"Boss Kim, I'll miss you." Lisa said as she wrapped her arm around Jisoo and clung her legs to her friend.
Jisoo puts back Lisa's legs but her friend does it again. "Lis! It's heavy! How can I sleep if you're being like this!" She said, sounding annoyed. Lisa just whined and buried her head on Jisoo's neck.
They are all lying down on the floor leaving no space in between them. All covered in a blanket, ready to sleep, but they can't find the rest they need for the night. As they wait for the sleep to vibe them, they stare at the ceiling with plenty of glow in the dark stars stickers.
"Jisoo-yah, you'll be fine." Boss Mina said who's lying next to her. "You did well here inside, for sure you'll do well outside."
"Thanks, Boss. I really appreciate how well you treated me since day one. Thank you so much." Jisoo looked at her then smiled.
"How does it feel, Jis?" Momo asked while her hand was under her head. "I mean, now that you're getting out after six long years."
Jisoo sighed. "The truth is I don't know. I don't feel scared though. But... I just feel different."
"It's fine Boss. As Boss Mina said, you'll be okay. Don't you dare forget us or we will hunt you down!" Irene teased that made them all giggle.
"How can I? I would never." Jisoo answered in full sincerity.
--
The schedule of Jisoo's release is at three in the afternoon. It was announced publicly two days prior. Reporters have already been waiting outside since the morning. There are also fans who are there waiting for their favorite actress and chef.
Jennie knew about it. She may only be using her social media accounts for work but the woman's face is everywhere. From newspapers, TV news programs, and even some cafes that she passed by since some fans are organizing a cup sleeve event to celebrate her release.
Those gave her chills from within. She knows that it's a shot on the moon but, somehow she wanted to prepare herself in case a chance for them to see each other comes. She didn't go to work that day. For the first time since she lived there, she opens the television and watches the news waiting for an update about her ex-wife.
Jisoo's image never turned out to be a criminal. Everyone who knows the story looks at her as a hero who saved her wife from a millionaire stalker-rapist. They never looked at her as bad as those who did an actual crime. And the fans are waiting for her comeback. Her team already received a few offers after the announcement of her release. Producers are still willing to gamble with her since the woman never ruined her reputation after the incident and even while she's staying inside.
"Kim," Officer Ye Jin calls by the door. "it's time."
Jisoo looked at her then nodded. "Can I just have some more time with them for the last time? Will you please wait a little longer?"
"Sure Kim, take your time." Ye Jin smiled at her in approval.
"Thank you so much."
Her cellmates are lining up on the side of her exit. With Momo and Lisa tearing up already.
"Ya! Don't cry! I'll see you all soon okay?" Jisoo said as she stood in front of them.
"Rene, Lis, you only have two months left. Please don't do anything and until then, I'll see you both. My company's waiting already for the both of you."
Lisa hugs her tightly and Irene pats her shoulder. "Thanks, Boss Jis."
"Don't worry I'll look after you even if I'm outside just to be sure that no one will touch you until you get out of here. I'll be waiting. Thank you so much." She hugs them both then walks to Momo.
"Moguri, thanks for always making me laugh. I'll surely miss you."
"Me too Chu." Momo cries then hugs Jisoo.
"I already have a job for you when you get out so, I'll wait for you, okay? I'll see you next year." Her friend couldn't answer. She just nodded as she continued to cry.
"Boss Mina, I just want to thank you again for everything. Especially for looking after me. I've learned so much from you and I promise to not forget a single thing."
Boss Mina smiled at her and hugged her tight, patting her back. "Thank you, Jisoo."
"I'll visit you. I'll bring you the books I told you about. Don't avoid me please?!" They both chuckle.
"Go now, or you'll regret staying for another minute because we will lock you in the bathroom." Boss Mina joked that it made all of them laugh.
Jisoo waves them goodbye, gets her canister on the floor then walks towards the door.
"Jisoo-yah!" Boss Mina calls, which makes Jisoo turn to them.
"Happy Birthday!" They all greeted in chorus.
Jisoo felt so happy, trying to hold back the tears that wanted to escape from her eyes, she put down her canister again then went to them for a group hug. She wasn't able to hold her tears anymore. They voluntarily start falling on her face. She wipes them off then waved goodbye to them again and gets her things.
"You ready Kim?" Ye Jin asked.
"Yes, Officer. Let's go."
