IS IT TIME FOR ME TO GIVE UP?

4

Lisa's Pov:

I turned off the engine and got out of my car, My heart beats violently as i felt Jennie clung into my arm. It's just an act, we used to be a happy wife and wife whenever our parents around, contrarily a complete stranger to each other at home.

"Finally! I said 7pm today, not 7pm tomorrow" My dad remarked, as we greeted them with warm hugs.

"Lisa, how are you?" Jennie's mom asked with a pleasant smile.

I smiled "I'm good, Mom."

"Lisa, you should've date your wife somewhere...Don't spend so much time working"  said my dad while smiling looking at us, I took a glance at Jennie who's acting busy cutting her steak.

'Work was her only escape and way to avoid me, Dad' I wanted to voice those words, but filtered ones came out instead, "We'll do, Dad." Jennie, seated beside me, let out a scoff, knowing it would never happen.

"Anyway... how's married life?" Her father inquired, as the others awaited our response. Jennie seemed unwilling to answer, and honestly, I wanted to give them the same response I said to Jisoo: 'nothing changed, she still hates me, my presence, and everything about me.' But I couldn't.

"Jennie..." I began, looking directly at her before continuing, "-is a perfect wife, and we're happy." She was taken aback by my words, her gaze meeting mine. I wanted to believe that the love she had for me back then, the love she had for her best friend, was still there. Sometimes I caught a glimpse of it, but it disappeared so easily... like this moment, where she looked at me without hatred, her beautiful cat-like eyes...

I was saddened when she averted her gaze. I missed those eyes, wishing I could stare at them a little bit longer.

After an hour...

We bid our goodbyes to our parents and returned to normalcy, with Jennie being herself again and me hoping that one day she might love me back.

Inside my car, as I was about to start the engine, she spoke.

"Never do that again," she said, looking outside. "Let them see for themselves the truth. You love me, but I don't," she added, extinguishing any remaining hope in me. I kept my eyes on her for a moment as she inserted earphones into her ears.

Yeah... of course.

***

Cramp.

I groaned as a sudden contraction gripped my hand, slowly releasing the pen I had been using to sign papers on the table since I sat down in my office chair.

"Ma'am Lisa..." Followed by a knocking sound on the door, it's my secretary holding a new batch of folders that requires my signature.

"Just put them down there, Thanks." I directed, on the other table.

I massaged my hand to soothe the muscles and attempted to continue my work, but upon looking at the papers, I instantly felt unmotivated to pick up my pen. Instead, I grabbed my phone and took a picture of my hand and sent it to Jisoo without context.

As my hand kept swiping, it stopped at a certain picture.

Nini.. i smiled while looking at us..all the memories we once had reoccurred, especially in this photo.

It was the time I called her because sadness wanted to engulf me again. She quickly came over, brought my favorite foods, and told me that "whatever happens, she'll always be with me and that sadness will leave me." But it turned out the other way around. The sadness stayed, and Jennie left me. And at this moment, it's devouring me again... so heavy.