Forever Manoban (Jenlisa Adaptation)

Chapter 20

My phone, face down on the table, started to ring. My imagination went wild with the hopes that maybe it was Lisa. I picked it up and looked at it. It was Dr. Taub’s number.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Jennie, its Dr. Taub, I’m glad you called. I want you to come in for some blood work tomorrow morning. After I get the results, we will go ahead and schedule the Chemotherapy. I’m happy you changed your mind.”

I wanted to throw the phone at the wall because I wasn’t looking forward to going through that again.

“Me too Dr. Taub, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I sighed and took a sip of my latte.

When I got home later that day, Jisoo had told me that Minhyun was taking her somewhere special for dinner. I was truly happy for her that someone was worthy of her heart, even if my own was shattered beyond repair.

“Guess what else?” she jumped up and down. Minhyun asked me to fly to Gwangju tomorrow to meet his parents.”

I looked at her, put on my happy face and jumped up and down with her. I didn’t want to ruin her trip by telling her I was going to be starting chemo soon, so I didn’t tell her about the phone call from Dr. Taub.

“Are you going to be alright sweetie?” she pouted.

I waved my hand in front of my face and walked over to the sink, “I’ll be fine. I’m going to lose myself in my paintings, so don’t worry about me.”

She hugged me tight. “Ok I have to go home and pack. We’ll be gone 2 weeks, so if you need anything or you just want to talk, you better call me Jennie Ruby Jane Kim. Do you understand me?” She grabbed her coat and opened the door.

“Jisoo,” I called.

“Yeah,” she turned and looked at me.

“I’m really happy for you; go have fun and keep in touch,” I spoke with a fake happiness.

“Thanks Jen, I will, I love you,” she yelled as she shut the door.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for her; I was. I was just feeling sorry for myself because I screwed things up with Lisa. How could I be so stupid? What the hell was I thinking? I knew what I had to do and the first step was to apologize to her.

I called a cab and stepped out into the brisk night air. I had the cab driver drop me off at the soup kitchen; I wanted to volunteer one last time before I started chemo. Once I start, I can’t be around groups of people, especially the homeless with their colds and illnesses. I volunteered for a couple of hours and told Julius what was going on.

“Oh Jen, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be Julius, I’ve been through it before and beat it, and I can do it again.”

He high fived me, “That’s my girl. I know you will and if you need anything, anything at all, you call me or anyone here, and we’ll be by your side in a flash.”

“Thanks Julius, I will and tell your wife I said hi.” He flashed me a smile and nodded his head.

I walked to the next block to a tattoo parlor where my friend Bobby works. “Why if it isn’t Jennie Kim; good to see you sweetheart,” Bobby said as he walked over and bear hugged me. “I haven’t seen you in a while, how’s Jisoo?”

“Hey Bobby, she’s good.”

He stared at me and twisted his face, “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours? Are you thinking about a tat Jen?”

I bit down on my bottom lip, “Yep, I sure am.”

“Come sit over here. Let me finish her up, and then you’re next,” he winked.