ep twenty-one

...

ROSE.

A new week of school came, and all I felt was agitation as every person in the school greeted me congratulations in the morning like they've never been glad to make me compete with the most preeminent student of the University. Not to mention, the most hottest of all. The love of my life, Jennie Kim.

Sir Hector, the Conformed Coalition's facilitator gathered us for a meeting during lunchtime and discussed about the platforms we will have to present during election week. I was still overwhelmed from what happened yesterday that I was so quiet during the meeting. Considering that I should be the one leading since I'll be the running candidate for president, but no, my guts didn't had the ability of thinking rationally at that moment.

"Ms. Park" I snapped back to reality when Sir Hector got my attention, he was a tall and slim guy on his late 20s with a perfect slicked back raven hair that collaborated with his blonde eyes. Clearly, his daily go-to style was a monotone cardigan paired with tight denim pants, a typical teacher look. I sensed leadership on his tone which made me startled, "Uh-yeah?" I managed.

"Are you with us?" He asked like he's expecting more from me, I gulped at the pressuring look that he was giving. I said sorry and nodded.

He sighed and placed his two hands on his waist and looked at me, "I know it's daunting to know the fact that you're competing with Ms. Kim who has won three consecutive elections already, but considering the fact that many students voted for you means they believe in you. Then I think that is enough reason why you should do your best." All Mr. Hector's words dawned unto me like a tsunami, swirling off my insides, and guiding my senses back to normal. I was deeply encouraged, but the nervousness didn't shake off. 

"I'm sorry if this has been too shocking for me since I didn't any at all expected this, but I guess he's right, I will do my best to fairly compete with her." I affirmed my words to assure them that I am with them in this game. 

In a snap of a finger, a swirl of ideas bounded my mind, confidence brimmed upon me and I quickly formed great schemes in my mind. Gradually, I started participating and suggesting ideas that I believe are innovative and substantial. The Coalition members all have vibrant and optimistic personalities, I am surprised we are easily agreeing and collaborating all our ideas until such time where we were all satisfied with the platform that we've creating. So our meeting ended well, and it wasn't as bad as I expected it would be.

....

After the last period ended, I texted Jisoo so we can meet and go home together. So we both passed the hallway as we head to the front exit. I was still hoping that I would catch a glimpse of Jennie before I go home, and I was lucky today. A smile automatically formed on my face as my eyes tunneled down to my ever glorious muse in a distance.  Her long ash-brown hair glided through her bare skin as her off-shoulder dress fluctuated her sharp shoulders and keen collarbones. It sent shivers down my spine. 

Jisoo and I shared the same thoughts and thought about approaching Jennie but we quickly fell back as we noticed Scott appeared and crashed his arms around her again as she was closing her personal locker. it was an upsetting scene to behold. We wittingly decided to just walk straight pass them and forget all the let's-approach-jennie-first plan.

As we were about to go parallel and pass Scott and Jennie, a warm touch gently held my free hand and we were distorted from walking. "Wait." Jennie's warm hands have always felt like home and adventure at the same time. I flinched but instinctively turned right away, Jisoo followed and faced them.  I quivered as I meet those splendid pair of eyes again, am I the only one agreeing to the fact that Jennie's eyes is literally the 8th wonder of the world?  There is a splendid spectacle happening beneath those mystifying pair of orbs that is unfathomable.

Surprisingly, she held me long enough for Jisoo and Scott to notice our sudden skin contact, all eyes were on our hands so we quickly removed it and shared awkward stares, but Jennie managed to cut in, "I just wanted to congratulate both of you. Let's do well." Her words were genuine but her tone was foreign, I didn't like the formality that came with it. As if the three us never shared a bond. Instead of snapping out, I decided not to overthink and said, "Thanks. Congrats to you too." It's just been a week since I last spoke to Jennie and the amount of awkwardness and discomfort that has already build up between us was heartbreaking. It's like we're back from the start, like I had to win her all over again.

