Zimzalabim Café

Wendy was tired from all the shopping that she had done with Henry. They reached the café and was surprised to see a bunch of girls standing outside the café.

“Why is there a commotion outside of our café?” Wendy asked as she unloading the stuff she bought to the trolley.

“I don’t know, maybe they are here to see me…” Henry joked.

Wendy just glance at him blankly, which made Henry laugh awkwardly.

“Oh! Wendy Unnie!” a girl shouted and it caught Wendy’s attention.

Wendy squinted her eyes to see clearly and she saw that it was Mina, the girl from yesterday.

“Mina!”

“Unnie! I brought all of my friends over, they wanted to try your signature latte. I told them it was delicious and they all eager to come and try.” Mina explained happily.

Wendy eyes were wide with excitement, she slowly grinned and nodded her head “Tell your friend to wait for a moment, I’mma get the all the stuff ready!”

Mina nodded and she ran toward her friends and tell them that what Wendy told her.

“Guess Irene is really our lady luck huh~”

“Isn’t it great Henry?! Our Café finally getting more and more customers! Go open the café now! Don’t let our customers wait! I will bring all these thing in.” Wendy instructed her best friend.

Henry nodded, and he went toward the girls “Hey ladies, mind if you make space for me, I need to open the café.”

Wendy closed her car’s trunk and pushed the trolley to the side of her café. She was grateful to Mina for bringing her friends over, but now the problem is how to serve all 8 of them in a short amount of time. Wendy still need to bake the cake and brew the coffee and tea. At the moment she wished that Irene is around, she needed the extra help right now.

“You can do this Wendy!!” Wendy cheered for herself.

 

Ruby Jane Kim Boutique

“What about this unnie? This blouse suits your style!” Rosé asked while holding up the black blouse to show Irene.

“Hmm…” Irene just nodded.

Rosé grunted when Irene just nodded to each of the outfit she shown her. She turned to Jisoo for a little help but Jisoo was too busy playing her game. Then she turned to Jennie who had been quiet since the beginning and mentally asked Jennie to help her out.

Jennie saw Rosé helpless expression, she averted her eyes to meet with Irene, and Irene was looking at her with a blank expression on her face.

“You can choose whichever that you like Irene…don’t have to worry about the expenses. I got you cover~ Wendy’s friend is our friend! So just choose which one that you want.”

Irene tugged a little smirk at the end of her lips when she saw how flustered Jennie looked. “Oh, I can pay you once I get my first pay check!” Irene continued with her acting when she remembered that she had to act like she didn’t know Jennie.

“What differences does it make?” Rosé asked desperately “I mean, Wendy unnie is the one that pay for your salary, and what differences does it make if you use her card now?”

“It doesn’t…but I don’t want to keep being dependable on Wendy.” Irene explained.

“Can you two finish your shopping fast? I’m hungry!” Jisoo whined from the side while holding her stomach.

Irene laughed at the younger girl, she never felt this happy before, even if she was with her friends. She is afraid she will get attached to this kind of feeling that when the day come for her to bid Wendy goodbye it is going to be hard. “The day will eventually come right? It’s not like I am going to stay with Wendy forever.” Irene thought to herself.

“Irene-shi, how about I decide for you what to buy, and about the bills you don’t have to worry. I will send it to Wendy and tell her to deduct it from your salary, how does that sound?” Jennie’s voice takes Irene back to the reality. She looked at Jennie and Jennie mouthed something to her while gesturing to the entrance of the boutique, Irene turned to see who was it and she saw someone that she didn’t want to encounter. She quickly nodded at Jennie.

“Jennie!” a girl called for Jennie, and Jennie begins to panic when she saw the girl is approaching her. Irene was panicking too. She wanted to turn and runaway but that will make her get caught.

“Here take this and go try it in the fitting room!” Jennie randomly picked up a few clothes and shoved it to Irene before she pushed Irene into the vacant fitting room.

Rosé was surprised by Jennie’s rude attitude and she wanted to scold her but Jennie pushed her into the fitting room too. “Help Irene out.” Jennie said softly almost like she is whispering. Jennie clasped her hands together and Rosé understand her signal, so she quietly obeyed.

