The Only Exception

8

5 years later...

Rosé's POV

"It's the simpliest thing I want you to do yet you messed up?!  The heck?!  You're fired! Get to the HR and get your first and last paycheck!" I heard some shouting inside the office so I opened the door and entered. 

I saw the new secretary and a fuming bamboo— I mean Lisa. "Goodness!" Lisa once yelled again. 

"Geez. Calm down mate. What did Jessa do this time?" I calmly asked and sit in the sofa and took a glance at her secretary who was silently crying while looking down. 

"I just asked her to do the contract for the new investors, since it was her job. Yet she messed it up and I need to do it all over again!"  she fumed. 

"What are you waiting for?! Get out!" She yelled at Jessa who budge on her place. 

"M-Ma'am please.. Don't f-fire me. I need the money for my sister. She's sick and badly need to get a surgery." I eyed Jessa who was now kneeling infront of Lisa. I look up at Lisa and saw that she doesn't have any sympathy towards the girl and bored look visible on her face. 

I shook my head and sigh. It was 5 years and Lisa changed a lot. I mean she changed a lot. Gone was the playful and mischievous Lisa we know when we are in college. Gone was the happy and always excited Lisa. Now, who turned into a cold and heartless person who feared by everyone. 

"Do I look like I cared about that?" Lisa coldly stated. "It's your problem not mine. Now stand up before I force you to do it." 

"Whoa. Calm down mate, Jessa has a acceptable reason why she messed up. And for Pete's sake Lisa, that's the tenth secretary you fired this week! And you atleast responsible for checking her works" I said and stand. I reach for Jessa and helped her to stand up. 

"Like I said, Do I look like I care? She messed up. There's no second chance. Once you failed, you failed. Now go I don't want to see your face inside my company" I sighed and caress Jessa's shoulder. 

I guide her outside of Lisa's office which is where her table are and help her to sit. 

"I'm sorry for my friend" I sympathically said. She shake her head and sob again. 

"She's heartless." Jessa muttered and started to fix her things. 

"I know. Hey, why won't you take this and get your sister operated?" I said as I brought out my cheque and placed an amount and signed it. I hand it to her and she sob again.

"Thank you so much Ms. Park .. This is so much help for my sister" She said as she hug me. I don't like physical contact to others but I let her. She immediately pulled away when she realize what she did. 

"It's nothing. Now go and get your paycheck and Oh! Here." I said and reach for my purse. I look for a specific calling card and hand it to her. 

"Bae's restaurant?" Jessa asked. I smiled and ​​pat her head. "Go there tomorrow. Irene will give you a new job. Is it okay for you to work at a restaurant?" I said and asked. I internally noted to myself that I should call Irene later about this. 

"Ms. Park it's too much. But thank you Ms. I'm really grateful. I hope Ms. Manoban was like you" She said and cried again. 

"Trust me, Lisa is not that bad. She's just stress... " I paused and sighed. "for over five years. So you good? I'll get inside now" Jessa nodded at me and thank me once again. 

I smiled and opened the door of Lisa's office again. There,  she was facing the glass window and staring at nowhere. 

"Lis, you can't just fired someone like that" I confront her. She turned around with a cold stare. 

"I fired whoever I want Roseanne. This is my goddamn company. I can do whatever I want." She coldly stated. "What are you doing here anyway?" 

"Lisa, always remember that your employees are your queens. Just like playing chess. There must be pawns and lower position but they are willing to help you to go to the top. Stop treating your employees like shit" I said. She just stared at me and turned around again to look outside. 

I frustratingly brushed my hands and in head as I look at her. So hard headed monkey! 

"What are you doing here?" She didn't bother answer what I said. I sighed I never win at her.

"Seulgi asked if you want to go with them at a bar near your neighborhood." I said what my purpose of visiting her. 

"I don't want. I just want to lock up in my room all night. Thank you for offer." She said not bothering to turned around to look at me again. 

"Lisa it's been five years already. Can you please? I miss my bestfriend." I said. She still looking outside and there's a long silence before she speak again. 

"Your bestfriend died exactly that day Chaeyoung. So get out and leave me alone." I sighed and started to walk back. 

"If you change your mind. We're just one call away." I said before I exit her office. 

5 years ago, when Jennie left Lisa crying in the airport. It takes Lisa almost a year to move on. She became depressed and none of us can talk to her. She locked herself in her room and when we get a chance to get near her, she's always shouting on us like we will leave her like Jennie did. One day, she came out on her room wearing a formal suit. There's no emotion in her face and her aura is scary that time. 

I sigh as I rode the elevator. Can Lisa go back to her old self? I was in a deep thought when I bump into someone. 

"Oh I'm sorry" I look at the girl and notice it was Mina. She smiled at me and muttered "No problem" as she continue her work. 

I go at the parking lot and jump in the car that was waiting for me. I sigh again once I get comfortable with the seat. 

"Did you convince her?" Jisoo asked. 

"No. She doesn't want to go." I answered sadly. Jisoo didn't speak and started to maneuver the steering wheel. 

We are in the road when I face her and hold her hand, "Babe I think you need to talk to her" I said and caress her hand with my thumb. 

She shake her head and chuckled sarcastically. 

"You know I can't do that. She doesn't want to talk to me you know that. She hates me because Jennie is my cousin." She said and focused on the road again. 

I continue to rub my thumb at her hand, it's true since Lisa came outside her room and started to work again, she never talk nor take a glance to Jisoo. And when Jisoo and I officially dating, she was the one who disagree saying that Jisoo would leave me too just like Jennie does. 

You all wondering why Lisa thinks that everyone will leave her right? Well that's because her father, real father, left them when Lisa was just eleven. They became homeless that time and base on her story she said to me, uncle Marco found them almost dying because of hunger. And that's why Lisa swore that she will never value anyone. But then Jennie came, Lisa loved her so much that she can sacrifice herself for Jennie. 

2 years ago, Auntie Chitthip died because of a sudden heart attack. It added to Lisa's depression and uncle Marco was so devastated seeing Lisa like that, the cause to bring Lisa onto hospital because Lisa didn't eat for almost a 2weeks. Lisa refused to go to the hospital so uncle Marco didn't have a choice to have a personal doctor and psychologist. It took Lisa another month to accept that auntie Chitthip was gone. 

Lisa was so broken until now. None of us can pursue her to go out and have fun. We always saying that she should forget about the past and not everyone will leave her but she just replied to us that, that is what Jennie said to her and yet she even leave her. 

I look outside and saw a familiar figure outside an fast food chain. 

"Babe stop" I said and keep my eye to that familiar figure. "Babe we're on the middle. We can't just stop" Jisoo replied and just continue driving. 

I sighed. Am I only hallucinating? Is that really her? Why would she came back?