CHAPTER 23

~And then there was no one left

20 minutes into the story Jisoo was fuming. She was this close - a gap of a thickness of a damn coin between her thumb and point finger - smacking the hell out of her best friend. She felt betrayed. Chayeoung knew about Jennie all this while and yet she did not say anything, and the cherry on top was she pretends that she didn’t know Jennie’s whereabout.

“I swear to God I didn’t know Ji” Chaeyoung says exasperatedly as if able to read her best friend’s mind “I knew that she’s somewhere safe but she didn’t tell me that she’s your neighbour”

The petite woman suddenly glares at Jennie. “Which reminds me, did you purposely move here?”

Jennie adamantly denies,“I swear to God, I have no idea that Jisoo lives here”

“You better be telling the truth” she points her finger at the woman sitting next to her. “Or I won’t hesitate greeting your face with my fist again”

“Geez Jisoo, why on earth people from your side of the family is aggressive as hell?” Jennie frown “I’m not that desperate. I won’t go about stalking Jisoo just cause I liked her”

Jennie emphasis on the past tense of the word liked. She pats her back internally for saving whatever dignity she might have left.  

The hurtful look that flashes across her face did not go unnoticed by both women in front of her which Chaeyoung immediately apologize.

“Listen Jisoo…This isn’t Chaeyoung’s fault. I told her not to tell a single soul about me. This is something that I needed and I am forever in debt that Chaeyoung did that for me despite the fact that she didn’t have to in the first place. Although, I do get where you’re coming from but I hope you won’t get mad at her”

Jisoo couldn’t help but scoff. As much as she wants to be mad at Chaeyoung, she couldn’t. She rubs the side of her temple, feeling her stress level isn’t going to come down anytime soon.

“I know what I’m about to say is slightly off putting since I m sure you heard about this so many times,but, no matter how much I want to understand what was going on, I can’t help but be worried and a little mad about what you’ve pulled. There’s consequences to this Jen, and it does affect everyone around you. So, just… if you feel like you’re ready to share. There’s me and Chaeyoung that would listen to you.”

Jennie sighs in understanding “I know”

“Ya, you probably should text that tall giant friend of yours soon. He’s been such an towards Jisoo and I swear to God, if I hear one more of ‘Jisoo is the sole reason why you disappear’ I m going to deck him so hard that he’d regret spouting sh*ts in the first place”

“CHAENG!” Jisoo hits her best friend with a pillow, disbelief look strewn on her face

“What? It’s true” Chaeyoung defended herself

“Toby did what??”

“He’s blowing everything out of proportion. Such nuisance” Chaeng added in displease “I understand why he said sh*ts like that, but boy got to back off soon”

 “You didn’t tell me that” Jennie turns to Jisoo

“It’s not much big of a deal “ Jisoo grits, scowling at her best friend who on the other hand seems unfazed  

“He’s angry cause he cares about you”

“Still, you could’ve told me.I am sorry”

“Okay, just. Don’t think too much about that.

**

It has been 3 hours. Jennie sit still on her navy blue couch in her own apartment. The only noise that could be heard was the sound of on going series about kissing booth. Jennie always hated that series, in any other days she would scowls at the atrocious plot line and bad script, but she was too exhausted to even care and her mind is filled with clamorous thoughts about what had transpired.

She shouldn’t be dwelling about it too much. It was a mere crush or so she thought. Being upset over liking someone and knowing that she is blatantly rejected is stupid. Being heartbroken over liking someone who’s straight and being friendzoned for the umpteenth times is another level of stupidity. Plus, not to mention said woman has a child with a possible equally attractive partner. This is destined to be a useless and doomed crush to begin with.

The next thing Jennie know she was crying silently. It was such a childish thing to do but crying is all that she had left of this stupid crush of hers. She knows that this isn’t going anywhere but hanging out with Jisoo and interacting with her without Jisoo giving her the dirty eyes is enough to give her a little hope. A teeny tinny silver of hope.

Jennie lets a little laugh in between her tears “You need to stop this Jennie”

The more she bites her lower lip, the more tears streams down her face. She chided herself again and again over the ridiculous and unnecessary crying.

Her self-pity session comes to an end as her door bells rings. She tries to ignore the sudden interruption, thinking probably it was just Taeyeon but the incessant sound irks her to no ends. She wipes off tears from her face and practically stomping her feet. In hoping that Taeyeon  would get the idea that she didn’t want to deal with her right now.

Fortunately, Taeyeon is not going to get some earful for having to disturb her peace but unfortunately for Jennie… well. She’s fckd.

“Jennie Unnie…”

“Fck” she mutters under her breath.

Dead silence. Jennie could only grips the door knob tightly as her heart racing at an alarming rate. Her day just couldn’t get any better.

“Unnie, it’s rude to leave your guest waiting by the door”

The familar soft velvety voice reverberate through her eardrums.

Myoui Mina is standing right in front of her door with her usual poker face on and honestly that scares the crap out of her.

“Uh…”

Her face suddenly feels exceptionally cold as her cousin Mina cups her cheeks with her palms, grazing it lightly with her thumb “Jen, are you crying?”

Once that question hits her, Jennie couldn’t help but feels warm inside. It has been a while that she hasn’t been in touch with anyone that she’s close to and that makes her feel emotional.

“Minaa…” Jennie engulf Mina with a tight hug as she broke into tears once more.”I miss you so much”

**

Mina takes a look around her cousin’s loft as Jennie busy herself with making some tea in the kitchen. It wasn’t as small as she would expect it to be. Pretty standard space with a touch of modern minimalist design. No pictures around the loft that can be seen except for one generic pineapple painting on the wall. Must be came with the loft. 

She walks towards the big window facing the street and immediately recognizes it. It was exactly the same street that she drop Chaeyoung this afternoon. Her face scrunches in confusion wondering whether the petite woman