Meaningful Conversation (2)

"So, what do you want to say?" She asked and he sighed saying, "Tomorrow during dinner, I'll ask Jian officially." Jessica frowned asking, "Johnny, isn't that a little too soon?" He took in a soft breath before meeting her eyes saying, "Yes, it is, but it's also better now than never." 

"True, I was the one who told you to make your emotions clear, however, I thought you would take a few weeks to prepare," Jessica commented and he smiled saying, "Honestly, I thought it would take that long to get the dinner reservations but my uncle's PA was able to get them for tomorrow, so I thought the sooner the better." 

Jessica nods saying, "Then, I will not stand in your way, but there's one thing I would like to tell you, John." She paused and he focused his attention on her as she sighed before saying, "Johnny, I hope you keep Jian as safe and happy as you can."

"Yes, Miss Kim," He said with a bright smile and Jessica smiled gently saying, "You can call me Aunty." John nods, surprised as they hear Jian's door open. She walked out with the dress fitting her much better and it was a little loose on the top, but it hugged her waist nicely and the lace ruffles made the hem look quite delicate.

"It suits you well," Jessica said and Jian smiled as John nodded saying, "It also has puffy sleeves, which you love so much." She nods saying, "Mom, thanks again and I promise to take good care of it."

"Alright," Jessica said as Jian walked back inside, there was another round of the machine running as Jian continued to sew the sides of the dress.

John glanced at Jessica asking, "Is that dress a gift from Jian's dad?" Jessica flinched; her heartbeat quickened as her hands trembled above the keyboard. It was only a few seconds, but John was quick enough to pick up the shock and sadness that made her tremble. 

He noticed the slight widening of her eyes before they returned to normal as they became watery, she closed them and tightened her fist as he looked away.

"Yes, I got it as a gift for my 21st birthday to celebrate my 2nd anniversary," she said softly, and she took in a deep breath before saying, "That was the last gift I got from him, so it means a lot." She smiled gently opening her eyes before saying, "I'm happy she wanted to wear something he made."

"He made?" John asked and Jessica nodded glancing at the laptop and saying, "Her father was a designer as well, he learned to sew to fix a dress of mine when I was 5." He frowned before asking, "Did you not meet him when you were 18?" Jessica glanced at him before the realization dawned on her and she scoffed before she sighed. 

"Johnny we'll stop this conversation here," Jessica said with a cold glare and he nodded before saying, "I am sorry." She looked away before saying, "It is not your fault, just do not tell Jian."

"Don't tell me what?" Jian asked as she walked out with the empty plate and Jessica smiled saying, "Your birthday is coming up in September, so I have something planned." Jian smiled asking, "What is it?" 

"Jian it will be a surprise so we can't tell you," John said as he walked up taking the plate from her. He walked past her into the kitchen, and she walked towards her mother pouting as she asked, "Mom, can you just tell me please, I cannot sleep with all this anticipation?"

"Jian, you two are leaving early tomorrow so get some rest and no I will not tell you till your birthday," she said softly before glancing towards her room as a gesture to go to bed. Jian sighed as she turned saying, "Okay, goodnight." Jessica nodded saying, "Good night." John nodded at her as he also walked inside and Jessica sighed closing the laptop in front of her.

She got up placing the laptop down before taking the fruit away and placing it inside a container, then inside the fridge. She grabbed a bottle of water and took a few sips before entering her room.

Jessica sat in front of the desk before pulling out a photo album tucked away between various books on the self. There were few pictures of her in there, but Jian's pictures were on each page.

"She's grown so much, Jack, I know you must be proudly watching over her," her words were a soft whisper for only the dead of night to hear as she gazed over the picture of the two when Jian was a toddler. He was carrying her on his shoulders, as they walked along the sandy beach, she held onto her father's hair for dear life and he onto her legs. 

Jessica smiled flipping the page and a sharp stinging pain hit her chest as she overlooked the familiar figure. He was leaning against his favorite red car, holding a bouquet of red roses in one hand her figure in the other. 

She was looking up at him and he at her as they smiled at each other, and his hand passed her the flowers, "Congratulations, my love." Jessica opened her eyes reaching for her cheeks as she wiped away the tears that fell, yet they didn't stop. 

"Lu-" her voice wasn't there, her hands trembled as not a single sound escaped her lips. She covered her face with her shaky hands as let out her silent sobs. 

The seconds turned to minutes and minutes to hours as she finally finished, there were no tears to shed, not a single sound to utter. Her mouth was dry, and the remains of multiple tear lines covered her face. She reached for the closest liquid in the room and drank from the bottle. It made the dryness of her throat worse and yet it didn't hurt as much as before.

She placed the bottle down once it was empty. Her whole body ached from the pounding in her head to the burning of her throat and the sharp stabbing of knives into her heart as she once again felt the tears rush to escape. 

"The days are only becoming more difficult to get through, but I can't leave her by herself, not yet, just a few more years," her thoughts were clear and she had already made up her mind ages ago so there was no reason to change it.

She closed the album placing it away between the rest as she walked to the bed, sleep was a luxury these days so she lay there hoping to find some as the night passed.