Lisa
"You're right." She says softly, causing me to sigh in relief. "I'm a push over. I love Ella and wouldn't be without her but I didn't want kids yet. I always thought that I would get a job after university, then maybe get engaged and buy a house together. The thought of kids was always a maybe when I'm in my thirties. Instead, I'm a twenty-eight-year-old, single mum, renting a room from my ex."
"Speaking as the ex in question, I'm very glad to have your company." I say tipping my drink towards her getting her to clink her drink back. "What was this bitch like then?"
"Deb."
"Yeah, I remember her name, I just prefer thinking of her as a bitch."
She gulps. "Well, she... basically is the complete opposite of you." Jennie sighs. "During my first year, I was essentially trying to one, get over you and two, figure out my sexuality. I put my focus onto point two, to distract myself from point one. Guess I always knew that I was a lesbian but I was too afraid to say it out loud. My first girlfriend was more of a test to confirm it to myself that I was this way. We both knew that it wasn't anything long-term. Then about half-way through second year, I met Deb on a night out. She was such an enigma. Asked me out that first night and the following day, I was going on a date with her. You were always so confident to me but it was a cheeky confidence. Deb had more of an arrogant confidence. I got all swept up in her."
This is really not helping me like the girl. If anything, it's making me want to deck this Deb person, even more if I ever come across her. I'm starting to get annoyed and seeing as Jennie was engaged to the girl, it probably won't help my case if I insult the bitch too much. Time for a topic change.
"You've never said what brought you down this way."
"Funnily enough a fire." She says taking a drink.
"What?" is this a joke?
"We were living in a duplex flat; it was cheap but I loved it there. Then the flat below mine caught fire." She takes a steadying breath. "I heard the smoke alarm going on downstairs and opened the front door to check the connecting hallway. Smoke was coming out from under the door. I rushed back in mine, shoved some clothes in a bag then grabbed Ella and my car keys. It was less than a minute but as we made our way down the stairs, flames were starting to creep out. I'd covered Ella in a blanket but she still saw the fire. After securing her in the car a safe distance away, I phoned 119. By the time the fire was out, it had taken my flat with it."
"I'm so sorry, I've seen the aftermath of that situation, it's not pretty. Could anything be saved?"
"No. All of Ella's toys and baby clothes, were gone. Photos and personal items from my childhood, gone too. I was able to grab my handbag at the last minute, so I had my purse and my phone had a copy of all Ella's baby pictures. I'm grateful for what I was able to save but there are some things that I'll never get back. The worst part is that Ella hasn't been the same since that day."
"You saved her life. You reacted quickly and calmly and got the two of you to safety. It's no wonder Ella clings to you even more, you're her hero."
"I'm just a mother." She says bashfully.
"It's really something special being a mother. I'm so proud of you when I watch you together."
"Thanks, but what about you? How did you become a firefighter?"
I smile at the diversion but follow through with it.
"After my second year in university, I took a gap year. I was really struggling but wasn't sure what the problem was. I was just doing enough to pass the year but I had no enjoyment in it. Basically, I was miserable, the thought of doing another year there was torture. So, I decided to take the year, do a bit of travelling and go from there."
"Where did you travel to?" she asks sitting up straighter now the pressure is off her. I like seeing her relax like this.
"Europe. I was in my third month travelling when I'd just booked into this hostel and the fire alarms started going off. I mean I literally just walked into my room and the alarms started. I thought at first, I'd set the alarm off. People started panicking around me but I felt this calm come over me. I walked back out the building and motioned for people to get a certain distance from the building. When the fire brigade turned up, I just remember watching them in fascination."
"The job called to you."
"It really did. I started making my way home from there. When I got back, I looked into what requirements that I would need. I became kind of obsessed. The main issue at the time was my fitness. I decided to go back to university and complete my degree, giving me a year to get fit. Joined a gym, and that's when I also started playing rugby. I came back to Gyeongju after graduating and applied to the local fire department. The rest is history, and I've been at this station for five years now."
"The job suits you."
"Obviously, it's not the most glamorous of jobs and there are some really shitty days, but I do love it."
"It shows."
"I'm glad we can be friends again." I say suddenly with a smile.
"Me too."
Now if I could just stop my stomach from fluttering when I look at her, this friendship may stand a chance. Oh, sweet, sweet torture.
