I Knew I Love You

CHAPTER 22: THE ANNOUNCEMENT

The night after the hullabaloo at the restaurant, Lisa had a mouthful from Jennie. She realized that her tolerance to sound was pretty much higher than a normal human being. Likewise, Moon Byul did not escape the wrath of Yong. The angry bunny punch and punch the hamster's shoulder and before the night ended, the hamster realized that her shoulder was probably made of ironclad.

——
This is the day the Moon family is waiting. The announcement of the partriarch's retirement and Lisa's chairmanship.

"We need you at the presscon an hour before the set time, okay. Don't be late Byul. No more monkey business." Lisa said over the phone.

"Okay okay. And I'm not the monkey, you are the monkey. Will you please relax? Anyway, I will bring Yong with me. She took a leave from work today. Is Jennie coming with you?"

"I'm not sure but I already asked her yesterday. She did not give me an answer yet."

"Okay. Just relax. We'll see you in the venue."

Lisa was about to leaver her office when Jennie knocked.

"Hey, sweetie. I missed you." She enveloped the smaller woman before giver her a peck on the cheeks.

"Lisa, baby, I think I cannot attend the presscon later." Jennie said in a tiny voice, her eyes restless and looking everywhere except Lisa.

"Oh...well, it's okay sweetie. You can wait for me here. We'll can  dinner after the event." She kissed her temple and carress her head, assurikg her that it's okay.

They hug each other for a couple of minutes until a light knock was heard. It was 30 minutes before the event and Lisa needs to leave.

"I hate to leave you here but I really need to go sweetie. I'll see you later, okay? Wish me luck." Lisa caress Jennie's face and peck her lips.

"Goodluck baby. I'm so proud of you. Please always remember that." Jenni smiled. She gave Lisa one last hug before she shove her to the door.

——

Dub..dub dub..dub dub...

Lisa's heart will explode any minute. Her knees are getting weaker as seconds pass by. She is pacing back and forth the waiting area, much to Byul's irritation.

"Can you please stop Lisa? It's annoying. You're getting annoying. Sit down and calm your nerves."

"I can't Byul. I do not know how the people will react. I have so many what ifs. I wish Jennie was here too."

Byul stands up and hold her sister's shoulders, "Lisa, monkey, look at me. Remove all the what ifs. You're family is here, appa and me. Who cares about what people will and might think. You have us. And Jennie too."

"Yeah, you're right. I can do this." She said a little breathy while straightening her suit.

——

"Please welcome, Mr. Moon Jae Im." Round of applause was heard inside the function room where the conference is happening.

The old Moon silently approach his seat and tap the microphone.

"Everybody settled down. I will not make this longer. I will entertain your questions after my speech." Moon started.

"As you all know I'm not getting any younger and working is somehow getting the best out of me. So, with that, I would like to announce that starting tomorrow, I will step down as the chairman of the Moon group of companies." Clicking of cameras and a lot of buzz coming from the media people are immediately heard.

"Having said that, I will be appointing my daughter, Moon Byul Yi, as the president of our food chains and hotels here and abroad." Byul went up the stage to join her father. She bowed and sit beside him.

"All of you might be thinking why I did not give Byul the chairmanship. That is because Byul is more interested in the food and hotel business only. As a father, I cannot push her to do things that she do not love." He paused and look at the backstage where Lisa is.

"Some of you might say that I'm a great father for doing that. But I'm not all holy. Like most of us, I made mistakes when I was younger and I'm trying to make up for those as time passes by. So today, I would like all of you to know that Byul is not my only daughter."

Louder gasps can be heard from the audience.

"When I was younger, I feel in love and had a child. But unfortunately the tides are not in a favor. We chose to go on separate lives. I manage to keep a connection to our child, and today, I present to you, my first born, Lalisa Manoban."

Silence. Silence that is so loud everyone can hear it. Not until Byul stands up and clap her hands. Everyone else follow.

Byul escorted Lisa up the stage and pull the chair for her. Seeing Lisa's shaky hands, Byul slighly squeeze her shoulders and gave her a sincere smile.

Old Moon hold her daughter's hand and continue.

"This is my first born and the new chairman of the Moon group of companies starting tomorrow. I hope everyone will look at her not as some outcast, but will give her the respect that she deserves for her skills and telent. My kid here, did nothing wrong. She simply live and for that I'm grateful. I'm so blessed to have these two beautiful daughters whom I love very much." Moon ended his speech.

The host stood up. "We will now entertain questions."

——

The event was exhausting to say the least. The Moon sisters will give up everything just to have a full body massage. Walking near the exit of the venue, Byul spotted Yong, who's patiently waiting for her, carrying a bouquet of flowers. In full speed, the hamster jump right on her girlfriend who almost tripped.

"Yong! Baby! I missed you!" She said and pepper the bunny with kisses.

"Hold on hamster." She chuckled while restraining Byul.

"What? Don't you miss me?" Byul sports a pout that Yong finds impossible to resist. She cuddled the hamster's face and kiss her lips passionately.

"I'm so proud of you baby." Yong murmured on Byul's lips.

A not so subtle laugh broke their mini make out session. Standing not so far from Yong is a lady wearing a mini black dress also holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Oopss. I'm sorry cousin. Lisa, someone is here to surprise you."

A smile broke in Lisa's face once she saw her girlfriend. "I thought you cannot come?" She runs to Jennie and hug the accountant.

"I want to surprise you. You did well baby." Jennie slightly pulls herself from the embrace to kiss the taller woman.

"Thank you. Everyone is taking the news in a pretty positive way. I can sleep peacefully now."

"I told you. Everything will be alright."

——

The siblings decided to celebrate their new appointments through a dinner with the love of their lives.

While on the road, Lisa sent a quick message to Byul.

"Hamster, can you talk to the manager of the restaurant? I wanna do it tonight."

———

One last chapter and I will start a new story ☺️ keep safe everyone!