Chapter 12

An: Guys, better prepare :)

Tell me I’m only dreaming

It’s been one hour since Lisa left me, she didn’t come back and it’s also been one hour since I’m lying while crying here on her bed. My eyes are tired and I’m still so weak to move but I have to, I needed to get out of here, I don’t belong here in the first place.

Now that my mission is finally over, I don’t see any reason to stay here anymore. But my heart wants to, it does. It wanted to be with Lisa but who am I anyway? I’m just her nobody, I don’t have the right I know. After all I’ve done to her, she might despite me with all of her being now.

Tiredly I stand up and wore her shirt she threw at me since mine was ripped harshly into pieces. As I’m wearing the shirt, the check fell down and I pick it up.

There was Lisa’s name and her bold signature, beside her name was 30 million dollar worth of amount! I sniffed for the last time before I grab her pen on her bed side table, I ripped the check into pieces and gets another one from her drawer

I wrote down in the lines

I’m sorry. I know no equivalent amount of money can repay all the pain I’ve caused you. I’m really sorry and I hope you can still be happy –Jennie Kim

I sighed as I also removed the ring on my ring finger and placed it above the check. I took a final glance in Lisa’s whole room, familiarizing its ambiance and remembering Lisa’s smell before I finally step outside her room. The pain in my fingers are still stinging but I ignored it as I walk to my room. Silently with a heavy heart, I pack all of my things in my luggage, preparing myself to get out of here and vanished permanently in their lives.

I was about to carry all my things when my door suddenly opened, it revealed Irene looking all so concern and worried. Immediately she run towards me and pulled me into her arms

“Jennie I’m really sorry, I didn’t know mom would find out! I-I was panicking and I-I didn’t know what to do! Oh my god Jen I’m so sorry”

I slowly pushes her away and caressed her cheek, I suppressed a smile “It’s not your fault Irene, don’t blame yourself. It was my choice to pretend I’m you and I need to face the consequences. It’s over now and” I stopped and looked away as I felt one single tear flow from my eyes, damn it.  I can’t bring myself to give Lisa to her, she was mine, I wanted her to be mine.

I can’t.

I took a deep breath and stared at Irene’s confused face “It’s not hard to love Lisa if you will give her a chance Irene, you won’t regret it and you’ll be happy forever. I promise you that” another tear left my eye again and I harshly wiped it away using my hand.

Irene’s expression soften as she stared at my eyes, she held my both arms, softly, like she  was finally getting what I am trying to say to her

This is what I’m talking about, I should’ve never fall in love with Lisa,  she is Irene’s fiancée. I’m only hurting myself in the end. I don’t have any right to her at all, even to talk to her right now I know I’m not even allowed to.  She hates me so much and now what? Will I just pretend I didn’t know her and move on with my life? Because I don’t think I can, I fell in love really hard that I know I can’t forget her no matter how hard I will try.

“Be happy Irene, please make Lisa happy for me” I smiled and my friend in return, closed her eyes shut and wiped the tears that flowed from her cheeks. “Oh my god Jen I'm sorry, I didn’t know…I didn’t know, I was so selfish I didn’t think about your feelings, I’m really sorry!” she cried hard now

“Please don’t cry, it’s not your fault I fell in love with someone I knew will never be mine” I sadly smiled at her. She wiped the remaining tears away as she sniffed, held both of my arms and gives me now an encouraging look

“Don’t worry Jennie, I will make Lisa forgive you and stop the engagement at all costs. I know she loves you and I’m sure our parents will understand that-

“Irene!” I cut her, I don’t think I can still face Lisa after all that I’ve done to her. I don’t even thinks she loves me at all.  “Stop it, my mission is finally over. I’m done here Irene, I don’t want to mess with your lives anymore, especially Lisa’s.”

Irene’s mouth went open and shook her head “No Jen, I will fight for you and-

“Enough Irene!” her eyes widened this time.  I shut my eyes before I carry my luggage towards my door, attempting to finally walk out from this place when Irene suddenly held my hand. “Wait Jennie” she said as she gets something from her hand bag

“Take this with you, I know you will shut me out after this but I still wanted to communicate with you Jen, you are my only friend I found so comfortable with, like a sister.” She handed me a new phone, a two keys and a check. Finally my pay day has come, my step one to finally reach my dreams.

