Her smile lingers.

Because finally,

Their story is about to start.

It was the talk of the school.

A topic as to why the most popular student of the university was suddenly rushed to the hospital and be confined for days, rousing gossips from almost all of the students, rumors flitting from a simple fever to that of a fatal one.

I didn’t know.

Lisa didn’t notice it until now.

That behind that kind and complacent look Jennie always has, lies how sickly she was.

How vulnerable she really is.

“Hey…Did you heard about it?” Hayi came up to her during their break. She took the brunette’s seat and faces her.

“About what?” Lisa questioned, eyes never leaving her book yet perturbed at how her classmate was acting. She doesn’t want to believe it, those rumors, as she simply surmises that it wasn’t that serious. But with the way Hayi looked, sullen and even frigid, nags her that something happened.

“Jennie was hospitalized. And…” Hayi trails off, lost for words for a moment before slowly nodding. “It was a severe attack.”

Her eyes stilled in an instant, knuckles turning white as she tightly grips the books she’s reading, unable to cease it from shaking.

Muddled at the new information.

Because somehow.

The rumors were true.

“Seungwan was there.” Hayi continues. “She told me that…if she’s a minute late on finding that nebulizer. Jennie could’ve…” Hayi closes her eyes and tries once more. The shaking of her voice more evident this time, restrained from the calm act she shows.

“J-Jennie could’ve…S-she…”

Hayi couldn’t finish her sentence.

Pacified into silence.

Fearful.

To even utter it aloud.

Lisa stares vacantly ahead, perceiving the variety of goods, the numerous lighting, and the inciting logos of each brand.

All fading into background.

She was lucky enough that it wasn’t the rush hour, her mind straying nowhere near the thought that she should tend to the store.

She’s rooted in place.

Her mind would still hold onto those thoughts.

Those same thoughts about Jennie.  

Wondering what her condition is. Whether or not she was already stable. And whether or not she’s getting enough sleep.

Lisa hopes she was there when Jennie needed help.

Wishing that she…

Was the one who saved her.

“Lalisaaaa-yahhh.”

She felt a hand snake around her arm, and soon felt a body pressing into it. It was that same high-pitched squeal, demanding an order that she wouldn’t be able to disobey. She spun her head to the side, wearing the most pissed off look she could muster, and finally faces her boss. But, unlike her, Tzuyu just greeted her by flirtatiously flashing a smile.

Instantly turning her worry into infuriation.  

“What?” Lisa lowly scowls.

She wasn’t really in the mood to be teased at the moment. She would’ve straight out ignored Tzuyu if she wasn’t her boss, but she was, so she openly let out her indignation, hoping that Tzuyu would sense it.

“Date me.”

Out of all the requests she’d expected her boss would utter.

This was probably the most outrageous one. 

“What. Are. You. Even. Saying?”

She quickly brushes off her boss’ prying hands from her arm, recoiled from the request.

First, she had to deal with the childishness of that pink-haired man and now, she has to deal with his sister. Who, she could conclude, has the same trait as his.

Honest.

But at the same time.

Maddening.

Lisa knows she’s facing Tzuyu with seething anger but Tzuyu just jeers with a bright simper.

Truly reminding her that she’s really the sister of that pink-haired man.

“I’m going to get married with someone I don’t like.” Her boss explains a matter-of-factly. “His name is Bobby I think? I don’t remember.”

“Arranged marriage?” Lisa asked, her infuriation slightly ceasing, bemused that it would still happen in modern times, but knowing her boss came from a rich family, she somewhat understood it’s possibility.

“Yeah.” Tzuyu sourly laughs. “It’s not like I can do anything about it.”

She could only nod, witless on what to say next, knowing it was one of the worst things one could ever experience.

Deprived of making a choice for yourself.

Her lack of response must’ve caught on by her boss, because Tzuyu veers back a cheer.

“Soooo. I want you to date me. Even just for a day. It’s like in the movies. What’s it’s called? A bachelorette party?”

“What? Why am I obligated to do that?” She complains, still not getting Tzuyu’s reasoning. “Well. Go find a stripper then. I’m quite busy, you know.”

“Nah. I only like you.” Tzuyu retorted with a wink, which she’d responded back with a shake of her head.

Amused.

Lisa gave out a small smile and questions her boss.

Eager to know the answer.

“How can you easily say that?”

Tzuyu only smiles back. “Isn’t that the way? Confess courageously.”

Her boss circles around, ing a closed fist into the air, as if to brandished a sword with her stance, while her other hand seem to held an invisible shield.

“Love is like a war. And that’s where the quote ‘All is fair in love and war’ came from.”

“Tsss. You just made that up.” Lisa refuted, suppressing her laughs.

“It’s true. It’s a place for fighters.”

Tzuyu held a finger on her chin, rubbing that oh-so-invisible beard.

Like that of an old sage.

The all-knowing.

“It’s not for cowards who easily gives up.”

It was she’d expected it to be.

Lisa watched as Tzuyu disappears to the columns of clothing, shuffling around, finding the perfect dress on what it seemed like eternity.

She glanced at her wristwatch.

3 hours.