--
The officers and even the higher-ups have lined up before she reached the last gate of the center. Jisoo was able to thank them and say goodbye to them before stepping out of the place that became her home for the past six years. The closest to her, Officer Seo Ye Jin and Officer Kang Seulgi both received a tight hug from her. Jisoo invited them to visit her house to have dinner and drink with her and her family. At first, they really didn't want to be assigned to her. They thought that Jisoo requested that as part of the special treatment she wanted from the center. But, as time went by, they were able to see the real her. Even though she's a famous actress and has a powerful family background, she never used that while she's staying there. They felt her sincerity and honesty. They saw how down-to-earth she is and that made them like her. In the end, Jisoo considered them as friends more than just officers that once looked after her.
Stepping out from the main gate made her feel shivers run down her spine. She suddenly felt nervous but happy. The sun warmed her skin but she also felt the cold breeze that goes with it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Finally. She thought.
The media and the fans went crazy upon seeing her. The good thing is the officers are still behind her so they helped Jisoo's personal bodyguards secure her space.
"Unnie!" A woman calls then hugs her tight.
"Minjeong-ah!"
Minjeong is Jisoo's adoptive sister and executive assistant.
"I've missed you Unnie! Happy Birthday!"
"Thanks, Min. Where's mom and dad?"
"They're at home, waiting for you." The woman answered happily.
Suddenly, the people made their way for a woman walking towards Jisoo. She looks at her so dearly with a long-stemmed white rose in her hands. Jisoo returned the same gaze to her and all her fans cheered for them.
"Happy birthday Babe. For you." Chaeyoung said as she stood in front of Jisoo.
She immediately pulls Chaeyoung for a hug and right then and there, she pressed her lips on her.
The shutter and flash of the cameras are all in sync, all pointed at them. They are definitely going to dominate all the news outlets in the country and internationally. They will probably be trending for days, worldwide.
"Ms. Jisoo! Just a short interview please!" A reporter yelled.
Jisoo notices her and she gladly pulls the reporter out of the guarded space.
"Seolhyun. Nice to see you again." She greeted her.
"It's great to see you again Ms. Jisoo. I only have a few questions."
Jisoo nodded as her arm still clings to Chaeyoung's waist.
"Of course, we all know what happened in the past. And we all felt sorry when you had your divorce,"
Jisoo suddenly felt uncomfortable. She held her woman tighter and Chaeyoung felt it. Her hand held Jisoo's face and caressed it gently.
"You okay Babe?" She whispered.
Jisoo just smiled and nodded. Chaeyoung's hand slides down to Jisoo's shoulder and her other hand hold's her fiance's waist.
"How did you feel that time? Especially that your ex-wife is the reason why you got here. I mean, you saved her, and then that happened." Seolhyun continued.
Jisoo clears her throat. "Well, there are things that we can't control. It happened, and it's been six years already. I hope we all get to move on from that. Besides, my heart is in its happiest state ever. I hope you all can respect that." She looked at Chaeyoung and kissed the woman's forehead.
"Speaking of your new relationship, we all know that Ms. Park is your childhood best friend. We witnessed how she stayed with you even until after your first marriage. You've been the best of friends and a lot of people admired you both for that. Did you somehow expect that after everything that happened, your friendship will turn into her being your girlfriend?"
"Correction, she's my fiance. We've been engaged for a year now."
Her answer made the media and her fans wilder than earlier. Thrusting themselves to the couple while holding their cameras and phone, taking pictures of them, snap by snap every second.
"Wow! Congratulations Ms. Jisoo and Ms. Park!"
"Thank you very much." Jisoo said with both of them smiling at the reporter.
"Do you already have plans for your comeback?"
"C'mon you guys, let me rest first. Right now, I want to enjoy my time with my family and my Babe. I'll see you all soon, thank you." Jisoo ended her short interview. She bowed to everyone then signaled her bodyguards to secure their way to their car.
The way out took a long time since people were pushing themselves to Jisoo. Her fans handed her gifts and she happily received them.
--
It was a long ride going home but Jisoo didn't sleep even if Chaeyoung told her to. She was too excited and nervous at the same time. They both spend their time talking to each other about anything.
"I know that your mom hates me because of what happened. I get that. I don't know how I can please her." Jisoo said after Chaeyoung told her that her mom doesn't want to see her.
"Babe," Chaeyoung giggles. "she hates you not because of what happened."
"Then what?" Jisoo asked in confusion.
"She hates you because you proposed to me there and not in front of them."
They both let out a laugh.
