Lie Again! Chapter 50

<Chapter 50. Christmas commotion (4)> 

 

The children, except for Evan, were huddled together, hidden behind a low shrub adorned with sparkling fairy lights, keeping watch on the man. 

 

Evan was sitting next to Jin with his arms crossed, leaning his back against the tree and closing his eyes.

 

“If Joey saw this, would they break up?”

 

Ruth quietly murmured as he raised his phone to discreetly film the man. The man had his arm gently draped over the woman’s shoulder, whispering something in her ear. Her soft, tinkling laughter drifted all the way to where they were hiding behind the bushes.

 

“If they don’t break up after seeing this, then I’ll have to tell Peter to lock her in her room or something.”

 

Amanda responded cynically. Jin gave a small nod in agreement.

 

“Hey, who do you think is better looking—me or that b*stard?”

 

Dustin, who had been glaring at the man with a look of displeasure, finally spoke up.

 

“That b*stard.” 

 

“….”

 

Dustin closed his mouth again.

 

After a while of idle chatter, the group suddenly went silent as they noticed a small figure approaching the man, their eyes widening in surprise.

 

“Isn’t that Joey?”

 

The moment Ruth pointed, the woman—presumed to be Joey—looked straight in their direction.

 

“Hide, hide.”

 

The startled children flattened themselves to the ground. Thankfully, Joey didn’t seem to notice them and strode purposefully towards the man.

 

“Did you contact Joey?”

 

At Jin’s puzzled question, the kids shook their heads one by one.

 

“Then how did she even know to come here?”

 

“What should we do? Just watch?”

 

“For now… let’s just wait and see.”

 

Jin watched Joey approach the man with a tense expression.

 

Joey let out a short laugh as she stood in front of the man with her arms crossed.

 

“You said you were going to meet your cousin. You’re really close with your cousin, huh?”

 

The kids stretched their necks, trying to catch the faintly ringing voice.

 

“Cupcake! What are you doing here…?”

 

“How did I get here? You were tagged in your cousin’s post. Your cousin kindly shared your entire route, too.” 

 

“Cousin? What are you talking about?”

 

The woman who had been standing next to the man stepped away from him. Even from a distance, the deep crease between her brows looked anything but ordinary.

 

“No, that’s….” 

 

“Hello! Are you William Harris’s cousin? I’m actually his girlfriend. Though I’m guessing he introduced me to you as his cousin.”  

 

At Joey’s words, the woman instantly grasped the situation and shot to her feet. Smack! The sharp sound of her hand striking the man’s cheek echoed through the plaza. 

 

“Wow.”

 

Dustin exclaimed in admiration.

 

The woman, who had landed a clean slap on his cheek, didn’t seem satisfied—she struck him twice more in quick succession before storming out of the plaza, fuming. The startled gazes of passersby followed her retreating figure.

 

“You b*stard. If you’re going to cheat, at least put in some effort. Same date spots, same gifts? You were planning to come here with me tomorrow too, right? Making back-to-back plans with different women on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Impressive, really.”

 

“So what are you going to do?” 

 

As he listened to the torrent of words spilling from Joey, the man, rubbing his stinging cheek with one hand, tilted his head with a smug, nonchalant air.

 

“Are you even going to break up with me?”

 

“Of course! …I just want to know why. Why did you do that to me?” 

 

Joey shouted, then asked the reason after a moment of hesitation. In response to her uncertain voice, the man simply shrugged his shoulders.

 

“You’re not worth that much effort, cupcake. You just giggle at the slightest smile and agree to anything I suggest. I was with you not because I liked you, but because you were easy and it was fun, Joey.” 

 

Because you acted so cheaply.

 

At the man’s final remark, Dustin shot up with a terrifyingly hardened expression.

 

Kick!

 

And the moment he stood up, Amanda kicked him in the shin, sending him tumbling across the grass. The sound alone was painful enough to make Ruth shudder involuntarily.

 

“Just watch quietly. Joey will handle it herself.” 

 

Amanda’s cold voice fell above Dustin, who was groaning while clutching his leg.

 

“I knew it all along. That you’re just trash with a shiny exterior, that you kept looking down on me. I only pretended not to notice because I didn’t want to admit that Mandy was right… Look at you now. She already knew you weren’t worth my time.”

 

Jin stole a sideways glance at Amanda, who stood silently with her arms crossed. Her face was expressionless as usual, but in the way she looked at Joey, concern and worry quietly seeped through. 

 

She felt relieved that the two friends seemed about to reconcile, yet at the same time, a bitter taste lingered on her tongue. It reminded her of the once unshakable bond she had shared. 

 

Even if they exchanged harsh words, there was an unshakable belief that beneath it all lay affection for her—an unwavering ally who wouldn’t easily turn away. 

 

There was a time she believed that kind of relationship would last forever.

 

Now, Jin knows that vague values like friendship and love, trust and justice—intangible and hard to explain—can shatter at any moment.

 

They’re like porcelain—shaped with great time and care, yet able to shatter in an instant. All it takes is one wrong move, and everything breaks with a harsh crack, rendering all the effort meaningless.