Ironic, I should be really happy but I'm not, even just a little bit. I shoved Irene’s hand away “ I don’t need that anymore, keep it” I said as I finally walk out.

“Jennie! Come on! If you will not accept all of this then you will return to your miserable life!” she runs and walks beside me, while I only ignored her pleadings as I am now carrying my luggage to the mansion’s golden staircase

Correction, my life now had become more miserable compared to my past one.

“I don’t care Irene, just leave me alone!” I shouted now, pissed and mad.

How can she doesn’t get my damn point that I don’t want any of this anymore! So be it if I’ll grow old serving my useless father, I won’t let my conscience hunts me forever if I’ll gladly use the awards I will get for breaking Lisa’s life!

I was about to finally open the double doors of the Manoban mansion when the whole complete Manobans entered along with Irene’s mom, my eyes immediately landed on Lisa’s pair of brown eyes that shows no kind of emotion, only coldness.

I step back, suddenly feeling I really don’t belong in their circle until Irene held my hand and drags me towards them. Her mother and Madam Manoban was about to shout again when she suddenly spoke .

“I get it okay! She will now leave so could you guys just shut the fuck up?! For god sake how many times do I have to tell you it’s not her fault, it was mine! And you!” she stopped in front of Lisa and pointed her index finger towards her face, I didn’t bother to look up, I know will only tear up. “I will never, ever will say yes to this freaking arrange marriage, keep that in your mind!” she shouted

Lisa let out her dangerous laugh “Oh Irene, I will make you say yes in no time don’t worry” she said, making me look up to see her cocky expression while staring at the real Irene beside me. She finally bore her brown eyes on me “What are you looking at stranger? I’m not talking to you”

Fuck, this is it Jennie! Welcome to freaking reality, how does it feel being slap by the truth?

Irene didn’t answer her anymore and continued dragging me towards the door, I silently let her drag me cause I badly needed support, physically.

  We were about to step outside the gates when my eyes caught my father on the other side of the street while puffing his cigar and sitting on his big motorbike.

Okay, lets talk about how lucky I am today.

“Oh shit” Irene cussed on my side and hids me on her back. The guards block my father’s path once again when he made his way towards the mansion.

“Jennie, let me in!” he shouted and widely smirks

“No Jennie, don’t. Guards! Shoo that man away and don’t let him step inside” Irene ordered to the guards, the two bulky men then shoo my father away but he remained smirking while still looking at me meaningfully

I sighed defeated, he won’t get anything from me anyway so better yet stop this drama already

“Irene I gotta go, my father is here” I said to Irene before I opened the Manoban’s gate. She grabs my hand and shook her head “You know the moment you will return to your father again, you won’t escape anymore Jennie. Just accept the things I’m giving to you please!” she begged, I shook my head once again.

“No Irene, thank you but I can’t. Goodbye” I bid before I hurriedly walks towards my father who welcomed me in his arms

“Welcome back anak, kamusta ang trabaho? Naka million na ba tayo? Yayaman na ba tayo?”( Welcome back daughter, how’s the job? Did we get a million? Are we gonna be rich now?)  he whispered on my ear.

I know I should be pissed at my father demanding already the money I just got for hurting somebody’s feelings but I know he’s all that I’ve got in this world I don’t belong. A lart of me felt relieved he came for me despite how much I hated him, he’s only my family.

“Pa let’s not talk about money tonight, what do you want to eat? I will cook for us” I smiled at my father, his thick eyebrows immediately turned into thin line and examined my face.

“What happened Nene?” he asks  so soft and with so much concern, triggering the heavy feeling I’ve been hiding in my chest as I heard my father spoke this soft for the first time

I smiled at him to assure him I’m okay “I’m fine, let’s go? I’m hungry papa” I said and was about to walk towards his motorbike  when he suddenly grabs me back and lifted down the neckline of the shirt I’m wearing, Lisa’s shirt.

His eyebrows furrowed even more and he shouted “Potangina! Anong nangyari sayo Jennie?! Bakit ka may mga pasa at bakit gisi gisi ang damit mo?!” (Fuck, what happened to you Jennie?! Why are you having bruises and why is your clothes ripped?!)

