Chapter 3 Two

"Joanna, are you okay? And who was that person who dropped you off? Wow! Ha? On your first day of work, you already have a-uhhmm... friend, not a boyfriend, right?"

I slumped down on a monobloc chair and gave Katastrophe a tired look. She raised an eyebrow. I sighed and told her about everything that happened today. After Justin dragged me out of his office, we went straight to the private elevator, which only he and his family members can use.

I didn't know if it was right to talk to Katastrophe about it, considering I didn't know what to say. So, in the end, I chose to remain silent. Until we reached the parking lot. He didn't even glance back, just reached out his hand, and we walked together towards a car-a Bugatti.

He opened the shotgun seat, and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. What did he want me to do? Where was he taking me? Fortunately, our hands weren't intertwined, so it was easy for me to take a step back away from his car.

"Hop in." He said in a firm tone. Reluctantly, I got into the car. I tried to get out, but it was locked, and before I knew it, the driver's seat opened, and he entered. Once again, our eyes met, and we exchanged icy glares.

"I don't know what you're planning, but I have no intention of going anywhere with you." I didn't wait for his response and quickly unfastened the seatbelt he had put on me, intending to leave before he could catch me again. But unexpectedly, he leaned over and grabbed my hands, holding them tightly with his.

The moment of him kissing me felt like it lasted for ages. I was panting and breathless, still hunched in my seat. Justin, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened. He was chilling while driving, and since I couldn't keep my head down forever, I casually shifted my gaze to the window, but my full attention was still on him.

I noticed that the route we were taking seemed familiar to me, and my eyes widened with realization-it was the way to our rented house. I was stunned when he stopped right in front of our house. As I looked at him, I only realized one thing-Justin didn't even have pores! Huhu! Meanwhile, I was starting to have them! Why is life so difficult here in the Philippines? It's hard to find a job even if you're a college graduate, and the salary is meager. Sigh.

"What are you still looking at?" Justin asked irritably, and my heart pounded faster. How embarrassing! He noticed that I was staring at him!

"N-nothing! Thank you for the ride!" I quickly got out of his car and entered our house. I was about to have a moment behind our door, but Katastrophe was there, eavesdropping. Psh. So, I went straight to our dining table and slumped down.

"Oh, gosh, yeah! There's a six-million damage fee! And we don't even have a single cent!" Katastrophe told me after reading my contract with Smith House.

"So, you have no choice. You have to finish the contract. Haha! Good luck!" Then she left the house. That crazy girl! Where could she be going at this hour? She's asking for trouble, but she's already an adult, so she can handle her own life.

Oh, for crying out loud! I counted about five hundred sheep while lying in bed, and I still couldn't fall asleep until it reached three AM! That's when I finally succumbed to sleep. Damn that kiss from Justin, it kept lingering in my mind!

Every time I closed my eyes, I imagined him and me kissing inside his car! And I was actually participating in it- he was the one who kissed me! And I woke up abruptly at five AM.

Since my work didn't start until eight AM, I tried to go back to sleep, but darn it, sleep refused to visit me again! I tried all sorts of sleeping positions, but in the end, since it was still early, I decided to take a walk until I reached Burnham Park.

I still remembered when I was a child; Mommy used to bring me here whenever she wanted to take a stroll in the park. She told me stories about how she used to go on morning walks here when she was pregnant with me.

But everything has changed now-it's been a long time since I've seen her because we're not on good terms. She couldn't accept the fact that I got married early-

"Joanna!" My musings were interrupted when I heard my name. Naturally, I turned around because the voice calling me sounded familiar. Just as I looked back, I heard my name again.

"Joanna!" My heart raced faster, and the butterflies returned to my stomach when I saw Justin! No! I can't make a mistake, even though he was wearing shades that covered almost his entire face.

I stood up from the bench, even pointed at myself. He didn't answer, but it seemed like not answering was his usual habit. Hmm... I only discovered that now? Well, when we were still together, even if what I said didn't make sense, he would still respond. Before I realized it, I was already walking towards him.

"Joanna, come here." He said, so now I was sure that he was calling me. As I approached him, our eyes suddenly met. I don't know if it was just me, but it felt like the surroundings slowed down, and it was just the two of us existing in this park.

I have to add that Justin looked really hot in his jogging attire. He was wearing a tank top, jersey shorts, basketball shoes, and his phone was strapped to his left arm with an armband, with earphones plugged in.

Then we heard a loud and bold dog howl, and I looked down at his feet, realizing that he had a dog with him. He turned to the dog and spoke.

"Good job, Joanna." He said to the dog, raising my eyebrows. He then took the frisbee-like object from the dog's mouth and threw it into the grass, commanding the dog to fetch.

What the heck! Did I hear that right? He named his dog Joanna?! This Justin guy is such a jerk!