"No offense, but you know my girlfriend's gonna win." Scott blatantly blurted out with his egoistic smirk revealing on the side of his lips. Jennie quickly gave him an elbow, and Jisoo just rolled her eyes out of amusement and rebutted, "No one asked." I just tilted my head down and stood silent.

 "Anyways, Jen. I'll be having a party tonight, just thought that you might finally come this time." Jisoo's tone was fading in disappointment, she couldn't blame herself though. Jennie has been out and about ever since she dated that blonde jock. I saw Jennie's mortified expression as her eyes brimmed out sadness. The atmosphere was subtle and intense. An unfamiliar ground for the two bestfriends. Or are they still bestfriends?

"Really? Sure we'll come." Scott arrogantly replied out of nowhere when the invitation was not even for me. What a douche. i thought. "Not you loser. Just Jennie." Jisoo quickly retorted with sass. Scott was ready to rage out when Jennie fully blocked him with her hand and intervened "Of course! I'll come." she quickly replied out of requirement. "I suggest that it's best to come without a pain in the boyfriend." Jisoo wittingly fired again, as she gave a side-eye to Scott. "I see that you still got that misandristic mouth of yours in contact, Jisoo." the blonde quickly rebutted. Clearly there was an unspoken tension between the two.

Jisoo rolled her eyes for the nth time and huffed, "You're pathetic. You don't even know what misandristic means, you sure know how to do last-minute googling. No wonder why I broke up with you." The words hit Scott right at his pride as I saw his expression crumble down in shame. Jisoo took one step forward as her eyes pierced into the blonde jock. "Look, Scott. If you think that everybody will take you seriously this time just because you're dating my bestfriend, then 's on you."

Scott gulped hard but remained silent, I saw an unfamiliar pain in his eyes, those words Jisoo shot at him caused him to indulge a deeper kind of torment. Like the sting becomes different when Jisoo attacks. Even with Scott's in-depth quietness the black-haired heiress of Korea still continued, "As dumb as you are, I still can't believe the fact that you managed to take my bestfriend away from me, and I wanna know why." Jisoo quickly turned his fiery glare into Jennie's cat-like eyes. As they looked at each other, I saw a thin line that is already waiting to be cut. I saw a friendship that is on the peak of a broken and critical state. It was a tragic moment to see.

Jisoo recomposed and look at Jennie for the last time, "Go to the party, if you ever want to save the last bits of our friendship." Jisoo's final tone was aggravating that left Jennie's face nervous. We exited the scene as Jisoo grabbed my hand out and walked briskly to the parking lot.

"What was that all about?" I suddenly had the guts to question out even though Jisoo was still all flushed and mad. "I'm just so sick of her just letting this happen.Like does she even remember that we were supposed to be bestfriends?! Like we f'cking grew up together and she just ditches me and Samuel like this? And I thought you were fine again when Lisa told me that she slept with you one night, but no, she decides to stick with Scott again." She blurted out. "I'm confused too. It's like I don't know what team she's playing for." I commented.

Jisoo gave me the eye, "Well I think she's playing for herself." I quickly shook my head in disagreement. "I know Jennie's has this competitiveness inside her but I don't think it would come an extent where she will just ruin every friendship and relationship that she has just so she could have her way." Although I tried my best to be convincing, Jisoo maintained a blatant expression and shrugged her shoulders off, "I don't know, Rose. We will never know the true intentions of a person, and as much as I want to trust Jennie and her decisions, I still don't believe that she's doing it for something rather than herself. That's why I want to clear everything out. I hope by tonight, everything will change." 

"I hope so too." was the only words I could reply from Jisoo's cryptic response. I became a little bit skeptic. I am so confident that I know Jennie and all but I actually I know nothing. She will be as mysterious as the first time I laid my eyes on her. I would never understand her, but that's okay. She could be in differe