I moved away from him and hurriedly covered the bruises Lisa left me a while ago, the marks of her anger towards me and the ripped clothes I’m wearing under her shirt “It’s nothing papa” I excused

My father went in front of me and grabs my arm “Did they do this to you?! Who? That fiancée of yours?!”

My eyes widened when I heard he shouted this so angry now“No! I just fell down their stairs that’s why papa, you’re over reacting” I shouted and placed my luggage on is motorbike. “Let’s go” I said

“Don’t lie to me, who did this to you huh? Is this what you get for pretending to be some else huh Jennie?! Well fuck I will not forgive them!” he cussed before he rudely walks towards the gates and punches the two guards guarding the Manoban mansion

“Bring me the fucking fiancée!” he shouted as he continued punching easily the two bulky man and even taller than him, oh my god!

“Papa!” I shouted as I run towards my father known as the arrogant bastard in our place no one has even beated.

Irene who’s still behind the gates screamed and suddenly run inside, probably informing her mom and her in laws about the situation

“How dare she do that to my fucking daughter! Get her here you motherfucker!”

“Papa stop!  Let’s just go home before the Manoabans will sue us!” I grab his arm when he tried to kick the lying two big guards now on the floor, he faced me with his dark smoky eyes now so dangerous

“Leave? What the fuck are you saying Jennie?! Did you really think we will just get home and pretend nothing happened? Bullshit! Lintek lang ang walang ganti!” he shouted and removed my hands on him

He bangs the gate “Motherfuckers get out! How dare you do this to my daughter!”

“Oh my god papa stop! Let’s just go home please!" 

“No Jennie! They will pay for this!” he shouted and continued banging the tall gates.

I bore my eyes on the two bruised two bulky men lying wounded on the floor, oh my goodness this is why no one messes with my father, he can definitely kill two big men using his only bare hands!

He continued shouting like mad ape while I continued dragging and stopping him, he only stopped now when the whole family of Manoban went outside their golden mansion

“Well well look who finally came out from their cages, look here fuckers, who did this to my daughter?!” he grabs me and showed to the Manobans the bruises on my neck, I hurriedly grab myself away from him and look at Lisa who didn’t even show a sign of emotion after seeing the marks she had left me

Okay welcome to reality phase 2, I’m outta here.

“Who are you? Where are the guards and oh my god! Marco!” shouted Madam Manoban and pointed to Marco their two wounded bodyguards.

Marco and Leo steps back and hid Lisa on their backs "What have you done?"

“Scared? Get your ass out here and let settle this problem you guys started” gritted my father and bangs the gates again

Before I can mutter anything to my father, Irene suddenly run towards us with her mom on her back widening her eyes while her stares are fixed on my father. “Jennie!”

“You guys should stay inside! We can take care of this!” Leo

“Irish?” my father suddenly asked, I looked at him confused and got startled when her dark smoky eyes flashed a longing expression. “Is it really you?”

“Pa? What are you talking about?"

“What are you doing here Pedro?” Irene’s mom asked without stepping closer to the gates, she remained behind Irene with her eyes still widening in shock. The Manobans and Irene stares are exchanging to Irene’s mom and my father

My father’s eyes darted to Irene first before again to Irene’s mom, whom I assumed her name is Irish.
He suddenly laughed dangerous, I grab his arm to calm him down, I know him. “Is that your daughter? So you finally had one when you can’t have one with me huh? How’s your life with that rich man baby? Did he fuck you well like I did before?”

My eyes widened and I stiffened on my feet, the same with the Manobans and Irene inside the gates with her mom frozen on the ground and her mouth hanging wide open while staring in shock at my father.

What?!

“Papa?” I asked and tug my father's arm

“Let’s go Nene” he said before he drags me fast towards his motorbike.

I silently settled myself in his back while looking back at the Manoban mansion, Lisa’s eyes are now fixed on me while her family and Irene’s are now exchanging talks to each other. I gulped before I longingly look at her eyes for the last time before I wore the helmet and let my father take me home.

