Notes: this story has been done for ages im just lazy as all shit. One more chapter after this one!
"Sugar, there's a reason why we lose. You say you wanna cry but you never do. Sugar, there's a reason why we lose."
"So...how have you been?"
Lisa would be lying if she said she was giving Joy her undivided attention. She certainly wasn't. In fact, she was doing the complete opposite. Only listening to keywords and the pauses in sentences that indicated it was probably her turn to start speaking.
She couldn't have cared any less about what her Ex-Wife had to say to her. She was her Ex-Wife for a damn reason. Lisa was more preoccupied with how she was going to fix the other 98 problems that she had cultivated for herself within the next 48 hours. Lisa was more preoccupied with how she was going to get you to look her in the damn eye.
"Cut the shit, Joy. You do not care. And I'm not going to pretend that I care how you have been. If either of us gave a shit, I'm sure that we would talk way more frequently."
Of course, part of the reason you hadn't said much of anything to her was because Lisa herself hadn't bothered to say anything first at risk of gaping like a freshly plucked from the ocean catfish. There was no need to embarrass herself more than she already had in front of you. She was guarding her own sanity at this point. And naturally, this had manifested itself into her grown-ass either trying to hide behind one of those seven-year-old boys that stole her face, the sofa, or one time (that she would like to forget) behind a thin lamp like that Shaq meme.
"Actually, you don't answer my frequent calls."
It was working, though! If only because you found the whole coward thing a turn-off. But, Lisa made a pact with herself in her head. She wasn't going to talk to you until she had something to say. Or rather, until she had something to say that you actually wanted to hear. Or even ratherer, until she had something to say that you actually wanted to hear and that she actually wanted to say. Being the bearer of her own bad news had gotten old quickly.
"Yeah. Because I don't care how you're doing. I thought we just established that."
Mincing her words was getting old too. From now, on Lalisa Manoban was not sparing feelings any longer. It's about time she started to be selfish.
Joy sighed and rolled her eyes harshly. Lisa only shrugged.
"So. Again. I ask...what the fuck do you want, Park ?"
Calling people by their surname really got the point across. It was so formal. So distant. You did it to make a point. Lisa hated it. It was one of the reasons why she always corrected you. If the twitch in Joy's eye is anything to go by, then it was safe to say that she hated it too. And oh boy, this had to be the first time since the first year of their marriage that they were on the same page about something.
"I heard you were getting married."
"Who hasn't?" Her engagement had been public knowledge for over a year now for anyone who paid attention to things of that sort. Joy Park was definitely one of those people.
"How do the boys feel about it?"
Lisa rubbed the bridge of her nose incessantly, "Confused. They're seven. They'll get over it."
Joy nodded thoughtfully and tapped her hands lightly on the edge of the bar counter, "But, will you?"
Lisa paused mid nervous lip bite, "Will I what?"
Joy gestured with her hand, "Will you get over it?"
"Dumb it down for me, Detective."
Joy laughed with little humor in her voice, "Will you get over being married to someone you can't stand? I mean you've done it before-"
"Who said I can't stand Seulgi?"
"You did. Your eyes. Your hands. Your lips. This is exactly how we looked at each other after the boys were born. And we were miserable for the next three years."
"Oof. Heard that one before. How'd she take it?"
Lisa kissed her teeth, "I assume you're not talking about Seulgi."
"She practically laughed in my face. I picked one with a backbone this time." Lisa threw her hands up as if to say 'My mistake".
"You were waiting to throw that one in my face weren't you."
"You cheated on me. I was pregnant. With big-headed twin boys. And you cheated on me. So yes, I've always got several insults on the tip of my tongue just waiting."
"And here I thought you were over that anyway...yeah...so what are the terms of the ultimatum she gave you."
Lisa sighed. You hadn't really given her terms. There was no 'If you really loved me, you'd do this', no "It's me or her". Only you saying you were leaving. Only you telling her she knew what she needed to do to get her back. It was more of an open-ended question that Lisa was too pussy-foot to answer. A solution that she was too chicken shit to implement. In the end, Lisa's sure you wanted Lisa to do something not just for you, but for herself.
"I get it. Fucking the nanny isn't good for business. Not sure how doing the family thing with a detective was."
Lisa shook her head thoughtfully, "You were only a detective that first year we were dating. Attorney by the time we were married. You were on track to be the newest DA by the time the boys would have been five. My parents loved you for some reason. But, we never made it that far-wait. How'd you know Y/N was the boys' nanny?"
Joy laughed loudly, a fond smile playing across her mouth, "You've got whore tendencies, Lili. Just drew a logical conclusion."
Lisa rolled her eyes, "Whatever."
"So, how are you going to fix it?"