 

Jin had decided not to give her whole heart to values that might disappear at any moment anymore. The more she cherished them, the more it would hurt when they broke. 

 

Still, Jin hoped—hoped that what Amanda and Joey had would shine for a long time without getting hurt. She wished she could watch it with a joyful heart for as long as she stayed here.

 

“While you were busy treating me like an idiot and having your fun, I wasn’t just sitting around, you know. Photos, texts, videos—there’s a ton of stuff, Will! I’ll make sure the whole world knows what trash you are. You know I’ve got quite a few followers, right? At the very least, you’ll be famous all over Florida.”

 

Meanwhile, the argument between the two gradually escalated, reaching its peak when Joey pulled out the phone she had been hiding in her hand. 

 

The recording screen on the device was flashing, recording their conversation in its entirety. 

 

“Don’t do anything stupid. Just delete the file while I’m still asking nicely.”

 

The man, his face twisted in anger, stepped toward Joey threateningly. Just as Joey, tense and wary, took a step back—

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“….!” 

 

Amanda pushed Dustin’s back. Without even a chance to grasp the situation, Dustin stumbled forward, tripping through the bushes and appearing awkwardly in front of the two. 

 

There was a brief silence at the sudden intrusion.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

“Dusty?” 

 

As Joey’s confused voice rang out, Dustin, who had been standing there dumbfounded, snapped out of it and stepped in front of her protectively.

 

“What are you?”

 

The man, who had frowned at the sudden appearance of the large stranger, glanced between the two of them before letting out a derisive chuckle.

 

“Well, looking at you now, it doesn’t seem like you’re in any position to talk either.”

 

“Don’t talk crap. You think I’m like you? He’s just a friend!”

 

“Haa. Give me your phone, Joey.”

 

Just as the man ignored Dustin and reached out toward Joey, Dustin, who had been standing still, suddenly grabbed the man’s wrist in a firm grip.

 

“Let go, or not?”

 

The man struggled to free his wrist from Dustin’s grasp. But even as his face turned bright red with effort, the hand clamped around his wrist didn’t budge an inch.

 

As the humiliated man stepped forward, looking ready to throw a punch, Dustin quietly opened his mouth to speak. 

 

“When I say this nicely, just leave. See over there? My friends are recording all of this right now. All of it.”

 

The man spat on the ground as he spotted Ruth waving with a phone in hand, right where Dustin was pointing. Only then did Joey, realizing the kids’ presence, open her eyes wide in surprise.

 

Fine, let go, damn it. When Dustin released his grip, the man shook off his reddened wrist with a scowl.

 

“Think carefully, Joey. If you don’t want to roll around in the mud together.”

 

Joey waved her middle finger at the man who was leaving after making a vicious threat until the end.

 

But his confident demeanor didn’t last long—once the man had completely disappeared, the tension drained from him, and he collapsed onto the ground with a thud. 

 

Amanda, who had quietly approached, gently patted her on the shoulder. Joey looked up at her with teary eyes and spoke.

 

“You were right, Mandy. I’m sorry. For… calling you that, for being so stubborn—everything.”

 

“I wasn’t really upset. I wasn’t trying to ignore you or look down on you. I just didn’t have the time, with exams and the exhibition match happening at the same time. That’s not what I meant to say, but… I’m not good with words. Sorry.”

 

After hearing Joey’s apology, Amanda responded calmly. Unlike her usual straightforward self, her words came a bit hesitantly—and they were longer than usual. 

 

Her tone was flat, but even Jin could see that she was doing her best.

 

And knowing that better than anyone, Joey threw herself into Amanda’s arms.

 

“…Waaah, Mandy! I was so scared.”

 

“Sigh. Well, at least we all ended up together on Christmas Eve. Let’s not fight over stuff we’re just going to make up about anyway, guys. I’m tired, so tired.”

 

Ruth sighed deeply as he watched the two make up. Dustin nodded quickly next to him. 

 

“Yeah, somehow we all ended up together.”

 

At Ruth’s words, Jin was reminded of their promise to meet on Christmas Eve. With a relieved smile, she looked around at the kids. Now that her biggest recent worry had been resolved, all that was left was to truly enjoy the holiday break. 

 

This holiday break was going to be a busy one. With Ivy, Riley, her friends… and probably spending time with that boy too. Jin stole a quick glance at Evan, who was watching the others from a distance. 

 

“You guys are really having fun.”

 

Evan met Jin’s eyes and whispered his impressions in Jin’s ear.

 

* * *

 

However, a carefree holiday break didn’t come easily to Jin. 

 

In the corner of the living room, bathed in swirling orange and teal lights with soft guitar riffs flowing from the large speakers, Olivia crossed her arms arrogantly and twirled Jin’s hair around her finger. 

 

“I thought you’d be quiet. You’re cooler than you look.”

 

“What?”

 

Jin frowned at her attitude that hid her sharp thorns.

 

“I didn’t know you were so good at stealing other people’s boyfriends. What’s your secret?”

 

Ah, I probably shouldn’t ask about this. It’s your trade secret, right?

 

At Olivia’s exaggerated murmur, the girls surrounding Jin burst into laughter. 

 

The only one who didn’t laugh was Emily Gwen, who stared at Jin coldly.