Chapter 12

The Lies Between Us

12 – Tait's Behavior

Tait and Lis stopped by at the gazebo where they can see a different view of the park. Tait actually wanted to rehearse some lines but when they got to the spot, there was an on-going event with several people present in the area.

"Hey, are you sure you want to hang out here? Because I thought you wanted to kill time somewhere private?" Lis raised a brow.

"I'm actually surprised there's almost a crowd." Tait looked around seeing people mostly dressed in white. "Sorry. Thought this place would be...quiet." He shrugged putting both his hands inside his hoodies' pockets.

Lisie nodded. She also wanted to hang out at some quiet place. But instead of walking away, she decided she wanted to check what the commotion is all about.

"Hey, maybe we should just take the other route..." Tait stopped her by holding her arm afraid they'll attract unwanted attention when they don't have their bodyguards with them at the moment.

"I just want to see what's going on," she explained.

Tait weighted the risks about whether or not they might get in trouble if they push through. But seeing Lisie's hopeful eyes, he didn't want to be that person who'll kill the vibe. He licked his lips unconsciously while looking around the area.

It seems that there's a small event hosted by a group of friends. There was an arch of white roses in the middle of paper lanterns scattered around the lawn.

"Hello!"

Tait snapped his head towards the person who greeted them. He immediately pulled Lisie behind him even though the lady who greeted them looked completely harmless.

"Do you guys want to join our seminar? We still have available slots for you and your girl friend. Don't worry, it's free." She offered smiling innocently giving them a flyer about the seminar.

Tait looked down to read what was it about. He felt Lisie went closer to his side doing the same thing.

The Ultimate Soulmate Workshop

A one hour seminar by Matt Ricard.

Find out the ways to strengthen your relationship

and improve your connection!

"This looks interesting," Lisie commented.

Tait turned to Lis not surprised of her remarks. He nods while putting an arm around her waist. He then paid his attention to the lady who he estimated was just their age.

"I think we'll do it. What do you say babe?" He smirked trying to test his costar making the lady blush at his sweetness. Lisie however was turning immune to this or perhaps she's just trying to get used to his playful flirting.

"I think we can spare an hour." She scrunched her face cutely making Tait lean his nose to hers.

"You guys sure are a good looking couple." The lady remarked noting how strong the chemistry is between the two. She was the kind of person who doesn't spend most her time knowing celebrities.

Tait bit his lip nudging Lisie's side teasing her. When he looked down at Lis, she was subtly giving him the middle finger.

"The seminar will start in five minutes. By the way, I'm Nina one of the organizers of this seminar. Please fill up this form and if you have any questions just talk to me or anyone who's in white," she giggles. Nina led them inside the gazebo towards the remaining empty chairs.

Tait and Lis picked the farthest chairs away from the podium.

"I'll leave you two here. See you guys!"

When Nina had gone a few feet away, Tait pulled his chair closer to Lis'.

"I'm just letting you know that if we get busted here, I'll put the blame on you." He joked and laughed when Lisie rolled her eyes at him.

"Being an actor really suits you," she sneers pulling the form and pen smoothly from Tait's fingers.

Tait was smiling all the time Lis was scanning the form that was handed to them. He's getting into this habit of just looking at her. He's also having fun about them pretending they were a couple – even outside work.

"Did you ever had a boyfriend?" He found himself suddenly asking.

"You are my boyfriend." She said bluntly showing him the flyer that they got earlier about the soulmate thing for couples.

It was Tait's turn to roll his eyes acknowledging Lis' acting talents as well. He decided to play along, nonetheless.

"Well, before me. Did you ever had one?" He repeated himself.

"Um..."She thought about it. "None."

Tait was taken aback by this revelation that he dramatically pulled away. "For real?"

Lis hesitated. "Hey, what should we put in the address?" She tried changing the subject.

"Hol' up, you've never dated before?" He insisted making Lis huff in defeat.

"No! Why the fuck are you asking these questions?" She grumbled not paying him a single glance but busied herself to complete the form with made-up names and addresses instead.

"I just thought you had a dating history since...I thought you were with that Jacey dude before he got together with the bestfriend..." He said truthfully.

"I never dated Jacey," she muttered lowly seeing that people were starting to get to their seats.

"Damn Lily..." Tait called her by her nickname still in shock at what he discovered.

"Yeah Vinie..." Lisie called back letting him know that she has her own nickname for him.

"Vinie, huh. Cute." Tait bit his lip, he couldn't help but get even more curious. It just didn't occur to him that a woman as hot and successful as Lisie Moore would put off her dating life.

"So why didn't you date? And don't tell me no one's pursued you because I'll call bullshit on that." He kept asking the questions while he thinks she's still answering them.

"Because when I was younger, I thought being in a relationship would just hold me back from all my commitments. I thought my time for myself, my friends and my dreams were not enough let alone a relationship...well that perspective changed when I met Jacey but lately I realized I just didn't love him enough..." Lis pouted and finally met his eyes.

