My Precious Family [Jenlisa]

Chapter 54: Should we try it tonight?

Lisa shrugged off his thoughts as he went on to the shower. When he went out, Jennie was already in the bedroom, sitting on the bed, eyes on him. Awkward as it may, Lisa carefully marched toward the closet to change.     

Myriads of questions hovered over his head, assuming her strange look was connected to her message this morning. Lisa replied though, but he never received a message back. Lisa thought about it carefully, unknowingly growing anxious as he returned to the bedroom.     

As he closed the walk-in closet behind him, his eyes fell on Jennie's side profile. She was staring at the floor, deep in thought.     

'Just what is she thinking?' he wondered, tilting his head to the side. Before he could even decide, his lips parted as his words rolled out of his tongue. "Is something the matter?"    

Jennie snapped her eyes ever so tenderly, turning her head in his direction. "Mhm."    

"What is it?" Lisa inquired, strutting in her direction until he sat beside her. "Do you need my help?"    

"No?"    

"Are you sure?"    

"Mhm." Jennie forced a smile as she looked away, setting her eyes on the floor while her fingers played with each other. "I was upset this morning, blaming you for something you shouldn't be blamed. It reminds me of someone... and it makes me think I am no different from her."    

A deep exhale slipped past Jennie's lips. "Moreover, I am ashamed of many things. I don't know how much more I can swallow without throwing up."    

"It was frustrating, Lisa." She faced him again, sighing. "And even that, I felt like I have no right to feel too."    

Lisa held her gaze, sniffing a faint scent of alcohol from her. He leaned forward slightly, furrowing his brows as he drew his head back.    

"Did you drink?" he asked, noticing how her brows elevated.     

"A bit." A slight chuckle slipped past her lips. "I had a few drinks before you came home, but I am perfectly fine."    

'I don't think so.' Lisa bit his tongue to refrain those words from coming out. He assessed his wife, sensing the gloom prevailing her. Yet, this gloominess felt familiar and not at the same time.     

His wife was usually gloomy for the past five years. Her negative vibes were so strong one could feel it, even if she was a mile away. Right now, Jennie was not in the mood unlike the past few days, but it didn't make him feel the urge to should stay away. Instead, Lisa felt like he should console her.     

How could he, though?    

He might be wrong, and his wrong assumption might start an issue. It may not look like it, but Lisa was also being careful around her. Because at the end of the day, he also didn't want to make a mistake.     

Without realizing it, Lisa and Jennie had been staring at each other for minutes. He only realized it when Jennie broke the prolonged silence between them.    

"You're really handsome, huh?" Jennie was in awe. While Lisa was wondering how to console her properly, she was also studying him and wondering how could such a handsome face exist in this world.     

She raised a hand to poke his lean cheek. "You're real... and that makes it more even amazing."    

"You're drunk," he blurted out, brushing off her hand from his cheek. "Go to sleep now, Jennie."    

"I'm not drunk." She chuckled. "I never did."    

"That's what most drunk people say." Lisa pushed himself up, only to feel a hand hold his arm. He looked back, glancing at her hand that was on his arm before setting his eyes on the pair of phoenix eyes mirroring him.    

"Where are you going?" Jennie squeezed his arm slightly.     

"Somewhere to give you space."    

"I don't need space."    

His lips were drawn into a thin line. "Then what do you need?"    

"Do I really have to spell it out for you?"    

"Yes." His answer was quick. "I won't know your needs if you don't tell me. I don't want to make assumptions and turn out it was a mistake."    

"Aren't you too honest?" Jennie chortled shortly once again.     

"I'm not the only one. After all, you've always been honest with me from the beginning." And he meant she had always been honest with him since five years ago.     

Jennie never failed to express her dismay, disgust, and hatred towards him without the slightest mercy. She would shred his entire being to countless pieces and Lisa had to swallow all of that to keep this family together. Sure, he had faults, but Jennie wasn't innocent as well. Not that he ever indulged with the idea, as he learned how to accept things just the way they were. Thus, his offer for divorce.     

"Do you resent me?" Jennie asked after a moment of silence.     

Lisa didn't answer immediately. "No."    

"If you are a willing participant in this marriage and also approve of fixing it, then bear with me." Jennie released his arm and then tapped the space beside her. "I spent the entire day trying to get to know my son. If someone else heard about it, they would laugh. How come a mother knows nothing about her child, when at this age, children's life revolved around their parents?"    

Her lips curled up subtly. "Come sit with me. If you're asking me what you need to do, then I'll shamelessly ask you to stay and listen."    

Lisa studied the sincerity in her eyes before he sat down beside her again. "Jevin is different. He understands the situation."    

"My urge to lecture you is growing strong, but at the same time, I felt like I had no right to do so." Jennie sighed as she lowered her eyes. "Lisa Manoban, is there really a possibility we can save this marriage?"    

"Aren't we doing that already?"    

"You don't understand." Jennie raised her head, facing him squarely. "What I mean by that question is... is there a possibility we can be a real couple?"    

This time, Lisa's lips parted, but no word came out. All he could do was stare at the pair of solemn eyes mirroring him.     

Could they really? To be honest, Lisa didn't know how to answer that. Was it truly possible to squeeze love into their setup that started as a mere agreement and logic? Moreover, it had been five years since they spoke their vows. Wasn't it a little too late?    

"Let's try," he answered after a prolonged silence. "If you are willing."    

"I am more than willing." Her eyelashes fluttered ever so tenderly, smiling. "Should we try it tonight?"