Chapter 29

 The Lies Between Us

29 – Lisie

"Welcome to Seoul, Ms. Lisie Moore"

I smiled politely at the airport staff greeting me. There was an entourage tailing behind who I think was part of their welcoming committee. Talk about some grand entrance. 

What's more amazing was when everyone got all hyped up after we entered another door. Even though it was in the VIP, some of my fans got passed security.

It didn't bother me how they do it. But I could never get used to their overwhelming cheers. Sometimes, I fear they'd cause trouble but I pray they do not. I know they're just fans but even from a distance, I care a lot about them.

"Thanks." The Southeast Asian air feels different. I know because it's part of my home. Part of me lives in here. I didn't think I'd be back sooner than I expected.

"Ross texted. She said she'd meet us in the hotel." Soo muttered closely.

Coming back to Korea brings back the old embarrassing memories. It felt as if only yesterday when I stayed here, fell in love and then got my heart broken by a cute boy.

I thought when I loved Jacey, I could never move on. As if he's the only guy I'll ever love. I smiled thinking of how miserable I was back then when my world revolved around him. Funny how things could change in a year.

The cold breeze of that day in 2018 felt a lot like this – piercing and unforgettable.

"Hey," Jacey rustled his way to the seat in front of me. My smile turned brighter just seeing him arrive.

We've been friends for two years now and I was thinking to confess my feelings for him tonight after our coffee date. I wanted to tell Ross about my plans but since this morning, I couldn't reach her phone. My guess is she's busy doing her thing in the recording studio, so I didn't call her anymore. I just left her a message instead.

"Hi!" I smiled too eager to spend time with him. I pinched myself to act normal. But it's difficult to do so whenever he's around. Soo said it's normal to feel the butterflies in front of crushes but how do I contain the shaking and the trembling?

"Have you ordered?" He asked looking at the counter bar.

"No, I was waiting for you."

"Alright. Wait here." Jacey stood up going to the counter. I sneakily checked my mirror to see if my makeup was still perfect. I winked at myself quickly before taking my compact back to my pouch.

As we were eating, I noticed that Jacey checks his phone from time to time like he couldn't stop himself from texting someone. I decided not to be bothered by it when I know it was kind of rude to do that in the middle of a date. I just shrugged it off, maybe it was that important.

But, is this a date? Come on Lisie you clearly asked him to hang out at the usual place so the boy was not probably considering this as a date.

I tilted my head and countered myself. Because this will be the first time we went here without Ross so he should take that as a hint. Right?

Seeing as he still kept texting on his phone, I then cleared my throat. "So...how was football practice?" Lame, I know.

What should I say then? I couldn't tell him he's being rude because I don't want things to be weird between us.

"Oh you know, coach is always too hard on us. Nothing new." He answered then his eyes went down to his phone again.

I only nodded and continue to eat my sandwich. I wanted to ask more about him. Like the things he normally do when he's with his family; his hobbies and his favorite Thanksgiving desserts. All those kinds of things. But all came out was...

"I wonder why Ross' phone was off since this morning."

He snickered. "Well, she spent another night at the studio. I'm actually convincing her to come over. I think she's almost done with the recording."

My heart sank at that. I didn't want to think that him and Ross would do something behind my back not when Ross clearly know how I feel about Jacey. She isn't the type to do that. She tells me everything.

So if she feels something for him, I should know it first because that's how we are. Best friends don't lie. But as far as I know, she's too busy to date boys so the notion that her and Jacey liking each other was just impossible.

After having coffee, I asked Jacey to accompany me at Namsan tower. He was hesitant but I told him I've never went there with him before so I got him to say yes. I was so excited coming up because the view when it got darker was fascinating.

I was having fun taking pictures of every scene and when I saw the locks, my heart pumped like crazy.

I bit my lip. I've prepared for this the whole night and if I don't tell him I like him not only as a friend but something more than that then I can never be at peace. Ross told me to think about this a lot but I just couldn't hold back anymore.

Jacey's the only guy I liked ever since. He's nice, handsome and funny! No guy could ever compare to that.

"But what about his bad sides? You know he's not that nice and he's even got some mean streak. Would you be able to handle that and still like him?" Ross' words echoed in my memory to which I shook my head off. No. I don't give a shit about his bad sides, Ross. I retorted to my best friend inside my head.

Because frankly, I don't care about anything as long as I get to have him. I have never felt this way about anyone until he came along.

This is it. I have to tell him. I turned back and saw him locking a heart. I ran to him with excitement.

"Hey, what did you put in there." I giggled when he tries to hide the heart locker that he hooked on the fence just seconds ago.

"It's a secret. I put one for you and one for Ronnie."

I made a face. Just a week ago, he started calling Ross by his own nickname for her. I felt somewhat envious of that but I think he does it to annoy her.

