“Where are we going?” Jennie asked, losing the liveliness in her tone. A 180 from how she was earlier in the meeting.

 

“Where else?” Nayeon replies, getting in the back of Seulgi’s car as the others ride with Seojun.

 

“Cosmos..of course..” Jennie nods, her eyes going towards the road, but she can still feel Nayeon and Seulgi glancing at her every now and then.

 

Once they arrived and settled into their private room no one dared to talk. The others just kept making eye contact with each other trying to get someone to speak. Jennie watches them for a bit before getting bored.

 

“Okay, what’s really going on that you guys forced me to have lunch with you?”

 

“Before that...are we not going to talk about what happened at the meeting?” Seojun changes the topic.

 

“What happened?” Jisoo frowns.

 

“Rosie happened.” Yeri gives Jisoo a thumbs up, and Jennie raises a brow at this.

 

“What did you tell them?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“Jisoo.”

 

“Alright..I just said you like the new girl. I didn’t know she was the new VD.”

 

“She’s smart and has good ideas.”

 

“You should know that’s not what we mean Jen.” Nayeon voices out.

 

“Wait wait pause… who’s Rosie?”

 

“That’s right, you three don’t know her.”

 

“I know her, Seul told me.” Joohyun comments.

 

“Okay, but me and Yongsun don’t..so..who is she?.” Moonbyul asks, and so Nayeon explains who Rosie is and how familiar the vibe she gives off is.

 

“You just have to meet her guys...trust me.” Seulgi gives a small smile towards the couple, while Joohyun puts a hand on her girlfriend’s shoulders.

 

“And what’s with her and Jen?” Yongsun asks.

 

“Well it just felt like the old days, slightly different..but..yeah..” Yeri, the one who usually keeps the lively atmosphere, answered her tone nostalgic.

 

“The old days?”

 

“Maybe we can all hangout with Rosie and Lisa, her best friend...then you three will know what we really mean.” Jisoo voices out.

 

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Jennie pipes in.

 

“Jen?”

 

“She’s a new person, someone from abroad. Of course we’re all curious. And you guys know, I like to keep my social circle to just us. Outsiders ask too many questions.” Jennie’s tone was stern. For some reason, she didn’t want to be around Roseanne, but it’s not because she didn’t like the blonde Australian Korean, no it’s quite the opposite. Jennie feels a connection with her, one she’s yet to figure out, and won’t go out of her way to learn.

 

“I guess that’s true.”

 

“Yep. So can we please go back to why you all wanted to have a gull group lunch?”

 

The others turned to Nayeon, who pointed towards Seulgi, “She texted me last night wanting to make sure everyone came. So look at her.”

 

“Seulgi?” Joohyun turned to her girlfriend, who gave a half smile at everyone.

 

“My parents and I went to visit Chae’s parents yesterday. They just got back from Europe.”

 

“Oh..” Jennie didn’t even know the Parks left...then again, Jennie really hasn’t been in contact with them since she lost Chaeyoung, “How are they?” Jennie asked, feeling guilty of neglecting the couple who she considers her second parents.

 

“They’re doing good. I think they’ve really just accepted it, no matter how hard it was for them...they also told me to tell you to visit them cause they miss you Jen..well all of us actually.”

 

The gang nodded, Chaeyoung was one of their closest friends. The brunette’s family treating them like their own children...it’s sad that after Chaeyoung passed away, everyone seemed to unpurposely distance themselves from the Parks.

 

“We really should...they only had her..and since there’s so many of us maybe we can fill a bit of the hole she left in their hearts.” Moonbyul speaks up. The mood turned somber, everyone quiet, thinking about how much things have changed.

 

“Yeah…” Everyone nods.

 

“There’s something else.” Seulgi prepares herself to tell them something they hadn’t known before.

 

“They aren’t sick are they?” Seojun was quick to speak up.

 

“No no, they’re healthy..it’s just..well...you see..” Seulgi didn’t know how to tell the others. It’s not something bad really, it’s actually a good thing..but they all never asked about the details of the accident, they didn’t want to. Learning everything was shocking for Seulgi, who was Chaeyoung’s best friend..so she worries on how Jennie will handle the news.

