----Chapter Thirteen----

In the van leading them to the hotel, Jisoo informs them that most idols who are performing at the festival are also staying at the same hotel as them, probably because of an arrangement between SBS and all the different companies. "We should totally have a small party after the show! I'll text people, to see who's in!"

Lisa cheers and starts singing 2NE1's Let's Go Party a little louder than she usually would while Jennie groans.

They just landed in Manila and are currently on the road after a tiring week. They had no time for themselves, but all embraced the overload of work with open arms. And even though they'll have to keep on working hard throughout this festival, it almost feels like a vacation to them due to the location.

It's their first time performing overseas other than Japan after all, and they're supposed to be excited and thrilled, but the mood in the van is heavy and dark instead.

Jennie has been acting strange ever since this morning, first responding by monosyllabic words to any conversation attempt directed toward her, then stopped trying altogether and remained silent throughout the whole plane ride, avoiding their stares as she looked either at the ground or through the porthole. The girls had tried asking her about it, only to be ignored.

"What, you don't like the idea? Why not?" Jisoo asks her, her eyes searching her best friend's face for some clue about her bad mood but frustratingly finding none.

"Why a party all of the sudden..."

"We're in another country! Why not?"

"I just think that we're just going be tired after the show. I know I'll want to relax and sleep early, not party with a bunch of people."  

"You want to rest after the show? Did you become a granny overnight?" Jisoo bursts out laughing but stops short when Jennie sends her a deadly glare. She shrugs carelessly. "Ok then, fine. You can just stay in our room while we have some fun!" She then starts furiously texting on her phone, her back turned away from her friend.

Chaeyoung exchanges a worried look with Lisa. Jisoo and Jennie never bicker seriously, it's the first time seeing them like this. The tension which is already heavy grows only worst as Jisoo snickers while she texts. Meanwhile, Jennie looks out the window, completely ignoring her.

The atmosphere in the van is so suffocating, Chaeyoung can't stand the inactivity so she takes her phone out and reads again the conversation she has going with Jimin to distract herself.

It started the evening of the last day of their shoot when he'd texted her to inquire about her manager's safe return. To think she'd been worried earlier about falling out of touch with him. Instead, they've been texting ever since.

About music mostly, but they've been sharing childhood stories lately.

They fell on the subject of dance, and she somehow shared her background of cheerleading from when she was in school back in Australia. Big mistake. He's been teasing her nonstop about it, asking for pictures and videos of some cheers, and tries to slide jokes about pompoms whenever he can.

She'd find it adorable and funny if it wasn't directed at her.

Her reading is interrupted by a text from Lisa. Who's sitting next to her.

Chaeyoung glances at her friend who's looking out the window innocently, before dropping her eyes to the text.

Do your cheeks hurt?

Chaeyoung grits her teeth. She must've smiled unconsciously while re-reading Jimin's texts and Lisa saw her.

No. Why are we texting?

It's frosty in the front, I'm almost scared to make some noises.

Yeah, Jennie's acting weird.  Sure, they all have a day off now and then. At one point, they all needed some alone time; it's normal after living together for so long. But communication has always been one of the reasons they have such amazing teamwork. The way Jennie is acting isn't normal, and Chaeyoung worries about her.

I know, she hasn't talked once on the plane even though she was awake the whole time, Lisa sends after a quick glance to the front. The two other girls are lost in their own worlds, obvious to the other two talking about them. And now Jisoo wants to throw that party out of the blue and if Jennie doesn't come...

Oh god. Jisoo is one of the most laid-back people Chaeyoung knows, but she'll feel hurt if Jennie doesn't show to a party she's throwing since Jisoo throwing a party is in itself a very rare occurrence. She usually prefers to play games or read books during her free time.

Do you know why? Chaeyoung sends back.

No... Jisoo doesn't seem to know either...It's a great mystery.

Chaeyoung sighs. She hopes Jennie is fine, or will be fine, whatever is fouling her mood.

This isn't a good start to their first oversea festival ever.

--

They soon reach the hotel and heads to their rooms with their staff following. The girls are sharing two rooms while their staffs are sharing three. Once they reach their floor, Jennie suddenly grabs Chaeyoung's arm and hurries toward the first room that belongs to their team. "I'm rooming with Chaeng."

Chaeyoung only has the chance to throw a look back at the two other girls before Jennie drags her inside, but it's enough time to notice the worry on their faces.

Jennie always rooms with Jisoo.

Not that Chaeyoung minds sharing a room with her, but her sudden change of roommate is worrisome. Why doesn't she want to share with Jisoo? It can't be because she wants to throw that party even if Jennie doesn't want to.

There's something else, but Chaeyoung has no clue what it could be.

Once inside the room, Jennie lets herself fall on the bed and curls her body in a small ball. Chaeyoung carefully sits next to her. "Jennie, are you okay?"

She nods against the bed. "I'm...I'm just really tired and it's making me irritated, so I'll take a nap." She opens her eyes and gives Chaeyoung a small smile. "Sorry for dragging you along with me."

"I don't mind. It's nice to have a break from Lisa's hyper-self." They both chuckle at that. "I guess I'll go to the gym and exercise a bit while you nap."

Jennie frowns. "By yourself? Are you sure? Take someone with you, one of our managers."

Chaeyoung shakes her head. "I'll be fine. I need to do this, going out by myself. And I could use the workout...Our new choreography is demanding and I always feel breathless afterward."

Jennie hesitates, but as she sees the deter