“Do you have a company? Are you busy?” the girl who called for Jennie earlier asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing Joy! Just entertaining some customers, you know.” Jennie laughed awkwardly.

“Joy?” Jisoo’s ears perked up at the mentioned of Joy’s name. “Isn’t that Wendy’s unnie ex?” Jisoo asked herself, she averted her eyes from her phone screen to the girl that is talking to Jennie. “It is Red Velvet’s Joy!!” Jisoo gasped and she almost dropped her phone.

Joy saw Jisoo getting all flustered about seeing her, she smiled at her and pulled Jennie to the side “I thought I told you I will be coming here today with my other members, and is there someone else in this boutique?” Joy asked.

“She’s my friend Joy-ah…not some saseang.” Jennie sighed. Despite of what had happened between Wendy and Joy before, she still remained friend with Joy because they used to be classmate. Though she knew that Joy had tried to find Wendy to talked things out with her over the years, but Wendy stubborn head made it hard for her to set them two up. Wendy ever threatened Jennie, that if she ever plans a meeting between her and Joy, she will end their friendship. Jennie likes Wendy a lot, that girl was like an older sister to her, and she doesn’t want to lose her as a friend so she decided not to be a mediator between Wendy and Joy.

“Joy!” another girl came in.

“Seulgi~” Joy greeted.

“Yeri is trying to fight me again!” Seulgi complained angrily.

“That is because you cheated on her you idiot!!!” a younger girl came in, her face is red. She is clutching her knuckle so tight that it turned white.

“I told you I wasn’t ready!!” Seulgi retaliated while hiding behind Joy’s back.

“Oh!! So leaving her on your wedding day is your solution?! If you are not ready, then you shouldn’t have said yes to her when she proposed to you!!” the younger girl shouted in anger.

Jennie asked all of her employers to leave the boutique and she asked them to put on the close sign. She also asked Jisoo to hid in the fitting room with Rosé and Irene.

Jennie stood in between the younger girl and Seulgi “Stop it you two, if you want to fight, please fight outside of this boutique.” Jennie said calmly but she was pushed aside by the younger girl.

“Yah Kim Yeri!” Joy scolded the younger member of Red Velvet, when she saw she pushed Jennie aside to get hold of Seulgi who was hiding behind her.

“Kang Seulgi!! I won’t forgive you for making her disappear!” Kim Yeri voice was getting louder and louder.

“What do you want me to do Kim Yeri?! Our saseang fans found out about the proposal and the wedding! If I got married that day, it would ruin our career!! I was trying to save our carreers!” Seulgi shouted back.

“Then did you even love her?! Did you even love Joohyun Unnie?!”

“I did!!” Seulgi shouted back.

 

Fitting Room.

“What is going on out there?” Rosé whispered. She didn’t how she, Irene and Jisoo ended up in on fitting room. Jisoo just said that Jennie asked her to hide in there.

“Red Velvet happened.” Jisoo explained and she saw that Irene’s eyes were lightened up.

“I know Joy was here, but the whole Red Velvet?” Rose asked.

“Yeah.” Jisoo nodded.

 

Outside

Joy helped Jennie get up on her feet despite the heated argument of her two members, she is more concern of Jennie. Jennie thanked Joy and she turned her focus back on Seulgi and Yeri.

“You went out with Sunmi unnie on the day before your wedding! You were caught red handed by despatch and now you’re telling me that you’re afraid our fans will found out that you are gay?!! Ruined our career my !! I saw the way you look at Sunmi unnie! I saw it all!! I tried to warned you but you still ended up cheating!!” Yeri angrily raised her voice, and she almost choked on her own tears.

“I…” Seulgi was speechless.

 

Fitting Room

“Ouch…what a drama.” Jisoo remarked.

“Oh I did read about the despatch new about Seulgi and Sunmi…” Rosé added.

With no warning, Irene opened the fitting room door and marched out, Jisoo and Rosé tried to stop her but they were no match to her strength.

“Irene unnie!” they both called.

 

“Is it true Kang Seulgi?”

