A/N: This is a double update. In case you missed the first part, check on the previous chapter. Thank you very much! ^_^

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The day goes by and as scheduled, Lisa solely gives her focus to their final rehearsal. While organizers and other staffs are busily decorating the auditorium and some are also attending their own activities around the school campus, the entire theater arts students are on the stage making the final touches and checking, which includes their costume they’ll use. Everyone’s getting excited but nervous at the same time as they all look forward to this very special day.

Lisa however has been checking on the time, from this morning they started up until this lunch break that their practice is almost done for the morning. She has been far sighting at the empty seats but the person she’s been waiting for cannot be found, only Jisoo who’s instructing the workers decorating the area for the finalization. “I wonder what time she’ll come. She’s not replying to my messages again.” She then thought in worries.

“Chaeyoung, are you alright? You look so pale.”

Right after the last rehearsal of the music club, Lisa heard one of the instructors talking to Chaeyoung and immediately looked to that other side where they are. Rose is somewhat pale like what was said and her face looks so gloomy that her eyes are half-closed. She couldn’t even put her head up and keeps it low as she stands at her seat after playing the guitar with all her strength remaining for the day.

“You should get some rest Chaeyoung. Tomorrow’s the big day. We can’t afford to lose you.” The instructor said in his worries.

Rose though shoves away all the helping hands trying to hold onto her as she forces out a smile out of her dry pale lips, “I’m fine. Don’t worry, I can make it tomorrow. We’ll need more practice, right? Let’s finish this today and make the best day tomorrow. We shouldn’t be slacking off at this time.”

Worried for her, Lisa’s legs automatically went on her way towards her and asked out of her concern, “Chaeng, are you alright? Don’t force yourself.”

“It’s none of your business.” Chaeyoung coldly replied and avoided Lisa at all cost, going to the other way that’s far from her.

Lisa followed her all the way to the backstage and insisted on saying, “C’mon, I’m just worried. You obviously don’t look so fine. It might get worse.”

“I don’t need you to worry for me, Lisa!” Rose yelled and everyone heard her clear, giving the arguing partners a look.

Lisa was taken aback with her unexpected bark, but not shocked with her attitude as she knows for herself that they have just undergone from an unpleasant day. She raised her hands up, surrendering and giving up from her persistence before like what she did when she was defenselessly kissed. She walked away from the frustrated Rose in shame, fulfilling her wishes of not going near her.

Later that afternoon, the proud Jisoo who has done all her works and has finished all the preparations to be needed for the next day, walks on her way to the administrator’s office for her full report. For her it felt like there’s a huge burden plucked out of her body as finally, after all these months of nothing but work, it’s finally coming to an end for the next morning she’s anticipating to.

“Sir, it’s me Jisoo.” She gently knocked on the office upon arriving with heavy piles of papers in her arms.

To her surprise, the door opened by someone else coming out from the inside, someone who already made an appointment with the administrator prior to her. What surprised her more, is the person who opened the door for her, it’s her best friend’s brother looking as surprised as her while they stare into each other’s wide eyes.

“Jisoo, what brings you here?” Ji-yong timidly asked out of his disoriented mind.

“Well, I’m here for a report oppa. How about you?” Jisoo replied and returned the same query.

Ji-yong closed the door behind him and pushed Jisoo back outside the office. He looked everywhere and ensured that no one is around to eavesdrop on them before he composed himself to tell, “Do you have spare time? I need to talk with you.”

Jisoo rolled her eyes, “It’s Jennie again, isn’t it? I told you oppa, if it’s about her then—“

“Dad found out about the deal.” Ji-yong said as he had to cut her off from the presumptions.

“What?” Jisoo hissed in disbelief. “I mean, how? When?”

Ji-yong again double checked the corridor before he brought out a photo from his suit, the most scandalous photo he could steal from the father’s suitcase. Showing it to Jisoo for a few seconds, he gives details, “This is one of the photos sent to our father from an anonymous sender. He came back this morning to ask about that and as expected, he grilled us and bent his anger again. Jennie was so thunderstruck when she saw the photos and had no choice but to admit and confess everything to dad this morning. In fact, she’s supposed to come today and watch Lisa’s final rehearsal but of course, she didn’t push through and locked herself in her room again. And, I’m here to ask for the administrators help just in case that the anonymous sender is one of the students since some photos were also taken from inside the campus.”

