Kapitel 23: Chapter 23

“Hey.”

Joy smiled at Vincent and nodded, but he could feel the weird tension between them. “Last-minute shopping before the big day?”

Vincent shook his head. “Just looking around for the right gift for my…my friend.”

Joy was quiet for a second or two. “A boyfriend?”

For a brief moment, Vincent was petrified. Then he reminded himself he was an adult, and he couldn’t care less what his family thought about him anymore. Besides, Joy had never struck him as the kind of person who was homophobic. She was simply stuck between him and her loyalty toward his parents and older brother.

“Yeah.”

“I see. Does Victor know? Or Mom and Dad?”

Vincent snorted. “No and no.”

“Are you going to?”

“Should I?” Vincent retorted, his tone of voice coming out a little sharper than he intended. “Sorry.”

Joy grinned at Vincent as if to reassure him. “It’s fine. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business.”

Vincent waved off her apology. “Don’t worry about it.”