“What are you talking about, Dustin?” the woman asked while rubbing her eyes.
“Come on, Joan, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about it. Didn’t we say we’re going hiking today? I’ve waited a long time for this.”
Joan suddenly remembered their plan and shot out of bed, rushing for the bathroom.
“I’ll be there in a bit!” she cried out before hanging up the phone.
She had taken some sleeping pills to get a good night’s sleep, so she accidentally overslept this morning.
Dang! This is so embarrassing. Everyone must be waiting for me…
“Hey, Joan, where are you now?” Dustin asked wearily when he called again, “Are you even coming?”
“I’m here! I’m here!” Joan rushed out over the phone as she ran toward him.
Dustin was looking into the sky when she saw him.
She looked around but saw no one else.
Hm? I thought he said there were other people. Where are all of them? Did they go somewhere?
“They headed off already. Come, let’s take a picture to commemorate this special moment,” Dustin said, finding a good angle for a selfie.
Joan cast him a confused look.
“Joan’s late today,” Dustin said as his fingers flew across his phone’s keyboard before posting the picture on his social media.
Gabriella saw the photo right after Dustin posted it.
Joan Watts, you’re seriously unbelievable. You’re stringing Larry along over here while playing around with Dustin when you’re abroad. What a b*tch.
Gabriella quickly took a screenshot of the picture and saved it. All she had to do was let Larry have a look at what Joan was up to when the woman went overseas.
“Hey, Larry, you free to talk right now? I have something to tell you,” Gabriella asked with a cute voice.
“What is it? I don’t have time for your bullshit,” Larry replied blatantly.
Do you really find me that annoying?
Gabriella clenched her jaw while listening to his antipathic voice. “You might be interested in a picture I have…”
“I’m not interested,” the man stated curtly, cutting her short.
“I’ve already sent it to you. I’m sure you’ll be interested,” she insisted.
Ding! A notification sounded, indicating that the picture of Joan and Dustin had just been sent to Larry’s phone.
Why are they together?
Larry’s glare turned cold the moment he saw the two people in the photo.
“Seriously, why are you so slow?” Dustin shouted at Joan.
The latter was panting desperately as she turned to look at Dustin, who was standing not too far away from her.
“I’m just not as fit as you, okay?”
He only cares about himself. Can’t he see I’m dying here already?
Despite knowing that her stamina was not as good as his, Dustin deliberately climbed faster to tire her out. He wanted her to forget about everything else and focus on this moment. In his eyes, that was the only way she could vent all her pent-up emotions. He could read Joan like an open book. Although the woman was not verbal about her emotions, he knew exactly how she felt.
“The sun’s gonna set if you don’t hurry up!” he cried out ahead of her.
Joan trailed his gaze and looked at the darkening sky.
It really is getting late. I can’t give up now. I’ve already come so far. With that thought in mind, Joan mustered all her strength and headed up toward Dustin.
By the time the two of them reached the top of the hill, the sky had already turned dark. Joan sat on the ground, rubbing her sore knees.
“Ha!” Dustin suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, looking from the hilltop.
Joan whipped her head towards him, horrified.
Why’s he shouting? Is he depressed or something? He seriously has nothing to worry about. He does everything he likes.
“Come over here, Joan. Shout your heart out,” Dustin said, pulling her up.
“Why should I? I’m feeling okay. I have nothing to shout about,” Joan said, pushing him away.