"You realized you didn't love him enough? How?" Tait raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah because I saw how my best friend love him and that was nothing compared to my love for the guy. Honestly, I'm happy for both of them." She smiled.

"You talked to Veronica Park?"

"I did. It was a good talk." She shrugged giving him the form.

Tait's brows were still in a furrow. All the things they've all been calling Lisie and what the media was portraying her was a complete opposite.

For all he know, (and according to twitter and instagram) Lisette Moore rose to fame for being a social climber slash instagram model. She's always in the hottest parties with A-listers and supermodels. He was convinced she has dated a lot of businessmen from the tabloids he's seen from convenience stores in New Zealand.

"Is that okay?" Lisie breaking him away from his thoughts.

Tait reached for the piece of paper and chuckled at the information.

Name: Lily Park

Name of partner: Vin Smith

Address/Country of Residence: Seoul, Korea

Relationship status: Engaged

Length of time in current relationship: 15 years

What do you hope to accomplish through this seminar: To understand and be patient with each other more.

What are your biggest strengths as a couple: Our dating history.

What do you want to achieve as a couple: Get married and have a family soon.

"Fifteen years! Wow," Tait chuckled inwardly while Lis looked at people apologetically for her noisy "boyfriend."

"Shut up. I took inspiration from our movie characters so if they ask, just channel your inner Abe Anerky." She asserted taking the form back.

"I don't think Vaia Winters would want a family with an assassin though." Tait disagreed.

"Says who?"

"Says the book." Tait answered confidently.

"Which was told in Abe's perspective so how can you say that about Vaia?" Lis argued.

"Vaia feels really cold in the book so I think she doesn't really love him as much as he loves her to obsession." He defended.

"Oh yeah? Well that's only because she knows what's best for men like him. We all know that if she would act like any other girls around Abe his enemies would have it easy to kill them both."

Tait sighed and gave up. "Okay fine, you win. I don't like arguing with you." After saying that, Tait noticed how Lisie stops herself from smiling. It was clear she liked what he said.

"Cute," he complimented pinching her cheek. The guest speaker had arrived halting Tait's trail of questions. He couldn't wait to get her alone and talk to her again.

When the organizers gathered the papers, the speaker of the seminar introduced himself leading the event to a good start.

Fifteen minutes in the talk and Tait just becomes more and more impatient. He turned to Lisie's side and found her immersed in the topic. She was even smiling at the jokes he didn't find amusing.

"I'm sure most of you had that moment with your partners. That moment when you realized she's the one. Some of you just know and there are even some who experienced odd scenarios like seeing their wives or girlfriends in slow motion."

"Whatever that feeling is, it's like there's an invisible pull to that person. Something you cannot explain. And when you experience that kind of feeling, fear suddenly comes in. You're faced with two choices. Will you cross the line or would you put off things to destiny..."

Destiny? Falling in love? Soul mates? Yeah right. Tait thought. The last time he put all things to destiny he ended up in exile. It would take him a lot of sleeping pills to make him believe in soulmates or destiny again.

Then he found himself asking two questions. When he fell for Yana, did he think they'll end up married? Second, if there'd be another chance for him to love again, would he be able to give 100% of himself to that person like when fell in love for the first time?

Hell no. Love and all those cliche things, it makes a person insane. For Tait, he knew dealing with Yana would mean career suicide but he still went through with her. He even loved her and he was true to himself about his feelings.

"Now here's a little tip. Fear is your indicator. Whether or not you choose to cross the line or let destiny take it's course I guarantee you that for whoever it is, they're the one. Because why would you think about those choices in the first place if that person isn't always there in your heart and mind..."

Tait saw Lisie chuckle glad he's not the only one believing in this crap.

"Do you fear me?" She playfully asked.

"Sorry but I still fear Jane more than you."

"Yep. Okay, just checking."

Tait chuckled. "Hey do you want to bail?"

"I'm sorry but I'm a good student and I don't cut classes." This answer just challenged Tait to play a role.

"Let's go Gabriella Montez, our callback awaits." He grabbed her hand playfully and dragged her out of that mushy seminar. And because they were seated much further at the back, the organizers didn't seem to notice.

The two were back to hand holding again while they were strolling over towards the bridge. While walking they saw another couple whom to Tait was oddly familiar. The man was wearing a gray hoodie while the lady was dressed in black long sleeves cropped top and sweatpants. For Lisie, she didn't give another second look and just minded her own business but to Tait, he could recognize his best friend in whatever shape or form.

The sweatpants couple were eating snacks on one of the benches when Tait pulled his friend with him.

"W-wait, do you know them?" Lis hesitated trying to recognize their faces under the lamp post.

"Shh, watch..." Tait was still in a mischievous mood so when he got his phone to record the couple, Lisie just let him be.

