Chapter Eight

Lisa •••

The white one is aesthetically pleasing, but less in quality. The grey one is sleek and simple, but more expensive with this kind of brand.

"If you don't hurry up, I'm leaving without you."

"It's a good deal for the white one right?" I point out the two mini rice cookers to Rosie and her uninterested expression pierces through the mask she's wearing. She rolls her eyes and starts redirecting the shopping cart. "Okay! Okay!" I place the white machinery with the rest of my kitchenware.

"Can we go now? We've been here for more than two hours."

It's true. I had been crisscrossing through aisles to find the best and most practical kitchen tools for my apartment while Chaeyoung followed me around like a lone puppy, giving me some opinions on what to get when I fell indecisive. It didn't help that we're both exhausted from our early morning practice either.

"I think I've got it all. Let's go, Chipmunk." I take her place in pushing the cart and we walk to the counter.  "What?!" my eyes nearly pop out when I see the total of my purchases.

"Whoa." even Chaeyoung is surprised at the expense and she's a total shopaholic!

It's a splurge. It would take three monthly paychecks from YG to make up for this. Two if I start work at Vogue once the new year comes. But how could I live without the essentials? The basic necessities!

"Lis, you're holding up the line."

"Uhm..." I scramble for my credit card. The clerk has to tug it out of my hands.

I'm still baffled by the price as we load the bags in Rosie's manager's car. "Where do you wanna have lunch?"

"I'm not eating for a few days to save up." I state bluntly.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm poor."

"No, you're..." there's no other way to put it. "budgeting." good one. "Anyway, it's my treat." It's hard to turn down a meal if Chaeyoung's paying. She orders food enough for ten people even if it's just the two of us dining.

We dropped off my purchases at my apartment first, then started our walk to a restaurant instead of taking the car so we could burn more calories before a feast.

We're often stopped because some bystanders recognize my best friend under her beanie and mask and asked to have a picture with the star. Rosie's the friendliest, nicest, most down to earth, polite celebrity and that means never turning down a fan. Even if a crowd starts to swarm.

I wait for her a couple feet away.

"Thanks so much guys! I'll see you!" she waves at all the fans who got their pictures and they disperse as we walk away. "Sorry." she apologizes when she catches up to me.

"No worries, superstar." we continue walking. I spot a retro themed pub by the corner of the street and it must be where the delicious smell of cooked pork belly is coming from. "How about we eat over there?" she squints her poorly visioned eyes to where I'm pointing.

"What's the name? You know I can't see from all the way here."

"Grooving '94" I squint my own eyes to make sure I read it right. "Yeah, that's what it- Chaeyoung." she's stopped in her tracks and looks around us. I do the same, trying to understand what she's in search for.

"Let's eat over there." she points to a bread café across the street.

What about that meal for ten?

She takes a firm grip on my coat.

"But I want real food, Chaeyoungie." I go against her tugs. She gazes over at the pub and shakes her head repeatedly.

"Let's eat somewhere else, Lisa." she crosses the street, leaving without giving me another say. I rush over to her, confused with her sudden change of mood so I ask her what the matter is. "Nothing." she says.

"Why don't you wanna eat at that restaurant?"

"I just don't want to."

"Why?"

"I just don't want to go back there. I swear to god, don't go near that place- ever." The strain in her voice tells me that the idea of that pub doesn't sit well with her and this is the second time she's telling me to not do something I've brought up.

"Did something happen when you were there?" People get drunk in pubs all the time. It could get rowdy.

"No."

"Did someone hurt you?"

"No, okay? Stop with the interrogation and let's just eat." she strides in the bread café. We get in line to order. It doesn't look like much on their menu.

If it were something important or meant her any danger, Chaeyoung would tell me right away because she knows how worried her best friend could be. Especially, if it were involving some flirt.

Chaeyoung is beautiful. She's like eye candy. Men would go out of their way to be with a woman like her. And many have gone to the extreme before, so naturally, any friend would feel protective of her. "If it's because of some guy, you better not be lying to me."

"Geez, why are you being so serious?" she's laughing all of a sudden.

"You just threatened me to never go in that place. You're the one acting all weird. Did a guy bother you or something?"

"It's not about me, alright?" she speaks in hushed tones which reminds me that there are people around and I was talking a little too loudly for questioning.

"Then who?"

There's somewhat, regret, on her face. Like she doesn't want to tell me, but it's something I should know. "Jennie."

Maybe it was better I didn't know.

"It's not my story to tell. So, just drop it." the topic is dismissed when she steps up in the line as its our turn to order.

Jennie said she enjoys telling me more about herself. She said she's never done it much before and there's something about me that makes her want to do it all the time. She told me about her birthday celebrations I missed, her favorite bar to visit even if she just watches Rosie, Jisoo and Irene drink, her coffee distributor's expertise, her favorite grocery store to shop in because its never too crowded, her frequent cravings for milk ice cream, her favorite shower song, and everything in between. I thought I learned all I needed to know about Jennie except whether or not she likes girls and the gut-wrenching stories that came with her mother and uncle, but that's fine. I promise to never ask Chaeyoung or Jisoo a single thing about it again because Jennie can tell me when she's ready.

