."

"Why are you being like this? Since when did you care?

Joy controlled her emotion from getting unto her and calmly looked at her mother.

"Was he that great mom?" She can't help herself from speaking up. "Was that man so great for you to lose yourself over him?! WAS HE?!"

Her mother stared at her, stupefied from what she asked suddenly. Of course she'll be, Joy had never asked or talked about her father ever since she was a child but she knew that he's the reason why her mother became what she is now.

"Why do you think I care? It's because of me mom. BECAUSE OF ME!" She pointed at herself not stopping the tears that streamed down her face. "It's not about you mom. I stopped thinking for yoursake but mine. For many years... All I've wanted is to live like others. For me... I want to live for my sake but... I need you mom." Joy slowly sat on the floor sobbing.

"I need my mom."

She kept all the bitterness inside, she bottled it up but now it broke just like how her heart did, it keeps on flowing out. The bitterness turned to tears.