"When would I get a special nickname from you?" I pouted.

"Tch, Lisie's already a cute name." He ruffled my hair like a kid but I ignored it because he thought my name was cute.

He walked passed me taking pictures of the tower from his position. I stared at him with my heart along the line. My admiration for this boy was beyond words that when he turned to me, I thought I would melt.

"Come on Lisie, don't make me carry you." He smirked shaking his head.

I took my time making every step as I get close to him. When he saw me getting near, he turned back to lead the way but I stopped him from getting too far from me and grabbed his hand.

His brows raised when I tugged on him.

"Jacey, I have to tell you something."

The frown between his brows got more prominent. "Something wrong?"

"No." I held on to him pulling him closer.

He shook his head like he couldn't understand me.

"You're acting weird, Lis." He teased when I slowly try to close our distance. I closed my eyes shut trying to force the words that I was longing to tell him. I chanted a lot of encouraging words in my head before facing him again.

When I see his doe eyes looking back at me, I figured I couldn't tell him how I feel, so I opted to kiss him instead.

But not even a second ticked by and Jacey figured out what I was trying to do. So before my lips touched his, he was able to push me.

"What are you doing?" There was an edge to his voice as if he was scandalized by my actions.

"I like you, Jacey!" My voice trembled. I felt worse when he started to step back. "There, I said it." I huffed trying not to cry when he remained silent.

My tears fell down when a minute or two passed and nothing – no word, no reaction, no anything. He just turned his back on me and told me we have to go.

I hugged his back when he didn't move. "I hope this doesn't change anything, but what can I do? I really like you Jacey. I didn't know when it started but my feelings for you grew. Suddenly, I don't look at you as a friend anymore." I sobbed. We were starting to get the attention and I wasn't prepared to be ashamed because I was stupid not to think about the consequences of this. All I ever think of was his happy face when I confess, not the disappointed look he had when the words were finally out.

"Please give us a chance..."

"I'm sorry, but I like someone else."

I stared at the heart balloons displayed at one section of the airport lobby when my phone buzzed in my hand. I looked at the message my boyfriend sent me.

It's Valentine's day, and all he's ever did to compensate for his absence was send me shirtless photos of him as if I'm always thirsty for him like the perv that he is. I rolled my eyes when he sent me a pic of his abs. I bit my lip and kept my phone in my pocket.

"Ugh couples make me cringe." Soo commented out of the blue. I turned to her and she was giving me the judgy look.

"Whatever." She's just jealous because, like Tait, Nash couldn't make it with us.

We came to South Korea for Princetown's final press junket because the schedule was pushed a little late for Asia. Then later this evening, I'll meet up with Ross to hang out.

I was trying out some couture gowns when I saw Ross entering my suite. I smirked when I caught Jacey kissed her goodbye. He met my eyes and was a little surprised that I caught them kissing.

 It was dejavu all over again.

I shook my head remembering how I caught them kissing just days after I confessed to him. Now I could laugh at that memory like it didn't hurt me before.

"Jace insisted on walking me by the door. Sorry about that." Ross apologized. I pulled her hair to scold her.

"Stop apologizing. You're dating him, it's normal." I rolled my eyes.

She smiled warmly at me scanning me from head to toe. "You're like glowing."

"You think? This gown is too much right?" I faced the mirror trying to see my back. The gown is silver decorated with swarovski crystals hugging my body like a second skin.

"No, I mean your face, your hair...you're glowing from inside out." Ross giggled almost sounding like she's teasing me. "You're not in love are you?"

I took a deep breath biting my tongue to keep my excitement to myself. "I'm dating Tait."

"Yeah, I knew that already." She said not dropping eye contact. Oh, I can't take it anymore. I must tell the bff.

"N-no...we're dating for real." I grinned, squealing a little. "Can you believe it?"

"Aaaaaaaaaah!" She jumped on me causing us to fall on the cold tiled floor. "I'm so happy for you, Lisie. I'm so, so happy for you." She sobbed. "It's true I felt like the worst friend when I realized I'm falling for Jace and when I sacrificed our friendship I thought I could never save it because..."

"Shhh. It's already done, I'm happy for you and Jacey. And my heart is now at peace with someone else."

"I'm so glad."

That was the scene when Soo and Jane entered the room. It was enough to shock Jane. She almost made a fit because she thought I was getting raped by a lesbian.

I finally introduced Ross to her and the two were inseparable for the rest of the night. It felt good to have a get together with my dear and closest friends – both old and new.

"What? You haven't told him what?" Jane yelled, the tequila was taking its effect. "Oh I'm calling my brother now."

I laughed at her when she tripped her toes. "You're wasted!"

"Babe!" She called making me confused. "Baaabe!?" She called again.

