Chapter 18

Clueless

She grinned "Marry me"

"Don't give me that look, I will marry you because Lily needs you, she needs a mother. But if you want to marry that poor guy then feel free to do so, let me remind you I have the control over everything, in Lily's case and your village's case, you want them both right? Then choose, marry me or you'll lose both of them, choose Jennie" she hold my hand this time

I stared at her for seconds, trying to read her mind why is she suddenly offering me marriage. It took me several minute when I realized she used her power when it comes to this, she used Lily and the village's situation.I have no choice, I can't run away anymore, she fucking trapped me this time.

"What? Will you just stare at me or-

"Fine. I'll marry you, are you happy now?"

She smirked even wider "Good choice baby" she suddenly held my waist and pulled me closer to her "Now you can't run away from me anymore, no more running. You are tied, forever"

I don't know if I made the right choice, but seeing how happy the village chief when Lisa won the case and how Lily is happily hugging Lisa in her arms, I suddenly felt the happiness I longed after a long time.

Lisa said she wanted me and Lily to reside in her house in Seoul after the party that the village held for her, I don't know if she's serious talking about that to her four year old daughter in our sofa, her face is now red while she's hiccupping for a couple of times since we arrived.

"Yow yow little Lily! Are you my Lily? My sweet little Lily?"

I went to them and unbelievably stared at her unfocused brown eyes, her hands are now on my daughter's cheeks while she's rubbing her nose on Lily's "God you really look like me baby, I love you..."

Lily laughed and covered Lisa's mouth with her hand "Daddy your breath stinks! Ewww.."

Lisa chuckled and pinches her nose "What did you just say mini Manoban? Daddy's breath stinks? Nah daddy smells so gooood little girl" she drunk talk her four year old daughter, she's unbelievable

Lily shoved her face away before she said "Little Manobal?"

"No no baby, Ma-no-ban" she corrected

"Monabal?"

"Ma-no-ban!" Lisa slightly yelled and hiccupped

"Ahh Lily gets it! Ma-no-bangs!" Lily innocently cheered, I fought my laughter when Lisa suddenly glared at her own daughter and rubs her hands on her face, slightly frustrated but soon patiently smiled and said slowly "Ma-no-ban baby, come on say it again. You are Lily Manoban"

Our daughter then looks back at me, her pair of brown eyes obviously asking for help, I mouthed Manoban to her before she looks at Lisa again

"Lily Ma- she paused, Lisa's head lift up as she slowly mouthed "no"

"Nooo-" Lily continued, "Ban" Lisa finished and smiled

"Bon! Lily Manobon!" Lily loudly cheered and jumps on her lap, while Lisa loudly groaned and murmured indefinite words, her face looks so stressed staring at our daughter repeatedly yelling "Lily Manobon"

I already laughed this time, making the two looks at me with their pair of brown eyes "What are you laughing at" Lisa sneered, I ignored her and went to her side before getting Lily on her lap

"Lily baby it's not Manobon, it's Ma-no-ban" I slowly mouthed

Lily hurriedly nods her head before she smiled and say "Lily Manoban! I got it mommy!"

I rub my nose on hers "Such a good girl.." I giggled

"Hmm! Lily is a good girl!" she cheered and hugs my neck, making me tickle her side and she immediately squealed in my arms

"Damn what a sight" I only stop when I heard Lisa on my side, staring at me and Lily with her mouth slightly hanging open

I placed the yawning Lily on her bed and tuck her to sleep, she got tired after playing with Lisa. I hummed her a song to sleep and she buries her face in my chest and hugs her body on mine, her little legs are on my stomach and her one arm below my chest

Soon enough, I felt her little snores in my skin, I kissed her forehead and caressed her brown hair. "Good night baby girl"

"Is she already asleep?" I heard Lisa spoke, I saw her leaning on Lily's doorway while crossing her arms, wearing only plain white shirt and gray sweatpants.

