Start from Scratch (JenLisa Adaptation)

5

'Boxed in'

Jennie's POV

"Stay"

I cocked my head and gave Lisa a look of utter disbelief. "Stay? Are you kidding me? Why in the hell should I?"

Lisa lowered her head and only then, could I see that the previous look of disdain was now gone. The expression on her face now was a guarded one, showing almost no emotion.

"Well for starters," Responded Lisa in casual monotone "Seoul is still in the middle of a terrible cold snap. They say it's the coldest winter in 70 years. I heard on the radio yesterday, that had caused all the shelters to be filled or above capacity. Secondly, my father in his work has seen a few places like that, you have to watch your possessions like a hawk or they will quickly vanish. Your only other option is a hotel, and I can't imagine your money would hold out long for that."

I suddenly started to feel like I was slowly being boxed. "Well you seem to have everything covered. You know what? I should just roll the dice and see if I get lucky."

For a moment the guarded expression on Lisa's face wavered, but soon returned. "If you leave, you could very well die just trying to get to a homeless shelter, you're hurt and I don't think you could make it very far in this cold. It's just better if you stay here."

It's the way she said it, that's the most unnerving part, as if it were plain fact. If I walk out that door, I'm going to die, period.

I suddenly thought of Lisa's occasional taunts about me crawling back to Kai. I hated them. "Why? You wanted me to fail right? You keep taunting me about it."

Lisa quickly turned her back, "I was wrong in the assumption I made tonight. For that I am sorry. But if it helps, I'll refrain from any more negative comments."

More than anything, I wanted to see the expression she decided to hide from me by turning, but I didn't want to push it. Her argument for me to stay was very logical but I knew there was more to it. More like the same thing that cause her to let me in here in the first place. My feeling of being boxed in, became more acute as I realized, mystery or not, her cold logic was sturdy.

Being with Kai, I had been trapped. But I escaped that only to find myself trapped again. Looking at the door, this place felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cage. Not that any of it mattered, as I knew Lisa would never forgive me anyway. Maybe she's doing this to me, to pay me back for my betrayal of her. Keep me here and slowly torture me with the cold silent treatment. Each day, I'm reminded of what I did and each day I feel worse about it.

I looked to the door again, briefly before looking to Lisa and her emotionless eyes and was suddenly filled with a feeling of dread. "Looks like I don't have a choice."

"You're making the right choice, Jennie." Lisa said with just the slightest hint of what appeared to be a smile. For once, Lisa's smile did nothing to make me feel better. I found myself thinking about her old smile, the happy smile. I never thought I'd admit it, but I miss her old smile.

Suddenly I felt like I was about to suffocate, I needed to get out, just for a short while. "Since when do I ever do that? I'm going to the movie house, I'll be back later."

Lisa began to say something but I simply ignored it and walked out of the apartment.

I found myself running out of the apartment and took the bus station down the nearest Multiplex. I just needed to escape, into a movie, any movie. Getting there I picked the next movie starting which was an unfunny Adam Sandler movie. But between the popcorn, soda and a horrible movie, I managed to forget my problems at least for 90 minutes.