Chapter 36

Jennie's POV

"Where are we going?" I asked for the nth time as I followed Kai to some kind of attic that had a stairway from behind his office at the museum.

"You'll see. Be patient, Jennie."

The door creaked open, revealing a massive painting studio with an actual graffiti mural on the walls. There were spotlights everywhere, speakers for music, and a cozy spot in the middle with a metal easel stand and all of his materials.

Beside the easel stood a huge drawing desk with tons of markers and pencils scattered around.

"So is this like your second office?" I hummed in amusement, my eyes widening each time I would turn around to check out every corner of the attic.

"More like my second home," he answered with a smile. "You like it?"

"I love it," I pondered out loud. "It looks like a bigger and more refined version of your studio back home."

Kai's face fell. His enthusiastic and proud expression turned into a more sullen one. "What happened to my studio? Did you turn it into a walk-in closet or something?"

"No," I shook my head. "I left it the way it was when you moved away."

"But then that's just an empty room," he pointed out.

"I know," I shrugged. "I don't really know what else to do with an extra room since I live alone."

I walked further into the room, admiring the intricate details of the graffiti on one half of the walls. My fingers traced every line and curve, allowing myself to wallow in the exquisiteness before me. Kai has never failed to amaze me with his talent. I just never complimented him enough.

"Would you normally paint all by yourself, just like how you'd do it before?" I asked him. "This place looks big enough for ten artists to share."

"Nah, I usually bring in babes for one night stands, just to inspire me," he casually shrugged.

I didn't know whether to act surprised or act like I didn't care. My jaw dropped open anyway.

"I was kidding," Kai chuckled. He brought his hand to my cheek and pinched it softly. "You know I'm not that kind of person."

"Well, what do I know Kai?" I leisurely threw my hands up. "I feel like you've changed a lot since we've parted ways."

"You know I wouldn't do such thing, right?" he murmured, stepping a few inches closer to me. "I'm a one-woman guy although you accused me for sleeping with someone else."

I stepped backward, placing my hand in between us. "I know. But you're also not the same person I knew months back."

"What makes you say that?"

"I just know..." I mumbled, completely walking away from him. I turned around and continued to admire his studio.

"Well, you're clearly not the same person I knew months back either," he said.

"Yeah, I'm not," I smiled proudly. "And I like who I am now."

His shoulders stiffened, his gaze still not leaving mine. "I like who I am now as well."

"Then that's great. The breakup didn't do us any harm. In fact, it made us even better people," I concluded with an abundance of self-assurance.

Kai stepped in front of me and leaned his arm against the wall, preventing me from taking a step further. "Jennie, did it really officially end for us? Has your heart stopped beating for me the moment I let go of you?"

"It officially ended for us when you decided to go to New York without me," I narrowed my eyes, feeling a rush of bitterness all over again.

"Don't even think of putting the blame on me," he glowered, his face merely a few inches apart from mine. "You know what caused all of this."

"I know," I took a deep breath. I felt him lean even a bit closer, but I managed to avoid his lips. "And believe me when I say that I will always be sorry for causing you such pain."

Kai licked his lips, keeping his gaze intact. "We can fix that, you know..."

His smell was intoxicating. His whole person was making me weak, but I knew this couldn't be possible.

"I have to go," I stuttered, gently pushing him away from me. I rushed towards the door before he could even stop me.

"I'll see you tomorrow night though, right?" he called after me, that same smirk still plastered on his face.

I gave him a quick nod, before completely disappearing back downstairs.

* * *

Lisa's POV

"Earth to Lisa Manoban," my older cousin Minnie waved her hands in front of me.

I rubbed my face with my hands and blinked twice. "Wh-what?"

"You've been spacing out since you got here. This is so unlike you," Minnie furrowed her eyebrows.

"Well, it's eight in the morning so I might be half asleep," I glued my eyes on the tablet where I was typing. "You're talking to a half-Lisa half-zombie right now."

Minnie paced back and forth in front of me with her hands on her hips. "You had too much champagne last night, you had a heart to heart conversation with nan, and you spent half of your time on your phone. Who's the girl?"

I felt my cheeks flush instantly. "Min, she's amazing. Oh my god, I've never met anyone like her. You two will probably get along. She's so beautiful, she has the softest and prettiest lips, her skin is like porcelain and she has the cutest laugh – and have I told you how good she smells? She smells like vanilla and roses and – "

"Slow down,," Minnie tossed a pillow at me as she made her way to the couch across. "Who is this poor lady that has unfortunately been trapped into your world of eccentricity?"

"Her name's Jennie." I answered.

I felt my mind go blank after that as I thought of how I would tell my cousin what exactly happened without sounding like a lunatic.

"Okay, knowing her name is a good start." Minnie made a face. "Anything else?? How did you two meet?"

"It's actually a very long story," I sighed.

"This is not fair. I saw you talking to mom yesterday, and I'm almost certain you talked to nan about her. How could you not tell your most favorite cousin in the whole world?" Minnie pouted. I can remember some times we shared but it wasn't clear if i really was this close to her, especially after a decade of being apart.

"Fine, I'll tell you," I rolled my eyes. I set my tablet on the table and sat up straight as I placed my feet up on the arm of the couch. "But you have to believe me okay? I don't want you thinking I've lost my mind because this is a true story."

"Have I ever expected anything normal and ordinary from you?" she shrugged. "The answer is no. So go ahead and tell me."

I comfortably rested my head against my seat and closed my eyes, trying to envision everything that happened the night I met Jennie. "So..once upon a time I had an accident and went coma for a year before i wake up..."

*

Okay so my cousin may have not believed me at first, but after a few times of repeating the story to her in detail, she gave up. As much as I know she thinks I'm the weirdest family member of hers to ever live, I knew it would take awhile before she believes this one.

"Looks like you've got a keeper," she told me with full conviction. "I doubt fate will let you meet someone like her only to have you lose her along the way."

"Since when did you start believing in fate?" I responded in slight awe.

"Since you told me one hell of a love story," she winked at me.

Then that was it. It's like I felt a burning force inside of me that caused me to jolt up in excitement. "Do you know where Aunt is?" I asked her.

"I believe she's still asleep. Why?" Minnie frowned.

"Fine, then you can help me," I forcibly pulled her up from the couch. "Do you feel like working just for a few minutes for your lovely and awesome cousin?"

She rolled her eyes and snorted. "No."

"Aw, come on Min!" I groaned. "It won't even take much of your time."

"Fine," she sighed. "What is it?"

Minnie worked for the Bangkok Airways and she was the perfect person who could help me in my impulsive decision to do a romantic gesture for Jennie.

"I need you to help me get the earliest flight to New York, which sounds impossible right now.. . . but I know you can work wonders," I beamed at her with confidence.

"I'll be going to New York."