Arms of The Angels (Book II - Home (Jenlisa))

Chapter 13

"Lalisa Manoban! What the hell is this?!" Jisoo barged into Lisa's office roughly. "Explain!" The plastic surgeon slammed a folder to Lisa's desk with a furious expression all over her face.

Lisa knew exactly what was in that file. Calmly, she asked Jisoo to take a seat.

"Oh I'm not going to sit down before you give the clearest reason why you did this." She spoke sternly.

"I resign from the research." Lisa stated lowly. "The board had approved."

"I've noticed." Jisoo greeted her teeth angrily. "Tell me something I don't know."

Lisa let out a deep breath. She reached for her phone in the drawer, scrolling the gallery application. She stopped at the certain video then showed it to Jisoo.

"Don't distract me, Lisa."

"They are the reason." Lisa stayed put. She stared at the device longingly, feeling her heart broke all over again. "I can't do this anymore," she spoke absentmindedly.

"Lisa, I bagged my uncle to find you those funds not to get you give up halfway." Jisoo closed her eyes, pressing the urge to yell at her friend.

"What will I get from this project, Chu?

"What will you get?!" She finally shouted. "What will you get, you ask?! People's lives, Lisa! Those freaking human being's lives!"

"By sacrifice mine?" Lisa sighed heavily. "I thought I was going to spend the rest of my live alone, Chu. I thought I'd never have a family to come home to. I thought no one would look out me, no one will ask for my presence. So I thought, why didn't I do something useful?"

"Lis-"

"Then I met my wife. Then we had the triplets. I was selfish, I was greedy, I wanted to have everything. So I pushed through. I've avoided my heart's warning over and over." Lisa locked her eyes with Jisoo's. "Name, Jisoo. People will know my name. They'd worship me for my creation. What I'd get for myself is fame. Would it be worthy enough, if I choose this over my family?" Lisa shook her head regretfully. "No, Jisoo, it would not. And I'm losing them now."

She looked at Lisa intensely. Her best friend was drowning in guilt. Jisoo's anger subsided. She then sat on the leather chair, words stuck in her throat.

"As a colleague, I deeply apologize. After all you've done for me, I should've talked to you first. Be mad at me, punish me, it's fine. But as your friend, I ask you to understand. I bet something I couldn't afford to lose."

For a while, no one said anything. Jisoo clenched her jaw. She was obviously disappointed at Lisa. She had thrown her pride to step on something that had nothing to do with her in the first place. To think she had licked those funders' ass to pour money to Lisa's project extremely troubled her.

"You choose Do over Jihyo?"

"I've talked to Jihyo. She didn't want it. So Do is all I have. I'd still give my contribution in this project, just not directly involved. I'd help him should he need anything from me."

Jisoo stood up. She scratched the side of her face, sighing, then made her way out. At the doorway, Jisoo stopped. She turned to Lisa, opening and closing her mouth, she finally said, "As a colleague, I am disappointed in you. I sternly state this is a very dumb, incredibly irresponsible move." Jisoo pointed her index finger to Lisa irritatingly, "just make sure Do is doing his job right. And be thankful I love Jennie, Aorta, Artery, and Venous."

Lisa smiled in relieved. Jisoo was indeed her best friend.

---

Lisa came home that afternoon to the stillness. Jennie wasn't home and so were the triplets. Jennie had informed Lisa that she'd run a bit late today since she had two meeting after lunch. The triplets should be having fun at the day care right now. Lisa would go and pick them but she was scared of the resentment.