Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 124

The garage sale, which had started early in the morning, reached its peak around noon. Not only the neighborhood people but also the kids from school seemed to have all come to play. Children, pulled by their parents’ hands, bought quite expensive items, and those who came alone never left empty-handed. Everyone eagerly asked Josh about the history of the items, gave them great significance, and carried them away one by one. Even though the history of an ordinary middle-class family was far shorter than that of America, they were moved by the trivial stories, paid the price, shook Josh’s hand, and often walked away with light steps.

As more people gathered, Emma didn’t miss the opportunity and brought out cookies and lemonade this time. Of course, the prices were ridiculously high, but everyone bought them without a word of complaint. And of course, Josh was standing in front of the sales counter.

“It’s all gone already. I’ll bring more.”

Josh turned his gaze from Emma, who was excitedly going into the house, and left the empty table to approach a middle-aged man who was looking for him. He was looking at the problematic barbecue grill, and his furrowed brows seemed unusual.

“Hmm, isn’t this a bit expensive? I saw the same one selling for $50 less at the supermarket.”

The man, who spoke with a displeased expression, was Alisa’s father, the one Emma had called. Occasionally, Josh would hear such complaints, but before he could say anything, their daughter would usually step forward and scold her parents. This time, too, Alisa immediately rushed forward and chided him.

“Dad! This has family history in it. You wouldn’t understand.”

As Josh watched with a wry smile, Alisa’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and her father, with a reluctant expression, examined the grill from various angles and then asked,

“It seems to be in good condition… Do you really want this, Alisa?”

He confirmed his daughter’s intention one more time, then shook his head, muttering that he couldn’t understand the minds of girls this age, and took out banknotes to pay. After saying that he had three barbecue grills at home, he left to load the newly purchased grill into his car, and Alisa spoke to Josh.

“Tell Emma I said thank you for contacting me first, Josh. Oh, and we’re having a barbecue party next week, you’re coming, right?”

Suddenly, Josh realized. How Emma could have so confidently written the price on the grill.

How dare she sell her brother?

He wanted to find her and give her a good scolding, but he couldn’t embarrass his sister in front of his friend. Instead, Josh gave a practiced smile and nodded.

“Yes, thanks for inviting me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Alisa, her face flushed, said goodbye and walked away, turning back several times. Josh, who waved back to her as she sat in the passenger seat of the car, turned to look for Emma as soon as the car disappeared from sight. The polite smile he had worn until then had completely vanished from his face.

That brat, I won’t let her get away with this.

“Josh, can you get this?”

“Oh, sorry. Just a moment.”

Another voice came to Josh, who raised a hand with a practiced smile on his face.

“Josh? Where are you going?”

“Josh!”

“Josh, I have a question!”

Begging for understanding amidst the calls from all directions, Josh went inside and immediately found his mother in the kitchen.

“Where’s Emma?”

His mother, who was just taking freshly baked cookies out of the oven, tilted her head and said, “I wonder.”

“Isn’t she outside?”

Josh looked around instead of answering, then went back outside without a word.

Surely she didn’t abandon me in this chaos and run away.

Just as he was secretly grinding his teeth, a shadow briefly appeared on the wall connecting to the neighbor’s house. As he unconsciously furrowed his brows, someone grabbed his shoulder. He immediately turned to see Ed, from the same football team.

“What are you doing here?”

“Why are you here?”

To Josh’s question, Ed subtly gestured behind him. Ed’s sister and brother were seen looking around for items. They smiled brightly and waved when their eyes met Josh’s. Ed sighed and grumbled.

“It’s my day off, you know. Just deal with them, okay?”

Clearly dragged out against his will, he shook his head with an expression of boredom, then looked around.

“Where’s Emma? Is it just you?”

“I was just looking for her myself.”

Josh was about to warn him not to covet someone else’s sister but stopped. Finding her was the priority. Josh walked again, heading towards the wall. As he got closer, the shadow became clearer, and soon Josh realized there were two people there.

“Oh.”

“Shh.”

Josh interrupted Ed, who was about to say something, and signaled him to be quiet. Ed also nodded and followed him, crouching down to cautiously spy. When he cautiously poked his head out, standing next to the wall was indeed Emma, as expected. The important thing was who her companion was.

“Huh.”

Josh unconsciously let out a deflated sound. Standing in front of Emma was a model student with thick black-rimmed glasses, about Emma’s height, and a scrawny, emaciated physique that seemed to have no muscle other than internal organs. Since the school connected elementary to high school, by the time they were high school students, most people knew each other’s faces, but he genuinely had never seen this guy before.

Surely he didn’t transfer.

But what made Josh even more exasperated was Emma’s attitude towards him. Her slightly flushed face, avoiding eye contact, and quiet whispering were all too familiar to Josh. All the female students who had a crush on him had confessed to him with that exact same attitude. Still, Josh watched, thinking, No way, when Emma’s voice reached his ears.

“Thank you for coming. I didn’t expect it… well, maybe a little.”

Oh, God.

Josh buried his face in his hands and barely managed to suppress the groaning sound bubbling up from deep in his throat. He pressed down the urge to scream, “Stop it!” when Emma continued to ask.

