Kay had done so on instinct when she saw him noticing Akira.

The last thing she wanted was for the enemies in the shadows to know that they had back-up. That would make them more vigilant. As it was, the sight of her with two kids gave the impression that they were weak.

However, when she grabbed his hand to bring him to the cookie stand, she received a bit of a jolt.

Why?

A thought went through her mind but she quickly shoved it aside.

She had read too many romance novels, it seems.

Her one little vice.

Reading those 'no-need-brain-cells' type of novels … though some of those romance novels actually killed your brain cells.

Like, how could the female lead do that? Why did the female lead fall asleep while the male lead kept going on at it? Were they really so stupid and delicate??

Anyway, another common factor was the way the female lead would be breathless whenever he was near. How she would feel this electric shock when they touched.

Right now, Kay was feeling that.

Well, it wasn't really an electric shock. She couldn't quite describe it, but upon feeling that hand in hers, she thought … his hand is nice.

Hand …

Nice …

Kay wanted to facepalm herself badly.

But she had a mission to do.

She gripped his hand tighter.

Just to confirm what she was feeling and thinking.

Yup.

He had really nice hands.

While Kay was having this inner monologue, Joseph was having his own difficulties.

He had never held hands with a girl before.

Sure, it wasn't as if he didn't have girls for friends, but all of the interactions he had with them were normal. Joking about, smacking on the shoulder, casual teasing (not the flirtatious type).

You know. Normal.

This, however, was beyond what he was used to and he couldn't help but feel … her hand was nice.

It was soft and fit into his hand so well.

Kay had delicate fingers and delicate hands and .. and … Joseph mentally smacked his forehead.

Where were his thoughts going?!

✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿

Joseph was still thinking about his reaction towards Kay and was feeling quite upset about it, truth be told.

He sat in the waiting lounge, deep in thought when Kay suggested that they go to the bathroom. Toilet, really, since it didn't have a place for a shower but 'toilet' sounded rather crude to say.

Joseph hesitated at first, for he didn't really need to but upon her insistence, he did so.

With a sigh, he followed behind them and headed towards the male WC. Joseph thought idly that saying WC or 'water closet' was even weirder than calling a toilet, even though it was the correct term.

Joseph headed to the cubicle, not feeling comfortable to be using the urinals. Upon closing the door, he heard other people coming in but didn't think much about it.

His face frowned when he heard some sort of scuffle, a muffled grunt and then, then someone entered the cubicle next to him.

No. Wait.

TWO people entered?!

Joseph's eyes went wide at the thought.

They weren't going to … do that, were they?!

Joseph quickly did his business and practically ran out of the cubicle. The last thing he wanted to hear was two guys going at it in the toilet. He jerked when he heard the door to the cubicle open and his eyes went up to the mirror.

"Akira??!" he gasped, turning around.

Akira placed a finger on his lips, then took out a chewing gum that he had been chewing. Making it into a small ball, he placed it at the lock area and then closed the cubicle door.

With a nonchalant expression, he washed his hands.

Joseph's eyes darted to the closed cubicle door. Did Akira do such a great job that his partner was knocked out in absolute bliss in there? But he hadn't even heard any sound … and it was over so quickly …

Joseph blinked rapidly at Akira.

Kyle's bodyguards were capable indeed.

If Akira knew what was going on in Joseph's mind, he'd probably vomit blood. As it was, he merely nodded and smiled at Joseph, then left the bathroom. Joseph shook his head.

Joseph soon followed after and found that the girls hadn't come out yet. So, he did what he normally did. Whipped out his phone and started playing to pass the time.

✿✿✿✿✿✿

Life settled down like a dream for Joseph.

The life of the Smiths was incredibly rich and decadent.

Well, sure, they weren't showing off nor had pretentious items but … compared to his normal, mundane life, the whole experience was something surreal.

Lianne adapted pretty well and strangely enough, she stayed in Kyle's room.

Apparently, Kyle was hardly home so it was okay.

Still, why was it okay?!

The Smith Mansion had plenty of rooms … didn't it?

Take his room for example.

It was a teen boy's dream come true type of room. State-of-the-art gaming computer. A gaming chair. Wide-screen smart tv. Game console with pre-loaded games which just happened to be the types that he liked.

All fully paid for and he already had an account with some e-cash in it. His eyes popped out wide open when he saw the amount in that .. $10,000.

He gulped.

When Joseph had asked Kay about it, she just shrugged and said that Kyle had done his research. He knew the sort of games he liked, so he had them set up. As for the e-cash?

Just some petty cash, she said.

Petty. Cash.

Joseph rubbed the space between his eyebrows.

He was sitting on the gaming chair and he took stock of his life.

He was a normal guy.

He looked around his room.

While this?

This was way beyond his world.

He took out his phone and stared at a picture he had taken secretly.

*She* was way out of his world.