Baby Mommy

III. The Kim

"Hi, Jennie!"

Chu walks toward the fruits section where the Jennie Kim is.

She still looks like a goddess in her white Maison Kitsune shirt tucked in her denim short. And doesn't even aged at all.

"Manoban! Get off me!" Wendy suddenly jerked as I gazed upon Jennie. I fell down on the ground.

Wendy stood abruptly and joined Chu to say hi. I crawled back where our cart is and praying that I could get in time to get away from them...

Almost there...

Just one more ---

"Jennie, remember Lisa?"

Fuck.

Wendy walks toward me and grabbed my shirt's collar that made me stood up.

Jennie frozed when she saw me.

"Lisa Manoban, the one that you runaway from long time ago?" Wendy chuckled.

I kicked Wendy's foot as I smiled awkwardly at Jennie.

"Ahmm... Yeah... I'-m t-that Lisa Manoban. Hello." Of all people, why does she have to pop today?

"H-hey," Jennie smiled at me hesistantly.

Chu grabbed my arm and locked it into hers so I can't get away. She turned to Jennie and continue their chat. I just stood there listening to them.

"When did you got back, Jen? Wow! It's been 8 years since I last saw you." Chu asked.

"Hmmm. Y-yesterday. Yeah. I missed Korean food so here I am filling up my food stash." Jennie statered avoiding to look at me.

"Nice, you'll be staying here now for good?" Wendy butted.

All my friends know Jennie, ofcourse.

They also knew how I suffer when she left me.

"Yup. I'll be staying here. I just got hired couple of weeks ago before I flew back here. How are you, Wendy?" Jennie poked Wendy's shoulder.

"Still sterile. Oh, shoot sorry that's Lisa. I have one kid and another on the way. You can take my son, too if you want." Wendy grins.

I discretely kicked Wendy.

"Hahaha! You're still funny as ever." Jennie laughs and probably confused to what this asshole is saying.

"And Lisa here is looking for a Baby Mom----" I covered Wendy's mouth.

Remind me to scrub Wendy's mouth thoroughly later.

"Lisa. You, how are you?" Jennie asked me hesitantly.

I looked at Chu who's giggling like a teenager.

"I... Uhmm..." I'm trying to build my composure.

"She's fine. No wife nor children." Chu chuckled.

Jennie looked at me.

Is that a pity look?

"So, Jen. Since you're here. I would like to invite you to my engagement party. My fiance will be here this weekend and we will have a small gathering." Chu changed the subject.

"Is that Chaeng?" Jennie smiled sweetly.

"Yup, she's marrying Barney. Oh, she got a pink hair now." Wendy confirming.

"You can bring someone. Boyfriend or girlfriend?" Chu smiling back at her.

Jennie shooked her head smiling. Wendy elbowed me and Jennie saw.

"Husband or wife?" Wendy again.

"Sure, yeah count me in. Bye! Nice bumping with you guys!" Jennie turned her back and continues to shop.

"Ouch, Manoban. Is she married already? Remember you can take Jowen forever." Wendy tapped my shoulder.

I watched Jennie as she strolls away.

*****

I dropped the groceries in our kitchen counter still thinking. I didn't noticed that dad is asking me something.

Til he waved his hand on my face.

"Darling. Are you ok?" Dad asks me worriedly.

"Oh, yeah. Pops sorry just... Yeah sorry. What was that?" I asked him as I helped getting the groceries out.

"You keep zoning out. Are you hungry?" He looked at me intently.

I shaked my head.

"Pops, Jennie's back." I uttered mindlessly.

"Ow."

*****

It was a perfect week. I came home still buzzing with blissful vibes and gratitude. Jennie and I are finally getting married.

So when she said we needed to talk, my stomach dropped so hard and so fast I thought it would fall out of me.

"Sorry, Lisa I can't do this."

Then she dropped the bomb.

"What, Love? Hahaha. I told you it's fine if you want a milk flavored cake. I won't fight you no more. We can change it last minute." I nervously joked.

Jennie's been different since the last few weeks.

"Lisa. I can't marry you."

She looked at me and started crying.

"Wh-why. I me-mean what's wrong? I know its overwhelming but we can do this together, Love."

I tried to hug her but she kept on pushing me away.

"I'm not sure anymore. I can't, please."

"Jennie, everything's ready. They're waiting for us inside." I tried to console even if I'm the one who needs consoling that time.

"Jennie, look at me." I'm in the brink of sobbing but I tried to be calm as possible.

"I'm not sure of myself, this wedding, you. There's no one, Lisa. I assure you. I have these inclinations swirling inside my head and I really want to find myself first. I'm so sorry."

We were together for four years. 3rd year in, we got engaged.

The contrast and transition from high to low was dizzying.

In one week I felt both the best and worst I’d ever felt in my life.

During the final prep with family and friends. We announced that the wedding is off. I respected Jennie's decision and couldn't get myself to force her to marry me.

I told her that I understand but deep inside me I went from bliss to being sucker punch in my lower intestine. I made them understand what Jennie's been going through and they agreed as well. I want to be erased in the face of planet earth that time.

I can't blame her. We can't enter in life long commitment when one of us is unsure.

The following months were comprised of uncontrollable crying, deep sorrow, and some of the greatest lessons I’ve ever learned.

I'm beyond grateful to my retired dad and retard friends.

They were there for me during those horrendous days.