Mrs. & Mrs. Manoban

playing with fire.

                                    JENNIE 💍

The drive on the way home is completely silent. Every cell in her body feels numb. She grips the steering wheel harshly as result of being tense. It's hard to pin point what she feels.
She knows she should let go, maybe take a different route home but she doesn't want to.
All she can think about is Lisa.
Their love was dangerous from the beginning. Built off of a foundation of lies not just on her part but Lisa's. Like a raging fire that was bound to grow into an explosion.
Jennie scolds herself for falling for her in the first place. She should have put out the fire before it even started, now she's the one getting burned in the end.
Every kiss only added to the flames.
Every touch lingered like a burn against her skin.
Every time Lisa held her in her arms was the equivalent to being tangled up in barbwire.
It's clear Jennie never learned. Being with Lisa was the most pleasurable pain she had ever experienced in her life.
If one thing was clear, it was that Jennie Kim liked playing with fire.

•••

It's a foreign feeling really. She hasn't felt grief for anyone since she was five. It's cause she's been training herself not to feel it for so long.
She sat alone at a table for two at a restaurant known as La Vie en Rose. A glass of white wine in her hand. A black dress that hugged her body in just the right way. Her hair curled in perfect waves down her back. And for who?
Wiping the lone tear, she does her best not to think about it. Maybe it's cause she loved her.
She feels a presence behind her, followed by a familiar warm hand. They take her wine glass and pour a little more. Closing her eyes the corner of her lips lift into a small smile.
Of course. She underestimated her.
"Excuse me for Interrupting this moment. Thought I'd just drop in." Lisa smiles while presenting herself. "I have one last problem to face."
Swallowing her feelings Jennie smiles back up at her. "Which is?"
"I want a divorce."
"I like it. You proposed to me here so it has a meaning of symmetry."
"Thought you would." Lisa nods walking over to the chair across from Jennie. "Can I sit?"
"No."
But as to be expected of Lisa Manoban, she does so anyways. Stealthily Jennie grabs the pistol strapped to her thigh. She rests it in her lap, covering it with her napkin.
Lisa makes a show of covering her own lap with a napkin, letting Jennie know that she's no idiot. They're playing the same game after all.
"Champagne, Miss?" A waiter asks.
"No. Champagne is for celebrating. I'll have a martini." Lisa says while keeping her gaze on Jennie.
Leaning in a little closer to Lisa she doesn't want to beat around the bush any longer.
"What is it that you want Lisa?"
"We have an unusual situation Jennie. You obviously want me dead. But I'm just as good as you are so what do we do? Do we shoot it out here? Hope for the best?" Lisa offers with a grin.
"Hm. We shouldn't, seeing as they'll probably ask me to leave once you're dead." Jennie says making Lisa smile in amusement.
"You've tried before, and here I am."
"What makes you think I won't try again?"
"I never said you wouldn't. But once again you underestimate me honey."
Jennie lets her foot run up the side of Lisa's legs under the table. Her fingers playing with the diamond earring.
"Then prove me wrong baby." Jennie smiles flirtatiously.
"Dance with me." Lisa says while standing up, offering Jennie her hand.
"You don't dance." Jennie lips curve into an inquisitive smile.
"It's just part of my cover, sweetheart."
"Was being bad at it apart of it too?" Jennie asks while taking her hand.
Lisa leads her to the dance floor, cracking Jennie's hands in hers making her groan quietly. Lisa pulls her close and whispers into her ear.
"You think this story's gonna have a happy ending."
"Happy endings are stories that haven't finished yet." Jennie says harshly.
Lisa finds her dark eyes as they tango on the dance floor next to a few other couples. Jennie lets her take the lead.
The older girl dips her, as her hand caresses to feel Jennie's back side. Jennie knows she's searching for weapons.
"Satisfied?" Jennie asks feeling Lisa's hand against her ass.
Lisa lifts her back up, Jennie's knee coming up against her body. "Not for years." Her hand slips up Jennie's thigh taking the knife strapped against it.
Subtly she throws it across the room causing it to stick into the wall.
Jennie lets her hands roam to Lisa's back side to feel for any weapons. It only makes Lisa smirk.
"It's all Lisa back there sweetheart."
She pulls Jennie close to her once again continuing their dance.
"Why do you think we failed?" Jennie asks. "Because we were leading separate lives or because it was all a lie from the beginning?"
"I have a theory. Newly formed."
"I'm dying to hear it."
"You killed us."
"Provocative."
"You approached our marriage like a job. Something to be re-conned, planned and executed." Lisa says.
"And you avoided it." Jennie says, their faces only inches apart.
"What do you care, if I was just a cover up." Lisa whispers.
"Who said you were just a cover?"
"Wasn't I?"
"Well wasn't I?"
She sees Lisa's eyes flicker down to her lips. Before Lisa can lean in Jennie pulls away. "I have to—Excuse me." She quickly turns away, heading towards the bathrooms.
"There are no exits over there Jennie," Lisa calls after her, but Jennie disappears. "Be cold Lisa, she's a liar." She tells herself.
Sure enough within the next few seconds a small explosive goes off. The guests of the restaurant go into a frenzy and rush towards the exits. The perfect distraction.
Lisa's eyes find Jennie's across the room for a short second before they're disappearing once again. Quickly following her Lisa finds herself in front of the restaurant with no Jennie in sight. There are too many people hailing for taxis and demanding their valets.
"You know you're ticking right?" A guy next to her says.
Lisa's eyes widen in realization. Feeling herself she finds something attached to the back of her skirt. She quickly unzips it, pulling it down before throwing it into the post box in front of her.
"BACK AWAY BACK AWAY!" Lisa shouts to the nearby pedestrians. A second later it explodes in the post box. Now she was sitting in just a red thong and a white blouse.
"Hey taxi! Taxi!" Lisa flags down.
One pulls over within the second. I mean come on She was in a Thong for God's sake.
"Hey girl I'll take you anywhere for free." The taxi man smiles smugly.
"Good to know." Lisa opens the driver side door before punching him across the face. Pulling him out of the seat she hops into it and steals the car.
"HEY!"

•••

Jennie is driving home on the highway when her hands free system starts ringing. Picking it up she has an inkling feeling as to who it is.
"Jennie Kim." She answers.
"That's the second time you've tried to kill me." Lisa says.
"Oh come on it was just a little bomb." Jennie rolls her eyes.
"I want you to know I'm going home and I'm going to burn anything I've ever bought you." Lisa informs.
"I'll race you there baby." Jennie smiles before hanging up.
A minute later her phone rings again.
"You there yet?" She answers.
"...The first time we met what was your first thought?" Lisa asks genuinely.
"You tell me."
"I thought...I thought you looked like Christmas Morning. I don't know how else to say it."
"Why are you telling me this now?" Jennie asks.
"Guess in the end you start thinking about the beginning. So there it is I thought you should know." Lisa says. "So how bout it Jennie?"
"I thought..." Jennie lets out a deep breath and a frustrated huff. "I thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen."
There's a moment of silence on the line, the two of them both still driving the highway to their house where they'll most likely end up killing eachother.
Finally ending the only thing they've ever trusted in their lives.
"That night in the nursery, after we finished painting it...you told me that you'd love me no matter what happens. Did you mean it?" Jennie asks quietly.
"Yes."
A single tear slides down Jennie's cheek. She's never hated an answer more. Only because it's the answer that hurts the most.