Seulgi had a goose bump upon hearing the voice that called out for her. She turned and there she saw Irene who standing facing her with tears falling down her cheeks. Seulgi face turned white.

“Unnie…” Jennie gasped. Jennie felt guilty for the unwanted meeting between Irene and Seulgi. She didn’t know that Irene is the friend that Rosé and Jisoo said they are bringing over. If she had known that it was Irene, she would have rescheduled Red Velvet’s visiting to later hours. That is why the moment she saw Joy stepped into the boutique and she quickly asked Irene to hide in the fitting room.

“Unnie!!” Yeri was happy to see Irene, she runs up to Irene and hug her tightly.

Irene pats the younger girl on her head, she tried to pushed her away just so that she can look at her beloved little cousin’s face. Irene wiped Yeri’s tears as she wiped her own “Don’t cry Yeri ah…” but her voice cracked which made Yeri whimpered even more. The little girl bury herself in Irene’s shoulder as she cried. Irene turned her gaze to Seulgi and Seulgi looked down, she didn’t dare to look Irene in her eyes.

Rosé and Jisoo was stunned when they realized the whole situation. They tried to asked Jennie but Jennie told them to wait and they stood there silently.

“Why?” Irene voice finally break the silence.

“I love you Joohyun-unnie…I really do…but…”

“But you love her more?” Irene voice cracked again.

“I…I’m sorry…let us fix this together can we?” Seulgi tried to reason out, but Irene shook her head.

“I’m can’t…forgive you.” Was all that Irene said. Irene tried to break Yeri off her, she pushed her away and she grabbed all of her things and headed out to the door.

“Follow her.” Jennie ordered Jisoo, and Jisoo complied, followed by Rosé, they follow Irene.

“Unnie!” Yeri cried for Irene, but she is stopped by Jennie “You gotta let her calm down.”

“Jennie is right Yeri-ah.” Joy tried to calm the youngest member of Red Velvet. She pulled Yeri into her embrace and she circle her thumb on the young girl back to calm her.

“Now Seulgi-unnie…” Jennie turned to Seulgi who was silently looking at the floor.

“Please…don’t show yourself in front of Joohyun-unnie anymore.” Jennie warned.

“But…I love her Jennie-ah.”

“If you love her, you wouldn’t do what you did before the wedding, and you wouldn’t have left her on the altar alone on her wedding day.”

“I know you and the Kims are going to hate me for what I have done, but I am going to fight for her Jennie.” Seulgi replied firmly.

“If you really love her, why didn’t you look for her?” Jennie questioned, and there was anger in her voice. “I want you to leave now Kang Seulgi, leave before I lost my patient.” Jennie tried to control her anger and Seulgi complied. Seulgi stepped out from the boutique and she went to the van that was waiting for her outside.

Jennie turned to Yeri “Yeri-ah, tell Taeyeon-unnie not to worry about Irene-unnie…I’ll look after her, just promise me, don’t come look for her in mean time. She needs time to heal.”

Yeri nodded, she wiped away her tears and hugged Jennie “Tell Joohyun-unnie I miss her and I’m worried about her.”

“I will…” Jennie replied.

“Joy, can you handle them?” Jennie turned to the distraught Joy.

“I try…” Joy sighed heavily “It’s not an easy job.” She sighed again.

“Yeri, can you promised me not to fight with Seulgi anymore?”

“That I can’t promise you…” Yeri said bluntly.

“Just try to calm yourself please, don’t make it too obvious, or your fans going to suspect something is wrong with your group, and knowing how much you like to sing and entertaining people, I am sure you don’t want to jeopardize your career just because of Seulgi.”

Yeri nodded, Jennie smiled at her cousin and she patted her softly on the head “Joy, I’m sorry for this mess today, I didn’t know the friend that my friends mentioned is Irene…if I know I wouldn’t…”

“I understand Jennie…we can always reschedule our meeting to other days, I’ll be taking them back to our dorm and try to resolve this matter in less tensed situation…” Joy said.

Jennie nodded and she bid the two girl good bye, then she sighed and plopped herself on the waiting couch of her boutique.

 

Flashback to Irene’s wedding day.

