THE AVENGED OF LALISA MANOBAN

13 - WORRIED

Lisa pov...

It's been days since Jennie and I last talked, and I can say I miss her. I mean, who wouldn't? I'm used to having her around all the time. Sometimes when I see her, my body wants to run to her and hug her, but I can't. It feels wrong.

I mean, why did she ask me that question? And why me, of all people, the sister of the person her boyfriend killed?

I'm in the garden now, just hanging out because Irene won't let me into the stockroom. Seulji's in there.

Yeah, she's in our school even though it's not allowed. Irene let her in.

It's so beautiful here. The air is fresh.

While I was enjoying the fresh air, I didn't notice someone standing beside me, so I turned around.

"Let's talk," she said to me. I could see she looked sad.

It's Jennie.

"Okay," I said and stood up.

"What do we need to talk about?" I asked her, looking away.

I don't know why, but I can't look her in the eye. Maybe because I'm still angry at her.

"It's a-about V and you," she said, and I looked at her.

"What about it?" I asked her, confused.

"L-Lisa, I know you love your brother and you want to get the justice you want, but Lisa, I love V too. I can't lose him. So please, please don't put V in jail," she said to me. I could see in her eyes that she was serious and she seemed to be begging.

"Please, Lisa," she said again, taking my hand.

"It wasn't V's fault. I know he was surprised too. I know he didn't mean to do it. I saw it. I saw in his face that he was scared, that he didn't mean to do it. He didn't even leave his room after it happened. He didn't want to eat. So please forgive him," she said, pleading with her eyes.

"I-I don't know, Jen. My brother deserves justice. So please don't take that away from him," I said to her.

"I know, I know, but V was drunk that night. I know you think he's a bad guy, a killer, a jerk, but Lisa, honestly, he's the nicest person I've ever met," she said, looking like she was about to cry.

Nice?

He was about to beat me up with his group.

"M-you l-love m-me, r-right? D-don't you? If y-you l-love me, y-you can d-do anything t-to make your l-love h-happy. I'll b-be h-happy, Lisa, if y-you s-stop w-what y-you're d-doing," she said to me, wiping her tears with her left hand.

W-what?

"Are you blackmailing me?" I asked her.

"N-no, I j-just w-want..."

"I know I love you, Jennie, but that's too much to ask," I said to her, not believing it.

"Please," she begged.

"I'm sorry, but I really can't do that," I said to her, shaking my head.

"Ar-are y-you r-really n-not g-going t-to s-stop?" she asked me, looking me in the eye. I nodded.

"O-okay t-then, I s-should j-just r-really u-use my p-power t-then s-so y-you'll s-stop," she said to me, which made me confused.

"W-what are you saying?" I asked.

"Did you forget, Lisa, that we're rich? Even if you put V in jail, he'll still be free because of money. So please, just stop," she said to me, and I stopped.