CLAUDE'S P.O.V

(a week later)

I've never felt so anxious and panicked at the same time until this day. Today I'll be going to Dion's graduation party, and the first thing we'll be doing is going to the airport to meet Dion there. I've texted him once, and he said I need to be chill when I meet their father. The famous businessman Wayne Wright is the father of Jocelyn Wright. My soulmate. I hope I didn't give him a wrong first impression.

"I can't come with you?!" Jessie cried on the phone.

"Invitation only, honey."

"Fine," I can feel her pouting, "what does her brother look like? Is he hot?"

"Pull up your pants, Jess. He has a fiancee," I said to the phone.

"Can you tell me how did it go after?"

"Sure, I'll call you the first thing I woke up tomorrow morning."

"Oh, make sure you're waking up at Joy's bed. Love you!"

"I hate you too," I said to her and ended the call. I looked at the clock, and Joy will arrive in an hour. I wore the same outfit I had at Homecoming, and I added a black suit just how Joy wanted. I grabbed my black overcoat and went downstairs.

I saw my dad choke on his drink when he saw my outfit, "you look... sharp. Are you sure it's a graduation party?"

"A party of a rich businessman whose son got a PhD from Oxford."

"Ohh, classy. How did you get associated with a rich family?" My mom asked while sipping her wine, "it sounds shady."

"Oh right, cause I'm working for a mafia mom," I said sarcastically, and my parents stopped from whatever they were doing, "do you think I'm working for a mafia? Please, it's Mr. Wayne's party."

"Don't worry, honey, we still love you," my mom said as I rolled my eyes. Suddenly I heard the doorbell go off and I immediately recognised who it was.

I opened the door and was greeted by an angel wearing a white dress, and her hair was in a tight bun, "H- hi," I greeted awkwardly—good job, Claude, "you look beautiful."

"You don't look so bad yourself, Harris," Joy laughed, and I saw a smirk forming on her lips, "and you wear a suit."

"Well, you said I'd look good in a suit, so... Why not?" I said, grinning. Joy leaned closer and pecked my cheeks. I can feel my face getting hotter from the minor gesture.

"Is that you, Joy?" My mom asked from behind me. I stepped away from the door, so my parents could see Joy, "my God, Joy, you look gorgeous," Joy gave my mother a genuine smile and thanked her.

"I can't believe I'm letting my daughter get picked up instead of getting there by herself," my dad said jokingly, but I take that seriously.

"Dad," I glare at him, and he laughs.

"You look good, Joy. Next time, let Claude drive herself," my dad said as he shook Joy's hand.

"Thank you, Charles. It's not a problem," Joy said, waving it off.

"I'm off now. I'll be back before you know it," I said to my parents. After I kissed them goodbye, I entered Joy's tesla, and we left my neighbourhood. It was silent on the way, but Joy finally spoke something.

"I like your parents," I saw her smirking while her eyes focused on the road.

"Me too," I said, agreeing. Even if my parents always embarrassed me in front of anyone. But they're still my parents, "if you enjoy them so much, you can come over to my house sometimes."

"Thank you. I want to offer you the same thing but... My fiancee and shit," Joy hissed at the thought, "look at the bright side. You will be meeting my brother now since he is constantly inviting you over."

"I hope that's a good thing," I said.

"I hope it is," she sighed as she stopped at a red light, "you're also going to meet my father. So, put up a face- you know what. Put up a face in front of everyone except my brother, his fiancee, and me."

"How many people are there?" I asked curiously.

"Enough to make me go crazy," Joy stepped on the gas when the lights went green.

"Where's Martin, by the way?" I asked, and her face smile turned upside down. I shouldn't have asked.

"He's with my father at the airport," she answered. I nodded in understanding and kept my mouth shut.

Finally, we've arrived at the airport, and Joy didn't stop until we entered the hangar. I've never gone to the hangar until now, and I saw plenty of jets that mesmerised me.

"Never been here before?"

"Not really," I said while I looked around.

"I can tell by your face. You look like a kid mesmerised by their idol," Joy said the same sentence that I said to her.

Then we stopped at a hangar, and I saw two familiar people there who looked like they were waiting for someone. I got out of the car as the snow dropped down to my face. Thank God I wore a suit and a coat, but unfortunately, Joy was only wearing a dress. As I was about to give my jacket to her, I saw Martin already putting his coat over Joy's body.

"I specifically told you to wear a coat," He said to Joy, and she apologised.

Joy walked toward me and grabbed my hand, "I'll introduce you to my father," as I was about to speak, she stopped me, "no complaints. The sooner, the better."

I sighed and gave in. Joy led me to her father and introduced me to him, "Father. This is Claude Harris, a friend of mine."

I saw Wayne furrowed her eyebrows. He looked confused at first, but he shook my hand. I'm sure he's confused because she never brings any of her friends with her, "I'm Wayne Wright. You can call address me by Mr Wayne. It's nice to meet you, Claude."

"Yes, sir. It's an honour to meet you," I said as I tried to make as respectful as ever.

