If This Isn't Love

43: NOVEMBER 2018 - Truths and Passions

Luisa sat in her old room, biting her nails worriedly. Seokjin had not even waited an hour before excusing himself, saying he would be staying at a nearby hotel before returning home to Dallas. It was only his good manners that induced him to accept her mother's insistent invitation that he stay for Thanksgiving dinner before leaving.

She had tried explaining to him, to her parents, and to Mrs. Ramos, that she and Charlie were not dating. But when she looked to Charlie for help, he just smiled and shrugged, as if it were all a joke on her part. She recalled Seokjin's stunned expression that shifted to disappointment when it seemed that she was trying too hard to deny a relationship with Charlie. She mumbled an excuse and ran upstairs to her room on the verge of tears. She knew she was wrong to run away and leave Jin alone with her family, but she didn't want to cry in front of an audience.

She looked at the door after a single knock before the door opened. She shot to her feet.

"Charlie! What are you doing here? Leave my room, please," she said.

Charlie closed the door behind him. "I will. After you explain what's going on with Kim Seokjin."

She crossed her arms. "That's not any of your business."

The slight-built man nodded. "I see. Is that your way of saying that you're sleeping with him? Luisa, are you still letting that man use you like a whore?"

"Shut up," she snapped. "I don't want to hear you talk about him much less make your disgusting insinuations. If you insult me one more time, I will slap your teeth out of your mouth."

Charlie chuckled. "Always the drama queen, Luli. I don't see how calling you a whore is an insult. Didn't you let Seokjin bang you on the night we broke up?"

Luisa scoffed. "You mean on the night you broke up with me? You know what? Who cares? It was so long ago. I'm going to make sure my parents understand that Seokjin is my boyfriend now, and you are my...well, my nothing. We haven't been anything since the day you so graciously dumped me." She sneered. "Thanks for that by the way. In retrospect, you certainly did me a favor."

His smile disappeared, replaced by a sneer. "Listen, sweetheart, I'm only here at the insistence of your parents. They want me to handle your father's finances after his scare over the accident. That's all."

"Oh, really?" she snapped. "Then why did you let them think that there's anything between us?"

He shrugged. "They just assumed, and I didn't have time to explain."

"You're pathetic," she said. "You could've said something when everyone assumed we were together. Why didn't you say anything? Did you think that I'd run back into your arms simply because you're helping my father?"

He took a step closer to her. "No. I thought you'd run back into my arms to prove to me that you're no longer a cold bitch. I don't know. Has Seokjin fucked some life and passion into you? Maybe you can show me what you've learned." He took another step toward her, his hands reaching out for her.

"Ramos. Stop."

They hadn't heard Seokjin open the door. But there he stood, his broad shoulders crowding the door frame. His hands were crossed over his chest, and the only sign that he was upset was the pinching of his full lips.

"Well, well, well," Charlie said, turning his body half round. "Seokjin to the rescue yet again." His face was twisted with scorn. "If you'd just come in a few minutes later, I could've had her all warmed up for you. It seems she so easily jumps from man to man at a moment's notice."

Seokjin leaned against the door frame. "Oh, Charles," he chuckled, his eyes closing. "Just when I think you can't make a bigger fool of yourself, you go and surprise me. Just so that you know, Luisa is full of life and passion, none of which she had to learn because it was already in her heart waiting for the right person to come along. I'm here now." His smile disappeared abruptly. "So, get out."