The Devil's Sweetheart

109

Lisa felt dampness on his arms while applying pressure to the energy meridians in Jennie's forehead. For a second, he was nonpulsed to see tears welling from her squeezed eyes. His hands halted in mid-air, his mind went shambolic. ''Jennie, are you crying?'' He franticly asked, wiping the pooled tears flooding from the corners of her eyes.

''Sweetheart, are you awake?'' He gently patted her cheeks when he did not get any response.

Jennie jolted awake with a start and frantically looked around. As she watched Lisa's panic, Jennie felt like she was thrown into a blue funk. Getting up, she wiped her tears with her dress sleeves and jumped onto his lap, straddling his waist.

''What's wrong, Jennie?'' Lisa went in fright. Her behavior was odd during lunch also, but she screened it cleverly from him. Lisa wanted to ask then and there but held back since they were not in private.

Without replying to Lisa, Jennie buried her face on the crook of his neck, embracing his body tightly as if he would leave her if she doesn't hold him tightly.

''Sweetheart, don't scare me. Can you tell me what exactly happened?'' Lisa stroked the back of her head gently. He could feel his neck dampening with her tears. His heart grieved as if a sharp dagger stabbed his heart. "Did Valen hurt you?'' He asked. It was the only possibility he thought in his mind.

Jennie shook her head.

''Did Seulgi call to tease you?'' He patiently asked.

''No.''

''Take your time and answer. I will wait until you calm down. Don't stress yourself.'' Who the hell made his sweetheart cry? Lisa embraced her tightly to make her feel secure in his presence to open up. He patted her back gently, waiting for her to speak.

Lisa was hugging her so tightly that Jennie could hear his thumping heartbeat. For a moment, everything felt so calm and safe, like nothing can hurt her. ''I-I watched a movie in Valen's house.'' Jennie started.

''I am listening. What happened after?'' He whispered and continued rubbing her head. Like a child, he was tending to her attentively.

''The movie's main lead loved a girl dearly since childhood, but he got into an accident and lost his memories. He forgot everything, including his childhood love, and after recovering, he begins a new life. Years later, he stumbles upon a bright and cheerful girl, and slowly, he falls in love with her. Even the girl couldn't resist his kind, sweet nature, and the girl falls for him hard. When everything was going smoothly in their life, he will come across his past love, and slowly, his memories even start to come back. His past love wants to reunite with him. Now, he is torn between the present and past...'' Jennie held back, for she couldn't continue the story further. Her tears rolled down from her eyes to her cheeks when her future dreaded in front of her just like the made-up story.

''Then what happened next?'' Lisa gently lifted her head and wiped her tears away with his thumb. Has she turned into a crybaby for a mere movie?

''I-I was scared to continue the movie.'' She struggled to talk through a hiccup. ''I don't want the main lead to end up with his past love.''

''You have become emotional over a movie?'' Lisa chuckled softly as he pulled her closer, his hands gently caressing her back. He now wished Jennie would watch only those toddler cartoons.

''I got connected with the characters,'' Jennie replied in a whisper. Lisa might not have an idea, but the lead character she was talking about is him. Maybe if he comes across his past love, her story would make sense to him.

''Artist's job is to make the audience cry, sweetheart.''

''But isn't it wrong? What if that lead goes back to his past love? What about the girl? Won't she get hurt? She equally loves that man.'' Jennie asked, impatiently waiting for Lisa's answer because their future lies in his reply. Although he doesn't know it's his story, his opinions matter here.