"Yes, babe?" Ross answered.

"Where's my phone? Do you have my phone?"

"Uhuh. Ooh, someone's calling!"

I raised an eyebrow. I was also a bit tipsy because my view of Soo was starting to spin.

"I want to strip..." Soo muttered. "Strip my makeup. Lol!"

"I'll strip!" I presented. I slowly turned to Ross when she started yelling on the phone.

"Who? Girlfriend? Wait, Jace? Why is your voice so deep? You're not Jace! I don't have a boyfriend named Tait, you liar!"

I giggled. "That's my phone, haha!"

Like a tigress, Jane quickly launched herself to the phone. "Tait, you should come here! You're girlfriend's strippin! Loser haha!"

I grabbed my phone before they could say anything more stupid.

"-hell are you girls doing?" I heard Tait's patience wearing thin on the other line.

"Hi, Vinnie." I answered with my baby voice. I heard him sigh. "Hey, Lily. What are you doing?"

"Nothing." I pouted while my friends were making faces in front of me.

"Were you guys drinking?" Gosh, hearing his voice made me missed him more.

"M-hmm... but it's only us girls in here. How's your day?" I sounded so girly, ugh.

"It's alright."

I remember seeing him before at one of Celine's Spring Summer Collection in Milan. It was one of my breakthrough moments and he was there as a VVIP because he was favored by most directors of the high end brand.

"Look here, please." The resident press directed us to look at his camera.

I was standing in between Hedi Slimane and Tait Kingston – who I admit was a hundred times more handsome in person than in the films. It took me about five times to convince myself not to creepily gawk at the gorgeous man standing tall beside me.

I didn't want to look like a star-strucked fool in my most rewarding day. But I got a chance to take a glance at him when the interviewer asked him a question.

"What can you say about Celine's face of the night? Would you be part of the campaign soon?"

Wow, the slope of his nose was so smooth it's almost unreal. I bet he's all natural because I could see some tiny veins on his face. And look at those eyes, they're big and his lashes are so thick like a girl's.

"I think Ms. Moore carried herself well with the brand." I tilted my head watching his lips move. "Her style matches Celine's overall market so she's perfect."

I didn't realize what I was doing when he stared back at me. I abruptly turned my head away, smiling at Hedi with grace.

"As for that campaign, Hedi and I talked about it before. It's not impossible at all."

Then another question was now being addressed to me. "Do you think you'll continue to work with Celine in the coming years?"

I could see my cheeks burn red feeling Tait's attention on me. If it weren't for my make-up, my little crush on him would've been too obvious.

After answering the question, the guy asked the two of us for a picture. Then more fans started shipping us from then on.

"I miss you." I told him.

"Oh babe, you don't know how much." He sighed. "I'm glad you're with your friends today. I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you in Valentine's day of all days." He sounded so disappointed that I was tempted to go to him now.

"No. It's okay. You have tons of work, I understand that."

Another sigh. "If I'm there I'll be kissing you right now while we slow dance under the moonlight."

"Ugh, how cheesy." I grinned but I was already imagining it.

"What do you prefer? An innocent pg-13 date night where we spend our time eating dinner or a wild r-18 date night where we can go somewhere to...probably eat...something else" I could hear a smile in his voice.

"Tait, you're horny. Go to sleep." I whispered watching out for the girls in case they were listening. Fortunately, they were too busy decorating each other's faces with cupcake frosting.

"Oh man, I miss my girl so bad just hearing her voice is cure."

I giggled. "If I'm there, I would hug you tight and tell you how much you mean to me."

"Do you love me?"

I smirked feeling emotional. I haven't told him those words yet and I feel like he needed to hear it even though I showed him how much I care about him. "I do." I wiped my tears away thinking about what I went through just so I could appreciate the right love that's for me.

"You know that, don't you?"

I heard him chuckle. "I love you, Tait." I told him, more clearly this time. The ruckus from the living room stopped. I guess the girls heard it too.

I looked at my phone to check if he was still there. When I saw the call duration still in counting, I put the phone back to my ears. "Tait?"

"Yeah, I'm still here." His voice cracked when he answered. "I'm just...happy and a bit sad." He chuckled, though it was obvious he was crying. I found myself smiling at that. Not because we're both miserable but I know I made him happy because of what I said.

"I'd have to warn you, it's not going to be easy loving me." He chuckled but I do think there was a tinge of seriousness in his warning.

"I don't think loving someone comes easy at all. Everything has a price. I just know you're worth it." I wanted to applaud myself because I was able to say that. I just know and feel I could trust him.

"Likewise. I'd do anything for you my Lily."

