Trials and Tribulations [Chaelisa]

Chapter 53

“We have to talk?” Chaeyoung asked, a sense of dread coming over her at the seriousness of Lisa’s tone.

“It’s just…” Lisa started hesitantly, her gaze fixed firmly on the tub of Nutella in her right hand, her left fiddling with the teaspoon distractedly. “It’s just what Lili?” Chaeyoung asked anxiously when she didn’t continue. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“What?” Lisa responded, her head snapping up and her attention returning to the blonde sat beside her. “No of course I’m not. Why would you even ask me that?”

“Nothing ever good comes from a conversation that starts with ‘we have to talk,’” Chaeyoung told her, recalling the bouquet of flowers and the picnic Lisa had set up for her. “Is that what all this is about?” she asked interestedly, gesturing to the blanket they were sat on and the picnic basket beside them. “Did you set this all up to soften the blow of what you’re going to say?”

“No,” Lisa answered truthfully. “I mean, maybe a little bit but, I wanted to do all this for you,” she disclosed. “I thought that it would be nice, you know, to spend today doing something special together. Especially with the concert later on…”She trailed off and Chaeyoung waited patiently thinking that she would continue.

“Ok…” Chaeyoung said with a puzzled expression on her face when Lisa didn’t go on. “That still doesn’t explain what we have to talk about though.” She noted. “Are you ok?” she asked. “I mean, you’re not like, dying or anything are you?” she questioned worriedly. The corner of Lisa’s mouth turned up in a halfsmile and she deposited the teaspoon she held in her left hand in to the tub of Nutella in her right.

“We’re all dying Rosie,” she commented simply and Chaeyoung felt her stomach lurch at the somewhat evasive answer.

“What does that mean?” Chaeyoung said, her voice coming out panicked, her pitch increasing slightly as a result of her concern. “Are you sick?”

“No,” Lisa said, reaching out her free hand to place it on Chaeyoung’s forearm reassuringly, her fingertips grazing the skin there as they stroked it gently. “I’m fine. I promise. I’m not dying any more than you are.” She assured her.

“Ok, well you’re kind of freaking me out a little bit here Lili,” Chaeyoung informed her girlfriend, placing her free hand on top of Lisa’s and picking it up to lace their fingers together, “So, whatever is it that you’ve got to say, can you just say it? I’m picturing all kinds of horrible scenarios in my head and I think I’d rather you just put me out of my misery if it’s something bad.”

“It’s not bad,” Lisa responded, squeezing Chaeyoung’s hand. “At least, I don’t think it is but, I just…I don’t want you to take what I say the wrong way, that’s all.” Chaeyoung remembered back to the conversation that she’d had with her mom this morning regarding Lisa and thought that she finally understood the direction that the conversation was headed in.

“Oh,” Chaeyoung said, realisation dawning on her. “Is this about you being able to do more for yourself?” she asked Lisa, a sense of relief washing over her that it might be nothing more serious than that.

“Who told you?” Lisa asked surprised and Chaeyoung bit her bottom lip for a moment feeling slightly embarrassed.

“My mom might have mentioned something to me,” she admitted tentatively. “She told me that your mom had talked to her about you wanting to be able to have more independence now that you’re home.”

“Alright, so I guess we don’t need to talk too much then,” Lisa laughed lightheartedly at Chaeyoung’s revelation. “I mean, what do you think about it?” she asked hesitantly.