Jisoo has gradually opening alongside with her eyes widening in shock at the photo that was shown for a moment. She couldn’t believe it with her own eyes so she tries to clarify, “H-h-how did that happen? W-why were Lisa and Chaeyoung kissing like that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have any further details yet. I’m still far from knowing the truth.” Ji-yong sighed.

Jisoo remembered Lisa’s outfit from the photo and it’s the same as what she was wearing that day she was attacked by her. In conclusion, she deducted using her wittiness, “It might have been taken hours before Lisa came to me. It can also be that’s the time Chaeyoung told Lisa about me and Jennie. There must be some misunderstanding here. Lisa told me she loves Jennie after that, so it can be that Chaeyeoung was rejected too. If so, if that kiss is legit, Lisa wouldn’t say she loves Jennie in the first place.”  

“Are you alright?” Ji-yong snapped his fingers in front of Jisoo who momentarily spaced out from her thoughts.

Jisoo shakes her head off, “Yeah oppa. I was just thinking about Jennie. I wonder how she’s doing after all these revelations.”

“At times like this, she would come to you, right? Unfortunately, she cannot and now she’s handling things by herself.” Ji-yong said which made Jisoo frown in her stand. “It might be selfish of me right after I just accused you not long ago but if possible, can you talk to her?” He then asked.

“It’s impossible oppa.” Jisoo regrettably responded. “I don’t know what to say and I’m sure even her isn’t ready to meet me just yet. You see oppa, wounds are still fresh but for Jennie’s sake, I’ll try. I’ll try to talk with her some other time. I cannot promise you when but I’ll try.”

“I understand. I’m not forcing you or anything. It’s just that Jennie really needs someone to lean onto at times like this. I know you’re the only one who can understand her crazy mind that’s why I’m asking you.” Ji-yong lowered down his head as he smiled weak.

On that gloomy night, the strict father isn’t being visited by drowsiness at all as he’s still wide awake enjoying a bottle of wine by himself at his office connected to their bedroom. Though in front of unfinished business plans and other office-related works, his mind is completely hooked at this image of his daughter’s eyes that’s been piercing his heart since the morning he arrived.

His wife caught him spacing out in his seat with a goblet in his hand. Hence, she carefully removed that glass out of his feeble hand saying, “You should go to sleep. You’ve been working since you arrived. Just continue that some other time and besides, aren’t you going to attend the university’s Foundation Day tomorrow? It’s going to be a long day.”

“How can I sleep imagining my daughter’s painful eyes?” The man sighed as the image of Jennie popped out in his dizzy mind again. “Those eyes, I still can remember those eyes. It was the same on that day, remember? That day, when she found out about who she really is, she had the same eyes like what she showed earlier.” He agonizingly reminisced.    

His wife settled herself on a seat near to him and also recalled, “Yeah. She was wearing those eyes again. It’s too painful to look at and even you couldn’t stand exchanging glares at her. Our poor daughter must be experiencing the same pain like what she felt that time.”

“But why? Why does she have to wear those eyes again? Just because of a low life person, she’s being like that again!” He angered.

“It’s not about Lisa’s life standards, dear.” His wife caressed his panting back as she calmed him down. “Ji-yong said it earlier, right? Our daughter fell in love with who Lisa really is. She didn’t care of her standings in life. She needs not to know how poor she can be and what kind of life she can give her. I was watching our daughter all the time while you were away and I can say she fell in love because Lisa was the one who broke that chain you gave her by choking her with your selfish rules.”

The man glared at his wife questioning, “Are you saying it’s my fault?”

His wife however gave him an indirect answer, “If you didn’t force her for the engagement and if only you gave her a freedom to choose, then Ji-yong wouldn’t have probably thought of that plan and wouldn’t have made a deal with Lisa.”

“So it really is my fault.” The man grimaced. “What should I do then? I’d do everything just to erase those eyes away from my daughter. She can hate me all she wants. As long as she doesn’t wear those eyes her entire life, I’m fine with her hating me to death.”

His wife smiled, “Think of that all by yourself my dear. Do anything that you think a father would usually do if their daughter is broken in love, something that a strict brave father will think of just to make their daughter smile again. Do something that will prove you as her father. But I warn you, if you do something bad again I’ll really step up for my daughter and stand against you.”

“That’s unfair.” The man weakly smiled back at his wife full of teases.

