Yes, Miss Manoban

CHAPTER 05

seoul, south korea

"p*****t!"

Joshua winced as Erika--his adopted sister, touched the reddish mark on his cheek. He can still hear the sound of the girl's slap ringing in his ear and it even left a visible mark before she grabbed her things and left.

"You did it, Josh. You managed to do the impossible yet again," his sister taunted as she placed an ice pack on his cheek. "How do you hit your face with a camera case? And a big-ass one?!"

"The fangirls trapped me," he lied. He'd never tell that a random girl slapped him. He has a reputation to keep. "Royal was at the airport."

"Like that explains everything," she muttered before standing up. "You should stop doing that fansite thing, Josh. You have a stable job now that pays really nicely. You can't screw that up by acting like a stalker."

"I'm not a stalker!" he scowled earning an eye-roll from the girl. "I'm helping my co-fans, Eri. You wouldn't know 'coz all you think about is cooking."

"At least my 'hobby' earns me money," she argued.

Erika owns a coffee shop and she's her own barista. At night the shop turns into a pub s***h restaurant.

"Whatever. You're such a mom," he sassed. Then suddenly, someone smacked the back of his head. "Ya--oh hi mom."

"You've been faboying again?!"

"I'm just taking some pictures, mom!" he defended not forgetting to throw a glare at the tattletale. "It's like being a professional photographer--"

"More like a professional stalker if you ask me," Erika mumbled from the kitchen.

"I swear, Joshua. If you continue this shenanigans I will disown you!"

The older woman looked dead serious but he was certain she wouldn't do that.

"Aw mom. If you disown me all you'll be left with is Erika. That would such be a downgrade--"

"Ya!"

He stuck his tongue out at the enraged girl. She narrowed her eyes as she balled her fist like she was about to punch him.

They were like that. They have the usual sibling rivalry as well as the typical 'at-each-other's-throats' kind of relationship. But they do care about each other. A lot.

But right now, he has murder tendencies after Erika just ratted him out.

"Sneak," he muttered towards the younger girl.

"Stalker."

"Pru—"

"Stop it, you two!" his mom exclaimed—clearly done with the two's bickering. "I miss how this house get peaceful when you're both in your respective apartments. It's like I'm living with toddlers again!"

"She started it!"

"Me? You started it!"

"I did not—"

"Did to—"

The old woman rolled her eyes before facepalming. This wouldn't stop 'til one gives up or if their father gives them both a pair of knives to kill each other.

But that won't happen since his husband just recently passed. It hurt, yes, but he fought hard enough. And it was his time.

The sudden silence snapped her out of her trance. She felt two pairs of arms snake around her.

"Mom..." both said as they hugged her tightly. She patted their shoulders lightly and smiled.

"I'm fine," she said to them. "I just missed you, that's all. And dad as well."

"Should we go have a picnic this weekend?" Erika suggested. "It's been a while since we last visited dad..."

"We visited him last Sunday—"

"And it's a Wednesday already. So, it's been a while," the younger girl argued. The she turned towards her mother. "It's settled then! This weekend, family picnic. I'll take charge of the food and Joshua here will be in charge of the driving. You can pick the dad's van at the shop."

"Sounds like a plan," Joshua immediately agreed making his mother's heart full with joy. "I'll pick you girls up at around 7."

The family of three had dinner together. Mirae Jeon couldn't help but smile widely as her kids started to tell her everything about their respective days. Erika began by boasting about the new additions to her menu and how many students were giving her free promo by posting on their SNS about the shop. Joshua then commented about how SNS helps a lot these days and how the company he's working with benefit on it. Of course, his sister gave a sassy remark about fangirls and fanboys alike.

"I'll be heading out now," he said as he dried his hands after washing the dishes. "I'll be up early tomorrow. CEO Jung's sister is coming to the office."

"Sister?" Erika's eyebrow raised. "I didn't know Asher had a sister."

"Asher?" Joshua asked—his own eyebrow raising as well.

"Uh, I mean, CEO Jung—well, I uh... he told me to call him Asher since I'm not his employee," Erika answered panicking. "The uh... The shop's close to your office so he's a—a regular there."

Not buying what his sister just said, Joshua dropped the topic. His sister looked like she was about to collapse if he had pushed it.

"O...kay," he said turning towards the door. "Bye mom!"

"Joshie wait!"

The woman called out and took something from the table.

"Take these with you," his mother said placing a paper bag on the floor. He took a quick peak and his eyes grew wide. "Homemade kimchi. I know how much you love them and being very busy with your work, you won't be able to visit as often as you could. So... yeah. You can share it with your neighbors too, if you want—"

He bridges the small distance between then and wrapped his arms around his mother—cutting her rambling off.

Mrs. Jeon sighed and hugged her son back.

Joshua lived a bus ride away from JHS Building. If only housing around Gangnam was cheap, he would've considered the community. But yeah, he would like to save some extra by taking the bus or train instead and putting it in his savings. Or Serena's Birthday project. Speaking of which, where did he put his planner? He remembered having it at the airport. The computations for Serena's birthday project are in there as well as her upcoming schedules for the entire year.

"Maybe I left it in the office—"

His thoughts were cut off when his phone started buzzing. It was from the office.

"Hey, Mr. Nah. Is there something wro—"

"Serena's new MV has been leaked!" the guy blurted out. "We're freaking out here, Jeon. We need you ASAP!"