The first thought made her feel depressed … then, she hit herself on the forehead.

Why was she avoiding him, then?

If he was going to go back to Country M, and that she would never see him again .. what is wrong with just spending time with him here?

Just … friends having fun together, right?

She remembered the moments when they were playing games together. It really had been carefree and fun, and those were one of the special memories she had of him.

She should create more before he leaves.

Forever.

Once he left, she will cut off all ties with him. Well, she won't be the one to initiate anything, that is. If he writes to her, she will reply but will take her time doing so. If he calls her, she will talk to him but not for long.

Things like that.

Soon, he would forget about her and live his life normally with people his own age.

As it should be.

For now, though …

Showing him … and Lianne, of course … around town and introducing them to the places she and Kyle had fun at …

Kay bit her bottom lip as she stared at herself hard in the mirror.

It was okay, right?

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Joseph gulped.

Kay was actually home for dinner.

It had only been three days that he hadn't seen her, yet it felt like a lifetime.

He knew he got it bad.

But he couldn't help it.

Even when he kept himself busy and even when she wasn't around … just seeing her right now hit him right in the feels.

He stared at his plate, wondering when did it all begin and how to make it stop.

"It's good that you could join us for dinner, Kay," Delilah said, "I know it's not easy but you don't have to work so hard. You have so many capable people under you."

Delilah knew that it wouldn't do to tell Kay to stop working because she, of all people, knew that the CEO's position isn't an easy job. Patrick had worked so hard during the time the kids were young and now, Kay was as well.

Although she was not happy that Patrick had handed over the position to Kyle so fast, she understood his reasons. Kyle was capable and the sooner, the better. He could make his mark and set his foundations even better.

Perhaps, by the time Kyle gets married, he wouldn't be so busy like how Patrick had been. Patrick had laid the basics and Kyle strengthened it.

It wasn't to say that the previous CEOs were bad, but … okay, fine. So Delilah was most likely biased but she didn't think so.

Kyle was just really good at this.

It would make the next CEO have a huge shoe to fill. Still, that's most likely a long way off. Kyle was only 20.

'Only' 20 …

Just the thought made Delilah's head spin.

She studied Kay intently again, "So what happened to your date?"

"Oh, him," Kay said with a shrug, "Haven't gone yet. Few things cropped up so we're meeting next week instead."

"Don't take too long, my dear," Delilah advised, "Playing hard to get isn't nice."

"Mum!" Kay hissed while rolling her eyes, "Do I really look like someone who has to use stupid tricks like that?"

"No," Delilah admitted begrudgingly, "But I just wanted to say it once."

She sighed dramatically, "I know I shouldn't complain but there wasn't much that I needed to guide you and Kyle for. At least, in this, please try and be normal."

"What does that even mean?" Kay asked in exasperation, but the smile on her face showed that she wasn't really upset over it.

"You know, find a nice boy, fall in love, settle down and give me grandkids," Delilah replied.

"Well, yeah," Kay said, "It's not like I'm pushing them away … well, okay, I am but that's only because there was no spark."

She thought about the numerous confessions she had gotten over the years - even those Mark kept giving without fail.

"You should lower your standards a bit," Delilah said.

This time, Lianne rolled her eyes as well.

"Okay, fine," Delilah conceded again, especially when she caught those two rolling their eyes at her. It was bad enough that her daughter did it, but a young child as well?

"If there's no spark, there's no spark, Mum," Kay said.

"Then make sure you go on several blind dates before deciding whether there is a spark or not," Delilah said, "You can't decide on the first date."

"But what if, instead of a spark, there is a fizz?" Kay asked.

"Fizz?"

"Yeah, you know … like when you pour water to put out a barbeque fire," Kay explained, "Fizzzzzz"

Lianne couldn't help but giggle at that as she watched Kay making that sound with her face all serious.

Delilah's face scrunched up and she glared at Kay, "Stop making excuses. Just go on three dates at least."

Three?!

She was lucky if she could survive one!

Kay stole a glance towards Joseph, who was seriously eating and not paying any attention at all. She sighed inwardly.

He was always like that.

Then again, why wouldn't he be?

"Want to go out?" Kay suddenly asked, wanting to dispel that restlessness in her heart.

"Where to?" Lianne asked, since Kay was looking at her when she asked the question.

"I was just thinking that … well, you've been here for at least a couple of weeks now, right? But you haven't gone sightseeing yet," Kay said, "And so, why not I be your tour guide for a while? Before you go back."

Joseph's hand stilled for a while when he heard that.

That's right.

They would be going back, wouldn't they?

So he had to hold on to this until the day they left, right?

If she found out about this little crush of his on her, he would be so embarrassed.

"When would that be?" Joseph asked, before Lianne could say anything.

"When would what be?" Kay asked, her mind confused for a second.

"When would we be going back?" Joseph asked again, clearer this time, "It's not that I don't like it here and I really do appreciate it … but …"

He didn't know how to say it. How he wanted to go back as soon as possible and be as far away as he can before he did something stupid.

"Oh," Kay said, feeling a bit down that he actually looked like he wanted to go back so much.

"I'm not sure," Kay replied honestly, "Your father is settling a few things, I think."

"Okay," Joseph replied dejectedly. He should ask his father later then.

Lianne looked at her brother and then back towards Kay, "I'd love to."

"Joseph?" Kay asked, hoping he didn't hear the hope in her voice as she asked him.

"Nah, I'll pass," Joseph said, "Thank you."

Still polite, even though the refusal crushed Kay's little hope.

So much about being able to spend time with him before he left.

Lianne said to Kay under her breath, "He's like that. Don't mind him."

Kay gave her a smile, tilting her head and replied, "It's okay. Where do you want to go?"

"I wanna see you and Kyle went to school," Lianne said, "And that studio that has Kyle's picture."

Kay was surprised, "You want to go there?"

"Is it far?" Lianne asked worriedly, "It's okay if it's troublesome. Anywhere is fine."

Kay looked at her parents, "Would it be fine if I took Lianne off on a trip?"

"You're the boss," Patrick said, "You know better than anyone whether or not you can spare the time."

"Oh, I know that," Kay said with a smile, "I meant, is it okay if I take Lianne with me? After all, you're still the guardian while they're here."

"Oh," Patrick and Delilah exclaimed.

That's true.

They had forgotten that fact as the kids didn't really do much at home and Kay was the one that brought them back - and had arranged for everything. So much so that in their mind, Kay was their guardian and not them.

"As long as they want to go, it's fine," Patrick finally said, "If Joseph doesn't want to follow, he'll be okay here."

Lianne turned to her brother, "Are you sure you don't want to follow? As awesome as everything is here, going out and getting fresh air is good as well."

"I'm fine," Joseph insisted.

"You're becoming a NEET," Lianne said, rolling her eyes at him.

"I am NOT," Joseph denied, "I'll have you know, my TokTik videos are popular. Hah!"

"You're not getting any money from that are you? Hah hah!" Lianne countered back.

"It's just the beginning," Joseph said with a snort, "I have plans."

"Oh, really?" Lianne said, not believing that her playful and obtuse brother would actually have 'a plan'.

"Really!" Joseph replied.

"What's a NEET?" asked the confused Delilah to Kay as they watched the siblings 'fight' it out.

"It's an acronym, Mum," Kay explained, "It stands for 'not in education, employment or training'. Basically, it refers to an unemployed person that has either dropped out of school or finished school and is living at home doing nothing."

"OH," Delilah said, "A bum sponging off their parents."

"Something like that," Kay said with a smile.

Though her mind was on what Joseph had said.

He had a TokTik account and is getting popular?

It looks like she had some digging to do.