Falling in Love With A One-Night Stand

“Did he tell you anything about what he did in Ireland?” Joanna paused for a moment before lowering her head again. She looked upset. “I’m the one who got him in trouble,” Joanna said after a while.

“Joanna, don’t blame yourself. All of that was in the past! You should stop dwelling on the bad memories now that he’s doing great. He’s such a good guy! | would have married him if | wasn’t married,” Anna said. She got completely into character and began talking gibberish. Somehow, she even found it amusing.

Hearing that, Joanna flushed.

“I’ve heard you two met in Ireland. Can you tell me more about it?” Anna changed the topic.

“I went to Ireland at the time to visit my relatives. A friend of mine took me to a pub one day. We had too much to drink, and some hooligans hit on us. Bill was working at that bar that day, and he saved me. We later became friends,” Joanna said, smilingly.

Then she continued, “Bill used to work as a bouncer at the bar, and | often went there with him. Nearly every day, he had to fight to maintain the order and was frequently in danger as a result. | couldn’t stop crying every time while bandaging his wounds. And whenever he smiled at me, | felt as if nothing else mattered.”

“Do you like him?” Anna asked, observing her expression.

Joanna’s eyes widened immediately. She was about to deny it when she was overcome with sadness. She felt nothing was important to her

right now since she would die soon. ‘472 The Tender Side of Him

time, as his boss requested, Bill had to fight for his boss’ girlfriend. In the fight. Bill was stabbed through the stomach several times. When the fight Was over, he thought he was going to die, so he told me

such a

to see me and refused to admit that he told me he loved me that day. | was pissed by his attitude and asked him what was

furrowed her brow. She didn’t come to hear their love story, but she still felt sad about what happened between them. Having thought for a while, Anna explained, “I guess he did so because he didn’t want to

Joanna had no choice but to nod as she also had the same thought. Of course, she

a village. Then the police arrested the whole gang. But before that happened, there was already an internal conflict in the gang. | heard that the

couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility, but she didn’t

that all of this would happen, so he brought me to England ahead of time. We then lived in a small village. But | got sick just as | thought everything was

Joanna’s hand in hers, tightening her grip as she touched those thin fingers. As she touched the

said worriedly, “Well, the operation costs a lot. We don’t have that much money. Bill told me later that he was about to gain enough money for the surgery. Somehow, | have a feeling that he’s doing something illegal to

said too

a woman come to our store looking for him the other

grip on Anna’s arm. She appeared terrified and nervous. Then she asked sharply, reaching out her right hand and pointing to the back of her left hand, “What? What does she look like?

Anna replied. When she saw Joanna’s reaction, Anna instantly knew her guesses were correct. She paused for a moment before deciding not

her head and said, “No. The woman Was around twenty years old, and