It’s been three hours, and still, Tzuyu haven’t find the dress that would fit her taste. It was then when Lisa wished she has the same fashion taste like her mother, because if she did, she wouldn’t be left waiting for centuries for her boss and deal with her indecisiveness. She’s tired already, worn out from the numerous stores they’ve already gone through, vowing that her sore feet were already a testament to that. Already preferring to work full time rather than having a ‘date’ with Tzuyu.

She cast a glance to where her boss is, talking to a saleslady who holds a backless coral silk dress, a simple one – lacking aesthetics that would often be designed to stand out – but it outlines the curves from waist up. Tailored fit not to stand out, but to dazzle once caught in its beauty. A perfect fit for Tzuyu, not only for her height, but it gives her a more mature look.

Please. Please. Please. Choose this dress. Choose this dress. I want to go home already. Lisa inwardly pleaded.

It was the 8th store already, but Tzuyu would still wear that uncertain look, deep in thought, having an internal debate on herself like it was the most important decision of her life.

She sighed heavily.

Yielding that it was gonna be a long day.

Lisa sets her gaze away again.

Uncontrolled.

Always darting back to thoughts about Jennie.

Is she okay?

She was used to it now. How the brunette would occupy her thoughts in an instant, ruling it like it’s her own.

I..

A trespasser who she freely allows to roam around.

I want to see her.

Because it was normal right?

Thoughts about that one person you’d always want to be with.

Even if they.

Don’t want you back.

“You’re spacing out again!!!” Tzuyu snaps of finger at her, and growls. “This is supposed to be a date!!!”

“Yeah. Yeah. Whatever you say.” Lisa nodded unenthusiastically, trying to avoid a squabble.  

Tzuyu halts from walking.

Lisa mirrors her, stopping from her tracks, and asks. “What?”

“Hold my hand.” Tzuyu demanded.

“No way.” She easily replied and strutted off.

Tzuyu briskly walks to catch up to her and leers, croaking her own observation.

“I guess. You’ve never dated anyone in your life huh?”

Lisa ignores her boss.

Her and that conceited grin she wears.

Deeming, that she’s indeed correct.

“Hah. I’m right.” Tzuyu hollers. “You –  ”

Lisa couldn’t hear Tzuyu’s next words, only perceiving what bores in her own line of sight, pausing from walking away.

Rooted to where she stands.

She wretchedly smiles.

Right. She’s okay.

She dispiritedly uttered to herself, eyes fixed at the sight of Seungwan and Jennie in a middle of conversation – chuckling at each other – framed from the windows of the café.

She’s with…her girlfriend.

It was stupid.

Stupid on how she’ll always think about Jennie.

That in the first place, she already knew it.

That Jennie already chose Seungwan.

Seungwan noticed her first, halting from their own conversation, and gave her that awfully stupid smile.

Lisa breaks their eye contact and turns to her boss, quickly intertwining their hands, and utters in urgency.   

“Pretend you’re laughing.”

“Wha. Why are you – ” Tzuyu trails off as Lisa tightly gripped her hand.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha.” Tzuyu offhandedly laughs, cheerily smiling at the same time, before muttering through gritted teeth – a smile still plastered at her face. “What. Gives. Manoban.”

Lisa dragged Tzuyu along, fakely giggling.

“Just. Follow. Me. Please.”

And as soon as they were distance away from café, Lisa withdraws her hand and releases the breath she’s unknowingly holding.

She gave Tzuyu a small smile and utters.

“Thank you.”

“What was that for?” Tzuyu questioned her, arms crossed, obviously displeased at the act.

“It’s...nothing.”

It’s her automatic response.

Because truthfully.

She shouldn’t feel this way.

Thursday

3:50 p.m.

It’s been four days already since Jennie came back to the school. And as usual, silence was the only link between the two of them. It became a norm for them, to never acknowledge each other’s presence. That they’d both prefer it rather than a forced small talk, which she could already tell, would just result with them having an argument once more.

But Lisa couldn’t help but feel a slight twinge of relief.

That finally, the space beside her wasn’t vacated anymore.

Why are you so helpless Lalisa?

“Calling Ms. Lalisa Manoban of Class 3-1. Please proceed to the principal's office. Calling Ms. Lalisa Manoban of Class 3-1. Please proceed to the principal's office.”

The loud prompt finally rendered her back from her thoughts. She stood from her chair and bows at her teacher, asking for his permission.

Daesung gave her a nod and she took it as a cue to take her leave.

She passed through the classrooms of the freshmen and took up the stairs to the third floor of their department’s building. And upon arriving at the principal’s office, she knocks at the door before turning its knob.

“Sir.” Lisa bows at the man seated in an executive chair.

The principal looks up from the document he’s reading and greeted her with a fatherly smile.

A contradiction to that intimidating look he would always gives her whenever she’s late, constantly reminding her that she should be a role model to other students, with her being the top student.

He gestures a hand for her to take a seat and explains immediately.

“I’m sorry to call you out in the middle of class but you see Taeyang is really pestering me about it.”
 

“About the…academics competition?” Lisa replied as she sat at the chair adjacent to his desk.

“Perceptive, I see.” The principal nodded and asks her, trying to persuade her. “Would you like to give it a try?”

Unable to get a response, the principal added. “To be honest. It would be a good opportunity for you. You can go abroad and have seminar