-- Chasing Fate --

-XI- (rebound)

We both decided to bought some drinks in a convenience store and have a drink near the beach. I put on my coat on Irene's shoulder and gave her the opened beer and opened mine too. We clicked the beer can as the time went fast, we found ourselves laughing our ass out with our own story seeing empty cans around my car truck everywhere.

Lisa: "may i ask you something Irene?"

Irene: "that's out of the blue but shoot it!"

I chuckled on how a pretty face can comfortably used casual words to an actual stranger she only met for a few hours.

Lisa: "why did you gave me that drink?"

I saw her emptied her can, crashed it then threw it on the side as she posture herself the sit comfortably then looked at me through my eyes.

Irene: "Is it a crime to give a drink to a lonely person?"

I was moved. Is that how obvious I was? I must feeling humiliated but no. Irene had this character that even we met for a few hours, she made me feel as if she literally knew me since birth.

Lisa: "and how sure are you that I'm sad?"

I drank my canned beer and looked away from her. I know she was scanning my whole face as she cleared the gap between us.

I got startled about the way she looked deep into my eyes when I looked at her way..

Irene: "those eyes..they're-- i mean.. they are sad even when you are laughing. I've never seen those eyes shine or sparkle."

My eyes grew wide from what she have said and looked away again.

Lisa: "wh-what are you saying?? we've just met"

My attention drove me to her as chuckled while opening another canned beer again.

Irene: "no Lisa. You just met me but I always see you inside the bar"

Lisa: "so you're a stalker? Do I need to be scraed?"

I chuckled and drink the left beer inside the can.

Irene: "silly! maybe I'm just a concerned citizen who was born to make you happy"

Lisa: "and do you think I will buy that?"

I flinched from the sudden contact when her head lean on my shoulder. Her eyes closed for a moment and opened again for a split seconds. She's so pretty that I can stare at her for the whole day. She got her pretty eyes can tell a story without hearing any words coming out her mouth.

Irene: "don't look for someone who don't want to be found instead focus on what's the present is offering you Lisa. Maybe someone who just left you might only part of your history. Let your self be happy again with someone you will meet that makes your heart beat again"

She spoke as if she knew my story. She said it with her eyes closed as she fell asleep.

I don't know anything about Irene but she made me feel happy and alive again even just a night. To make sure she will be safe for the night, I dropped her on a nearby hotel that my dad owned and told one of his lady staff to looked after her.

The next day surprised me by her presence inside my room. I don't know how she found out my condo or how she able to entered but she only changed the topic and pulled me up to invite me to go out and do things that will made me happy according to her.

Irene is a mysterious woman throughout the week but when I'm with her, I forget about all the things she did like a magician.

She will stormed inside my unit without me giving her any duplicate of my room, she called me which I didn't know where she got my number and she even knew my scheduled everyday, if i had a meeting or what time I need to go home.

But I'm happy. And somehow, It keeps my heart alive for a moment even though I still thinking about Jennie as soon as I'm alone inside my room.

Irene is an extraordinary woman. She made me smile, made me laugh and even made me sick worried when she won't text me for a day.. After 4 months of being around everyday, we decide to become official which made my parents happy. Even Jungkook and Seulgi.

After some time in December, I quickly run from my office in the middle of my meeting when I knew she was sick. I don't know anything about her but there's something inside me that made me want to go to her house.

Maybe I'm just worried cause It was unusual  of Irene's ignoring my calls and texts for a day..

Without any reasons, I left my on going meeting with the executives and even if my dad was there,  I  prioritized my own worries and anxieties with Irene. 

I was about to knock on the door when I noticed that the door was a little hang open. I peeked inside and there were no people inside the living room. Before I enter Irene's house, i looked around and to my surprised, I saw my mom's 2017 Lexus GS Hybrid  car parked outside her home. I wanna doubt it but I was 100% sure that it was my mom's own white car with her personalized plate number and she was the 2nd person  in Paris to have that car. 

My worried replaced me with a bad feeling about my mom being inside of Irene's home. To made my worries and fear ends, I slowly went in , walk slowly until I reached Irene's kitchen and what I saw and heard mad my heart broke. 

Irene: "you paid me more than enough for our contract it's enough for me ma'am." 

Mom: "just accept this as a bonus Irene for making my daughter happy again" 

Irene: "but ma'am--" 

Mom: "thank you for all your hard work. I know it's hard but still--" 

Irene: " Lisa" 

Both of them looked at me with their eyes widen. I felt the tears started to fell down on my cheeks. 

Lies. 

Irene was paid just to make me happy. 

It all made sense now.  That's why she knew all my struggles and dramas. How she can get in and out of my room. How she knew my schedules. 

She took her step forward as I step back not knowing what to say.

Irene: "It's not what you're thinking please--"

Mom: "Lisa please listen" 

I smiled bitterly while my tears kept flowing down and my head was shaking on it's own. I raised my hand to stop Irene from getting near me. I saw her crying too but I'm to dense to feel any sympathy from her. My world crashed again and I runaway .. 
-

-

-

"Irene" 

What the heck is she doing here? Is she working here? I can't move my feet nor can't utter a single word.  I don't know what I am feeling right now. Small world huh?

I can't stand it anymore. Seeing her in front of me makes me feel how dumb I was with her  years ago.  Although mom and I are in good terms now, I don't want to hear her explanations with what she did and told Irene to do with me. All I know is that she did it just to make me happy. Even Roseann, Seulgi and Jungkook were trying to tell me many times why Irene did that to me.  But with Irene, I don't know if I'm still mad at her or what. 

Run. 

I runaway. Because that's the easiest thing to do for now. I want to think straight and Irene being here, makes me think that my mom and dad not telling me that she's here, did it for a purpose.

*knock, knock knock* 

Roseanne: "may i?"

I nod at her. 

Roseanne: "i thought you already quit that disgusting thing" 

Lisa: ""change of plans?" 

My bestfriend took my cigarette and throw it on the ground and stomp on it. 

Roseanne: "well.. it looks like she knew what's our plan here" 

I looked at Roseanne with a curious look. 

Roseanne: "she didn't even called you by name nor surprised when she saw us. You didn't noticed did you?" 

I shake my head. 

Lisa: well it's Irene. She's the best actress I've ever know" 

Roseanne: "still bitter?"

Lisa: "of course not. Let's say, I feel dumb whenever she's around" 

Roseanne: "then prove yourself that you're not" 

I deeply sigh and looked outside the balcony as the air hits my face.