I nod my head as I slowly removed my hand Lily was leaning on "Yes" I simply answered

She slowly made her way to the bed and sits on Lily's side. She caressed her hair and my heart melt when she kissed her forehead

"Are you sleeping here?" she looked up to me

"Yes, Lily will wake up in the middle of the night and she will cry if she won't see me"

She nods, she settled herself in Lily's side and also leaned her head on the wall, like my position. I just stared at her side profile, amazed by the reality she's already here with us, not in any of my fantasies in every night for four years, not in my dreams, but in here, she's real, she's really here now, with us. And I almost tear up again

"You can sleep here, Lily will be happy she will wake up seeing you beside her" I said

She looked at me now, her pair of brown eyes glistened by the light coming from Lily's lamp, soon enough she looked away and closed her eyes. "I wonder why you didn't even once tried to tell me I have a daughter..you know I really suffered a lot, alone. I alone tried to live my life and continue living like normal, when you're just here, being happy raising my little one with yourself and that bastard of yours"

She looked at me now, I guess I really hurt her a lot, her brown eyes told me so. "Bastard?"

"That Joaquin" she gritted

So bastard equals Joaquin?

"Joaquin is not a bastard" I answered, that made her glare at me again. She shifted and turned her body sideways to me "What did you just say? That he is not a bastard? Really?"

"Why are you suddenly being angry?"

"Because you keep on defending that bastard you nearly fucking marry, I hate it" she growled.

"Well that's because you are fighting with Lily with me! I only said yes because I am afraid you will really take my daughter away from me, I only did it because of you.." I looked away

"Still I hate that bastard, you should stay away from him"

"What?" I unbelievably asked, is she kidding me?

"I want you and Lily has nothing to do with him. I will take you both to Seoul and you will cut ties with him, I don't want to see that bastard hugging my own daughter like his own. I hate it" she mumbled.

I already shifted and sits up straight, glaring at Lisa showing no emotion and just stared blankly at my eyes

"First Joaquin is not a bastard, second if it wasn't for him me and your daughter should be dead by now. Joaquin is Lily's Uncle Akin and she grew up with him since she was a child, he's her only godfather and you don't have the right to restrict him for seeing Lily-

"And you have the right to hid Lily away from me and let that bastard take care of her instead of me?" she retorts and also sit up straight, glaring at me this time "How dare you talk about fucking rights when you in the first place take that away from me"

I sighed and patiently closed my eyes. Fine she wants the truth? Then I will tell her the truth "I did it because I thought you are already happy with Irene. I'm afraid I will ruin your life again if Lily will come into your life, I'm just scared, I really don't know what to do because you are so angry at me that's why I decided to just run away-

"Irene and I never got engaged. I have never been happy in those four years you kept on running away from me"

I looked at her now, attempting to ask why she said that but before I can say a single thing, she stands up and left the room. Making me clueless in the air

"Where's Jennie?"

"Could you stop coming here from now on? You know I can sue you for trespassing" I heard Lisa's voice from my kitchen. I stop on slicing and wiped my hands on my apron before I hurriedly went to our living room

And there I saw Lisa forcefully closing the door with Joaquin glaring at her while stopping Lisa from shutting him out

"I have to talk to Jennie" Joaquin scoffed

"Jennie is still asleep, I tired her out last night." Lisa said, what is she talking about?

"What did you do to her?" Joaquin now with his low voice, his thick eyebrows got furrowed while he threw death glares at Lisa

Lisa suddenly snickered "You know that already. Now back off, my wife is still asleep so just go home"

My ears didn't miss that, she just called me her wife. Heart behave.

"Wife?' Joaquin asked confuse, before Lisa can answer him, I appeared in his sight. He saw me in Lisa's back so he hurriedly shoved Lisa away from the door and entered my house

"Jennie can I talk to you?" he holds my hand, I saw how Lisa darted her eyes on it before it landed on my eyes. She glared at me again before she walks out towards Lily's room

I removed Joaquin's hold on me, that made him shock a little bit. "Jen.." he stated

"What do you want to talk about Joaquin? Let's talk about that later, have you eaten already?"

"No" he answered. I nod my head before leading him to our kitchen.

I already finished serving our breakfast in the dining table when Lisa with our yawning Lily in her arms gets out of her room.

She rolled her eyes on me when she saw Joaquin sitting on his usual seat, I bit my lower lip when Lisa seated right in front of him, obviously glaring at my friend only raising his one eyebrow on her.