-

I didn’t sleep a wink when I got home, even my father miraculously turned into quiet one and just lock himself in his room. I didn’t bother to ask what he mean Irene’s mom and him didn’t have a baby before because I know if I did, my father will go just curse the whole time or drown himself in alcohol in whole day, in which I didn’t want to happen because I am too tired physically and emotionally to take care of a drunk man

Diverting myself away from the thoughts of Lisa, I have decided to take a midnight shower to also calm myself. The familiar four cornered wall of our bathroom was way more different from mine in the Manoban mansion, for one month I have experienced how to live in a wealthy way, for one month I learned how to love and to be loved. Now I am finally back to my normal life, no more Lisa, no more dinner in their kitchen, no more teasing session with Leo every morning, no more Joy to assist me in everything,  I admit I will somehow missed that life and wished it will not end.

I removed Lisa’s shirt and placed it on the sink, I stared at my reflection on the mirror and there I saw the evidence why my father went rage earlier.

Purple red marks are marked on my pale skin, from the side of my neck down to my collarbone, the clothing I was originally wearing was brutally ripped. I smiled weak and removed my poor conditioned shirt, it only shows how Lisa was so angry at me, the marks on my skin told me so.

I turned the shower on and let myself drowned in the warm water, washing off Lisa’s smell that still lingers in my skin. After the quick shower I change into my fresh clothes, I made my way downstairs to make myself a glass of milk. Memories of thunders, milk and Lisa in my bed flashed in a second in my mind, not liking the thought, I groaned in annoyance and drink the milk, hoping my mind will go anywhere except in that golden mansion.

I leaned on our kitchen counter and noticed our front door was slightly open. I hurriedly placed the glass on the sink and walk upstairs, I slowly opened my father’s door as I peek my head. My eyes widened when I saw an empty, dishevelled and a wreck room of my father

“Oh my god, papa?”

I went to his drawers and open them one by one, I stopped on the last one as I examined the left evident  bulge that form a shape of something between his clothes-

A gun

“Oh my god!” I hurriedly went to my room and search for my damn phone. My hands are now shaking as I am dialling Irene’s number

“Irene! Answer it!” I shouted as I prepared myself to go outside

I grab my coat and was about to open finally our door when I saw an unfamiliar car parked directly outside our house. I froze when a sweaty and crying Irene get out of the driver seat

I run towards her “Irene! What are you doing here?! Why are you crying?!”

She cried so loud and handed me a black pack bag “Run! Run Jennie you can’ stay in here anymore! Oh my god!” she shouted before she grabs me hard into the car, I removed her hands on me  and stared at her so confuse“ What are you talking about?! Why would I run?! I didn't do something! I already left Irene! What is it this time?!"

She shut her eyes “Just listen to me first! You can’t stay here in Jeju anymore, Lisa is coming and just-just -Fuck! You know how to drive right?!” she shook my arms this time

I unbelievably stared at her crying face as I nod slightly, she heave a relief sigh “Oh thank god but you really have to run away now Jennie! You are not safe here! I swear Lisa had brought her whole men each had a gun and all are freaking mad! They are coming here!” she went nuts and paced back in forth in front of me, I grab her arm

“Can you please calm down Irene and tell me what is happening?! What are you talking about? What Lisa’s men are- I stopped when I heard engines of cars roaring in the middle of the night

“Oh my god they are here! There is no time Jennie, you must run away!” Irene shoved me inside the damn car and threw me the bag she’s carrying.

“Wait what is really happening Irene?!”

“Just go Jennie! Run!” she shouted so angry that made me speechless

I was left with waves of continuous questioning thoughts running in my mind, figuring out what is really happening but I stopped in my thoughts when Irene shouted angrily again “Fuck Jennie what are you still doing?! Go before Lisa will arrive! Go!”

And without hesitation, I drove my car away from my home without even knowing what is really happening.

With my shaking hand, I reach for my phone in the car’s dashboard and dialled Irene’s number. It didn’t connect at first 10 minutes but she finally answered it after my tenth attempt

“Irene! Can you please tell me what’s happening?!” I asked as I drove away from Jeju.

My eyebrows furrowing as I meet some ambulance, police cars and bunch of reporters along the silent streets

Irene didn’t answer on the other line, instead I heard some faint sounds echoing through the speaker of my phone. I stopped the car on the sudden check point, lowering my window down, one military men examined my face before he saluted and let me through.

What’s really happening?

I continued driving away as I listened in my phone

“Where is she Irene?! Where the fuck is she?!”

“I don’t know Lisa! Let go of me! It’s not Jennie’s fault! She has nothing to do with this!” I heard Irene shouted and some faint crashes sound, soon I heard