“Take it easy for now. You have so much time to think about that and your time as her father is unlimited so don’t pressure yourself. Let’s just go to bed since you have appointment tomorrow. I don’t want you to look like a poor old man. Do you want people to judge you saying that Jennie’s father is a ragged old man?” His wife winked before he left him in deep thoughts.

Because of how expansive this mansion is, the unaware couple didn’t hear anything of Jisoo’s visit that came not long after they entered their bedroom. Yes, though she’s unprepared with these scars still scrapping her, she ended up finding herself rushing to this mansion that’s full of lights yet so dark. There she stood in front of Jennie’s closed door, unsure of what to do from there on.

Jisoo attempted to knock as she raised her knuckles, but she eventually put it back down knowing that Jennie would heed her voice. “Jennie? Are you there?” She called out through the closed doors.

Meanwhile, Jennie truly is inside her room, curling by her bedside since the morning she locked herself. She’s embracing all the miseries she can reach on and drowning herself with these thoughts that are not doing anything good to her. Nevertheless, as she perceived Jisoo’s voice, the one she badly needs the most, her lowered stiffed head finally made its way to stretch up to look in surprise at her closed door.

“Chichu… you’re here.” Jennie quickly stood up from her position as she approached the door fast with her heavy footsteps.

“No!” Jisoo closely warned and the confused Jennie whose hand is by the door knob ready to open it stopped. “Don’t open it. You can hear me even if the door is closed, right? I’m sorry but can we talk like this? It’s just that… I just don’t want to see you yet. I hope you understand.” She then said in a low tone.

Jennie had no choice but to let go of the door knob and stands straight in front of Jisoo with this door dividing them apart. She holds onto her door as she helplessly agreed, “Okay. I understand.”

Thus, Jisoo started looking straight at the door, “I heard what happened from Ji-yong oppa that’s why I’m here. What are you planning to do from here on?”

To which Jennie mumbles a hurtful reply, “I don’t know but dad would probably push through with my engagement, since everything’s all over between me and Lisa now. We can’t possibly continue the deal anymore, right? I guess I’ll be back to my old life, living like a robot controlled by rules.”

“I see… but that’s still questionable…”

Jennie clearly toned the sadness in Jisoo’s tone even with this door blocking her from seeing her face. All she can do is to picture Jisoo’s face while she holds onto this huge door. Realizing the distance, this is the first time they’ve gotten this close since that day Jisoo confessed her unrequited love.

“Uhm… how… have you been these days?” Jennie awkwardly asked out of the blue, not knowing how to start a proper conversation and later she leaned her back against the door.

Doing the same, Jisoo also leaned her back against the door from the outside as she cackled at her best friend’s attempt, more of a comfortable one and supposed, “Are you sure that’s what you wanted to talk about?”

Jennie blushed as she was easily caught, “W-well… not… really…”

“You’re way too easy to read, Jendeukie but to answer your question, of course I’m not fine. I still have the Foundation Day to worry about you know. It’s happening tomorrow yet I’m here worrying about you instead. Seriously, you sure love to make people worry about you. Is that your hobby?” Jisoo smiled.

Jennie finally found an ease after all these mess going on as her best friend called her the way she wanted her to be. For a moment all of her burdens faded, thanks to Jisoo’s comfy presence making it easier for her to go on with the conversation as she offers, “Is there anything that I can do?”

“What do you want to hear from me?” Jisoo asked the same thing she always does whenever Jennie’s in muddle.

And so, Jennie responds with her usual as well, “You’ve always been brutally honest with me so you can say whatever’s in your mind right now. Besides, I think I need your harshness especially at times like this.”

“Come tomorrow.” Jisoo directly said and then she formally requests, “As a part of the student council and as one of the hard working organizers of the Foundation Day, I’m inviting you to come tomorrow for the event. I want you to see the output of our hard work for the past months. At least come and take a glimpse of it if you don’t want to enter.”

“I knew you’d say that but I’m not participating in any events though. You know I hate attending such events.” Jennie smirked and Jisoo returned just the same.   

“So? Are you coming or not? I even formally asked you already. C’mon, it will be fun.” Jisoo insisted.

“You don’t really have to insist that much. I’ll be there right away and you know that because…” Jennie paused, realizing where her answer is going and fearfully cut off whatever she’s planning to say more.

Nonetheless, her smart best friend continues it for her as she said mimicking Jennie’s tone, “…because you’re my best friend and that will never change. Who do you think I am? I’m the great Jennie Kim, is that it?”

“H-how did you know?” 