But there's something that Grooving '94 did to her that I can't ignore. Something that I don't even know about but it makes my blood boil.

•••

It was a challenge to contain the ire that fumed inside me for every second I didn't know what happened to Jennie at that pub. I'm still clueless, but calmer now, because we're ascending the elevator to her apartment. With my clothes in my duffle, stuffed bear in hand, I'm looking forward to spending the night with my three close friends. It would be my first sleepover with them after being separated for so long.

"Jennie!" Rosie does those little jumps she does when she's extra excited and buries Jennie in her long arms. "I missed your place so much!"

"Hi, Rosie." Jennie laughs. They inch in the apartment, still in a tight embrace with Rosie's squeals and I follow in. Her apartment is all white, designed with some wooden tables, chairs, countertops, and pots of plants decorating the room. Not to mention she has more of her clay works displayed around. It's just like her café, only in home size. It has a very aesthetic and calming theme to it, just like Jennie's persona. "Hi, Lili." its me who is wrapped in her arms next.

"How are you?" I ask, returning the hug.

"Good! I was just prepping the ingredients for dinner." she states. That would explain the apron she's wearing and the strong scent of spices in the air.

"No way." Rosie turns to Jennie from where she stands by the kitchen counter full of cooking elements.

"What's a JenChuLiChaeng sleepover without some kimchi fried rice?"

Rosie's squeals hit the ceiling and the girl is bouncing up and down again. Where was all this energy at the kitchenware store earlier, I thought.

I drop my things by the foot of the couch and join Jennie and Rosie in the kitchen. I've never had a taste of the holy grail kimchi fried rice of The Jennie Kim, and Rosie pities me for this, but the gummy-smiled chef eases me step by step through the process which ups my anticipation for the dish.

I'm no cook. Letting me in the kitchen would be considered dangerous, but as long as I get to stand beside Jennie and be controlled by her clever hands is...

No.

Not in a dirty way.

Maybe.

No.

It's keeping me from burning down the place!

"Here, let me help you." she wraps her hand around mine that grips the pan holder and does the same with the other on the spatula. I really need to stop thinking about her hands before my mind carries itself to the many places I want her to touch. But the thought of not thinking about it has me actually thinking about it.

Goddamn it.

My thighs press together. 

"This should be good." she releases me after we stirred the kimchi and rice together. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I turn back to see her bent over to the cupboards to grab some plates.

Jennie looks good in skinny jeans.

Really good.

"Lisa,"

"Huh?"

"the stove." suddenly, Chaeyoung isn't setting the table anymore because she's right next to me, switching off the fire. She glances at me, then at Jennie still bent over, then at me again with her eyebrows wiggling this time.

"Stop." I mutter, facing the steaming rice so she can't see the red tint on my cheeks.

"Whipped." She whispers and giggles her way back to the table.

She didn't make it any easier for me from then on. Any time Jennie said a word to me, Chaeyoung would give me the 'ooooh' look. It was even more exaggerated when Jennie bursted out laughing at a joke I made and gave me a back hug. If I was worried that my internal freak out was obvious, then I was breaking in sweats hoping Chaeyoung's reaction would go unseen.

I'm only lucky that Jennie was oblivious to it all as we set up dinner, as well as Jisoo's perfectly timed arrival. She was weary from her long day of work, but found positive energy once we all sat down and ate together at the square table.

I understood why Chaeyoung felt bad that I had never had Jennie's kimchi fried rice until now because I don't think I'm ever turning to plain rice again. "This is heaven." one of the many praises slip my tongue after each bite and Jennie's shy take in compliments is pleasing to hear.

The food is mouthwatering, but more so is the mere presence of the picturesque muse across me. I'm not sure I can ever get over how beautiful Jennie is. I'm not sure I could paint a picture for you to understand either. Because no sunset could compare to the colors that radiate from her aura, nor can the vast views of the Swiss mountains, or the dole of doves that fly over the beaches, or the green valleys between the hills, or the glistening stream of water in the riverside, or the millions of stars that light the sky.

Jennie is just that heavenly.

After dinner, we sit in the living room to watch a movie. Jennie and Jisoo take the couch while Chaeyoung occupies the sofa chair. I sit on the floor with my back against the foot of the long furniture between the legs of the two older ones. "What are you doing?" Jennie asks, peering at me from behind.

"Mhm?"

"Don't sit on the floor." she tugs my sweater and scoots to the side, making space in between her and Jisoo. I take the offer and settle in the middle. Chaeyoung winks at this.

"Alright, I'm pressing play- no interrupting from now on." the movie-enthusiast, Kim Jisoo, hits the remote and the opening scene comes on.

