Secrets on Melody Street (Jenlisa)

18

All eyes were on me.

This was it, time to come clean.

I stood at the head of the table and did a brief scan of the room.

The Jungs all seemed confused, and rightfully so.

Mom wasn't even bothering to look my way anymore and Dad had a grip on the salt shaker so tight, that it looked close to shattering.

But once my eyes met Jennies, it was like everyone else faded into the background, and I was affirmed that this was the right thing to do.

Jen's the person I need in my life above all else.

Her expression was one of encouragement as well as fear. She knows the answer to the question, and yet it feels like she doesn't want me to say it. She can sense that I'm petrified but I know she'll make no effort to lie for me.

I have to do the honest thing if we're to make something out of this relationship and I love her enough to do it.

I cleared my throat. "This...this is going to come as a shock, and I'm sorry. First and foremost you guys need to know that. I'm so, so sorry."

I looked at Jennie and she gave me a single, subtle nod to spur me on.

"L, don't apologise before you've even admitted anything. It's no use asking for forgiveness before we're even told the extent of the crime."

I frowned at Jae, my patience running thin. "Okay, you're right, sorry." I cursed at myself for apologizing again, force of habit. "See the thing is, I never intended to find someone else or go out of my way to be unfaithful but chance led me to love, real love this time, and I couldn't ignore it." I paused, locking eyes with Jen. "We couldn't ignore it."

"I'm still not following." Mr Jung balanced his elbows on the table, his wrinkles defining as he knitted his brows. "Just tell us who the man is Lisa, then we can work something out." Everyone else started to nod and mutter in agreement and I wanted to scream. There was no other way to put this lightly.

"Look Mr Jung, there will be nothing more to work out seeing as my marriage to your son is over-"

"That's debatable.."

I held up a finger and he shut up. "Secondly, there's no man. That's kind of like the whole point, there's an evident lack of male energy, and it works for us.." They all still looked lost so I held my right arm to the side and waggled my fingers. "Nini, come up here, hold my hand?"

Jen moved the chair back, her sneakers squeaking as she walked over to me with her head held high before clasping onto my hand. She stared everyone down with her eyebrows raised and that intimidating bitch face she's so good at doing.

"For those of you who don't know, this is Jennie Kim.." I turned to look at her, my body quivering with nerves, "and, we're in love."

Jen turned to me and tucked some hair behind my ear with a smile. "You did so good baby." She whispered, squeezing our hands. I wanted to cry with relief.

That feeling didn't last long though, because Mrs Jung stood up and came storming towards us, her sight fixated on our joined hands.

"Absolutely not!" She yanked my arm causing it to come free from Jennie's hold, and made me face her instead, eyes popping out of her head with rage. "Are you out of your mind Lalisa? So you're a...a lesbian all of a sudden? This is wrong on every level, and, and what about the children?" She was flinging her arms about in a routine I'd just seen my Mom perform 12 hours prior. "Do you want to burn in hell?"

"I can't change my mind, no matter how hard you try, it'd be impossible. Some people are just born gay."

"Yes, and other people are corrupted into it!" She turned her attention to Jennie who was trying her best to keep a straight face, but I could see how the blatant displays of homophobia had caused tears to collect in her eyes. I instantly felt bad for putting her in this situation but this was the reality of coming out, not everyone's gonna like it. "And you, Ms Kim.." she spat, "Why can't you just find a nice person to settle down with in a town far away from here, one that isn't my daughter-in-law!"