Playing With Fire

Twenty-two: Lines Blurring

Kookie's POV…

After ensuring Jade was okay, I left her place hours later, still troubled by my conversation with Akiyo. Her words had me feeling incredibly stressed. “Should I trust that she’s carrying my child, and if so, should I consider rekindling a toxic relationship with her for the sake of our baby?” I pondered while sitting on the edge of my bed, my head in my hands.

I couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility that she might be pregnant with my child, considering we hadn’t always used protection whenever we had sex. However, what made it hard for me to believe this was true was the timing. Why, all of a sudden, when I’ve resigned myself to the idea that our relationship was beyond saving, does she call me to tell me she’s pregnant with my child? That in itself seems suspicious, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this sudden, out-of-the-blue pregnancy announcement than met the eye.

The mere thought of having to subject myself to all the mental stress she’s put me through for the last few years, just for the sake of my child’s well-being, was giving me a splitting headache. When I ended things with her, I had hoped my next relationship would be free from lies, manipulation, drama, and toxicity. I wanted a woman I could trust, someone who was faithful and had a strong sense of self-worth.

My experience with Akiyo had taught me the wisdom of my father’s advice to Jung-hyun and me about the significance of not just judging a woman by her looks. He always stressed the importance of understanding a person’s character and values to avoid falling into a pit of heartbreak. If I had taken the time to assess all the qualities I desired in a woman before diving into a relationship with Akiyo, rather than being swayed by her physical beauty and the initial thrill of our chemistry, I could have spared myself from the mess I currently found myself in.

“Damn it, please let this just be another one of Akiyo’s twisted pranks,” I muttered under my breath as I made my way to the bathroom for a shower. Just as I was about to step in, Jade’s ringtone, Made For Me by Muni Long, blared through the room, interrupting my thoughts.

“Should I answer the phone or let it go to voicemail?” I debated, knowing full well the consequences of ignoring her calls. She would just keep calling me until I answered or, worse, attempt to come to my place with an injured leg to check on me. With a resigned sigh, I turned off the water and headed back to the bedroom, clad only in my boxers.

“I’m okay,” I spoke into the phone in a fake, cheerful tone as soon as the call connected.

“No, you’re not. You’re just pretending for my sake,” Jade replied, then cut straight to the point. “What did Akiyo say to you a few hours ago to upset you?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I sighed, sinking onto the bed. “How’s your leg holding up?”

“Thanks to your amazing nursing skills, it’s getting better,” Jade chuckled. “I can even walk around on it now without wincing in pain.”

“Are you sure you’ll be able to come into the office tomorrow with your injury?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“Absolutely! I’ll be there, limping and all,” Jade laughed. “I need to see with my own two eyes how you’re really doing. I’d come over right now, but I know you’d freak out if I showed up at your door at this time of night with a bum leg.”

“Thank you for not pissing me off any further and adding to my stress.”

“See, I knew you weren’t fine!” she responded with concern etched in her voice.