𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑾𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 (𝑺𝑳𝑶𝑾 𝑼𝑷𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑺)

13

"What are you doing, Mom?" Lisa's eyes were fixed on her mother's face, flushed with a fury Lisa had never witnessed before.

Mrs. Manobal, her voice trembling with barely suppressed rage, retorted, "What are you doing, Lisa?! That woman hurt you!" Her gaze, sharp as a knife, was directed at Jennie, who stood frozen, her face pale and drawn.

"She's still my wife, Mom," Lisa replied, her voice unwavering.

"Wife? Are you out of your mind?" Mrs. Manobal's voice rose, sharp and cutting. "That woman cheated on you! Let her go!" The words hung in the air, charged with raw emotion. But Lisa's demeanor remained unchanged. Her jaw was set, her eyes fixed on her mother, a silent defiance radiating from her.

"No," Lisa said, the word a low, resolute rumble.

Jennie, her lips trembling, whispered, "Lisa..."

"I've already explained my reason, right?" Lisa's voice was now a low growl. "You heard that clearly. I won't divorce her."

The air crackled with tension. The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, broken only by the soft sobs that escaped Jennie's lips. In that moment, the weight of their fractured world pressed down on them, a heavy, suffocating burden. The future, once so bright and promising, now seemed shrouded in uncertainty, a path obscured by the storm raging within their hearts.

"You can't do that, Lisa," Mrs. Manobal's voice cracked, a tremor of both anger and sorrow running through it. "You can't stay with that woman! She hurt you! She was a disgrace in our family! She cheated with your cousin!"

The words, sharp and unforgiving, pierced Jennie's heart. Though she knew she deserved them, the sting was no less potent. It was Mrs. Manobal, the woman who had always treated her like a daughter, who was delivering this harsh judgment. The pain, a raw, open wound, felt almost unbearable.

"I don't understand, yes, you want her to be miserable with you by not being with Taehyung but you should consider yourself. Your mental health, this woman don't deserve to be with you at all."

"Mom---Listen to me, I am your Mom!"

"She is my wife!" Lisa's voice, usually so soft and melodic, cracked with a raw, untamed fury. She roared, the words echoing through the room, shattering the fragile peace that had always held their family together.

Catalina eyes wide with surprise, wants to reach out to comfort her daughter, but Lisa's gaze, now blazing with a fire that she had never seen before, stopped her in her tracks.

"She's still my wife," Lisa repeated, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and despair. "And I won't divorce her, no matter what you and Dad say. Jennie and I will be miserable together. If you can't accept that, then it's on you, mom. If you hate it, then disown me, because I will never, ever let Jennie go. No one will be happy in this family until I am alive!"

Jennie's lips parted, but no words came out.

Lisa turned to Jennie, her face contorted with a pain that mirrored the agony in her own heart. "You fucking ruined me, Jennie," she spat, the words laced with venom. "So deal with it. You and I will never be happy. I will make your life miserable, just as miserable as I am. I will never forgive you. I hate you!"

With that, Lisa stormed out, leaving behind a silence so thick it felt suffocating. Jennie stood there, frozen, the weight of her wife's words crushing her like a ton of bricks. She had always known that Lisa's love for her was fierce, unwavering, but she had never imagined it could be so destructive, so consuming.

The apartment, once filled with the laughter and warmth now felt cold and empty. The air hung heavy with the unspoken truth: Lisa's love for Jennie was a love that would not be broken, a love that would consume them both, leaving only ashes in its wake.

-------------

Lisa's room was a cavern of darkness, the world outside muffled by the thick wooden door. Her mother's voice, a persistent echo, faded into the silence, replaced by the rhythmic thumping of her own heart. Lisa held her breath, waiting for the finality of her mother's departure. In that moment, she felt the weight of the world pressing down on her, a crushing burden of misfortune.

She was the epitome of misfortune, a woman cursed by an incurable illness and a treacherous betrayal.  Her life, once a tapestry of vibrant hues, had been reduced to a monochrome canvas of pain.  She had been a good daughter, a loyal friend, a dedicated colleague, and a kind soul.  Yet, fate had dealt her a cruel hand, leaving her questioning the very existence of justice.

A gentle beep from her phone broke the silence. It was a message from Doctor Joohyun Bae.

"Good Morning, Lisa. Just reminding you to take your medicine before you sleep. Hope you'll have a good sleep. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call or message me."

Lisa read the message. It was 9:30 in the morning, and she had just returned from a grueling shift at the hospital. The night had been a blur of surgeries, each one a battle against the fragility of life.  Exhaustion gnawed at her, but she had hoped for a few hours of sleep, but she had hoped to much.

She typed a message, her fingers clumsy with fatigue.

"Can't sleep."

A quick response arrived, the doctor's concern evident in the words.

"What happened?"

Lisa hesitated, the weight of her secret pressing down on her.

"Mom came and confronted Jennie. She's fuming and wants me to leave Jennie."

"Where is your mom now?"

"I don't know. Maybe she left."

"You want me to call you?"

"No, I'm good."

"Okay, you should sleep then."

"I can't sleep."

"You wanna come over to my place? Maybe you need a good ambiance for you to sleep."

The offer was unexpected, yet deeply comforting.

"I'm fine, but thanks for the offer."

"No worries. In case you change your mind, you're free to come. Just come over, alright?"

A smile touched Lisa's lips.

"Alright, Joohyun."

The message sent, Lisa stared at the phone, her fingers tracing the words.  Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a glimmer of hope in the darkness.  Perhaps, in the comfort of Doctor Bae's presence, she could find the solace she desperately craved.

A/N: Hey everyone, just a quick update! I've been swamped with work lately, which is why I've been MIA. I'm working on getting back to all my pending stories, but please don't expect too much just yet.  I'll do my best to catch up as soon as I can. Stay safe everyone.