 

Seulgi pauses her rambling and takes a deep breath before speaking again, “You guys know how Chae has always put others before herself. She was the quietest in our group, just going along with us...being the mom friend with Joohyun. Wanting to protect those around her, even if they’re strangers.”

 

Everyone nodded their heads.

 

“Did you know that she was an organ donor Jen?”

 

“No…” Jennie frowned.

 

“Well she was...and I know we never asked her parents what really happened that day, but they told me about it...of course asking if I was ready and if I wanted to know. I wanted to say I wasn’t, but there was something in Auntie’s eye that made me agree.”

 

“Wait..” Jennie stood up, “Seul..I..” Jennie’s voice cracked. She’s been doing so well in keeping herself in the dark when it comes to the accident and she plans to stay in the dark for as long as she can. Jennie wants to remember her as she was. She wants to remember her smiling Hubby, not some image of her hurt and alone. Plus, the details mean nothing, because it won’t change the fact that Chaeyoung is gone. So before Seulgi or anyone can stop her, Jennie left.

 

“Jen…” Jisoo’s voice echoed in the corridor, calling out after her, trying to keep up, but Jennie didn’t turn back.

 

After Jennie and Jisoo left, it got quiet again. Seulgi sighed, slumping in her chair. She knew it was going to be hard.

 

“Seul..” Yeri breaks the silence, “I..want to know. I think it’s time we all know.”

 

“Yeah Yeri’s right.” Jackson adds, and with everyone agreeing Seulgi continues, “On that day…there were two of them involved. It happened at a crosswalk, a speeding car ran a red light. And according to the investigation reports, she tried to protect the other girl with her. Chae….” Seulgi’s voice began to crack, feeling as if her heart was being ripped apart again.

 

“Seul..” Joohyun, places a hand over Seulgi's, trying to comfort her.

 

“It’s okay..” She smiled at Joohyun, taking another deep breath before she continued, “She was pronounced brain dead shortly after arriving at the hospital, while the girl was 50/50. A piece of shrapnel from the accident pierced into her heart…”

 

“Seulgi.” Moonbyul speaks, interrupting Seulgi’s story, “Is it what we’re thinking?”

 

Seulgi nods, “The doctors needed a heart for the girl...and while trying to contact Chae’s parents they learned that she’s an organ donor here..and so they gave Auntie and Uncle a choice...either try to stabilize Chae and keep her on life support long enough for them to fly down and decide what to do next....or to pull the plug and give her heart to the girl so she can live. It was a miracle that they even matched, considering there’s no relation, that girl was lucky. And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree...her parents chose to save the girl.”

 

“Why? I mean..if they didn’t then...maybe we all could have had a chance to at least say goodbye?” Yeri who, along with everyone else, was in tears.

 

“I asked them that too..and they told me that even though it killed them to have to choose between their own daughter and a stranger.. They knew after talking with the doctors that the girl also didn’t have much time. They were able to keep her alive. And yes, her parents did tell them that they didn’t have to...that they should at least say their goodbyes..but you know what auntie said to them?” Seulgi paused unable to fight the sob from escaping her lips, “she said ‘two mother shouldn’t have to lose their kids like this...let me help save yours, by keeping my daughter’s heart alive.’”

 

“God dammit.” Nayeon was biting her lower lip trying to stop her tears but it didn’t work. Everyone was a mess, it was like losing her and finding her at the same time.

 

For a while, sobs and cries filled the room. Everyone coming to grips with the knowledge that somewhere out there, Chaeyoung’s heart continues to beat.

 

~ ~ ~ ~

 

“Whatcha reading?” Jisoo sneaks up from behind Lisa scaring the girl and causing her to drop her book. “Heart’s Memory -Diary of a heart transplant-, what kind of book is that?” The shorter girl asks, handing the fallen book to the original owner.

 

“It’s nothing.” Lisa, takes the book and stuffs it in her bag. Jisoo raises a curious brow at this, but decides not to push it.

 

“Are you back from lunch already? I thought you’d be gone longer.”

 

“Yeah well…” Jisoo laughs awkwardly.