"Oh my god, is that Jeremy Cross!" Tait exclaimed in a modulated voice. He laughed at the reaction he got from the three people. Lisie and Rian's shocked faces mirrored each other while Jim was prepared to tackle the perpetrator.

Tait saw Jim's face turn from fury to relief when the latter recognized him.

"Shit! Man, are you crazy?" Jim got his arm locked around Tait's neck. "You jerk what if some real paparazzos walk by!"

"Yeah I love Jim but dealing with his possessive fans right now wouldn't be so romantic." Rian muttered annoyingly at Tait then smiles timidly at Lisie.

"What are you doing dating here of all places?" Tait smirked nodding at Rian. Jim's girlfriend greeted him with a smile.

"We can date wherever we want to because we're in a relationship." Jim answered smugly now he turns to Lisie. "Your turn. Why are you guys doing here? Did Tait finally man up and ask you to be his girl, Lisie?" It was now Jim's turn to smirk.

"Actually, I did the talking." Lisie was smug about it waiting for Tait to correct her but what came after was...

"What can you say, I'm a man of the 21st century." He smirked.

"You mean a fuck boy?" Rian smashing his ego.

"Good one babe," Jim pulled his girl to his side kissing her head.

"Ugh now that you guys are back together I better keep outta the house." Tait saw Lisie frowning cutely at him. He smiled to himself thinking she didn't catch on to what he meant.

"I saw them both sucking faces in the living room once-"

"YA!" - Jim

"That's it we're going. It's nice to see you both. By the way, I'm Rian. Big fan."

Tait was biting his lip all the time to keep himself from laughing while he watch his friends' reactions.

Lisie offered her hand to Rian introducing herself then saying good bye right after.

When the two were gone, Lisie face him with a scowl. "Why would you say embarrassing things like that? That was just rude." She almost growled pacing in front of him.

"Babe! I was just joking." He explained, arms going wide while he match pace with Lisie.

Lisie was still quiet upset about Tait's behavior. This frustrated Tait because he didn't know how to make her believe that that's just normal banter.

"Look, me and Jim joke a lot all the time." He blabbered. "Like there's this girl I liked in one party and Jim being his normal self just ruined my chances when he told that girl that I have a tiny weener!"

Lisie almost choked. She stopped her tracks and turned to him. However, Tait didn't let her recover.

"Which was totally false because I don't know if you haven't read it somewhere or what but it's definitely not an average size." He continued.

"Oh my god I don't want to hear your penis size," she stomped her feet irritated and flushed at the same time.

"I'm sorry." He said feeling the back of his neck. He followed her when she started walking ahead of him again.

"I understand my behavior back there was kind of upsetting..." He started. He glanced at her face before glancing at her hand. Now he was thinking if he'd hold her hand or not...

But after what she said, he smiled and decided to do it.

"Yeah and conversations about genitals are too early for this relationship."

"I'm sorry." He apologized once more thinking that maybe what he did to the couple earlier was a little offensive for a joke. "I'll call Jim later to apologize."

He watched her nod tugging her hand a little when she refused look at him.

"Are we good?" He said checking.

"Yeah, so...are we having dinner together or what?" She asked finally looking at him.

"Of course. You're my girl friend, duh?" He joked but he's getting used to that label he's calling her that he hopes it wouldn't bother him too much in the end.

"No. Sorry Vinie, our little charade ended the moment you became a jerk." She raised an eyebrow. "We can have dinner as friends though." She negotiated smartly.

"Wow, that was the shortest relationship I've ever had in my entire life. Ouch!" Lisie just pinched his side making him laugh. "Kidding! Woman, you're violent."

"And Man, you're a flirt."

"Oh I've heard that before." He smiled not denying it. He turned to Lisie and saw her frown for a second but smiled at once when she turned to him.

"I think I'll just have dinner with Ross tonight. Do you still want to run some lines?"

"Are you sure? Aren't you hungry?" Tait frowned when she lets go of his hand.

"I'm fine, it's just I remember her seeing so down last night. I think her manager's also busy so..."

Tait nodded. "Oh...okay. Let's just have some snacks at a nearby coffee shop and from there we can go over the script...Would that be fine?"

It was weird. One moment, they were hanging out like friends but something switched and they went back to talking like co-workers again.

"That would be great." Lisie smiled then pulled her phone to call her friend. He watched her from a few meters away when he felt his phone vibrate. It was from Jim.

From: jimmynana

Great to see you laugh like yourself again. We're having dinner at Fraser's. Maybe you two can join us XD You owe Rian an apology btw.

From: jimmynana

She says she'll only forgive u if she became friends with Lisie. So bring her.

From: jimmynana

That's non-negotiable.

To Be Continued...

image: vaia and abe (lis and tait in their movie character) vibes

a/n

Happy birthday Lisa. We know everyone loves you but no one loves u like Taehyung (in my head)