"So, do we need to actually sign a contract, boss?"
Jen asked Sebastian when they were waving goodbye to Victor.
"He will be back in a week, before that, there is no need," Sebastian said, "I trust you, and I trust us." He said firmly, looking straight into Jen's eyes.
Sebastian was pretty sure that if this whole mess wasn't going to happen, he would probably ask Jen out eventually- she is beautiful, smart, calm, and most importantly, she trusts him.
But for Jen, the sudden appearance of Victor was not all pleasant for her; and the photo of her mother, the sculpture of Rosa... She couldn't help but wonder what the connection between her family and YD was- too bad she couldn't ask her mother for an answer.
"I am tired. If you don't mind, I will go rest now," Jen said good night to Sebastian, still trying to connect the dots.
"Wait, Jen, if you could just give me a moment, I have so many questions." Sebastian grabbed Jen's wrist, asking her to stay. What he didn't expect was that Jen would have a huge reaction to this move:
She immediately jumped away from him, and shook his hand away, as if it was a total stranger who had touched her out of nowhere; her eyes were still red from before, her usual rosy cheeks were pale as if she had suddenly gotten sick.
"I'm so sorry," Sebastian almost developed a habit of apologizing these days.
"That's ok, I overreacted. But please, Sebastian, I really need some rest. I don't understand why is everything getting more and more complicated. And why is Rosa's sculpture in the garden? Why did my mother know Lynn and Victor? Why didn't she mention them to me before..."
Jen started rambling, all her doubts were poured out of her mind. Sebastian saw that she started shaking lightly- the night was getting cold and she had never been so emotional in front of him, even when she was framed and hurt.
But Sebastian couldn't help her- he also didn't have an answer.
"I am sorry Jen, I wish I knew more about YD, about my family. But I was not around them that much, I really wish I knew," he said, wanting to offer Jen a hug but he didn't want to scare her again.
"I don't blame you, you are more clueless than I am," Jen wiped her tears again but her nose was blocked from all the crying, making her voice a little funny, "We are both dragged into this, but the worst thing is, I don't have my family around and I don't want to think about it again."
Just as she finished the sentence, Jen felt like she made a mistake: Sebastian did have his family around him, but they were as good as gone. The only person who seemed to care for him was Victor, Lynn didn't even call today to check on him. And his father- Vincent, has been missing for a long time.
"Do you want some tissue?" Sebastian didn't seem to mind Jen's outburst, actually, he never seemed to mind when people mentioned his missing father.
Jen took the tissue Sebastian handed her, a little embarrassed that she lost her cool in front of him when he was just recovering from being sick.
Just as the two of them were standing there in awkward silence, Jen's phone started ringing- it was Luna.
"Bestie, can I sleep over at your place tonight?" Luna sounded drunk, "I can't find my keys."
"Luna? Are you alright?" Jen's voice sounded very concerned, this was the first time Luna called her, drunk. Actually, almost none of her friends had a habit of drinking.
"Yeah I am good, just, there is a new Soju bar that is open next to the school, I had just one small bottle, it tasted like fruit. But now my tongue is numb."
Jen put Luna on speaker, Sebastian was very surprised to hear that she finished a whole bottle of soju on her own.
"Hey, Luna. This is Sebastian, the alcohol level of soju isn't that high, did you maybe drink too fast?" After the incident he had with Jen, Sebastian became very careful when he heard that someone had a couple of drinks.
"Yeah, I am sure I will be fine. But where is Jen? Why can't she open the door?"
"Wait, are you in front of my door right now?" Jen immediately started walking towards the door, "Don't worry, I will be there soon, just sit in front of the door if you want, I will be there very soon."
"But Jen, the photos." Sebastian wanted to stop her, but with the experience of scaring her just now, he chose to jump in front of her to get her attention.
"I will close the curtains, Luna needs me."
Jen got into the car Victor left them, and left without many words.
Sebastian was standing there, wondering if he should have gone with Jen- if she was indeed stalked by Lynn, she would at least be safe. But if she was stalked by another group of people, he couldn't imagine what would happen if they saw that she was alone, taking care of a drunk girl.
"Sir, do you want me to prepare the bedroom for Ms. Jen, or would you two like to stay out here on the balcony for a little longer?" The house worker came to ask Sebastian politely.
"It's ok, thank you for your help, you don't need to prepare her bedroom tonight, I will be inside, waiting for her to come back."