Baby Mommy

IV. The Dinner

I'll be late, Chu. Please tell Chaeng don't go war on me. I'm caught up with something here in the office.

I told Chu over the phone.

I've been burying myself to work for weeks now after the Jennie incident. The vast volume of paperwork is in good timing.

Manoban, if you're just making an excuse not to see Jennie here. I swear I will manually take your brain out of your skull. Chu irritatngly said.

It's the engagement dinner wherein Jennie will be there and her husband/wife?

Chu, no. I'm not lying. I'm fine if she's there. I'll be just a little late. I need to go so I can finish these early.

I assured her though I'm really nervous what will happen.

Make sure to be here! Chu dropped the call.

And I'm really busy.

I'm currently swimming in the pool of audited papers that I need to review and approve. I'll be just 30 minutes or so late. Atleast the time I'll be spending there will be lessen.

I'm in the zone working when someone knocked on my door. Our Vice President, my boss, came into view.

"Lisa, am I not in the right timing? Anyway, this will be quick. Just want to introduce you to our new hire that will be also be the AVP of the other department."

Mr. Sung explained.

"No worries, I'm okay with few minutes. I'm just getting through these reports that I----" I was cut off with the person who just entered my office.

"Oh, here she is. Lisa I'd like you to meet Miss Kim."

The papers that I'm holding dropped along with my mouth.

"She just got here from Canada and now will be working with us," Mr. Sung turned to Jennie who is also shocked as me,

"Jennie, this is the AVP of the Financial Controllers, Lisa Manoban. She'll be guiding you for the your tasks in the next few weeks."

We're just looking at each other and with Mr Sung's coughed brought us back from our own astounded world.

I extend my hand to the new AVP. Which she took.

Its been forever years since I held her hand.

"Hi," Deep breaths.

"Welcome to the company." I keep my composure and just said few words for lesser mistake.

"Thank you, Lisa." Jennie still holding my hand.

She still looks ethereal as ever.

"Mmmm... Miss Kim, I can leave you here if you want to ask questions," Mr. Sung smiled at her,

"Lisa, I'm leaving you Miss Kim here, if that's fine with you."

"Ahhmm..." I cleared my throat.

"Y-yeah. Sure. T-take a seat." I gestured Jennie to occupy the accent chair in front of my table.

"Goodnight, I'll see you on Monday both." Mr. Sung closed the door.

An awkward silence fills up my room. No one dare to start the conversation. After few minutes of just staring to each other, I decided to break the ice. I need to be professional.

"Coffee, tea or juice?" I walked to my mini kitchen to search for something to drink.

She loves coffee.

"Water would do." I heard Jennie.

Maybe she changed. A lot.

I started to ask her about her previous work so I can relate something to what she'll be doing here as an AVP.

She left Canada her CFO job in an auditing firm to settle here in Korea. I asked questions purely regarding work, careful not to touch any personal and mostly avoiding eye contacts. Which she also professionally answered. I told her all things about the company that she needs to know.

I wasn't able to finish what I'm doing earlier. I collect the papers when I noticed that's already past 7 in the evening. I decided to do it at home over the weekend.

"We can proceed on the other info on Monday," Me trying to end the agonizing professionalism with my ex-bride.

"You and I are late at Chu's dinner, " Jennie uttered as she stares at me.

"Ahhm... yeah. Yeah, we are. I called Chu earlier. Will your husband fetch you?" I don't know why the hell I asked that.

"No. Ahmm, no. I mean. No husband." She statered.

She's not married? Is that the reason why... Mr. Sung keeps on calling her Miss earlier.

Why is there something light up in me. Maybe I should gone for where is her wife?

"Ahh, alright. Yeah. Ahmm. Yeah if you want we can go together." Thats sounds so fast.

"No! I mean! I uhh... We can convoy." Way to go Manoban.

We have a proper closure when we call our wedding off.

No hard feelings just a broken one.

We silently proceed to the parking and I accompany her to where her car is parked. We just nod and I proceed to mine.

I let out a deep sigh.

Jennie's maybe the reason why I can't find someone I want to settle with.

Maybe I'm just afraid to be left again.

I started the engine and open the radio to clear my mind.

This f*****g radio have the perfect timing.

There She Goes by Sixpence None The Reacher played.

There she goes

There she goes again

Racing through my brain

And I just can't contain

This feeling that remains

I huffed and started to drive. I checked the rear mirrow and saw Jennie following.

There she goes

There she goes again

She calls my name

Holds my brain

And no one else could heal my pain

And I just can't contain

This feeling that remains

Fucking song.

*****

I reached Chu's house first which is just next to mine. I parked in our driveway and Jennie on Chu's. I know that Dad will be in the dinner, too.

I climbed out of the car and saw Jennie just get off also. I walked towards the gate and open it for her. I'm behind her and when the door swung open.

All eyes are on us.

"Deja vu." Wendy loudly uttered.