Chapter 22

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
The next day the sound of my alarm woke me up and I rubbed my eyes before getting up and trudging to the bathroom. 
When I was finished getting ready and getting into my school uniform, I went downstairs. 
I saw my mom in the kitchen and Joey sitting at the table eating breakfast. 
"Joyce, do you want breakfast?" Mom asked as she noticed me. 
"Oh, uh," I spoke slowly, not wanting to hurt her feelings with declining so I just said "I usually don't eat breakfast. But I can take it to school with me! Thank you." I quickly added after my first sentence as I had already seen her face fall. 
"Oh well then I'll pack it for you." Mom smiled. 
"Why don't you eat here? You still have time." Joey frowned at me from her place on the chair, her mouth a bit stuffed with food. 
"Uh, I just don't." I shrugged "I eat with my friends after school every day." 
"Oh! These friends your father wants to meet?" Mom suddenly asked with a smile and I nodded. 
"I want to meet them too. They can come by after school and we can all eat lunch and dinner." She suggested. 
In the corner of my eye I saw Joey hiding a smirk because she knew the boys have detention and wouldn't be able to come by after school. 
"Oh unfortunately they don't have time today. But I'll arrange something next week." I smiled at my mother. 
"Next week??" Mom asked shocked "What are they doing this week that is keeping them so busy?" 
"Oh just ... Stuff." I shrugged, smiling as I took the food she packed me in a small bag. 
"I have to go now, see you later!" 
With a wave I ran out the front door and made my way to school. 
I wasn't as scared to introduce Ateez to my mother as I was to my father. 
And introducing the boys to my sister was something I absolutely wasn't scared of. Joey wouldn't judge and she already proved it when I told her about them. 
(Hongjoong pov) :
The others and me stood outside of the school as we waited for Joyce to arrive. 
The students that walked past us and looked at us received glares from all eight of us and we quietly talked among ourselves to pass time and plan everything out to do it right. 
"Should we just approach and act like usual, or?" San asked, looking around at us. 
"We'll just be more..." I tried to find the correct word "affectionate." 
"We'll give her more hints on how we feel and how we want our relationship towards her." Seongwha added. 
We want Joyce to notice our behavior and realize how we see her. 
We'll treat her like ours. Because she is. She just needs to realize on what basis. 
We'll shower her with love and affection, acts of service and lovely words, just everything to get her on the same page as us. 
And if she doesn't see us like that, then we'll convince her otherwise.