The next day, Kay sent Joseph to school. As much as he wanted to give her a kiss as he got down, he knew he couldn't as they were in public.

Kay watched him go with a heavy heart, for she knew that he was reluctant to leave - just as she was loathed to have him leave. However, she had to be the stronger one here, right?

After all … wasn't it her fault that they had to have a hidden marriage?

Lianne didn't go to school today as she was being brought by Kyle to the hospital. Kyle, too, wouldn't be around so Kay had to pick up the slack.

Throughout the entire day, however, she couldn't quite concentrate as she pondered upon the dilemma that she was in.

Kyle had already told Stephan his biggest secret, in order to be there for his daughter.

What about her?

How long was she going to keep this from Kyle?

The longer she waited, the harder it was.

The more Kay thought about it, the more she realised how right Lianne had been to push her towards getting married to Joseph. If she didn't, she would have taken even longer to make a decision.

Even now, it was hard but just thinking about Joseph and their marriage made her feel more anxious about their status. The more time she spent with Joseph, the more she wanted to be by his side all the time.

Even though he was still in school, it didn't seem wrong. However, perhaps, it would not be good if it was revealed while he was still in high school?

She needed to have her sounding board.

Naturally, this meant Lance.

✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿

Lance couldn't believe what his best friend was telling him.

He put a finger in his ear, wriggled it a bit for effect, and sat up straight, looking at Kay straight in the eye.

"Okay, say that again?"

Kay rolled her eyes, drank some wine, and started cutting the steak in front of her, "You heard me the first time."

Lance looked at the ring on her finger.

He shook his head and sighed, picking up his fork and continued eating, "Well, whatever makes you happy."

"It does, but at the same time, it doesn't," Kay admitted with a sigh.

"Well, duh," Lance replied, waving his fork about, "You got your man but you can't be with him. What sort of arrangement is that?!"

Kay stabbed her steak with her fork, and brought it to her mouth, chewing on it angrily. The steak was good, and soft, and didn't really deserve the force she put into chewing it but it made her feel a bit better.

If she had a hobby like Kyle, perhaps she would have a better outlet for her frustration. As it is, she could only 'torture' the steak.

Lance went on nagging, "Your brother is your closest confidant. The other half of you, even if you do have Joseph. And you're too afraid to tell him? Just what is going on, Kay? You know how hurt he would be with you doing this?"

"You think he can't accept Joseph because he's not good enough for you?"

"Perhaps that is your subconscious thinking then, and you, yourself, feel that Joseph isn't quite up to par so you're embarrassed to reveal your relationship?"

"Or maybe …"

"Enough!" Kay hissed, "It's not any of that. It's … complicated."

"Honey," Lance said, giving her a look as if Kay had said the most ridiculous thing ever, "It's only complicated because you made it complicated."

"At the end of the day, you don't trust Kyle enough to accept your choice," Lance said, "And the fact that you're only worried about his thoughts rather than your parents says a lot, you know."

"What do you mean by that?" Kay asked, perplexed.

"It means … even if your parents objected to Joseph, you wouldn't care. Yet, your brother's opinion means a lot to you," Lance said, "But even then, you still went on to form a relationship and even married him."

"So it's rather confusing, you know," Lance continued, his face in a frown, "There is obviously something here that you're not telling me and please."

Lance said, putting up his hand to stop Kay from speaking when she opened her mouth at his last sentence, "I don't want to know what it is. It must be some huge secret as it actually made you unable to talk to your brother about it."

"A secret that is personal to you, should be kept within you," Lance said, "but if that said secret can cause a rift or make you do something you would not normally do … then something is wrong. Seriously wrong."

"This is Kyle we're talking about, not some stranger," Lance continued on mercilessly.

Kay couldn't say a word to refute him.

Yes, she was scared.

Scared that Kyle would not be able to accept her being with Joseph.

To him, she is his sister and Joseph is his son. Basically, his son would be marrying his aunt. Biologically, they were not related at all so legally, this would be allowed.

In some countries, like Country Aus, an aunt (or uncle) is allowed to marry her nephew (or niece).

In Country UK, this was not permitted.

In Country Tz? It was not allowed between biological aunt and nephew, but it was allowed if they were not related by blood, such as, being aunt and nephew by marriage or either one is adopted.

Kay was well aware that although Joseph is not his biological son in this life, but in his heart and mind, Joseph was.

Would he be able to accept this union?

Kay was too terrified to hear Kyle say "no" because once he does, she would not be able to stay with Joseph even if she wanted to. She would feel too guilty. She would not be able to do that to him.

Or …

She would choose Joseph and leave Kyle.

Either choice was not a choice she wanted to make. She didn't want to give up on either of them. So, she did the cowards way out.

She was not proud of it, but fear - and being in love - can cause you to make stupid decisions.

Just as Lance finished his rant, he was satisfied to see Kay thinking about it hard. Sometimes, one has to be harsh to make the other see things. He could see it better as he was the one outside, looking in.

He didn't know what sort of pressure, or fears, Kay had, so he could only tell her the facts as he saw them. He hoped Kay would find it within herself to face this problem.

Avoiding it, and hiding, is not a solution.

It may be fine now, but it definitely would not in the future.

Just then, he was suddenly hugged from behind and Lance nearly threw the food in his fork towards Kay.

Lance turned angrily towards the person who dared to do so when his lips were captured fiercely.

Lance was stunned.

He had managed to see that it was Gareth, thus, he did not resist but he wondered what was wrong with him.

The kiss was rather aggressive and Lance let him be. Whatever was bothering him, he was venting it out right now from this kiss.

As if he was staking his claim.

When Gareth finally broke the kiss, Lance looked at him worriedly, "What's the matter?"

Gareth just said, "Nothing."

But his eyes darted to Kay.

Lance caught that and laughed.

Gareth looked aggrieved.

Lance kissed him softly on the lips and told him to sit down.

The table that Kay and Lance were at, was actually a table for four as all the tables for two were taken. So Gareth sat on the chair next to Lance and brought his chair even closer.

Lance just shook his head but found his behaviour cute.

"Gareth, this is Kay, my best friend and Kay, this is Gareth, my boyfriend," Lance said, introducing the two of them.

"Oh?" Kay said in surprise, "You … and he ..?"

"YES," Gareth said firmly, taking Lance's hand and stroking the back of it.

"Stop it, Gareth," Lance said with a smile, "Nothing to be jealous about."

"I am not jealous," Gareth denied, "Why would I be jealous? Just because I see you here, having an intimate dinner with such a beautiful woman? I'm not that petty."

Lance laughed even more, causing Gareth to look highly aggrieved.

"Gareth, darling," Lance said, "She really is my best friend and nothing more. I'm not attracted to women at all and she's even married."

"Oh," Gareth said, looking sheepish but refusing to back down, "I know that. You didn't tell her about me?"

Before Lance could explain, a soft, female voice was heard, "Gareth? Is that you?"

"Le Xuan?!" Gareth gasped, upon seeing the woman.