I woke up with a bad case of headache the next day. I remember talking to Tait until the wee hours of dawn so I was still feeling crappy when I arrived at hair and make-up. I didn't make Fiona's job any easier because my eyes kept drooping while she's fixing my mascara.

"Lisie, gosh when are you going to wake up?" She asked already frustrated.

"I'm up. I swear." I mumbled.

I was the worst liar because I fell asleep seconds after that. When I opened my eyes, I was already in the limo with Jacey?

Wait. Jacey?

What alternate universe is this?

"Tch. It's still the 3-D universe and you're still in love with me." Jacey snickered.

"What? This is definitely a dream because I'm sure as hell I'm in love with another man."

Jacey let out a big laugh. I figured out it wasn't really a dream when I smacked his arm and he complained about it.

"How's your head?"

"Still aching. Now please explain to me why you're accompanying me to my premiere and not my manager?" I squinted at him.

Jacey shrugged leaning his back on the seat. "I just want to make sure you're okay." Then he mumbled under his breath. "And you're friend's busy...with something."

"Okay from what?"

"You haven't heard any stupid rumor or anything right?" He inquired scrunching his nose.

I shook my head recalling if there was any. "What stupid rumor? About me?"

"Nothing. Just, forget I asked."

We reached the venue in less than 15 minutes and when I stepped out, I felt the jolting wave of nausea inside my head. Because apart from the annoying hangover, I wasn't expecting a throng of camera flashes to greet me in the red carpet.

I managed to smile a little but I doubt they were able to capture a decent picture of me because Jacey was almost hovering their view of my body. "Come on, let's get you inside quickly."

I nodded. I tried to scan through the crowd just to make eye contact with the fans when I spotted a familiar face.

"Yul?"

I craned my neck to where I saw his face but Jacey was too strong to resist. And because I really wasn't feeling well, Jacey brought me straight inside the theater skipping all the journalists who could have been waiting for an interview.

"It would've been nice if Jeremy or Ed was here but they're scheduled for filming some scenes today." I muttered before grabbing a bottle of water. The other seats were slowly getting filled by some local celebrities and producers.

"Lis, I'll just step out for a bit. I have to check on something."

"Yeah, of course. You're not my bodyguard, Jacey."

"Well, tell that to your boyfriend." He said the words so fast I didn't catch it at first.

"What?"

But the guy was already meters away even before I could ask.

I pulled my Celine jacket tighter because the cold was starting to cover my nerves. I felt my head in between my fingers when the wave hit again. I already took a pill but it looks like it's still wasn't enough to drive my hangover away.

Maybe Jacey has some advil or something. I had to ask. I got out of my seat to try and look for my "bodyguard" but two journalists found me instead.

"Hello Ms. Moore, would it be okay if I ask you a few questions? We missed you at the arrivals earlier so we didn't get the chance."

"Um..." Looking at his young face, I thought this guy's probably just new. It wasn't really allowed to interview celebrities inside the main theater hall but I thought it couldn't hurt if I answered a question or two.

"Okay, that's fine. Um, but do you have a tylenol or something? I have a massive headache because me and my girls had a sleepover last night. We had a couple of drinks..."

The boy's face lit up like he was glad to be my savior. "I always have one in my bag in case of emergencies. Here you go."

"Oh thank god." I took it from him and thanked him.

"So um, was it always a dream of yours to take on an acting role?" I almost giggled at his question. Because usually, if it's not about sexy roles, they go in for my personal life.

"Hmm...not really. Modeling was my real dream but it was fun to act. Maybe in the coming years, we'll see if I love acting as much as I love modeling."

His questions were easy to answer and right after that we managed to have a good chat along with his assistant who looked as young as he is.

When the theater door opened, I saw how the boys eyes widen in fear.

"Shit."

"Hey, who are you? You're not supposed to be here!" The security guard yelled.

"Thank you Ms. Lisie, we're not really from the official media but we're just interns from a small company and we're big fans!" He yelled while being chased by the security.

Their revelation scared me a bit and it made my headache worst but they were pretty funny and...harmless. But when the real media stepped in, they said things I thought were too cruel to be true.

"LISIE, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT TAIT KINGSTON GETTING HIS EX PREGNANT?"

"ARE YOU REALLY DATING HIM OR WAS IT ONLY FOR PUBLICITY?"

"CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY HE COULDN'T JOIN THE PAST PRESS TOURS?"

All their questions were ringing simultaneously in my head.

"What?" I croaked almost out of breath.

"WHAT'S THE TRUTH LISIE MOORE?"

"IS TAIT KINGSTON SETTLING DOWN WITH YANA LANE?"

"Stop." I was feeling more and more sick as I listened to their nefarious presumptions.

And before I could completely blacked out, I heard Tait calling my name in a distance.  

To Be Continued...

A/n

Two chaps away from the finish line. I love u guys :-*