She turned and shot a deadly glare at where the black car screeched to a stop just beside her but only to see Mrs Parker step out of it.
"Mrs Parker!" Joanna muttered. Her gaze which looked as if it would murder someone softened in an instant.
"When I saw the figure from afar it looked familiar and I am glad I was....," Mrs Parker choked on her words and halted in her tracks the moment she got a glimpse of Joanna's teary eyes.
"What's wrong?" She asked. She looked to the front and then to her back, searching for heaven knows what. "Who made you cry huh?" She observed.
She stretched forth her hand and tried to wipe her tears but Joanna tilted her head sideways.
"I am fine," She replied and moved a step backwards.
"How could you be fine when you don't look one bit...,"
"I might not be but I strongly believe that I will be fine," She resolved and cleaned her eyes.
"I am much stronger than anyone thinks...,"
"Of course you are," Mrs Parker agreed. "Everyone always said you were a weakling but I have always believed you were strong and extraordinarily...," She paused and beamed at her.
"I mean no weak and ordinary person would have been able to go through that hell you went through in your home for so many years and come out of it alive... don't you agree with me?" She asked, her radiant eyeballs locked with Joanna's.
Her smile faded when Joanna didn't say anything.
"Come, let me drop you off," She offered. She reached out her hand and grabbed Joanna's right hand.
She tried to walk away but only to be pulled backwards by the girl who refused to follow her.
Mrs Parker turned and shot Joanna a questioning gaze.
"You never asked me where I was headed," She pointed out.
"I know you are headed to campus," She replied. "Don't tell me you have forgotten that I have your schedule for the whole semester," She smiled and led Joanna to the front seat.
"But this is not the way to the cafe," Joanna queried the woman who had just finished opening the front door for her.
"And whoever told you that I was headed to the cafe, hmm?" She countered Joanna without making herself look suspicious.
"But...,"
"Joanna, stop looking for excuses to reject my offer and enter the car," Mrs Parker interrupted. She gently shoved Joanna into the car and shot the door.
Soon Mrs Parker's car was seen driving on the busy road.
As she drove Mrs Parker stole a glance at the face of the lady whose concentration seems to be on nothing specific.
[So this was the reason he called me out of the blue and instructed me to take this route... I should have guessed sooner that there was a reason he would do such a thing]
Mrs Parker was lost in thought and didn't see Joanna turn and gazed at her.
"Why do you look at me so intently?" Joanna questioned the woman whose mind had wandered off.
"I couldn't help myself but notice that you look horrible compared to the last time I saw you," Mrs Parker replied. She shifted her focus to the road.
"But it has just been some hours since we met last...,"
"And that is exactly what kept me wondering what on Earth happened during that time that made you look this terrible," Mrs Parker recounted.
She glanced at Joanna's face but only to retract her concentration to the road.
"Do I really look that horrible?" She palmed her face and tried to look at her face through the rear mirror.
"Hmm...," Mrs Parker nodded to her question.
Silence engulfed the car as Joanna looked at herself through the mirror and tried to confirm whether what Mrs Parker said was true.
"Haven't you guys made up yet?" Mrs Parker finally found the right time to ask the question which has been on her mind.
"Did he say mean things to you... and if yes, then was that why you were crying earlier...,"
pαndα---noνɐ1,сoМ "I wasn't crying but my eyes only teared up," Joanna corrected in an instant.
"And what is the difference between crying and one's eyes being teary?... Don't they mean the same thing?" Mrs Parker countered.
"Also, he would never make me cry...,"
"The condition I met you earlier makes your word right now sound like a lie...,"
"T-that is...," Joanna paused, not knowing the next word that follows.
"Joanna...," Mrs Parker called. She removed her right hand from the steering and brought it to Joanna's lap where her hands lay.
"I am well aware that you have been hurt by adults all your life and as such might have trouble confiding in one but you can trust me," Mrs Parker muttered. She stroked Joanna's hands affectionately.
"I was once a naughty eighteen-year-old girl and experienced what it felt like to be in love for the first time in my life also. I have been through this phase of life you are in and I believe I can help you out in one way or the other....," Mrs Parker trailed off.
She wished she could park so that she won't have to steal glances at her now and then.
"That is if you will trust me enough to share your problems with," Mrs Parker concluded.
There was silence in the car for a minute after Mrs Parker poured out her heart to Joanna.
"You are the first person who has ever treated me this way. You are also the first adult who offered to help me without me asking for help first...," Joanna let her words linger as she kept her gaze glued on Mrs Parker's face.
"Since then I have always known that you are different from the adults I spent 18 years of my life knowing... and my opinion hasn't changed until now," Joanna said.
After this lady beside her accepted to employ her when everyone in the entire Kingdom wanted nothing to do with her, she thought she was crazy.
...
So guys my birthday is finally here!!!!
Where are my gifts and congratulatory messages?
Also, since you guys refused to hop onto the deal I proposed there is nothing I can do.
Please don't forget the gifts.
You can send me birthday gifts through the;
1) Buying and sending gifts through Webnovel
2) Buying of privileged chapters
3) And last but not least, voting with GOLDEN TICKETS.
Thanks in advance as you do this.
