No Strings Attached

Chapter Eighteen

Lisa laughed. “Actually I didn’t know you would be at the club. I happened to be taking a break at the upper floor when I heard someone coming out. I hid behind a pillar as my mask was off. The next moment, I saw you leaning against the ledge. I was so tempted to call you but I held my tongue. Later, the DJ’s matchmaking game gave me the perfect opportunity for me to get closer to you. I didn’t know if you would be able to recognise me but I decided to take a risk.”

Jennie raised her eyebrows and poked Lisa’s forehead with her finger. “Why is it a risk?!”

“Miss Kim, if you recall, you rejected me at your home. I couldn’t predict what your reaction would be after not seeing you for such a long time! And I don’t know what I mean to you. All I know is that every time I think of you, I just want to be with you.” Lisa leaned backwards and threw her arms up into the air. Lisa wanted to get it off her chest and she finally did, in front of the person who caused her heartache.

~ Flashback ~

The following morning after Lisa’s outburst in the kitchen, Jisoo came to work to find the kitchen in a complete mess. There was a half empty bottle of Baileys and a glass on the floor. Lisa was hardly a drinker, yet she finished one third of the bottle of Baileys which was used for baking. Her heart ached when she saw what her friend was going through.

When Jisoo and Yeri went over to Lisa’s apartment that evening, they were surprised to see a calm Lisa welcoming them at her door. They were expecting a wreck; tear-stained blood shot eyes, unkempt hair, unwashed clothes, a big mess in the apartment but it was the opposite of what they had imagined. In fact, Lisa even had a haircut.

“Decided to spend my day doing something constructive instead of wasting my energy crying over something which I have no control of. I never knew doing household chores can be so therapeutic.” Lisa smiled as she held the door for both of them to enter.

Sitting in the living room, Lisa poured them some juice while they chatted.

“After thinking about it for more than a day, I’ve accepted the fact that we will not be together, not as a couple,” Lisa said unquestionably.

“If she doesn’t know how to appreciate you, it’s her loss. I believe there’s someone out there who knows how to treat you better,” Jisoo consoled.

“I’m alright. I think I need a break from the café for a while. That place has too many memories of her,” Lisa said, her hands clasped together.

“Lisa unnie, what do you have in mind?” Yeri asked, patting Lisa’s arm.

“I’ve always wanted to take up a course by Le Cordon Bleu in Tokyo,” Lisa paused and looked at the two of them who were sitting opposite her. She wanted to see how her friends would react at that news since she hadn’t mention anything to them at all.

“Go for it, Lisa unnie!”

“Yeah, don’t worry about the café. Anyway, you’re often not around for the past few weeks and we were doing fine.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Lisa gave Jisoo a punch and the latter pretended to be injured as she fell backwards in her seat. All of them laughed at Jisoo’s dramatic reaction.

“But seriously, it’s a very prestigious culinary school and I think you ought to go. Bring new experiences back and grow the business here. Would you be able to take a leave of absence from the academy?” Jisoo asked.

Lisa nodded. “In fact, they would be sponsoring my school fees.”

“Wow that’s great! The timing’s perfect,” Yeri cheered.