“Where’s Jennie?” Taeyeon asked.

“She couldn’t come.” Yeri answered her older sister.

“She couldn’t come to her own cousin’s wedding? That’s odd.” Taeyeon asked again.

“Well you know how Aunt Jiyeon feels about same- marriage…” Yeri shrugged.

Taeyeon just sigh and she looked at Irene who was getting ready for her wedding “Yah, Bae Joohyun, you look so beautiful today.”

Irene smiled shyly at her older cousin’s remark “Thanks unnie, and I am loving this dress…”

“Jennie gave it to you as wedding gift!” Kim Heechul the Kim’s oldest sibling said when he entered the bride’s room.

“I hope you didn’t made mistake by choosing to marry her Irene ah…” Heechul warned.

“Oppa…I believe in my own choice.” Irene replied.

Irene phone rang and Heechul picked it up for her since she is busy getting her makeup and hair done.

“Unnie!!” a cute voice can be heard from the phone.

“Yah! Kim Jennie! Why can’t you come?!” Heechul shouted playfully into the phone.

“Oppa!! Put me on the loud speaker! I wanna talk to Joohyun-unnie!”

Heechul pressed on the loud speaker and he goes closer to Irene “Jennie-ah” Irene greeted the girl that was on the phone.

“Unnie-ah! I’m sorry I can’t be there…well you know mom…” Jennie apologized.

“I understand very well Jennie. You don’t have to apologize. Thanks for the dress and flower!” Irene thanked the girl.

“It’s nothing! You’re welcome unnie! I hope you’ll be happy always! I gotta go now! Bye! Love you!”

“Thank you!”

End of Flashback.

 

Jennie massaged her temple, she couldn’t believe how small the world is. When she heard about Irene’s disappearance, she was not worried at all, because she knows how strong is Irene, she knows Irene wouldn’t do something stupid. She also knows that Irene usually need sometimes to cool herself down. She just couldn’t believe that her cousin is now staying with her friend, and the situation could have escalated to a more extreme level if Joy knew about it. She took out her phone, she dialled Lisa’s number.

“Lisa speaking~”

“Lisa ah…”

“Yes Nini?”

“I love you.”

There was a silence on the other end of the phone.

“What?” the girl on the phone asked “Why so sudden?”

“Nothing…Let’s go out tonight…” Jennie invited.

“Sure thing…I’ll pick you up?”

“Yeah sure.”

“7 sound good?”

“7 sounds good.”

“See you then Nini.”

“See you Lili…”

****

The ride to the café was silence, no one dare to open their mouth and asked Irene what happened. Jisoo would occasionally peek at Irene from the rear mirror, just to make sure the girl is okay. Rosé was busy texting Jennie, asking her to explain every details on what just had happened.

JenJen

Irene is my cousin. Her mom is my father’s older sister. You should have told me that Wendy’s unnie friend is Irene!

 

ChipmunkChae

I didn’t know that you know her! You never talked about her! And why didn’t you tell us about her when you meet her earlier?!!

 

JenJen

It’s a long story Chae-ah, let’s just said my side of family are not that close with her side of family because of some family issues, so I never actually talk about her that much. And there’s a reason why she doesn’t want you guys to know who she is!

 

ChipmunkChae

Who is she why she doesn’t want us to know? And the fact that her ex fiancé is in the same girl group as Wendy’s unnie ex…it would be awkward!

 

JenJen

That’s why don’t tell Wendy unnie anything! I’ll tell you all about her when we meet, but for now I cannot tell you anything! I just can tell you that she is my cousin.

 

ChipmunkChae

But what if unnie finds out?

 

JenJen

Then I will know that it was you or Jisoo that spill the tea!

 

ChipmunkChae

Yah! I didn’t know things are this complicated!

 

JenJen

I didn’t want it to be this complicated too!!

 

ChipmunkChae

What should we do unnie? *Emoji crying face*

 

JenJen

Just pretend that you didn’t know anything! I’ll try to find ways to explain to Wendy unnie.

 

Rosé sighed deeply, Jisoo saw it and she held her hand, gave it a gentle squeezed. Rosé was touched by Jisoo sweet gestured, she smiled and intertwined their fingers.

