ORIGAMI (JENLISA LOVE STORY)

Chapter VIII

"I was going to stay mad at you forever if you didn't show up tonight." Grace, Jennie's mom smiled before pulling her daughter into a hug.

"Good evening Mom." Jennie chuckled.

"I missed you, Princess" Grace mumbled before she pulled away from the hug.

"Mom, I'm 29." Jennie pouted playfully.

"I'm aware. Even when you're 90 you will always be my princess." Grace smiled.

"You look different." Her mom commended.

"Mom I'm still the same. I think what makes me look different is because the last time you saw me I was an associate and now I'm a partner."

"No, not that. You're glowing and I think you've lost a tiny bit of weight. But thank God you're here for the weekend. I will make sure I feed you well."

"Where's Dad?" Jennie asked as she reached for her luggage.

"You father is with your brother V and nieces," Grace replied as they made their way into the house.

"Aunt Jennie!" two voices screamed and hugged Jennie's legs tightly.

She crouched towards her brother's daughters and showered them with hugs and kisses.

"I missed you guys." She said.

"I missed you too." Four year old Lily said.

"I lost my front tooth aunt Nini." five year old Katie announced, showing the evidence that she lost her front tooth.

Jennie played with her nieces for a while before saying hi to her Dad Lucas, her brother V and his wife.

They had a sumptuous dinner after which they made a toast to Jennie on becoming a partner of Jentle Home and Co.

_____

As soon as Jennie walked out of the adjoined bathroom all dressed up for bed, her mom walked into the room with a blanket.

"Thanks, Mom" she accepted the blanket and placed it on the bed.

"You're welcome. Naeyon told me you haven't feeling too well lately."

Jennie grumbled and sat on the edge of the bed. "She's my intern, she is meant to be loyal to me and not run off telling my mom everything that's going on with me. What else did she tell you?"

Grace took a seat beside her daughter. "She didn't tell me anything else. Just that you're sick and you refused to go to the Doctor. So would you mind telling me about it?"

"There is nothing worry about mom. I've just been feeling stressed lately but I'll be fine."

Grace intertwined her right hand with her daughter's left ones. "Remember the first thing I told you when I saw you tonight."

"You said I'm glowing and I've lost a little weight," Jennie said and she nodded.

"I made your favorite for dinner and you didn't eat much. My eyes were on you all through. It was as if you were forcing yourself to eat. And you only had a few sips of your wine. Is there anything I need to know?" she asked with an eyebrow raised.

Jennie was starving as at the time she got to her parent's place but immediately she set her eyes on the food, her appetite flew out of the window. She knew her mom would not be happy if she said she wasn't hungry so she did her best to eat a little bit of food. Even the wine tasted bitter that's why she didn't drink much.

Grace is a retired nurse. She retired far too early, at the same time her husband, Lucas stepped down from the family business for their son to take over. They worked their asses off in their prime and decided to retire early to spend time together and travel around the world.

"I've been feeling a bit weird nowadays." She confessed.

Grace gave her hand a light squeeze. "How have you been feeling?"

"I hardly have an appetite, I get tired quickly and I feel sore around my chest area."

"I know you and Kai are no longer together but did anything happen between you two before breakup?"

"What do you mean?" She asked her mom.

"Were you guys intimate?" Grace clarified?

Jennie swallowed painfully "Mom, I promise you that I'm not pregnant." She assured.

"I didn't say you are, you concluded yourself." Grace defended.

"So I guess nothing happened between you and Kai."

Jennie looked away from her mom and answered. "No."

Grace made her daughter look at her "Is there anything you would like to share? You know you can tell me anything"

"Nothing is wrong mom." She replied.

"I know you well enough and I don't believe your answer. If you can't talk to me who would you talk to? I've never judged you for anything and neither will I start now. Tell me what's on your mind, I'm all ears."

Jennie exhaled. "I got intimate with someone after my breakup with Kai. It was just a night of passion and nothing more. I took a morning-after pull that's why I said I'm not pregnant."

"It's fine if you say so. I just want you to know that after pills are not 100% guaranteed so they might not work due to some reasons. Whatever the outcome is, I'll always be here for you." Grace assured.

"And make sure you see your doctor on Monday for a general check-up." She said and Jennie nodded.

...

Jennie spent the rest of the weekend bonding with her family. She appeared to be fine in front of everyone but when alone, she replayed the conversation she had with her mom.

She couldn't be pregnant. At least not now and most importantly not for the number one person she hates in the world.

On Sunday evening, after saying goodbye to her parents, brother, sister in-law and nieces, Jennie made her way into her car and drove towards her apartment. She finally gave in to her inner voice and pulled up at a pharmacy to pick up some pregnancy tests. Then, she made her way to her apartment.

After getting settled and picking out her work outfit for tomorrow, Jennie reached for the tests and crashed on the sofa in her bedroom. With her heart beating twice faster, she went over the instructions with a shaky hand.

She stared at the test, thinking about how her life was going to change when she sees the results. It's either for good or for bad.

Reluctantly, she rose to her feet and made her way to the bathroom. She read the instructions one more time and then took the three tests. She placed them on the counter and sat on the edge of the tub.

She fiddled with her necklace and prayed for the results to turn negative. She was truly not ready to become a mother.

With the remaining strength left in her Jennie reached for the sticks and took a look at them.

Her heart sank...

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued to stare at the three positive tests she was holding.

"No...no...no...please No...No... It was just one-night thing pls...nooooo.." she sobbed. Her legs gave up and she landed on the bathroom floor.

She couldn't believe she was so stupid to let this happen. All her life she has been termed brilliant, smart and intelligent. But she failed to apply common sense by insisting Lisa wore a condom.

She took some after pills and that kept her wondering what went wrong too. She never knew the passionate night she had with Lisa would go a long way in affecting her entire life.

Jennie cried and cried until she had no more tears to shed. She sobbed until her head started aching.