Moonlight + Paradise (18+)

17. A quick, dark turn

The sky seems agreeable to their revelations. Since she woke up this morning, the protective dome has been soothing the achy parts on her body - being grabbed and groped satisfyingly to the pleasing of her boyfriend, countless times since yesterday evening. The puffy white school of clouds lit up the acres of blue - painting themselves on the canvas before her very eyes. Lisa never thought that the weather could have understood her feelings, but it's exactly how she felt. 

Calm. Breezy. Light. 

"I'll be back in three days...or maybe sooner than that," He whispered after giving her yet another long, lingering kiss. No matter how many times they've done this, it still puts her in a daze. "In the meantime, please think about your answer."

My... "Answer?"

"Marry me?"

Oh...that... "Okay..."

His beautiful grin perks up, all too quickly. "That's a 'yes'?"

"What - I mean 'okay', I'll think about it!! Stop teasing me!" 

"Haistt you're too cute, doll!" Guk laughed and she thought how boyishly good-looking he is. It's her favourite look of him out of all. "If anyone's teasing, it's definitely you. So have mercy on me, Lalisa."

She can't help her foolish grin, even after she had hopped off the car all too giddily. That man always knew how to captivate her so completely. He always left a sunshine in her soul, getting her all excited and warm at the prospects of 'more'. Her relaxed wave to see him off from the curb of her condo is a mark of another amazement - such a simple gesture that held so much hopes and promises. Lisa wonders if he truly feels disheartened for leaving her here, just as how he had repeated sulkily in the car before.

Counting her blessings with every steps she took on the stairs, she began planning her day ahead. It's noon and Somi wouldn't have gone to work yet...I should gather my laundry and we can have lunch together. Ji-Hu will only come after he's done dropping off Guk - I'll text him where we'll be later so he could join us. 

Would she be as excited if I tell her about Guk's proposal? I hope so...no matter how I look at it, I really do need another's perspective on this. Is it normal for people to get married this soon in a relationship? We've done a lot of um...'things' together...it makes sense to say 'yes', right?

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, but was halted immediately when she saw a card laying unwelcomely on the floor. What's this -

'Find the old Nanohan shrine if you want to see your friend alive. Don't make me wait too long. She's pretty so I might get impatient. Bring no one else or she'll pay for it. I'll be waiting, little sis.'

The handwritten note hits her like a lighting bolt - straight at her chest. 'Little sis'...it's him! It was really him at the shop before - I knew it was Mark's voice! That wasn't a dream! Her eyes are now blurry and she's finding it hard to breathe. Lisa immediately ran out to the next door - knocking impatiently before she tried turning the knob around. It's unlocked...no...please, no...

Inside, a messy spectacle welcomes her. Pieces of glasses scattered just behind the door. Lisa found Somi's phone laying in the middle of the living room - next to a couple of items that never belonged on the carpet they used to sit on together, all the time. The scene was nothing like she had ever seen in this space before, as if a storm had passed and no one's cleaning it up.

He has her...oh no, he has her!! What - what should I do? He'll hurt her - how - 

Why is he doing this - why can't they leave me alone?! Why are they still searching for me - I'm no use for them! Or...could it be...