 

They reached the café and Jisoo parked her car. Three of them stepped out of the car and headed to the café and was surprised that it’s already opened.

“Odd…thought the café operation hour is 11am to 11pm? It’s only 10.30 and already opened?” Rosé asked.

“Oh look, there’s a lot of people inside!” Jisoo pointed.

The three of them entered the café and they bumped to Henry who was rushing to get out “Oh sorry! We underestimate today’s patron and running out of raw materials! Gonna go get some!” Henry apologized and dashed out.

Irene saw Wendy struggled to balance in getting customer order and making the drink herself so she rushed to Wendy side. Wendy was surprised to see Irene, she thought she had send her to go shopping but why is she’s there with her.

“I’ll handle the cashiering, and you focus on making drinks, and baking…” Irene cut Wendy off before the younger could said anything.

Wendy nodded and she went back to her drink making station and start to brew drinks. Jisoo nudged Rosé and Rosé turned to Jisoo “Do you wanna help them? They look like they could use some help.”

“Yeah! Good idea!” Rosé agreed. They rolled up their sleeves and took the extra apron by the counter and stepped behind the counter to help Wendy. Wendy thanked them, Jisoo just shook her head telling her that it was nothing. Rosé was incharge of making the cakes, while Jisoo in making waffles.

“One boba milk tea.”

“That would be 5.90, do you want to add on topping?” Irene is taking the customer orders. Wendy manage to steal glances at Irene, and her heart beats at Irene’s side view. “She is beautiful…” Wendy thought to herself. The steamed machine almost burns her hand when she got distracted by Irene’s beauty, she yelped in pain and everyone’s eyes turned to her. Irene rushed to Wendy side and she quickly guided Wendy toward the sink and slowly use the cold water to wash the infected area.

“Rosé can you help me take the customers’ order?” Irene asked and Rosé immediately went to the cashier to take the order while Irene attended to Wendy.

“Can you please be more careful…” Irene scolded Wendy.

Wendy smiled sheepishly at Irene “Your beauty face distracts me…” Wendy said while grinning.

Irene looked at her and she gently slapped Wendy on the shoulder, Wendy fidgeted. Irene went to emergency kit and she gently wrapped Wendy’s hand with bandage and she warned her to be careful again then went back to the cashier. Wendy eyes follow Irene’s movement. She keeps smiling to herself whenever she thinks about Irene. Jisoo who saw it, had an evil smug on her face. Rosé saw the smug slapped Jisoo on the back.

“Ouch!” Jisoo cried.

“I know what you’re thinking Chu-ya…please don’t go and try to play cupid!”

“But she’s whipped for her Chaeyoung ah! Did you see the way she looks at her?”

“I did, and after understand the situations that Irene is in, I do not think it is right for us to set them up.”

“Who said I wanted to set them up?” Jisoo squinted her eyes.

“Your smugly face given it up!” Rosé grunted.

“Okay let’s make a bet!”

“What bet?” Rosé asked.

“Since you like cherry blossom so much, if that tree out there…” Jisoo paused and pointed the tree to Rosé “…Blooms before Wendy confessed her feeling to Irene, I will do whatever you wanna do my queen…”

“That is not fair! We all know that tree isn’t going to blooms! It’s a dead tree!!” Rosé whined.

“Oh hoo hoo…never judge a tree Roseanne Park~” Jisoo said cheekily.

“Fine…deal!” the two shake their hand to seal the deal.

To be continue...

 

A/N:

And so~ We've learn about Jennie and Irene's relationship (Notes: Jennie dad is the youngest among the Kims, while Yeri, Heechul and Taeyeon's dad is the oldest, which made Irene's mom's the middle kim), but why Irene wants to hide her identity? Who she really is? Will Seulgi really fight for Irene? Will Wendy really fall in love with Irene (I think she already did~) And yes Seulgi is her ex fiance. I was gonna make Joy as her ex but it will be too complicated to write and there will be plot hole, so~ ehe Next chapter gonna focus more on Jenlisa, 2Yeon and 2 more pairings (It's a secret).