"Beats me. You wouldn't happen to have any ideas would you?"
Joy sipped at her now watered-down bourbon on the rocks, "Oh God no. My last stable relationship was with you."
"Oh. So you just came to point out the obvious? Thanks, Joy. You've been such a big help and not a complete pain in my ass."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out, Lisa. In fact, I've got a feeling you already have."
Lisa sighed again, "...Yeah. Thanks, Joy. This conversation served zero purpose for me."
Joy shrugged, "I know. I was just being selfish. This was all for me."
"Nothing new. Still not discussing the terms of custody."
Joy laughed lightly again, "They are way better off living with you. I'll just continue to send Birthday cards."
"And I'll continue to not give them to them. Don't look at me like that, I'm kidding."
Lisa was quiet for a moment, she stared at the bar top as she spoke, "Do you believe in soulmates?"
"Um.., no I don't think I do."
Lisa nodded only half listening to Joy's answer, "Hm. I think I do."
"Lord knows I'm gonna need it."
"Here's the paperwork, Lisa." Lisa's father (well Chaeyoung's father technically) sat down the papers on her desk. He then sat in the chair across from her as if he owned the place. Relaxing to his heart's content. Chaeyoung, who was there for witness reasons, sat in the other chair before he could kick his feet up onto it.
She eyed the papers with a bored expression. Hesitating as inconspicuously as she could. Luckily, on most days he wouldn't be able to notice a hurricane if it swept him away.
"You know, after the wedding, tomorrow, your mom and I were thinking of going on a honeymoon of our own."
Lisa couldn't have stopped the words from tumbling out of her mouth even if she tried, "With whose money?"
Her father popped one eye open and aimed it towards Lisa as much as he could without straining, "What do you mean? Once Seulgi signs over her shares we'll be swimming in the green stuff."
"What about the boys? I thought you guys were watching them while Seulgi and I are to be in Jeju."
The wrinkles on the man's forehead deepened. Lisa found it funny that Chaeyoung, for the most part, looked nothing like him. Especially when he frowned so hard he could probably taste the action.
He looked positively miffed that his relaxation station in Lisa's office chair was being compromised," Isn't that what that nanny of yours is for?"
"I told you. Today is her last day." And what a hard pill to swallow that was.
"Hmm. Poor timing on your part. But fine. We'll just take the boys with us. Or just drop them with Chae. Not like she has plans." Chaeyoung squeaked in protest.
About a month ago, Lisa would have fallen into inconsolable hysterics at that. But now, she just feels bad for her sister. Maybe, Seulgi had a friend she could set Chaeyoung up with.
"Yeah okay." Lisa just shook her head.
"Anyway, hurry up and sign the papers. I have to turn them into the county clerk. They're already pulling strings for this. We're being highly untraditional here, Lali."
She scribbled her signature in all the required places, her father watching stiffly, maybe even a little surprised that this didn't take more guilt-tripping. Chaeyoumg for her part looked more upset than Lisa did.
"Great. I will see you two bright and early at the venue tomorrow morning. You know the drill." And didn't she just.
He left with no further preamble. Chaeyoung practically jumped on the desk as soon as the door shut.
"Please tell me you have a plan."
"We agreed to stop lying to each other."
"What? I have something. It's definitely not a plan per se. But what could I possibly lose at this point?"
"Y/N! You could lose Y/N!"
Little did, Chaeyoung know, that simply wasn't an option.
"Today's the day," You said into your phone camera. Jisoo and Jennie were scrunched together on your phone screen staring at you with identical expressions.
"You're really leaving and going back to Hongdae? Over some stupid girl! What about me?" Jennie exclaimed all but shoving Jisoo out of the frame and getting impossibly close to the camera.
"What about you, Jennie?" You said as you packed the last of your belongings away. Your Uber to the train station would be there soon. You already said your tearful and confused goodbyes to the boys, the only thing left you had to do was get on the train. And all of this would be behind you. Literally.
"You won't stay even for me? Don't tell Sooya this but. I like you more than her." She winced and held her shoulder. You had it on good authority that Jisoo probably flicked her.
"You remember what I told you about what my parents told me before I came here. Looks like they won."
Jennie whined like a child, "But you haven't even tried."
"No, I'm not talking about The World's Worst Nutcracker. I'm talking about your dance stuff. Maybe you can choreograph Jisoo's and I's first dance."
"OMG! One gig! That'll surely yield a tangible profit and put me on the radar of large companies!"
"Stop being mean!" Jennie's pouting face was all you saw until a hand came to mush her face off the screen and replace it with Jisoo's.
