Separating from Oliver, I wiped away the small drops of water that had gathered at the corners of my eyes. Then, glancing around to see who had seen our weird actions, I heaved a sigh of relief when everyone else seemed to be engrossed in their own conversations.
"Dan? Oliver?"
Hearing a familiar voice, the two of us turned our heads to spot the pair that was calling us. Standing there, just a couple seats diagonally from us, were Joel and Jade. Joel was wearing a dull-colored shirt and pants, looking very much like a guy, even though she was shorter than most of the men in the warehouse. Jade, on the other hand, was wearing a breezy brown dress that reached his knees. On his shoulder lay a shawl, and a cute little hat sat on top of his head as an accessory to his outfit. Together, they looked like a couple of slightly poor sweethearts.
"I didn't think I would see the two of you here."
Waving her hand, Joel approached us with a smile. However, even though her lips were talking about us, her eyes were fixed on my mother, who was still talking with Mark at a small distance from us.
"It's a little surprising that Elaine and Van decided to bring you to the faction meetings. They're usually just events for faction members to mingle and build connections with each other. It's also a great place to conjure up plans without showing too much suspicion."
Shaking his head at Joel, Jade spoke to us as he ensured Joel didn't trip on her feet from staring at my mother too much.
"But isn't being seen entering this warehouse enough to rat you out that you're an Anti-MDVA act protester?"
Standing up, the two of us walked closer to the pair as Oliver casually asked Jade. Hearing this, Jade gave a small laugh as he supported Joel over a small, uneven crack on the warehouse floor.
"The faction is decently big, but unless anyone is part of the faction, they wouldn't know that this warehouse is used for such things. It's close to Middle Middle Market, so the sound of the market usually covers up any racket we make. And as a disguise, several of the protesters also use their warehouses to hold occasional staff meetings. Sometimes we also change which warehouse is used. Although this is the main one, since it used to be owned by the second leader."
Glancing around at the warehouse, Jade showed a sad smile. He then shook away his depressing thoughts and returned to talking with us.
"The other one's we use are all owned by the permanent store owners in the market. If I'm not wrong, your mother should know three of them. Vicky, Sky, and Jasper."
Lifting his head to glance around again, Jade's expression slightly lit up as he spotted three people, and he pointed us towards them. Dressed casually in shirts and pants, the three of them were talking to a couple of other people. They seemed to be shopowners, as among the group I spotted Jack and even Shirly.
The small group seemed to be discussing something important, as everybody was wearing serious expressions and frowns. Everyone equally took part in the conversation, as they all opened their mouths every now and then to add their opinion to whatever they were discussing. Tearing my eyes away from them, I saw Jade elbowing Joel. Finally, once Joel managed to reign in her stares towards my mother, she smiled at the two of us and bent down to speak to us at eye level.
"What do you think of the faction meetings?"
Giving a large grin, Joel asked us as she gestured for Jade to squat down as well.
"It was ... interesting."
Carefully choosing his words, Oliver gave a safe answer as he shot a glance towards Mark and James. The two men, together with both my parents, were currently engaged in a serious discussion between themselves. Noticing Oliver's glance, my mother turned her head away from the conversation to give us a smile and a small wave.
I waved back at her while Oliver nodded his head, and the two of us turned our attention back to the pair.
"You don't have to be so careful with your words. The good thing about talking in this warehouse is that everyone is also talking at the same time, so they're too busy to eavesdrop. And even if someone wanted to listen in on our conversation, it'd get mixed up with the neighboring conversations besides us, making it harder for them to concentrate on our words. "
Gesturing to the many groups that were talking around us, I nodded my head at Joel's words. Oliver, on the other hand, just gave the group a quick glance before shaking his head.
"Well, honestly, it's up to you whether you want to tell us or not. However, this kind of meeting is rare. Usually, it's more lighthearted, and there are many more smiles to be seen."
Shaking her head, Joel then titled her head up in my parent's direction. Suddenly, she shot to her feet, pulling Jade up with her as well, and plastered a smile on her face.
"Good evening!"
Turning our heads, I looked up to see the four adults heading in our direction. Both my mother and Mark had smiles on their faces, while my father had his head tilted towards James and was whispering into his ear.
"Good evening. Thank you for entertaining my boys."
Giving the two a blinding smile, Elaine extended her hand for a handshake, which Joel took with a slightly silly smile.
"No, no. It was our pleasure."
