It'll Come Naturally

"His phone is turned off, so I can't even talk to him," Jasmine said, sighing. She was down in the dumps. Since Richard began attending the military school, she hardly saw him these days.

"Maybe he's in a training class now. Well, let him be. Let us go then, just you and me!" Justin took her hand and strode towards the elevator. They had usually gathered together in a young group because of their parents' friendships. But now, most of them had gone abroad for further study, and Justin had started work. He could understand Jasmine's feeling lonely.

"Okay, let's go!" Jasmine agreed, then stopped suddenly as her brain flirted upon another thought, "Wait a minute. I just remembered that Joyce returned several days ago. Let me find out if she wants to join us!" She took out her phone again, beaming with pleasure. Joyce was a total goddess in Jasmine's eyes. During the years, the girl of the Xia family's twins had grown into a beautiful lady. She had cultivated an air of nobility and elegance, but she also did well in her studies.

"Oh, you're right! I almost forgot that. She must be on her summer vacation now," Justin said slapping his forehead. Joyce had become a quiet and gentle lady, and it was difficult for those who knew her as a child to recall that she had been a rude and unreasonable child. Her ethereal beauty made her look like a fairy. And as if with a magic wand, she had them all enthralled to her.

Joyce was still in her bed when Jasmine called. She had stayed up writing an essay the night before. Stretching out her hand to take her phone from the night table she put it near her ear. "Hi. Who's that?"

"Hello, Jasmine here! Joyce, you sound sleepy. Are you still in bed? Oh, come on! It's almost noon!" Jasmine teased. She could tell that Joyce hadn't yet risen from her vague voice.

"Good morning, Jasmine. Is something the matter?" Joyce asked, yawning. She sat up in her bed and glanced at the alarm clock on the night table. It was already eleven o'clock. 'No wonder Jasmine is making a fuss,' she thought.

"Justin wants to treat me to lunch! Would you like to come with us?" Jasmine almost pleaded. She waited for her answer expectantly. Joyce didn't attend the university in their city, and she hadn't seen her in a long time.

"Of course I would. Tell me where I should meet up with you. I'll be there as soon as I can." Joyce replied. She climbed out of bed and stood collecting her thoughts in front of the dressing mirror. Her eyes were a little swollen because of her lack of sleep. At the other end of the line, Jasmine turned to look at Justin and asked, "Where will we have our lunch?"

Justin pressed the button to open the elevator's doors as he said, "It's quite hot these days. What about having some light food? Tell her that we'll head for Aunt Leena's vegetarian restaurant." He reached out to his sister and pulled her into the elevator by the elbow, selecting the ground floor button.

"Joyce, Justin wants to eat at Aunt Leena's restaurant. Do you have any other suggestions?" Jasmine didn't really care where they had lunch because she wasn't a picky eater. But she knew it was different with Joyce - there were many dishes which she didn't like eating. "No. That's fine with me. See you later!" Joyce hung up the phone. She spared another glance at herself in the mirror and then moved through to the bathroom.

The summer in S City was very hot, yet Joyce selected a long dress to wear. Her long, fine hair was swept back in a casual ponytail, which suggested a hint of casualness in addition to her elegant aura. The full garment suited her quiet personality very well. When she reached Leena's vegetarian restaurant, the Fragrance, Justin and Jasmine were already seated and waiting for her. She greeted them with an apologetic smile, "Hi, long time no see! Sorry to keep you waiting for so long."

"Never mind, we only just arrived also. Joyce, you get prettier all the time! Don't you think so, Justin?" Jasmine replied zealously. She stared at Joyce with adoring eyes. Joyce was a living goddess to her, and she admired her perfect beauty which seemed free from any trace of impurity.

"That's not true. Stop flattering me," Joyce denied promptly. Shyly she blushed and hid her face briefly behind her raised hands.

"You've truly become more beautiful," Justin praised heartily. He poured a glass of water and set it gently in front of her. The sun was bright outside and a thin line of sweat beaded Joyce's brow, so Justin thought that she must be thirsty.

"Thank you, Justin!" Joyce picked up the glass and took a graceful sip. She was grateful for Justin's consideration.

"Have you adjusted to university life in C City?" Justin asked out of curiosity. He considered that she was like a pure lotus flower, and everyone around her couldn't help protecting her from worldly impurities.

"Yes, quite well, thank you. I am enjoying the life there." Joyce replied with a soft smile. She chose to go to university in C City, because she wanted to live alone and become more independent. If she had stayed in S City she would certainly have become fed up with her mother's chatter.

"Joyce, were there many male students pursuing you at your campus?" Jasmine began gossiping happily. She wondered what caliber man Joyce would be interested in, to match her sublime beauty.

"Not really. Most men there don't like my type of woman," Joyce answered honestly. She knew that she was too quiet for most men, who preferred a more gregarious type of girlfriend.

"What? Those assholes must have a terrible standard then! You're such a perfect beauty, how could they dislike you? Are they looking for a witch to be their girlfriend?" Jasmine spat angrily, feeling indignant for Joyce.

"Jasmine, we're in public! Please be polite." Justin reminded his sister in a low voice. He let out a helpless sigh. Every time Jasmine became emotional, she wouldn't care about what words came from her mouth. He hoped that one day his sister could be as demure as Joyce.

"Okay, I know. Be polite and elegant as a lady... But, Justin, do you really think that I can ever become an elegant lady?" Jasmine asked impishly. She felt it would never be possible for her to act politely and obediently. Perhaps that would happen only in her next life? "You won't know whether that's possible if you don't give it a try!" Justin tried to encourage her. He considered his sister reproachfully, but he believed their mother was the one to blame for his sister's wildness. He and Edward both wished Jasmine to be a gentle princess, but Daisy had nurtured her into a freewheeling hoyden.0000