Two of Us

CHAPTER ONE

"I'm going to fucking kill you if you insist on marrying me, you bitch," I shouted, slamming my hand on her desk. My anger was boiling inside me.

She stood up, trying to approach me, but I raised my hand, motioning for her to stop. "Stay right there! I don't fucking want to be near you!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with rage. She looked at me with a mix of concern and sadness in her warm eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she said calmly, "Okay, can we sit and talk calmly, please?"

Reluctantly, I moved to the couch and sat down, crossing my legs and folding my arms. I gave her a piercing gaze as she sat across from me. She took a moment to compose herself before speaking. "I know this might seem sudden for you, considering you just turned 17 last week, but I can't wait any longer to marry you, Jennie," she said, her eyes filled with sadness. I couldn't understand what was wrong with her. I barely knew her, so why was she so persistent on marrying me? I was just a 17-year-old still in school. What did this woman think? That I would just easily agree to marry her?

She continued, "I've loved you ever since you stepped into my house 10 years ago, Jennie. Do you remember us playing in my garden? And the picnics we had under the big apple tree in my backyard that you always called the Lini tree? Don't you remember me, Jennie? I'm Lalisa Manoban but you always call me Lili." Shock coursed through me. No way!

"Li... Lili? You're Lili?" I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand.

She gently took my hand in hers,
"Yes, I'm Lili. When you stopped coming to my house, I cried a lot. I vowed that when I became a CEO, I would marry you. In fact, I spoke to your mom about wanting to marry you last year when I graduated from college, but she refused because you weren't of legal age yet. So, I waited until you turned 17."

I sat there, completely stunned by Lisa's revelation. Memories flooded back, and I struggled to comprehend the depth of her feelings for me. It was hard to believe that the little girl I used to play with had grown up with such a strong determination to marry me.

"Lisa... I... I don't know what to say," I stammered, still trying to process everything. The anger that consumed me earlier began to subside, making room for confusion and curiosity.

Squeezing my hand gently, Lili looked into my eyes and pleaded, "I understand if this is overwhelming for you, Jennie. But please, give me a chance to explain and listen to what I have to say."

Reluctantly, I nodded, urging her to continue. I uncrossed my arms and leaned forward, attempting to maintain a neutral expression despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

Lisa took a deep breath and began to share her side of the story. She said, "Jennie, I've been longing for this moment, waiting for the right time to express my feelings and my unwavering determination to build a life with you. Every time we played together, it felt special to me. I cherished those memories, and they stayed with me as I grew older. I couldn't help but fall in love with you. As time passed, I realized more and more that I wanted to be by your side."

Furrowing my brows, I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of her emotions. "But why did you wait until now to tell me? And why me specifically?"

Lisa's eyes glistened with nostalgia and hope as she explained, "I waited because I wanted to ensure we were both ready for such a commitment. And as for why you specifically, it's because you've always held a special place in my heart. Your presence, your gummy smile, your laughter-it touched me in a way I can't fully explain. I knew deep down that you were the one I wanted to share my life with."

I paused for a moment, overwhelmed by her heartfelt confession. "Lisa, I appreciate your honesty, but this is a lot to process. I never saw you in that way before. It's hard for me to wrap my head around it."

Lisa reached out and gently took my hand. "I understand, Jennie. It's a surprise, and I don't expect you to feel the same way right away. I just wanted to let you know how I feel and prove that I'm genuinely serious about you. I promise to work hard to make you love me. Give me a chance to be your husband, Jennie."

"But I still want to go to school. I'm not ready to be a stay-at-home wife, taking care of children and changing diapers. I want to go to college, start my own clothing line, and travel the world. I can't do all of that if I'm someone's wife."

"Jennie, I promise that nothing will change regarding your dreams. You can still go to school, attend college, pursue your clothing line, and travel. I'm here to support you. I'll be a supportive husband, and I'll never pressure you to have children if you're not ready."

"I know it may seem unconventional, Jennie," Lisa said softly, her voice filled with sincerity. "But I've grown to love you deeply, and I can't imagine a future without you. I've worked hard to become successful, to be in a position where I can provide for both of us. I've spoken to your parents, and they understand the depth of my commitment. I want to marry you, not just because of our past, but because I genuinely believe we can build a beautiful life together."

As Lisa spoke, I could see the vulnerability in her eyes and the genuine love she held for me. It was difficult to deny the impact of her sincerity. My walls began to crumble, creating space for a newfound understanding.

Silence hung in the air for a moment as I contemplated everything she had said. Finally, I spoke, my voice a mix of apprehension and curiosity. "Lisa, this is a lot to take in. I need time to process everything and figure out my own feelings. Can you give me that space?"

Lisa nodded, her expression filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "Of course, Jennie. I understand. Take all the time you need. Just know that my feelings for you are genuine, and I'll be here whenever you're ready to talk."

With that, we both settled back, the weight of our conversation still lingering in the room. The future remained uncertain, and my emotions were in turmoil, but one thing was clear-I had some soul-searching to do before I could make any decisions about my relationship with Lisa.