 

“Is everything okay?”

“No.” Jisoo answers honestly, surprising the taller girl, “Bu…”

 

“Good job today everyone!” Lisa suddenly yells out, gaining everyone’s attention, “Let’s call it a day, and start again tomorrow bright and early.”

 

“But Lisa we still have to finish the cover shoot for..”

 

“There’s an emergency.” Lisa smiles at one of her staff members.

 

“What are you doing?” Jisoo hisses as she watches the staff clear things out.

 

“You can’t focus if something’s bothering you.

 

“Lisa, I’ll be fine..I’ve done it before.” Jisoo smiles and Lisa’s frown deepens with this.

 

“Come with me.” The Thai girl grabs Jisoo by the hand and leads her out of the studio towards her car.

 

“Where are we going? My manager…”

 

“I know this is your only schedule for the day.” Lisa stops, turning to face Jisoo, “And you don’t have to tell me what’s wrong..but let me at least be here for you...I know what’s it like to worry about things and not have anyone to talk to. So just trust me.”

 

“Okay.” Jisoo nods, letting Lisa take her to God knows where.

 

~

 

“So where are we going?” Jisoo asks, noticing how they’ve just been driving around for an hour now.

 

“Wherever this road takes us.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Just let me know if you’re hungry, thirsty, or need to use the washroom.” Lisa chuckles.

 

“I thought you were trying to cheer me up?”

 

“Usually...I would, but I can sense that whatever is bothering you...it’s been something that you’ve been dealing with for a while. So cheering you up will only work temporarily. At least here in my car, you can let whatever you feel out. Cry, scream, complain, cuss someone out, anything. I’ll keep driving, until you tell me you’ve had enough. I won’t ask and I won’t say anything. Whatever happens in this car, stays here.”

 

“Is this what you do?” Jisoo asks, trying to read the shorter haired girl.

“Yes.” Lisa honestly answers and a comfortable silence settles over them.

 

They stay like this for a while. Lisa had expected Jisoo to just sit there, getting lost in her own thoughts. She knew that whatever was bothering the model, it’s not something that she can easily say to others, especially to people she just met.

 

So, Lisa continues to drive as Jisoo stares at the window, trying to at least keep all her emotions at bay. But as she kept trying to push it away, the more it resurfaced and soon enough Jisoo finds herself crying.

 

Lisa noticed the tears and how Jisoo seemed to be suppressing her cries. But she didn’t say anything, pulling over briefly to place her handkerchief on the girl’s lap, before driving off again.

 

~

 

It was after Lisa filled her car with gas did Jisoo speak again, “We lost a friend,” her voice hoarse from the crying.

 

“Chu you don’t..”

 

“I want to...you said that whatever happens stays here..and this is something I can’t really discuss with anyone else.”

 

“What about Jennie?”

 

Jisoo smiles sadly, “It was her fiancé.”

 

“Oh...I...I’m sorry.”

 

“It happened almost a decade ago..And I want to say I’ve moved on from it...that we’ve all had, but really none of us has. All of us are still mourning in our own ways. We thought we were fine, that we just needed to be there for Jen and help her move on like us...but look at us...finding things out and suddenly feeling like we lost her again. We were all just running away from our own pain.” Jisoo chuckled bitterly.

 

“Jisoo..”

 

“How can I even be there for Jennie when I’m in the same boat? How can I help my best friend if I can’t even help myself?”

 

“Then you have to heal together.”

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A/N: 6 for 6 (even though it’s a bit late, I’m still counting it.) Anyways, I’ve read some of your theories and you guys are on the right track. I won’t say more because I’m afraid I might spoil something. But no one seemed to really notice it yet...maybe in the next one you will 👀.

 

But Jennie’s POV will be up the next chapter...this is where we’ll….never mind not going to say it 🤐🤐🤐🤐

 

Ah also, I’ve made a twitter account so you can yell at me there too ( @ChaennieXII) my main account is a secret lol. Or if you want to yell at me anonymously here’s my cc : https://curiouscat.qa/ChaennieXII

 

Let me know what you think. I love reading your thoughts. I've been leaving hints everywhere.