"Ignore her, Y/NN. If you think the best move for you is to go back home. Then go. But, just remember she's probably just as miserable without you, as you are without her. You were dealt a bad hand from the beginning, but one bad hand doesn't mean you'll lose the game, okay? I know you love her and you love the boys-I guess I'm just saying make sure you're thinking this through and not just running on a whim because you're scared."
Jisoo was right. You needed Lisa like you needed air to breathe. But from where you were standing, it seemed like you were going to suffocate no matter what you did.
"Yeah. I get it. I've thought it out plenty. I won't be gone for long. Probably help Mama and Dad out for a few months, and then maybe I'll be back, slinging drinks behind that bar with Soo."
"You could move in with us."
You laughed lightly, "No I can't. You guys just got engaged. No need to babysit my heartbroken ass. Let my mom do it. She's used to it."
They both sighed dejectedly, now sharing the frame once again, "Fine. We'll see you when we see you, I guess." Jennie mumbled out.
"Yes. You will. That's how seeing works. I'll text you when I get home. Bye."
Jennie clicked off the call quickly, obviously mad at you. You only sighed, she would get over it sooner or later. With that, you started to drag your few suitcases down to your Uber.
The ride to the train station went on in silence. Your driver rightfully assumed that you were not in the mood for small talk or even background noise. He helped you with your suitcases and then drove off with a polite wave.
You looked down at you one-way ticket to home. It seemed to be running a bit late, but that was okay, because so were you.
You sat heavily on one of your suitcases and stared up at the noon sky, and wondered what the hell had you gotten yourself into over the last six months. Fucked around and fell in love, only for it to blow up in your face. Yep. Sounded about right.
"Are these suitcases taken?"
You could probably identify Lalisa Manoban's voice on vibration alone at this point. It didn't hurt that her voice was followed by unmistakable seven-year-old giggles. But you knew better than to look at any of them. Instead, you kept your eyes on the overcast Seoul sky.
"That's never stopped you before."
"Ugh. You're so right. Take a seat, boys. Mom's got some begging and pleading to do. This might take a second." You could tell when all three of them set down in unison. Sometimes, you wondered if Lisa knew how much the boys were like her.
"Hey. My turn to talk. You've done enough for the rest of our lives."
"I'd like to start by saying, I'm sorry. I know since I hired you I put you through the wringer. In more ways than one. I guess at the time, it all seemed like a necessary evil, but it wasn't. Not when your feelings were hanging in the balance. All I've been giving you are excuses on top of excuses, and you don't deserve any of that. I was putting everyone's needs before mine but yours. I was treating you like you were always going to be there no matter what kind of bullshit I put you through."
"Mom. That's a cuss word." Dohyung said helpfully,
"Thank you, Doh. As I was saying. I was treating you like you were always going to be right behind me no matter what happened. And then today, you weren't behind me. Y/N. I'm going to need you to look at me for this next part."
And you look at her because you're a sucker. A fact that becomes even more apparent when she realizes that Lisa is still in her wedding gown, and the boys are still in their tieless mini tuxedos.
"Look at me when I say this. You were never just the nanny. I don't care what any person or contract tries to tell you. There was no way this thing between us wasn't going to happen. Because I believe in soulmates. And it took a few practice runs and false starts, but you're it for me. I'm so in love with you that it physically hurts. And because I know I haven't made it as clear as can be yet, turn on your phone and search my name."
You did as told again because you're a sucker.
Lalisa Manoban steps down as CEO of LLE as stocks plummet. Plans to start new entertainment company.
You choked on a gasp, "Lisa you didn't have to do that for me."
"Yes I did, I had to do it for the both of us. I'm sure the 'rents will have fun trying to dig LLE out of the hole I let it fall into." Lisa chuckled happily at the thought.
"So, you just left that poor woman at the altar?"
Lisa shrugged, "Eh. She didn't want to marry me as much as I didn't want to marry her."
You looked down at the news headline again. Trying to hold in a laugh when the boys peered over your shoulder to look at your phone as well.
When you looked back up, Lisa was kneeling in front of you. You raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not proposing marriage. Not yet at least. I have a business proposal."
You gestured with your head for her to continue.
"I don't want you behind me anymore. I want you next to me. I'm starting up a new business and I heard you know your way around a dance floor, so I was hoping you'd like to join me on this venture. As my partner. Also as my girlfriend, if that wasn't clear."
You stared at Lisa wide-eyed, unmoving.
Kijung tapped you on the shoulder, "Y/N, you're supposed to be gross and kiss Mom now." Dohyung nodded in agreement, confused as to why you hadn't done it yet. This seemed like a foolproof plan when Lisa was explaining it to them in the car.
"All you gotta do is say, 'Yes', Y/N. The ball's in your court."
The ball was in your court..., "I-"