“You always say that whenever I ask you a huge favor. It’s always like that so I memorized it already, the great Jennie Kim.” Jisoo said and couldn’t help but to laugh.

Feeling embarrassed, Jennie scratches her reddening cheeks, “Really? You really do know me that much Chichu.”

“Of course. How long do you think we’ve been together? We’re almost having the same face now.” Jisoo giggled.

Jennie has been longing this casual chat with Jisoo and that’s all she needed to regain her courage and audacity she totally lost to face her unsolved challenges she has yet to face. Although their talk isn’t as bright and isn’t as bubbly like how it used to be, it’s plentiful for Jennie to be thankful despite of what happened between them. She’s so amazed on how mature her best friend has become for handling things, skillfully, not showing a hint of bitterness, and not a taint of hatred towards her for breaking her heart.

“Thank you, Chichu. I honestly don’t know what to do without you. Thank you for staying with me and not giving up on me. I just want to say that. ” Jennie said so shy.

Jisoo even with that distance, she conveys her words rightfully, “I know and I’ve seen how wretched you’ve become without me you little rat. Who else would be there for you if I won’t?”

Jisoo learned to accept defeat and likewise, thankful that her friendship with Jennie is slowly forming back from how it’s used to be, though slowly and surely. The pain of the unrequited love still there, pinching her heart but she let acceptance flows in, somewhere in her heart she knows this will fade, this love that can only limit as best friends. Surely, it will take time for both of them to restore what’s lost, but today they start anew.

Foundation Day, it’s the day everyone’s been waiting for. The entire university was covered with colorful buntings swaying up high, the streamers are everywhere for each booth located at the sides, the banners to welcome all visitors and guests are brightly posted up the main building and lastly the fireworks are firing up the morning sky. The media, the press and all TV coverages are present to cover the joyous event. The VIPs and other guests are being welcomed one by one as they enter the university, including Jennie’s father who’s one of the sponsors for the said event and the staffs from other universities both locally and internationally. All are in delight, students and visitors from all over the world are lively as they start this blissful occasion. 

To build up this occasion and to push it through, the auditorium wherein one of the most-awaited and one of the most-covered events during this special day will be held is slowly being filled with high profile audience. From the front row are the sponsors, and then followed by the different executives of different prestigious schools worldwide. At the side are the media with their cameras shining directly towards the stage where a world class performance will be executed.

“Oh my God… the auditorium’s getting packed.”

“Seriously? I’m so nervous! Can we really do it?”

The performers gathered at the backstage, on stand by and wait for the program to formally commence. Through the small space between the curtain walls, they saw how grand the event is, making them so jumpy especially for the freshmen who are performing for the first time. All are practicing and having a recap of their respective assignments such as adjusting their instruments, checking the microphones and even their proper stances and from the far back are the theater arts performers who are set to perform right after the music club’s morning performance.

“Hey Lisa, have you heard? Your girlfriend’s father is one of the guests. He’s sitting in the front row.” One of the performers whispered to Lisa.

“Eh? Seriously?” Lisa clarified in shock and her companion nodded smiling.

Lisa marched all the way to the curtain walls and peeks through it with the tensed music club members. The lights are still on and she easily detected that man she detests, sitting there like a king talking and chatting to one of his kinds beside him as they all wait. For a moment right there she was hoping that it would be Jennie who will be sitting beside him but like the usual, she’s missing in action.

“So he’s back. No wonder Jennie wasn’t able come here yesterday, he might have forbid her again from going out. Aish~ that damn old man!” Lisa pouted as she alleged.

“Trouble! Trouble!” A member of the music club came running urgently from the backstage entrance which garners everyone’s attention.

The instructor held on the out breathed man and nervously inquires, “Why? What’s the matter?”

The man panted, “Chaeyoung… She’s…”

“What happened to Chaeyoung?” Lisa who heard the initial account dashed to the man demanding for clarification of his full report.

“Someone saw her collapsed while she’s on her way here. They immediately rushed her to the infirmary.” The man fully reported the shocking news.

Everyone who heard the news gasped in shock and the concerned people were all shaken. This made the entire staffs to quake in panic as they all began running in franticness all over the backstage while Lisa and the instructors rushed to the infirmary to check on Rose who’s really in there on the bed, laid down on the bed but trembling and looking so weak.

Lisa hurried towards her bedside, looking down in worries at Rose’s pale face that’s covered with her sweat. “Dara-unnie, what happened to her?