Chained - Jenlisa

Everything Will Be Alright

I couldn't bring myself to be intimate with Lisa in that way last night. She was too fragile. Her words to the crows echoed in my head all through dinner and by the time bedtime rolled around, I knew she needed a slow night. Sex wasn't the answer, and I was certain of it when I took Lisa to my bed and we crawled under the covers together. She wrapped her arms around me and intertwined her legs with mine. My face was pressed into her chest. She trailed her hand up and down my back and whispered sweet things into my hair, her voice breaking. And then, when I'm sure she thought I was in a deep sleep, she sniffed and I know she cried, just a little. She told me she wished she knew what was breaking through our chests.


Wiping sleep from my eyes, I wonder for the umpteenth time what she meant by what was breaking through our chests. Without context it sounds terrifying, and my drowsy mind took it that way. My dream last night was equal parts horrific and beautiful. Tentacles and worms and seaweed burst through my chest and caused me to scream in agony. But soon they would be replaced with flowers and light and reaching hands and my screams would cease to shocked gasps. I don't understand any of it.


"Your phone is buzzing," Lisa's voice bounces off the bathroom tiles, making me jump.


I spin to her, hand to my chest, and say, "Alright. I'll get it." I only wanted to brush my teeth, not get scared out of my skin before the light outside has had the chance to turn yellow.


The bathroom door closes and I'm left alone again. I rake a hand through my tangled hair and sigh, then go look for my phone. I find it on my bedside table and sit on the edge of my bed to answer. But it's not a phone call; it's a text message. In neat digital letters is a message from GDragon warning me to keep my end of our deal. Apparently he knows that Lisa was discharged from medical yesterday and he's irked that I haven't contacted him yet.


I shoot back a quick text that the deal is still on and he should send me that Were file if the case is active. Then I yawn and throw my phone on the bed. I still need to brush my teeth.


The doorbell rings as I reach the bathroom but I ignore it and start brushing my teeth. Lisa will answer the door. My reflection is tired and the bubbles in its mouth tip over its lips. Boonluang's excited voice hits my ears as I spit into the sink and I figure Rosé told him that Lisa was back. He had been asking about her every day but all I could do was shake my head at him, too distressed to give him a real answer. Rosé, though, made up a story for me. Word is Lisa screwed up dinner and caused a mini explosion and hurt herself and had to be hospitalized. But I don't think Lisa knows that...


I rinse out my mouth quickly and run to the living room with water still dribbling down to my chin. If Lisa doesn't know the story then she might tell Boonluang something different and he'll start asking questions. Weird things have been happening around him a lot and there's no way he hasn't figured out that there's something not quite right with my little group. We don't need to give him another reason to be suspicious.


But as I reach the living room my fears seep away. Lisa is dramatically retelling how she messed up dinner and had to deal with the wicked nurse's digs at her expense while in the hospital.


"...and that's why you should always keep an eye on the oven," she finishes, giving Boonluang a gentle nudge.

Boonluang laughs, holding to his middle. "You're so weird!"


Lisa laughs, too, and turns her head to throw a wink my way. "Yes, but this is a good cautionary tale. Modern machinery is no joke."


Boonluang's laughs died down and he exhales heavily. "Man, I've missed you. I mean, it's been quiet without you around," he amends quickly.


Lisa wrangles him in and jostles his shoulders playfully. "Don't be afraid to show your feelings. Emotionally stunted men are usually violent, and they make terrible lovers."


Sticking out his tongue, Boonluang pushes away from Lisa. "Gross."


"I'm serious. You ever notice how men who never show feelings even to the people closest to them always have trouble reacting? They get mad real easy? Men who aren't afraid to cry or show love always think and understand the world around them. They're easier to be with, you know?"


Boonluang's face scrunches and he's silent for a minute, thinking. Then he says, "I did miss you. Rosé said I couldn't visit you and it sucked."


I'm surprised that Boonluang absorbed Lisa's little lesson so well as so easily, but Lisa doesn't seem surprised at all. She gives him a hug and pats his head. "That's better. Sorry, but I was hurt something fierce. I don't think you would have liked seeing me that way. I'm here now, though. Doesn't that not suck?"


I smile as Boonluang hugs Lisa back and they move on from the emotional stuff to play video games. It's the first time they've played together and I'm happy to see them finally getting to enjoy it.


The fax machine hums to life as Boonluang shows Lisa the virtual world on screen and I apologize as I scuttle to get the pages being sent. I have to wait a few minutes as they all come through, and it's awkward squatting there, my butt in Lisa and Boonluang's faces.


The doorbell rings for the second time this morning and I say I'll get it as I take all the papers and square them together in a little pile. I move out from under the TV without getting in the way of the screen as best I can then answer the door. Jisoo, Rosé, and Sandara all stand out in the hall with smiles on their faces. Looks like the apartment is hosting an impromptu party.


"Oh, no way!" Jisoo exclaims as she slips past me to the living room. "I heard this game was good." She plops down on the couch and greets Boonluang and Lisa in turn before I can even say hello.


Rosé rolls her eyes and gives me a quick hug. "We came to see how everything is going."


"It's great," I tell her, ushering her and Sandara inside. "Come in, come in."


"Hey, Lisa," Sandara says, waving. "Glad to see you up and about again."


Lisa grins from her seat on the floor. "It's nice to be up and about again. Hello, Rosé."


"Hello, Lisa." Rosé sits down next to Jisoo and greets Boonluang.


Sandara turns and follows me into the kitchen. "How are you?"


"Better," I reply honestly, putting the faxed papers face down on the island. "Much, much better."


"Good, good."


Sandara's body language is a bit off, and I move deeper into the kitchen as I say softly, "Why are you really here?"


Just as I thought she would, Sandara moves deeper into the kitchen, too. "That deal with that GDragon guy..."