Love to Hate You

Chapter Eighteen

Jennie

The next morning, I wake up puffy-eyed with yesterday's make-up still on and a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Thank god it is Friday because I cannot get through a Monday like this.

There is an empty ice-cream tub at the foot of my bed, remains of a potato chip on my pillow, and an incomprehensible amount of candy wrappers caught up in my sheets.

I curse out loud, then catch Jisoo and Arthur looking at me in the mirror.

"Sorry," I say sheepishly, pulling my covers up over my nose.

Ridiculous, I know.

It's time - I need to go see Nana.

To be fair, as soon as I see her angelic little face lying in that hospital bed, I realize that life isn't that bad â€" I still have this amazing woman by my side.

"Nana," I smile, my eyes still smudged with sleep.

"Jennie, darling." Her eyes blink open at the sound of my voice.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have work?"

"Yes, I'm going straight after my visit. I just needed to see you first."

"Oh love, that's very sweet. Come here and give me a hug."

I shuffle over to give her a hug and a kiss. I'm careful not to press down on her ribs.

"Sorry I haven't been able to see you for a few days."

"That's okay, love." She takes hold of my hand and gives me a look. "You have something on your mind?"

"Sort of. Nana, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, dear."

"My father. Do you really not know anything about him at all?"

"No, darling, I don't." Nana pauses. "Andrea said she met this "Steve" at a conference and never heard from him again. When you were born, she had no way of contacting him. I'm sorry, I wish I could be more help. Why are you asking?"

"Something weird happened at work. We are representing the daughter of the late Arthur Robert Kim, and all these children keep popping out of the woodwork. This guy certainly played the field. When I met the daughter Jisoo, I thought, oh my god, I look like her. Then a while later, she said the same thing. I mean, it's far-fetched but..."

"Mmm... I see. Well, I'm sure Steve was not his real name."

"I just can't shake this feeling, you know?" I hang my head, and I laugh. "I googled Jisoo and Arthur, and printed out their photos. I stuck them on my mirror, and now I keep comparing my face. I even talk to them sometimes."

Nana smiles. "Well, maybe you should follow up. You'll go crazy if you keep staring at them and don't do anything about it. Stranger things have happened, and you don't want to go through life wondering. Never wonder about anything..."

"Mmm. Yeah, okay." My shoulders slump, and I sigh. "Thanks."

"Is there something else?" Nana narrows her eyes.

"Nothing," I lie.

"Jennie..."

She says my name in a stern parent way, and I know I've been caught. "You're clutching your stomach. Are you sick?"

"No, my stomach is a bit off. Ate some cooking chocolate last night. Like a whole block. I don't think it was a good idea."

I admit, my mind flashing back to my late-night scavenger hunt in the kitchen. Which reminds me..."

I need to replace that chocolate, or Lisa will go ballistic on me again.

Nana frowns. "No, not a good idea. So, girl problems then?"

Nothing gets past her. She knows me like a book.

"I guess..."

I begin before offering a thoughtful pause. Women are really proving to be my crux.

"I really wish you would find yourself a nice woman, Jennie. Someone who you can talk to. Someone who makes you laugh. A real connection, you know what I mean."

"Nana, don't worry about my women issues. I'll work it out one day. Besides, I'm taking better care of myself. My roommate has been on my case about eating healthy, so I've found a new hobby. Cooking. I may even become a chef one day."

Nana gulps down. "That's nice, dear."

"Don't look so stressed. It's not like when I was a kid and gave everyone food poisoning. I'm much more responsible these days. No more freestyling. I follow actual recipes from actual books."

"That's my girl," giggles Nana, patting my hand. "Well, don't let me stop you. I support you in anything you do."

"Here, I brought you some low-fat, low-sugar banana muffins. Don't be thrown off by the strange green color. I, um... They taste good," I say, proudly placing a box on her nightstand. "I gave my roommate some too."

"Her name is Lisa, isn't it?

"Yeah, Lisa Manoban. She actually works here as a doctor in the emergency department."

Nana's face lights up. "Oh, I know her. She's special that one, a real sweetheart. Looks tired as a mother but comes in almost every day and has a chat with me. People like her are few and far between."

"What? Since when?" I am in shock with this news. "A few weeks ago. She brings me my favorite hot chocolate with extra cream. You know, just the way I like it. You must've told her. Now that makes sense."

"Um yeah, maybe," I say, confused. I don't know what to do with this piece of information.

What is Lisa's ulterior motive in doing this? There is nothing to gain.

We have been strangely getting along this past week and acting kind of normal with each other. There's been a complete ceasefire of pranks, and I think we are even going shopping together tomorrow, so why be so secretive?

~~~~~

A/N:

Another one for you guys! TGIF :)