“Um, so. Um, if you have time, would you like to go see a movie together next weekend?”

Why are YOU asking him out on a date?!

Ed quickly grabbed Josh, who was clenching his fists and about to rush out. Seeing him gesture to watch a bit longer, Josh barely suppressed his anger. He waited silently for what came next, and then the scrawny guy, who had hesitated for a moment, opened his mouth.

“I have to go to church on the weekend…”

Are you, of all people, rejecting Emma? My sister?

“Josh!”

Ed, holding Josh back again, whispered urgently, “If you go out now, how embarrassed will your sister be?”

It was frustrating, but it was true. Once again, Josh had to endure. Meanwhile, Emma struggled on.

“Then it can’t be helped. Don’t feel too burdened, it’s just because I’m grateful you helped me with my homework last time. Um, if it’s okay, would you mind teaching me some math problems next time? They’re too hard…”

That bastard! How dare he ask that scumbag to teach him math when I’m here?!

For Josh, who had won competitions, it was an absurd statement. Ed watched the two anxiously beside Josh, who was trying to calm his breathing, barely restraining himself from rushing out. The scrawny guy spoke again.

“That’s fine, but I’m busy. A tutor comes three days a week. I’ll think about it if you can match my schedule.”

“Of course I will! Thank you, Jack. I’ll definitely repay you…”

He couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Instead of rushing out and grabbing the guy by the collar, Josh clutched his boiling stomach and retreated.

He returned to the front of the mansion and punched the garage wall once, but that wouldn’t make his resentment disappear. Beside Josh, Ed rubbed salt in the wound.

“Dude, your sister’s standards are so low… It’s not just once or twice, what on earth…”

His sympathetic words only made Josh even angrier. When Josh glared at him menacingly, Ed quickly changed the subject and avoided eye contact.

“No, I just wonder why your sister’s taste is the exact opposite of yours. I’m just curious.”

“Shut up, Ed.”

Josh ground his teeth and spat out. Ed scratched his head and quickly went to his waiting sister and brother.

After taking a few deep breaths to calm his anger, Josh painstakingly revived his polite smile and returned to his spot. Ed was right. He had warned his friends not to even dream of coveting his sister, but seeing her constantly chasing after such absurd, pathetic guys, he thought it might be better if she just dated anyone from the football team.

Anyway, that guy is a no-go.

How dare he reject Emma? The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The problem was that this wasn’t the first or second time Emma had fallen for such ridiculous guys, making Josh want to grab her by the scruff of the neck.

After selling off items to the waiting people, he grabbed Ed again and dragged him into the garage.

“You know what I’m going to say, right?”

Ed nodded at Josh’s low voice.

“Of course, Josh.”

He replied with a serious face.

“If your sister goes down the wrong path, it’s friendship to guide her to the right path together.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The two faced each other and crossed their arms in a vow. Ed’s eyes shone with determination. He wouldn’t let the guy who dared to insult his friend’s sister get away with it; he would make him pay the corresponding price.

“Alright! That’s it for today!”

With the coach’s whistle, practice ended. Everyone was exhausted and drenched in sweat, but there was still work to be done. Josh, along with the guys he had already spoken to, was the first to rush into the showers, quickly washing up and getting ready to leave. Normally, they would have lingered, cracking useless jokes and then gathering with a few like-minded guys to go to the arcade or meet their girlfriends, but today was different.

“Josh, by the way, I heard the guys from K High are gunning for you, did you hear?”

Just as he was about to leave the locker room, one of the guys spoke to him. Josh just casually replied, “Oh, yeah.”

“K High? Who is it? Wilson?”

“Him and his gang, probably.”

One of the group said, following Josh out. Another guy chimed in, sneering.

“You completely crushed them in the last game because of Josh. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to sleep from the humiliation.”

“Ridiculous guys, they get crushed every game and still don’t learn.”

The guys following behind chuckled, but Josh was not in the mood. They were going to beat that guy up right now.

How dare he reject my sister?

The most infuriating thing was Emma, who had fallen for such a pathetic scrawny guy and brought this humiliation upon herself, but he couldn’t scold her. If he did, it would be tantamount to confessing that he had spied on her—even though Emma had brought it upon herself by making a spectacle of herself in such a place—and if he pressed Emma about why her taste was always so bad, she would only rebel. Emma’s answer was always the same:

<Don’t tell me what to like or dislike about my taste!>

Just like that.

So, the method Josh chose was this: he had used the same method several times already, and the scrawny guys, who looked like they would blow away with just a puff of wind, always easily disappeared from Emma’s vicinity.

Even though his damned sister would never know how much heartbreaking effort her brother was making behind the scenes for her, who had no taste whatsoever.

But this was the fate of a brother with a sister. Josh was comforting himself with that thought. And his always reliable teammates protected his back.

Today, too, they all got into Josh’s car and followed the scrawny guy’s route, just as they had investigated beforehand. They had done this many times, so they didn’t need to exchange many words; they worked perfectly in sync. Today, the scrawny guy was going to volunteer after class. They had already found out which nursing home he went to and hid around the corner, waiting for the right moment.