-- Chasing Fate --

-XXVIII- (the surprise)

JENNIE

Time flies so fast as my kid and Pranpriya got really close. Poopoo almost stayed in our apartment everyday so she can bring me to the cafe and she will stay in her hotel room with my daughter then at 8 pm, they will picked me up and we will drove to Nini's favourite restaurant for dinner. 

She let her friends used her car so they can enjoy their vacation without any hassles in transportation. they also knew that Pranpriya always stays with us. Chaeyoung and Pran are okay now and become best enemies with my daughter Nini because my kid insisted that Chaeyoung will take away our batman someday.

I never expected that things will be like this with me and NIni but I'm happy. I really am. But one thing really bothers and scares me, the moment that Pranpriya and her friends will go home and be in their normal lives again..

and it hits me.

I know how genuine Pranpriya is. How kind and generous she is, but I don't even know her last name, her job and even where she lives. All i know about her is her First name, her friends, her favourite colour which is black in everything but white when it comes to her shoes.

That's it!

Should I asked her about those things?

But how? we don't have any label at all. I don't even know what we are now!

F*ck!

_____

LISA

The sky is a bit darker than the usual 5 pm because of the rain. I have my hot cup of coffee on my hand and Nini has her favourite strawberry milkshake and caramel cinnamon I ordered an hour ago for our snacks at my mom's café' and expecting Ruby Jane will deliver it here in my apartment but Chef Song Kang did.

Yes I was kind of disappointed but I let it passed.

Nini is busy watching her favourite Netflix Korean movie "the parasite" and I'm on my way to sit next to her.

Lisa: "you already watched that hundred times and you're still into it?"

Nini: "of course! that's why there's a word favourite try to look at the dictionary"

Lisa: "silly! but why don't you try to watch another film like that?"

Nini: "maybe someday when I get tired of this batman"

I lift up both my hands to surrender when the mad sky starts to roar and maybe storm will enter the city. My eyes grew wide when Nini jumped to me covering both of her ears after a second of thunder that brought me back into a memory of me and Jennie.

____

Lisa: "hey Jennie! where are you? it will going to rain!"

shit! I whispered to myself. We were playing hide n seek when the thunder starts to growl. Suddenly small drops of rain were falling and I got worried that maybe Jennie will get sick when we both get wet because of the rain.

I screamed for the nth time while looking for Jennie but there was no answer from her and the raindrops becoming stronger.

I was about to get help from our family driver when I heard someone is calling me just above the whisper. Her breath was a little shaky and a sniffing sounds could be heard after for I knew who was the owner.

Lisa: "Jennie a-are you okay?"

I was running after my breath after a speed up run to find her. Her knee was curled up like a ball and her hands covering her ears in fear. Another thunder rumbled the sky and she screamed with fear.

Lisa: "hey hey. I'm here"

I pull her up and hug her. She was crying and got shocked when she saw me in front of her. She quickly pull me and hide her face at the crook of my neck still covering her ears.

Lisa: "Let's get inside we will get wet when the rain pours harder"

I felt her nod and we both stood up. She remained quiet but still managed to walk beside me. I guide her shoulder with my hand and quickly run to the gazebo.
As soon as we get inside the gazebo, thunder roars again that made Jennie jumped in surprised shaking . She hide her face inside my shirt and my heart starts to pound in a different way. My heart reacted to the way it made me feel that it was my first time feeling that kind of beating. It was like butterflies inside my stomach.

That night when my feet dragged me inside my room, I ran and searched what this feeling was all about.

I started to search -butterflies inside my stomach-, -heart pounding when someone hide her face inside my shirt--and all stupid words I need to search to find what I was looking for but all those words lead me to one idea.

"you are absolutely in love with someone when you feel butterflies inside your stomach" .

-------

Lisa: " It's okay Nini. I'm here you don't have to be afraid of thunder"

This kid keeps on burying her face on my chest while covering her ears. I can't help but shed a tear remembering Jennie. I hug her tight to make her feel safe with me. 

Lisa: " you know what I will tell you a story about someone I knew very well and she has the same fear with thunder like you"

Nini looked up to me with tears in her eyes. I quickly wiped it my both hands as curiosity oblivious on her face.

Nini: "really?"

I nod smiling at her while caressing her hair. She have no idea that her hands covering her ears slowly removing and placing it around my neck burying her head on my shoulder.

Lisa: "we were just about your age when we met and just like you, she's also afraid of thunders. But I shared her my secret weapon on how to fight those bad thunders!"

Nini: "there's a secret? how and what is the secret weapon? can I have it too?"

I nod then pushed her aside gently and stood up from the sofa when she grip my shirt becasuse of fear.

Lisa: "I will be back in a minute"

She slowly loosened her grip and nod but still worried . I went back holding a box which made her eyes grew wide following her gaze to it. I sit at the edge of the sofa and she quickly sit acros me when I opened the box and her amusement can be seen.

Nini: "woah! a headphone without a wire? B-but how can I use it when my phone already out of space because of my online school and stuffs about school ?"

I chuckled at her cuteness and still amazed with her smart mind in every little problem she will encounter. I pulled out my Bluetooth headphones and pulled out a carton that hides what's inside.

Nini: "oh-an ipad?!"

Lisa: "yeah-- I don't need it and thinking to whom I might give this cause this thing makes my bag feel heavy and useless to me! what- do you think?"

Nini: "so -- "

I nod knowing what she will answer me while She stopped her statement and started pouting while still staring at the iPad. 

Lisa: "is my smart kid crying?"

Nini: "I know you will give it to me and this are tears of joy"

Lisa: "come here"

She bury her head on my shirt crying for being grateful. I quickly connected the Bluetooth headphone on the iPad and put in on her head so she can hear some music and she can ignore the thunders. 

It's almost 8 pm and I already took a bath and changed my clothes and I did the same with Nini. We are both ready to picked her mom to the café and we will be having dinner together and drive them to their apartment. 

This night will be a special night because I decided to ask Ruby Jane to be my real girlfriend and tell her everything abut me then forget about Jennie. Yes. I am falling in love with her and I can't lose her and Nini. Jennie will always have the special space in my heart but  Ruby Jane made me realized how being in love and longing for someone are two different things and with that I conclude that I must be longing with Jennie but the love was lost already and I am really in love with Ruby Jane now.