"Uh let's eat?" I mocked a laugh before I seated beside Lisa.

Lily in her arms got out of her lap once she opened her eyes and went to her uncle Joaquin to kiss him good morning. I looked at Lisa who clench her jaw watching the smiling Joaquin at my daughter, then to Lily who circled around the table and jumps again on Lisa's lap.

"Lily wants daddy!" she cheered before she grabs her cereal. Lisa smiled victoriously at Joaquin, which on the other hand ignored Lisa and placed some bacon on Lily's small plate

"Lily wants bacon right?" he smiled

Lisa hurriedly stabs the bacon and placed it on Joaquin's empty plate "Are you dumb? Why are you giving her bacon? It's not healthy for a kid, baby you should eat carrot" she said and puts some slice of carrot on Lily's plate

"She wants it and she loves it. Besides it's just one slice, she'll cry if she won't eat her bacon and she hates carrot" Joaquin also stab the carrot and placed it on Lisa's plate, he puts the bacon again on Lily's.

"I told you it's not healthy for a kid to eat bacon, carrot it is" Lisa again, Lily looks so confuse exchanging her stares at the two fighting over a food

"Bacon"

"Carrot"

"The fuck is your problem?" Joaquin

"It's you who's the problem here! Get lost!" Lisa already shouted

"Shut up!" I already yelled pissed, the two then stop and became silent. Heaving a deep breath I grab Lily out of Lisa's lap and made her eat only her cereal.

I am now washing the plates when I felt Joaquin stands next to me "What is it again Joaquin?"

"Can I talk to you now?"

"What is it that you want to talk about?" I asked as I washed another plate

I heard Joaquin sighed deep in my side, I stopped what I'm doing and looked at him now "Is there a problem?"

"You're getting married?" a slight pain flashed in his both eyes.

I stared at him, a slight pain stab my chest when I saw a single tear left his eye "I thought you'll marry me Jennie, what happened?"

I gulped, I know I have hurt his feelings but damn, I don't know what should I say

"Joaquin I-m so so-rry.."

"It's fine, you don't need to say sorry. I know you will choose her in the end and besides she is Lily's daddy. Of course she has to be the one you will marry, not me" he looked away and wiped his tears "Damn I know I will lose, I just hope you'll be happy with her" he said before he walks out

I remained in there, staring at his back while he opened my door and left. I leaned on my sink with a heavy heart, I have made another person hurt again because of my stupid choices. Joaquin is my friend, a very special friend of mine and he really did help us a lot, he became my shoulder to lean on when I badly needed someone. I know I hurt him that's why in those three consecutive days he is not visiting Lily in my house, I tried to look for him before me and Lily will flew to Seoul.

But I failed to get any news from him, I heard he took a vacation alone and said he won't see me. I felt sad and Lily is too, on our way to Seoul she kept on asking where is her uncle Akin to me and I just excused her uncle is busy with his work. Lisa was silent the whole time she was watching me humming Lily a song in my arms the whole time we're having our flight.

Lily kept on running around in her wide unit once I stepped again in her place, it was all still the same unit we once dated. Nothing changed

"Mommy Lily's room is so big!!" Lily screamed when she opened her room. She run towards her bed and jumps "And Lily's bed is so soft! And I have a lot of teddy bears!" she went to side where different kinds of big teddy bears are placed.

I smiled at the sight and seated on her pink bed, "Mommy will Lily live here from now on?" she smile at me.

I tap her head and nods "Yes baby, this will be Lily's room. Do you like it?"

"Lily likes it! Lily likes it a lot!" she squealed and jumps onto her bed. "Will Lily live with daddy from now on?" she seated on my lap

I kissed her nose "Yes baby, mommy and Lily will live with daddy from now on"

And that was our first day being in Lisa's unit. Lily and I spent our whole day arranging our things while she happily played with her toys and running around in every corners of the place. I already finished my dinner with my Lily and even tuck her to bed but Lisa hasn't still got home.

She said to me she has to go to her office but it's now almost midnight but she's still not around. I seated on her sofa while waiting for her door to open. The active night in Seoul is now again right in front of my eyes, amazed by the sight I slowly walk towards the glass door and stared at the night lights. It was the same exact place where Lisa and I danced, exactly four years ago.

Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I started dialling Joaquin's number. I didn't had the chance to say goodbye, I wanted to say sorry to him but his phone is always off. I ended the call and started dialling his friend's number

"Hello? Who's this?"

"It's Jennie, Joaquin's friend. Have you seen Joaquin around?"

Suho sighed on the other line "No Jennie, I haven't seen him for a while. He's also not been showing himself in work for one week now. I have no idea where he is"

I sighed and felt sad, it's my fault "Is that so? Can you call me once you see him? Tell Joaquin I wanted to see him please" I said. Suho just agreed and ended the call.

I turn my back and I saw Lisa already leaning on the wall, untying her necktie and eyebrows furrowing. She threw her suitcase on the sofa and her eyes landed on the phone I am holding, I slowly walk towards her

"What took you so long?"

"Case" she simply answered. She walks now to her kitchen and I just followed. I watch how she cussed before she leaned on her counter, eyes closed and frustrated

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" I went in front of her. She opened her eyes "It's nothing, none of your business"

I blink at her answer, I step forward and tried to removed her necktie still undone in her neck. She watched me undo the thing "Are you okay? You seemed so tired"

"Did you even care about me? Why don't you just return to your village and look for that fucking man you are worrying about" she gritted. I stop to stare at her, what is her problem?

"What are you talking about?"

She shoved my hands away "Nothing, I'm tired, just go to sleep"

Lisa became cold towards me after that, she would join us with Lily for breakfast and after that she will drown herself in work. We also enrolled Lily to a preschool near her unit, after I would fetch Lily from her school I would cook dinner for us, but then Lisa in three consecutive days till now is always coming late. I don't know why and I tried to ask her that but she would always shut me out and excused she was just tired from work. I understand and just let her rest.

"Here, I forgot to give you this" she said on my side once I am cooking breakfast. She catch my hand and hastily wrapped that familiar golden ring on my ring finger.

"I am still processing the papers of our marriage, by next week it will be done. Ready yourself" She said before she left me and seated next to the playing in her dining table Lily.

"Bye daddy!" Lisa kissed Lily on her cheeks after our breakfast, she then smiled and patted Lily's head "Be a good girl to your mommy"

"Hmm! Lily will be a good girl" Lily smiled and went to me then held my hand. Lisa stood up and nod her head to me "I'll be going"

"Oka-

"Mommy!" Lily suddenly squealed, making me and Lisa look at her flashing a wide smile to us, she tug Lisa's hand "Daddy kissed Lily to say goodbye, give mommy a kiss too daddy!"

I blushed and looked away, I was about to scold my daughter when Lisa suddenly pulled me by the waist and kissed me on the lips! It was just a second but I felt it was like for eternity! My eyes widened, literally!

"There" she smirked at our daughter who's now squealing with both of her hands on her mouth once she left me dumbfounded "Yiee daddy kissed Lily on my cheek but she kissed mommy on the lips! Mommy you're blushing!"

"Okay Lily stop screaming, we're here at your school. Don't be loud"

My daily routine was like that, I cook, take Lily to school and fetch her, then cook again dinner. I am now starting to get bored and I wanted to work, tonight I am planning to talk to Lisa I want to do something aside from taking care of Lily. Sitting again on her sofa, I was waiting for her to arrive when Lily just took her afternoon nap, she said to me this morning she will be home early.

While waiting her telephone rings, I stand up to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Is Ms. Lisa Manoban there?" an unknown man spoke

"Ms. Manoban is not yet here, may I ask who is this?"

"This is Dispatch, we are going to ask about Ms. Chou's suicide case. She's still in the hospital recovering from her injury, is Ms. Manoban going to hide for the rest of her life and run away?

"What? What are you guys talking about?" I furrowed my eyebrows

"Attorney Lisa Manoban leads her opponent's client name Chou Tzuyu to attempt suicide. It's all over the news and the public is talking about it, can you call this number once she will get there?"

I ended the call

And now I realized I don't know what's going on in her life, from the day I left her until now. I am clueless as to who Lisa Manoban became after four years