"Alright, I get it. Maybe I should propose to you again?"
"Sure! Let's do it again! You don't forget that your fiance's an actress right? I can definitely put on a very good act!"
"You're always funny Babe." Jisoo leans forward and kisses her lips. "I've really missed you. And I'm so excited to see mom and dad!"
She didn't see her parents and Minjeong as often as Chaeyoung while she's in the center. She asked for that. They only visited her during Christmas, New Year, their birthdays, and the day before her birthday.
--
The moment they enter the house, her mom welcomes her with open arms and starts crying. They both stood there by the door until her mom calmed down.
"Mom, I've missed you," Jisoo uttered as she wiped her mom's tears. "Stop crying now. I hate seeing you cry and you know that. Smile for me please?"
Her mom chuckled then smiled at her with her longing, teary eyes. Together with Chaeyoung and Minjeong, they walk towards the dining area.
"My Jisoo!" Her dad calls, both his hands are in the air.
"Dad." They both hugged tightly, making sure to let them feel how much they miss each other.
"Mom, Dad," Jisoo held their hands. "I just want to say I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for everything."
"Ya... don't apologize if you're sorry about what you did six years ago. Apologize to me for not getting out of there after a year. I told you I'll help you." Her dad comments. "I mean, Jisoo, six years was long and deadly serious."
"Dad, I needed that. That's the way it has to be. I know you understand. Besides, I know you looked after me while I was there all this time. So, Thank you so much."
"Of course, daughter. Of course. I've missed you, Jisoo." Her father pulled her for a tight hug as he pats Jisoo's back gently.
"I've missed you too dad."
--
They all enjoyed the supper waiting for them. Chaeyoung's parents also came and as expected, Mrs. Park opens up about Jisoo's proposal that upset her. In the end, they all just laughed it off then congratulated the couple. After all, this is what they wanted ever since. It just seems better now since they didn't need to force their daughters to do it. At least both of them are truly in love with each other.
The time went by fast but it didn't stop them from talking about a lot of things. Jisoo has shared with them everything that has happened to her that pretty much Chaeyoung already knows.
They are now enjoying their glasses of wine in the living room with identical long sofas and a coffee table at the center.
"So your plan, Jisoo?" Her father asks then sips from her glass, sitting on an accent chair next to Jisoo who's on the couch.
She sighed. "Well, I'm not planning on returning to show business... for now. Can I say that?" She chuckles.
"It's fine Jisoo. That's better for now I guess." Her dad said.
"But, I'm pushing the restaurant. I want to make that happen." Jisoo looks at her woman and Chaeyoung smiles at her, holding her hands on her lap.
"That's good Jisoo," Mr. Park agreed who just finished his glass, sitting on the other accent chair. "You've been wanting that since you were in college right? So, make it happen."
"Yes Sir, thank you."
"You have our support." Mr. Park continued and they both exchanged smiles.
"I just need your help Min."
"Yes, Unnie, anything." Minjeong answered who's sitting next to her mom across from her.
"Make sure that no one will know that I'm buying the building. Also, we need to get a trusted company. Okay?"
"Of course Unnie. Yeri is already working on that."
"Who's Yeri?' She asked curiously.
"Oh, my new assistant. Besides, we'll have the company sign an NDA before proceeding to the meeting."
"That's better, Thanks Min. Just let me know."
"And the wedding?" Mrs. Park asked after she finished her glass.
Jisoo and Chaeyoung both smiled shamefully. Both bow their heads while scratching their foreheads in sync.
"Mom, please don't pressure Jisoo," Chaeyoung answered. "It's just her first day outside. Let her breathe please."
They both chuckled and her mom agreed to what she just said.
"Don't worry Mam, I'll wait for your daughter until she's ready. She has a lot of things to consider before diving into the decision of the wedding preparation. But, I assure you that it will happen."
Chaeyoung clings to her as she lays her head on her shoulder and wraps her arm on her waist. They're both excited and happy but of course, what's important is for them to take their time. Jisoo needs to catch up with the things that she missed in those six years. And Chaeyoung is at the peak of her career now. So, she really can't just let go of anything when it comes to working. What's good is that both of them understand their situations and both are willing to wait.
The night ended with Mr. and Mrs. Park leaving the house giving their blessings to Jisoo and Chaeyoung for marriage. They also couldn't hide their excitement as they already joked about having a basketball team of grandchildren.
The couple didn't mind.
They wanted that too.
In time.