The Manobans

Chapter 2

"Babe, there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it?" Lisa cautiously veers their rental, a sleek black Chrysler 300, to the other lane after exiting the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, preparing to turn at the next right.

"Parents never really liked me."

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean, with my exes. Parents don't usually warm up to me."

A quick side glance gives her a rare sight: a nervous Irene Bae. Attempting to soothe her girlfriend's anxiety, Lisa reaches across the center console and holds Irene's left hand.

"How is that possible? You're awesome."

"I just don't have any idea on how to talk to them, you know. I always find it awkward." The heiress exhales her frustration.

Which is rather paradoxical because Irene is a very eloquent businesswoman. Everyone who knows her is aware of her unyielding and confident personality. She can be aloof at times especially with people she doesn't know, but she's not socially inept. So, awkward Irene is a foreign concept to Lisa.

"Well, my parents are nice. They can be a little overbearing because you know, that's how most parents are. But still, they are nice. They would love you." She assures the heiress.

"Jisoo hates me though." Irene recalls the dinner they had with Lisa's sister barely a month ago.

"She doesn't hate you. Just... open up a little. Chu gave all of my exes a hard time. She made it her life mission. She warms up eventually, once she gets to know you."

"Yeah, uhm... please don't be mad."

The ash blonde chances another quick look at the passenger seat, eyebrow furrowing in confusion.

"I booked a room at a bed and breakfast near your house."

"What? Why?"

"I'm not sleeping with you in your bed, with your family in the same house."

Lisa isn't sure whether to laugh or be annoyed.

"Babe, everyone knows we're having sex. You're my girlfriend!"

"Sure, but they don't have to hear about it."

"We can be quiet?"

Irene feigns a glare and playfully shoves Lisa. The ash blonde laughs.

"Okay, fine. If you want to stay at the B&B, then we can stay there. It's not a problem."

"That's the thing. Uhm, I think you should stay in your house, babe."

Irritation immediately replaces Lisa's amusement, but she tempers it before this whole conversation explodes into an argument. They tend to do that a lot lately.

"Are you being serious right now?"

"I don't want your family to think that I'm stealing you away."

"That's ridiculous. You're not exactly the first girlfriend I introduced to them. I can stay in the B&B with you."

"Actually, my sister will be staying with me."

"Jennie? She's coming?"

"I have to be honest, babe. The idea of meeting your big family got me a little bit overwhelmed, so I asked her to come over. It's a good thing that she decided to take a breather until the end of the year. I really hope that you don't mind."

Lisa contemplates the right words before speaking again. The arrangement is not something she's looking forward to since she originally thought this to be an opportunity to spend quality time together. They barely have those kind of days due to their never ending responsibilities at work.