Trials and Tribulations [Chaelisa]

Chapter 22

Somi had stayed with Lisa and Chaeyoung for a while, sitting at the kitchen counter with the two of them, eating an assortment of confectionary and discussing the events of the day in detail. Both Lisa and Chaeyoung had found it therapeutic to revisit everything that had happened again today, Somi providing them with some much needed thoughtful and balanced counsel.

"I'm so happy that you guys managed to work things out," she told them honestly. "I was really worried when you called me Chaeng," Somi continued turning to her friend. "I don't think I've ever heard you so agitated before." Chaeyoung glanced at Lisa who was watching her closely, a small smile on her lips.

"Yeah well, I don't think I've ever felt so agitated before," Chaeyoung admitted reaching her hand along the counter to take hold of Lisa's.

"If Chaeyoung ever does something as illadvised and idiotic as that again," Somi said turning to Lisa feigning seriousness, "then you have my permission to cause her an immense amount of physical harm alright?"

"Hey," Chaeyoung protested, knowing that Somi was only joking. "I know I acted irrationally ok. I guess I just lost my mind for a minute. Can I plead temporary insanity or something?"

"Everyone can see how much you two mean to one another," Somi told her in response. "It would have to have been temporary insanity Chaeng. That's the only logical reason I can think of as to why you would ever question the way Lalisa feels about you, especially because of something that Rachel Murphy said."

"I think we were both at fault," Lisa commented squeezing Chaeyoung's hand reassuringly. "So much has happened in the last couple of days that I think we were just overwhelmed by everything, at least, I know I was." Lisa shared openly. "I had an emotional, knee jerk reaction to what Chaeyoung said and walked away when I should have stayed and listened. Maybe if we'd talked things through properly straightaway then we could have saved each other a few hours of heartbreak."

"I think that you're probably right," Somi acknowledged in understanding, "but, I'm not surprised that you're feeling overwhelmed. You've got so much going on Lalisa that I don't know how you even begin to deal with it. How both of you deal with it." Somi said glancing at Chaeyoung and pausing to take a sip of her drink. "I mean, you're a couple now so it affects you too, right Chaeng?"

"I guess," Chaeyoung conceded, having not really considered it before.

"Somi's right," Lisa admitted in realisation. Chaeyoung played with Lisa's fingers mindlessly out of habit as she continued.

"You put up with a lot of things that most people wouldn't even entertain the idea of getting involved with." Lisa said thoughtfully.

"You make it sound like I'm some sort of saint," Chaeyoung laughed.

"Well let's not be ridiculous," Lisa joked. "I don't think I'd ever call you a saint...I mean, you did just pin me up against the sink and tease me profusely. I definitely don't remember reading about any saints in my religious studies class who'd ever done that." Somi raised her eyebrow slightly and turned to look at the kitchen sink in question.

"I don't think I need to hear about this," she said turning to look back at the others. "How you two decide to reconcile after a fight is something that I do not need to know."

"Oh my God Somi," Chaeyoung said incredulously. "I don't know what you think we were doing before you got here but it was not that. Lalisa was wet so I leant her some clothes..."

"I'm sure she was," Somi interrupted raising her eyebrow suggestively before she turned to study Lisa who was still sat wearing Chaeyoung's hoody.

"Lalisa, would you tell her please?" Chaeyoung pleaded her face blushing copiously at her poor choice of words moments ago. For a moment, Chaeyoung didn't think Lisa was going to say anything but eventually she relented.