I'm able to centralize on the first half the movie, but my center of attention redirects to Jennie's shifted leg now touching mine. It's so innocent, but it sends the tingling in my stomach to act up. Then my chest warms when her shoulder meets mine. If she moves another inch, our sides would be pressed together and that sounds very promising, but I'm afraid my internal freak out won't remain internal.

To forget the desire to close the gap between us, I strain my eyes to stare at nothing but the TV. In agony, it works.

Only for a minute.

Because the thing that fuels the crave for Jennie's touch is the sex scene about to unfold in the movie.

"Jisoo!" Chaeyoung rebukes.

"You're twenty-two years old, Park Chaeyoung, you can handle this." Jisoo retorts.

I don't think I can.

She increases the volume for maximum experience.

Jennie's gone a little stiff, but doesn't react more than that. From how much my peripheral vision allows me to glance at her, she's just watching the movie like she has been.

I would be underplaying my true emotions if I say I'm comfortable with what's going on because I'm fucking turned on. It's taking sheer will power to relax in my seat while there's an ongoing strip tease on the screen and a leg and shoulder of the most elegant woman I've ever known touching me.

God, I want her to touch me.

The scene progresses and the moans from steamy foreplay are bouncing off the walls because of Jisoo's doing. I don't want to, because it means moving my leg away from Jennie, but I press my thighs together again. The heat of the moment is writhing its way up my body and I'm sweating down my neck. I tuck my hands between my thighs to slightly squeeze, but this makes Jennie retract her shoulder.

I sense her look at me, but I keep my gaze on the screen like I'm just as unbothered as her.

"Finally." I have to agree with Chaeyoung. It may have only been a five minute long sex scene, but it was lengthened out to a five hour session in my licentious imagination.

It took the rest of the movie to cool off and loosen up after that. Jisoo had brought a bottle of wine, so we toasted the night to the four of us. We spent hours in conversation, bringing up old memories, sharing new ones, and talking about the most random things. We were die laughing so much that we were crying on the floor and hitting each other from absolute enjoyment.

It was so relieving and I wanted to savor every moment. Every comical reaction from Jisoo, dramatized story-telling from Chaeyoung and gummy-smile from Jennie was captured with my camera.

"I don't know if I can laugh anymore." Jisoo sighs in satisfaction from where she lies on the floor. It was a little past three in the morning, so we decided that it was time to get ready for bed. "Winner gets to sleep with Jennie on her bed."

My eyeballs nearly pop out.

I have never felt so serious about rock, paper, scissors.

"I can take the mattress on the floor." Jennie counters, but we all insist she sleeps on her own bed.

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" Chaeyoung loses the three-way round. It was a given with her luck.

"Rock," please make me win. "paper," please, please, please, "scissors," pretty please, "shoot!"

Fuck.

"Wooo!!" Jisoo cheers on the couch.

I should have picked rock.

We took turns in showering. Chaeyoung went first, followed by Jisoo, me, then Jennie. The effects of wine put the drowsy Rosie to sleep first and Jisoo was soon to crash too.

A little thirsty from the alcohol, I exit Jennie's room for a glass of water. I take a cup from the cabinet and when I turn around, Jennie enters fresh out of the shower. She's in an oversized shirt and sweatpants, and her damp hair naturally falls on her shoulders. I get a cup for her, too. "Thanks." I hand her the water from over the kitchen counter. "How'd you like the movie?"

I choke on the water and nearly spit it out. She comes over and pats my back in worry. "S-sorry, wrong pipe." she takes a paper towel and wipes the dripping water off my chin.

"Not your genre, then?" she chortles.

"I-it was good!" I titter. "I was a little nervous your neighbors would complain about the- uh, the volume of- uhm, you know." my hands are all over the place.

"Right, that scene." she downs the water and puts the glass in the sink. I do the same, walking over to wash it for the two of us. "I got it."

"Please, let me." I squirt some dishwashing soap on the sponge and start cleaning before she could do it herself. She leans against the sink.

"You remind me of the guy in the movie." she says.

"Are you calling me a man?" I joke.

"Of course not!" we laugh. "He washed the dishes, too. He cooked with his girlfriend. Liked to walk with her, took the floor when there was only one bed."

"Chivalry isn't dead, perhaps?" I rinse the soap off the glasses.

"Listened to her talk about how shitty her life was."

I close the faucet and turn to her. She keeps her head down, staring at her feet tapping the floor lightly. "Jennie-"

"Thank you for being here, Lisa." she looks at me sincerely. The crave is back. Only this time, it's tender. Doting. "I'm better whenever you're around." Hoping she won't peer away,-

I tuck the loose strands of her damp hair behind her ear and rest my hand on her cheek. She nuzzles into my palm. I step closer.

- longing to be even closer, -

I lean in, our faces inches apart. She doesn't pull away.

- wondering if she'll let me...

Her eyes close.

She lets me.

She lets me kiss her plump, pillow lips and she kisses me back. She lets me cup her face and press our bodies together as we deepen into each other.

Every move is an act of surprise and I can't stop myself from what comes next. It's exhilarating, thrilling, breathtaking.

It's like magic.