Chapter 43

JISOO

You’re alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single words, not complete sentences. It sounded like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act. – Barbara Hall

When Jennie and Ella came back I saw how different she was. She said she wasn’t feeling well and I could tell because she was pale. All these days were hard not only for her but for all of us. I was trying so much not to lose my strength, I was trying to hold us together. We had a child that was under ten, not able to understand in what danger we were and what would happen. I was scared of letting Ella go to school because whoever was behind everything knew us. Knew our schedule, knew where we were leaving. I couldn’t bare the thought that something would happen to my little one. So having my own fears I had to deal with Jennie’s fears and whatever was happening. Thank God that my dad came and now I felt safer. And staying at the same hotel was even better. They wouldn’t find us here.

“Jisoo.”

“Hey daddy.. You missed Jennie. She wasn’t feeling well.”

“I know. I saw her at the elevator. I told her about what we discussed.”

“What did she tell you?”

“She is thankful. As I said, I am here. Whatever this is, even if they want money you will come to me.”

“I will..”

While I was talking to my dad I turned around to take Ella’s hand on mine but she wasn’t next to me.

“Ella? Ella? Dad I lost her.. Oh my God..”

“Jisoo, relax. She is somewhere here. Don’t panic because it’s not going to help. I’ll go at the reception.”

“I am going to search at the restaurant.”

My heart was beating so fast. How can I lost her? What if someone took her? I shouldn’t think like that. No, I shouldn’t.

“I am sorry. Have you seen a little girl with brown hair and blue eyes? She is about this height..”

“No, I am sorry Ms. I haven’t.”

Different people, different faces, the same answer ‘No, I am sorry’.. Where she was? Jennie.. oh my God. She would go crazy once she would find out.

I was still searching when I heard a little voice calling me ‘momma’. I would recognize this voice everywhere. I turned around and I saw her running on my side. I fell on my knees, hugging her, crying on her shoulder.

“Where were you? Don’t you ever do that again.. Did you listen to me?”

“Yes, mommy. I am sorry. I just saw a puppy and I followed it and then I got lost. I didn’t know where you were. A man saw me crying and I told him I wanted my mommy. That’s when I saw you and I run to find you.”

“Where is this man baby?”

“He was there.” She showed me where that man was. That was to the lobby where we were before I lost her. And the man she was telling me about was nowhere to be found.

“How he looked like?”

“I don’t remember momma.”

“Don’t you ever let my hand again. You heard me? Never. And we won’t say anything to mommy. She is already sick. Okay?”

“Okay momma.. I am sorry. I didn’t want to scare you.” She said ready to cry again. I didn’t want to make her cry but she scared the hell out of me.

“Jisoo.. Thank God you found her. I pretty much was ready to tell them to close all the doors. Where were you princess?”

“I saw a puppy grandpa.”

“Don’t do that to us again.”

“I won’t. I promise..”

“Jisoo. I think you should take Ella and go to Jennie. Call me if you need anything. I am going to call Taeyang and arrange a meeting with you guys.”

“Thank you dad. Talk to you later.”

Taeyang was an FBI agent. He was full korean grew up in US as my dad explained to me because of his name and the fact that he trusted him was the only thing I needed right now. He was willing to help us and no one should know who was he or what he was doing. He would be like our shade.

When we got inside the room Jennie was under the covers sleeping. The blinds were closed and the room although it was only 4pm it was dark like it was night.

“Momma, mommy is dead?” Ella said whispering. She walked next to Jennie and touched her face.

“Come here baby.. Let mommy sleep.”

“I am awake.. Come here.” Jennie said and opened her arms for Ella to slide into them. I saw them there and in my mind I was thinking what happened earlier and how close I was to lose Ella.

“Jisoo, there is empty space for you here as well.”

Could we have a moment for us? A moment that there is not a bad guy trying to hurt us? A moment that we are just the three of us, smiling, sitting at the park.. Me and Jennie holding hands, kissing each other’s lips, watching Ella playing. I want that moment. And while I was laying on our bed, with Ella between us, I thought about that moment. I closed my eyes and went to that place.

I think we slept for a couple of hours because when I saw the clock it was 6.30pm. When I opened my eyes I looked at Jennie and she was looking at me with so much love. She was caressing me, playing with my hair. I guess that was why I woke up.

“You are like and angel when you sleep Jisoo.”

“You were looking at me?”

“Yes.”

“Was I snoring?”

“Just a little bit.”

“Jeeeennn…”

“Baby, we are sleeping together for almost a year.. You do snore but it’s cute.”

“Jenn..”

I didn’t finish because my thoughts were interrupted by a knock on our door.

“Are you going to open it or do you want me to open it.”

“I’ll go sleepy head.. Wait here.”

I stood up and opened the door. The thing is that no one was there though. I looked at the hallway but no one was there. I got in but my attention got a white envelope and a newspaper. I took them both in my hands and closed the door behind me.

“Who was it?”

“No one. There was a newspaper and white envelope in our door.”

“Open the envelope.”

My mind didn’t go where it should have been. I opened the envelope and I started reading..

‘Beautiful girl you have.. I am sure she didn’t take her eyes from her mom. You should be more careful next time though.. You don’t know who is going to be close.’

My hands started to tremble and the letter fell from my hands. I could see Jennie talking to me but I couldn’t hear the words. In a sec I didn’t remember anything. I was laying on the floor.

I woke up on our bed and Jennie was sitting right next to me. Ella wasn’t inside the room and Jennie was holding the letter in her hands.

“Jennie….”

“Jisoo.. You are up.. Thank God. You had me worried.. Are you okay?”

“Where is Ella?”

“She is with Seunghyun. I called him right away when you fainted. You were unconscious for half an hour baby.”

“Jennie.. that letter.. He.. They.. They were here..”

“We are not safe anymore.. And I am scared for Ella. I think we should send her back with Seunghyun. I would suggest sending her to your mom but I don’t think she would like that. I talked with Seunghyun and he agrees. And he told me what happened earlier.”

“Jennie, I am so sorry. I don’t know how that happened.. She was there and then she wasn’t. I almost lost her. And now he knows.. He knows how our little girl looks like. I am scared.. I am so fucking scared..” For the first time in days I let myself cry. I couldn’t hold it inside anymore. Jennie was right, everything that’s happening to us was my fault. This time it was Jennie who was holding me.

“Seunghyun is going to take Ella with him. We are going to be only you and me. We are together. It wasn’t your fault. This person is crazy Jisoo. Only three people knew where we were. I don’t want to think that it was the detectives.. He might have followed us. Anything is possible. But as always you and me stick together..”

“You and me..”

“Will stick together..”

I was afraid what Jennie would do if she found out but she didn’t and I was relieved. From the other hand though now it was only me and her. These people knew and my father wouldn’t be here to protect us. Taeyang though would be.. I had his number on my phone and I called him right away.

“Mr. Dong? It’s Jisoo Kim. They were here..”