NovelEnglish
“I am. Can't say it's a pleasant surprise, though,” answered Joyce.
Immediately after hearing the witty reply, Justin broke into laughter. It took him a while to settle down. “You are just
adorable, aren't you, Joyce?”
In response to that, Joyce smiled awkwardly. “So why exactly are you here at my house, Mr. Sutter?”
Joyce wondered why the man kept calling her by her first name as though they were close. I've only met him once.
The guy's basically a stranger to me.
“Mr. Sutter?” Caitlin glared at Joyce discontentedly before Justin could say anything. “This is Justin! Have you really
forgotten all about him?”
“I know what his name is, but what is it about him that you keep insisting that I've forgotten?” Joyce was baffled by
her mother's words.
Caitlin could not help but sigh when she saw how confused her daughter was. “You really do have poor memory,
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtdon't you?”
“You can't blame Joyce, Mrs. Rivers. After all, we've been apart for twenty years. She was so young then; it's only
natural that she can't recall who I am.” Justin remained smiling as he walked over to Joyce and extended his hand
to her. “We finally meet again after two decades, Joyce, so please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Justin Sutter,
your neighbor twenty years ago. Back then, you would always call me Justin.”
“You were my neighbor twenty years ago? Justin?” murmured Joyce as her memories slowly began to return to her.
Then, she gasped once again before pointing her finger straight at the man. “Oh, you're... you're Justin!”
“So you remember me now?” Justin's eyes immediately sparkled with joy.
Joyce responded by nodding her head fervently. “Yes, I remember now. We used to be the best of friends when we
were little. I would always follow you around no matter where you go. However, you and your family moved away
when you were ten years old. How did you become so tall and handsome, Justin? I remember that you used to be a
chubby little boy.”
Grabbing Justin tightly by the arms, Joyce was so excited that she could not stop staring at the man.
“Come on. Is that all you remember about me? That I was a chubby little boy?” asked Justin jokingly with an
awkward smile.
Joyce chuckled embarrassedly. “Sorry, Justin. Please don't be mad. I just got a little too excited when I finally
remember who you are.”
“I'm not mad. In fact, I don't even think it's possible for me to be angry at you.” Justin patted Joyce on the head.
The woman then shyly touched the spot where the man had patter her. “Justin, did you know who I was already
when we met the last time?”
“I did,” admitted Justin openly with a nod.
Seeing how the two young ones had finally hit it off, Caitlin smiled contentedly and decided to make tea in the
kitchen so that they could catch up in private.
“Then, why did pretend to be a stranger when you comforted me? You are too much!” Joyce pouted at Justin,
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmpretending to be upset with him.
“Sorry. I just wanted to see if you could tell who I was. Unfortunately, you didn't recognize me at all,” explained
Justin with an apologetic smile.
“Well, you could've just told me! That's a pretty lame excuse.” Joyce continued to pout at the man.
Justin then shrugged helplessly in response. “Fine. I admit that it was my fault for not telling you then. I got you
something, so what do you say we just call it even?”
The man took an exquisitely wrapped gift box out of his pocket and handed it to Joyce, who accepted the kindness
without a second thought.
Joyce did not see why she should not take the present. On the contrary, rejecting the gift would make her seem
rude.
“I didn't get you anything, though. Let me make it up to you next time, Justin,” promised Joyce embarrassedly.
“It's all right. I'm more than glad to see that you finally remember who I am. That's better than anything you can
give me,” responded Justin while shaking his head.
“You sure are a sweet-talker, Justin. Your girlfriend's a lucky woman,” teased Joyce.
When Justin heard that, his smile faded for a brief moment before quickly returning. “I don't have one yet.”
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