"Really? An honour?" Joy thought inside her head as I tried not to laugh.

"It's rare to see my daughter bring a friend to our family occasion," Wayne said to his daughter.

"Dion asked for her to come. I guess there's something he wants from my friend here," Joy answered. Her father hummed and nodded in understanding.

Not long after that, a jet went towards our hangar, and I saw Joy getting impatient for the plane to stop. When the plane stop and the door opened, I saw Dion and his fiancee walking down. She ignored the cold of December and immediately ran towards her brother and tackled a hug. Her brother was happy to hug her back.

Then Dion and his fiancee greeted Mr Wayne and Martin. The last person to greet is me. I can feel my heart pounding fast and my arm tremble. Even though I have met them before, but the fact that I know their deepest secret, and no one knows except me. I shook Emilia's hand and moved to Dion, "Harris, it's good to meet you again."

"Yes, it's good to meet you again too."

Then he took a deep breath before speaking again, "thank you for coming to my graduation party since you wanted to know about physics," he said loudly and enough to attract the other's attention.

I widened my eyes in shock; what is he talking about? Dion made a face, which made me clear my throat and goes along with it, "y- yeah, physics," I replied as I hid my confusion behind my smile.

Dion smirked at me as he went to Martin's car, followed by his father and fiancee. Joy and I walked back to her car, and she whispered, "I didn't know you liked physics?"

"Neither do I," I said and laughed.

After that, we went to Wright's mansion. There was a small surprise when Dion stepped inside the house with their cousins. Everything was new to me because I'd never been to a rich people's party. Everyone was wearing suits and dresses, and I felt like the only girl wearing a shirt instead of dresses.

Also, I did what Joy told me to, put up a face. What makes me sane is Joy by my side all the time, so I don't feel left out. I was impressed by Joy's fakeness every time she talks to someone and how her laugh sounds authentic and take at the same time. The only thing that made me uncomfortable was that I could feel Martin's eyes watching over me, and the aunts were touching my arm all the time.

After talking tiredly with random people, we went upstairs, which was empty, and went to the balcony. I can see the backyard clearly from up here, and the people down there look like ants going around here and there. Then Joy put a bottle of wine on a coffee table and two glasses.

Joy pours both glasses, "take it."

"I didn't know we were allowed to drink here."

"It's my house. I might have a stash of alcohol here," Joy shrugged and sipped her wine. I sipped mine, and I was shocked by the taste.

"Holy shit. What is this?" I said as I drank the whole glass, "I've never tasted expensive wine in my entire life, and this motivates me to steal my parent's liquor."

Joy laughed and looked down, "how do you like it here?"

I thought of an answer as I poured another wine, "it's interesting. It's my first time attending a formal party."

Joy waved me off and laughed, "this is nothing. You should know what it's like to attend's my father's business events."

"Many rich husbands and their wives trying to get a divorce?" I asked jokingly, and she laughed.

"There's some, but primarily horny single men's," she said.

"I wouldn't want to know," I replied as I drank another round. I smiled at her and saw her beautiful feature shining in the moonlight. Her smile was the only thing I could look at for a million years, and I wouldn't be bored looking at it.

I took my hands up and put her hair around her ears to see her eyes clearly, "how can you be this perfect?"

Joy looked down to her feet and whirled her glass around, "I'm not perfect, Harris."

I pulled her chin towards me, "can you say that while looking at me?"

Joy sighed before speaking, "but I'm not. I don't understand what do you see in me."

"Do you want to know what I think about you?" I asked, and I waited for her until she nodded, "I like everything about you, how you laugh, how you were being sarcastic, how you were serious about your passions, and how you were happy to be around me. Maybe, this-" I stopped my sentence. I thought she wasn't ready to know about the soulmate thing.

"This what?"

This soulmate thing isn't that bad. I might fall for you and be the luckiest person alive to be with someone beautiful as you, Joy.

"Nothing. I think I forgot what I was going to say," I smiled at her. The silence fills the atmosphere as I can only hear our hearts beating fast. When the last time we were staring at each other, no one moved, but this time we moved forward slowly. I tried to read her mind, but it was still locked.

When our lips were an inch close, we were interrupted by a voice from the door, "Joy, can you help me with something?" I saw Emilia with Dion walking toward us, and we pulled away from each other.

"Uhm, yes," Joy answered as she looked at me before leaving with Emilia towards the door. Dion closed the door and approached me.

"Sorry for cock blocking you," Dion smirks, and we laugh.

"You were not cock blocking me, Dion."

Dion sipped his scotch, "you don't need to lie to me."

"Okay, maybe a little," I said as I pressed my thumb and index finger. Then I brought my glass up, "I haven't said this to you—congratulation on your graduation. I'm looking forward to you teaching me physics stuff."

Dion laughed at the last part and collided our glass, "thank you. I'm sorry for lying about that part. It was necessary to get rid of suspicion."

I nod, "I don't mind. Oh, what does Emilia do for a living? Are you sure she's not a physics freak like you?"

"She's a doctor. She's a biology freak."

***