on today's episode...

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JOY

"Ring the doorbell."

I stood there idly next to a patient Namjoon who had told me to ring the doorbell three times already.

"Just press the button, princess, you can do it." He singsonged, which in return he received a death stare and a comment about the beginning of his funeral plans.

"You know, we can just turn around and go back to campus," I said, facing the door.

"Okay, I guess I'm ringing it, then." Namjoon pushed the doorbell, and the familiar sound of the grand ringing could be heard from outside the large, white door.

We could hear my mother ask for our maid to answer the door, and I quickly whispered in the time we had, "I didn't tell my family you were coming."

Namjoon's mouth opened wide as he exclaimed in disbelief, "You what?"

The door opened to a new maid, one I hadn't seen before. Lately, my mother has been firing maids for doing the slightest bit wrong and then hiring new ones just to fire them for their wrongdoings, too.

"Miss Valentine, so wonderful to see you!" The maid stepped aside to welcome us in.

"I've never seen you," I muttered to myself.

"Your parents are in the living area, would you like a cup of coffee?"

"I—"

"She drinks tea." Namjoon nods. He was stiff — hands in his pockets, flat smile, space between us, and eyes wandering around the room to obviously avoid contact with mine.

"Of course. Tea is on its way." The maid turned around and left the entryway. As soon as she was gone, Namjoon cleared his throat.

"So you didn't tell them I was coming. I assume you have a plan for their outbursting excitement to see me?" He finally moved closer to me, touching shoulders with mine and whispering down into my ear.

"Don't worry. I have a game plan," I said as we both slowly began walking towards the living room.

"Uh-huh, and what's that? We walk in, say hello, and sip tea together for five days?"

"If it sounds good to you?" I stopped in front of the doors that would open to where my parents were. "Just follow my lead." I held my hand out for him.

He grabbed my waist instead and whispered when my hand touched the doorknob. "In case it becomes a slaughter fest, I want you to know that I peeked at one of my presents."

I pushed his arm away and whisper shouted. "Kim Namjoon!"

"And I love you." He shrugged, taking my hand and facing the door. "Whenever you're ready, princess."

I huffed, my hand on the doorknob, twisting it to open. "I'm never ready to face my family."

The door opened and my parents sat there, looking clean and uncluttered as ever. They sat dressed in their usual attire — my mom with a pencil skirt and blouse, my dad in his suit. Firm faces of question as their eyes drifted from me to the man beside me.

"What a wonderful surprise," my mother spoke up first, no hint of wonder and surprise in her face despite her words. "Who is this man?"

"This is—"

"Isabella, do you not remember him from the showcase?" My dad spoke for the first time in what seemed like hours of silence. Even worse, he stood up and began to walk towards Namjoon and me.

"Ah! I do remember." My mother stay put in her spot but adjusted her position. Sitting in an observant manner, she pointed to Namjoon. "You're the boyfriend."

"Yes, ma'am," Namjoon said sternly, not a hint of hesitancy. "I would like to apologize for my behavior when we first met. There were rough patches in your daughter and my relationship but we both worked to understand and love one another more, and I want to say that I truly, truly," He looked down at me, and my eyes were already on him, "truly love your daughter." He looked back to face my father, who was right in front of us now.

He didn't say anything but, "Isabella, tell the maid to bring them to their rooms. Their separate rooms."

My father walked back to the couch and sat down again, opening his newspaper. "Well don't just stand there like fools, unpack!"

I bit back my smile, and Namjoon's grip on my hand tightened, telling me he tried to contain his smile, too.

//

A green, off-the-shoulder long-sleeve, floor-length dress hugged my body, with a slit along with the skirt at mid-thigh. The bodice scrunched at my chest area, pushing a tightened feeling there.

My mother insisted I wore my diamond earrings, and, although they were heavy, I did admit to missing the process of getting ready for these big events.

