⚠ Trigger Warning ⚠ talking about rape and child abuse.
Jennie POV
"It's about the man that was arrested in your school."
"What about him?" I asked.
Instead of answering me, he turned to seulgi. "Remember the multiple homicide case that we got last month?" She nodded. "It was him. He's our guy."
"Okay... So we basically helped you get your guy. What more do you need from us? I already told everything to the arresting officer."
"I will explain but you need to get Lisa."
I nodded and walked towards the bedroom. It was slightly ajar so I took a peek and was relieved to see Lisa awake. I knocked softly to get her attention and to prevent Ella from waking up. "May I come in?" She gave me the permission so I went in. "Detective Simmon's here. He requested your presence."
Lisa's POV
Detective Simmon's here? I wonder what on earth happened. "It's not about your mother. It was about the guy who attacked you. He said he'll explain but he needed your presence."
"Okay... I'll be out."
We walked out to the living room to see detectives Simmons and Kang having a conversation with Irene. I overheard earlier that detective Kang and Irene are dating.
"We're here." Jennie said to them. "So the pizza guy finally arrived."
We sat on the couch and when everyone's comfortable, he began. "Do you know the person that attacked you?"
I wanted to lie but I knew they'll find out sooner or later. I nodded. "I only knew him as Gong yoo."
"What's your connection with him?" It was the topic that I was dreading to tell. It was sensitive and it was not to everyone's ear to tell. So I just shook my head.
Jennie must have felt my uneasiness so she tried to comfort me and helped divert the issue. "What's this all about?"
"We just needed some information from her."
"Can't you see she's hurting?"
"We'll go first then. Gong Ji-cheol is wanted for multiple homicide. A month ago there was a mess killing at a certain bar. No one survived. Five people died. No clues, no witnesses, no prints on the scene. However, we managed to pull a partial print on one of the shell casings. It was his print. " detective Simmons explained as vaguely as possible. I heard about that incident in the news. It was cruel. They were killed in execution style.
"We managed to have a hit on the print since Ji-cheol had a previous rap sheet on possession of drugs. But he was released earlier due to the deal he cut with the D.A. Office. It was very unusual for him to just randomly attack a girl therefore, I knew that your case was special."
"Okay. I understand." Jennie said and looked at me. "Irene and I should probably give you more privacy." She offered.
They were about to stand when I stopped them. "No... It's okay. It's time that I tell someone about him." I saw hesitation in Irene's eyes but I assured her that it was okay.
I'm ready to tell my story.
It was probably best for Jennie and Irene to know in order for them to understand why I refuse to begin a relationship with Jennie or anyone matter of fact.
"Gong yoo is Ella's father."
"He's your father?" Jennie and Irene both asked.
I shook my head no. "He's Ella's father, not mine." I looked at them and they all motioned me to continue. "My parents and I used to have a normal and happy life. But it all changed when my father got scammed. We went bankrupt in an instant. My parents then fought a lot until my father left us to be with some rich old woman."
"Is that why you hated rich people?" I nodded. "Please continue."
"Then my mother turned into alcoholic, then eventually became a drug addict. I was 14 back then. And when those stuff doesn't suffice anymore, she turned to men. Every single night, new man came to our house. Then there was Gong Yoo." I paused as the memories came flooding back again. I don't know if I can re-live that night again.
"Shhh... Lily... It's okay... I'm here..." Jennie comforted me and I was thankful that the others remained silent and waited for my story to end.
"Since the first time that my mother brought him to our house, he basically lived there. And then one night... It happened..." It was then that I began to shake. My voice trembled at every word that I said. "One night, when my mom was passed out, he forced himself to my room and then... Then..."
"I'm sorry..." Seulgi said.
"He forced himself to you..." Detective Paul completed and I just nodded. "How many times?"
"Every single night."
Jennie's POV
I almost lost it when I heard Lisa's story. That disgusting man ruined her. He took away her purity and innocence.
"Can you continue?" Detective Paul asked.
"No!" I yelled. "Can't you see she's hurting? That's enough!"
"Look kid! It's either she tell us everything today or we go down to the station. Your choice."
"It's okay Jennie. Let's get it over with." I swiped the tears in her eyes and at this moment, all I wanted to do was hold her close and never let go.
"He did it every single night for months until one day I got pregnant. He threatened to kill us if I tell anyone from school or my friends."
"Ella is your daughter." It was more of a statement from the detectives and she confirmed their assumption.
"He forced me to take a pill to get rid of the baby but I couldn't do it. I can't take the life of an innocent child so I threw up the pills the moment that he left."
"Please go on."
"It was then that I had enough. If he found out that I kept the baby, he might try to kill it again so I did what I could. One night when he thought that I was asleep, I over heard him talking on the phone about a deal. I made an anonymous call and fortunately he was arrested."
"That was brave of you."
"I sold our house and all our belongings and rented a smaller studio type apartment. My mom's still too wasted to even realize what I've done. I kept the baby and stopped going to school for a year in order to support us."
"Why didn't you place your mother in a rehab?"
"It was stupid but I believed that one day she'll open her eyes and become sober again."
"I think you have all the information detectives." I said. It was enough, I can't take it anymore, it pained me to see her hurting.
"Not yet... Jennie, you can still press rape charges against him from those years."
"And then what? Make me tell my story in front of everyone? I've kept everything locked up because I was ashamed and now you want me to tell the world?" She shouted.
"Please detective Simmons... Do not have it harder for her. You got her story, you got the man. I believe the prints on the shell casing was enough to put him in jail for the rest of his life for those murder charges." I pleaded. Detective Simmons was about to argue but good thing detective Kang stopped him.
"Let's give her some time Paul." He sighed and reluctantly agreed.
"Fine. And since my job here's over, I'll leave you ladies to return to your merry ways."
"I'll show you out." Irene offered.
"Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience." She just smiled at him. "See you tomorrow Seulgi!"
"Gnyt Paul!"
"We'll give you guys some space. Seul and I will go up the penthouse."
"Jisoo and the guys should be there. Can you get our stuff when you return and tell them that I'll see them tomorrow?"
"Okay." She gave me a knowing look before they exited my unit.
There was an awkward silence between Lily and I. "Now that you heard my story. You know how dirty I'm."
"Lily..." I again held her close. "If there's anything that's changed, my feelings for you just became stronger. You're brave and strong. You managed to keep yourself and Ella intact for a long time and that takes courage and strength. I salute you."
"I'm tainted. I'm dirty. I'm a whore."
"And you're a great mother and a sister." I then held her chin up so she could look into my eyes to let her know my sincerity. "I'm not here to solve your problems Lily. You can already do that on your own. I'm here to be your pillar. Someone you can lean on or count on. As a friend or more than friends, I'll be here as long as you let me."
"Thanks Jennie. You've been a great friend. Honestly, I really like you a lot and it pained me every time I held myself back because I know that I'm not worthy of you."
"Lily... You're more than worthy, it was me who was not worthy of you. I'm a loser with no direction in life until you came into my life."
"Jen..."
"I like you Lily... And I'm willing to wait until you are ready."
"I'm not making you wait anymore Jennie. It's time for me to be happy again."
I pulled away from her embrace to process what she just said. "Did you just..."
"Yes Jennie..."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Yayyy!!" I yelled and jumped in excitement. "Ouchhhh..." Oh I forgot about my broken ribs.