Catching up to my mother and Mark, my father saw the smile on Joel's face, and a smirk floated onto his face. Seeing that smirk, Joel's pleased expression immediately twisted as she also greeted my father.
"Long time, no see, Van."
"Heh."
My father extended his hand to her, and Joel looked at the hand and reluctantly took it.
"Hello, Van."
Giving my father a polite nod, Jade stood next to Joel as she lightly released my father's hand.
"Are the two of you friends of my husband?'
My mother asked from the side as she observed the weird dynamic between the three of them. Hearing this, Joel seemed to glare at Van once before smiling towards my mother.
"Let me introduce ourselves. Ms Elaine. I'm Joel, and this is Jade. We're just two humble employees under Van."
When my mother heard their names, she raised her hand to cover her mouth as she exclaimed softly.
"Oh, it's you two. Van often tells me about the two of you! Thank you for your help many years ago. It must have been difficult with how things were then."
Bending her waist to bow to them, Joel immediately stepped forward to support her.
"Oh no, no. It was our pleasure to help you back then! The figure of you standing in front of the government building in High street, chalkboard in hand, as you led the Juvenile Protest Group was what brought me into the faction. Before that, I was just a helpless child with Jade. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't even be here."
Sneaking a glance at me, my mother seemed a little anxious about the fact that Joel mentioned her past in front of us. However, seeing that we weren't surprised, she gave a sigh and put both her hands on Joel's shoulders.
"You give me too much credit. It was the efforts of the two of you that brought you here, not me."
As she talked, my mother's gaze wandered down, and I could see sadness and regret reflect in her eyes.
Sensing that she may have said something wrong, Joel's eyebrows frowned, and she placed her hand on top of my mother's. Her voice turned softer, and there was a sort of personal feel to her words.
"Please don't say that. You were, and still are, a large influence on a lot of lives. It was your figure that inspired us to come this far. Even if you want to say that it was mostly due to our efforts, you still shouldn't downplay your own achievements."
Softly rubbing my mother's hand, Joel brought them in between the two of them and stared straight into my mother's eyes.
"A lot of people were touched by your words and actions. And we are only two of them. Please be proud."
The two women stared into each other's eyes, while the rest of us stayed quiet and watched. After Joel's words, my mother nodded her head and pulled her into an embrace.
"Thank you."
Separating, my mother raised her hand to wipe a small tear that had gathered at the corner of her eyes. She then placed both hands on Joel's shoulders and narrowed her eyes at her.
"But joining the faction isn't such a great thing."
My mother's eyebrows loosened, and a pained smile appeared on her tired face.
"Please, take care of yourself."
Patting Joel on the shoulder, my mother then released her with that smile. She turned her body away, obviously intending to retreat back to my father's side, when a pair of hands suddenly darted out to catch hers.
"You too! Please take care of yourself too."
Giving a weak smile to my mother, Joel then released her hands and hid them behind her back.
"Then, the two of us will go first."
Escaping from my mother's shocked expression, the two of them quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Watching the two of their backs mix into the crowd, I then tilted my head to look at my mother's expression. Her eyes were wide with shock, and her mouth was opened. However, after a couple minutes, she blinked and closed her mouth. Turning to my father, she had a gentle smile on her face as she complimented Joel.
"You didn't tell me she was so cute."
Letting out a huff of air, my father gazed in the direction where the two left for a while before tearing his eyes away and slipping his hands into hers.
"Cute? More like impulsive. Even after so many years, she still can't control herself. "
Shaking his head, even though his words seemed like they were complaining about Joel, his smile said otherwise.
Holding hands, our parents led us out of the warehouse and back to where we came from. Walking down to where the main street of the market was, we entered the market, planning to cut straight through it instead of taking the long way around.
Passing all the stores, the four of us made a beeline through the market and back to our apartment. Reaching our old and familiar apartment building, I casually lifted my head to glance at our home. Feeling relieved and sentimental that the end looked like it would be in sight, I suddenly froze as a pair of panicked eyes met mine. Peeking out through the door was June.
Noticing that I had seen her, she immediately dove behind her apartment door. Seeing the door close, I couldn't get the panicked look that was on her face out of my head.
"Is there a problem?"
Hearing Oliver's voice from beside me, I turned my head towards him to shake my head. However, my eyes never left Ralph's apartment door.
"No. There's no problem."
At least, I hope so.