Although I grew up hating the system of life I was raised up in, I loved everything that came with the fancy events I would be welcomed to attend every week. The clothes, the food, the music, the conversations — all of it.

Someone knocked on the door and I responded with a loud, "Come in." The door opened and Namjoon walked in, dressed in full with party attire.

"Hm, I like this side of you," I commented, smiling wide.

Once he approached me, his arms immediately found their way around my waist. "This was never a side of me, princess, but I have to say, I'm kind of liking it, too. The hair, however, is not it."

I chuckled and reached my hand up to his brown fluffs of hair, swishing my hand through it to mess it up the way I liked it.

"That's better," he said. "Now, about this look of yours. I might have to keep you in here all night."

"Is that so?" I inched my face closer.

"If you kiss me right now, it is definitely so." He pulled me against him.

I leaned into his lips, but the door swung open.

"Joy, Mom wants to— What the hell!" Taehyung turned around and uttered quickly, "Mom wants to present the family so come downstairs, you whore!"

I threw my head back laughing and pat Namjoon's chest. "Maybe next time, baby."

He frowned, before stealing a kiss anyway.

NAMJOON

I stood in one of the massive halls that this house had where Joy said her family would be presented. Hundreds of people had to be in this place, excluding the people who occasionally showed up with drinks and snacks on black platters and the doormen who welcomed the guest. Oh! and the valets who went to park your car for you (of course I parked Diana on my own, no one touches her wheel but me, and occasionally Joy).

Some random symbols crashed together, catching everyone's attention. I assumed it was time for the Valentines to be presented.

"Could you take this back to the kitchen for me?"

I turned to the man next to me. Besides his black shoes, his monochromatic red suit complemented his paler skin. Patches of blonde, styled hair sat on his head, and dark yet subtle makeup sat on his eyelids. He held out a small plate of cheese and crackers.

"I asked for Asiago cheese." He seemed to say this genuinely.

I tried not to get upset. It was probably a misunderstanding. "Sorry, but I'm not a waiter."

"Really? I've never seen you at one of these functions before. Have you married in? I swear I'm invited to each of the weddings, perhaps not yours." He looked in one direction, thinking. "The Evans aren't very fond of me, did you marry one of theirs?"

I frowned, unamused. "I didn't marry in. My girlfriend invited me to spend the holidays here."

"Huh," The young man held out his hand for me to shake. "I'm Jimin — family friend of the Valentines."

"I'm Namjoon." I took his hand and shook it. He looked as if he was examining me, and his next words explained why.

"Oh, so your girlfriend is Joy?"

I looked around. "Word spreads fast around here, doesn't it?"

"Like wildfire." A server walked past and Jimin held his hand out in front of them, stopping them in their trakcs. "I told them Asiago." The server quickly took the plate and left. Jimin turned back to me. "So, tell me. How did you capture the heart of our golden princess?"

First of all, don't call her princess.

"I've been trying since the both of us were born. How'd you do it in a matter of months?"

"Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you," a man in, once again, a suit and tie spoke through a microphone.

"Seriously, we grew up together, spent every holiday together. Hell, we were set up for dates!" He dropped his hand on my shoulder. I wanted to shove it off. "You have got to share your secret."

"The Valentines!" The people within the room clapped cheerfully as the family stepped down the stairs together. All color-coordinated, looking radiant and powerful.

"A gem, isn't she?" Jimin crossed his arms. "I'm sure you know all about how much of a gem she can be though, don't you?"

Stay cool was all I needed to keep saying to myself. Who cares about Joy's ex? Who am I kidding? He's probably not even her ex. She's with me now, anyway.

"Speak of the devil." Jimin plastered a practiced smile on his face as Joy sped walk over. She ran straight into his arms.

"Jimin!" She placed her arms around him tightly, giving him the opportunity to stare at me with a smirk. He hugged her sweetly, covering her waist with his arms, continuing to stare at me until she let go.

Had to tell myself. Just stay cool.

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