Chapter Fourteen

Lisa•••

Mr. Yang's office hasn't changed one bit. The grey, marbled walls shoot up to the high ceiling and minimalistic ceiling lights dangle in a straight line, leading your eyes to land on his stainless steal, monumental-like, desk. And he sits behind it on his self-righteous chair.

"Lalisa." he stands with his arms open.

"Good day, Mr. Yang." I bow. He gestures me to enter through the threshold and offers me the cushioned seat in front of his desk.

"I see you're dressed for the party."

"I am." I smile respectfully, brushing down my black pantsuit, appropriate for the party's theme. It's a comfortable choice of outfit that Chaeyoung helped me pick, matching with lustrous black stiletto heels. My inner tomboy would have loathed to wear a cocktail dress all night.

"Well, let's not keep us waiting any longer." he opens his side drawer and pulls out a checkbook. He jots down on it and I hope to see my efforts worth in zeroes. "I'm very pleased with the outcome of Rosé's comeback. I can't wait for the public to hear the track tomorrow and see what you've prepared with her for her performances soon. You're definitely one of the best choreographers we've had." he sounds sincere enough considering this man's ego is as big as his company's debt to the artists.

"I try my best, Sir."

He tears the end of the check off its book and hands it forward to me. "I'm looking forward to seeing what else you can do." he smiles.

I take the check courteously while letting my utmost gratitude be known, feeding his self-respect. When I'm excused from his office, I choke on my own breath.

Two million five hundred thousand won.

The guilt of the kitchenware has finally subsided.

I have to cover my mouth to keep my rejoicing from echoing through the hall. My mom would be thrilled to hear that I've received my first paycheck here in Korea. I know foreigners aren't paid as well, but this would suffice with no doubt.

The exuberance of what I've earned has me grinning from ear to ear all the way down to the basement where Chaeyoung and Jisoo are getting ready for the party in the dance studio. It was a good three minutes because when I reach the corner of the hall, I hear Rosie speaking in desolate. As to not interrupt, I stop in my tracks and hang back by the wall while waiting.

"I've been taking care of myself just fine." she asserts. When I don't hear a response, I conclude she's on the phone with someone she's not very pleased to be speaking to. "What do you mean? I did call. You didn't pick up last week, so I stopped calling." her tone is wretched this time and I worry she might start crying. I peer over the corner and see she's leaning against the wall, indeed on the phone, with her other hand to her temple. I can't see her face, but I can tell she's upset. "I'm not asking you to fly all the way here, mom, I'm asking you to give me a call every now and then." I hide away when she drops her hand from her face. "My comeback releases tomorrow. I'll be busy promoting." she doesn't say this as happily as she did before. "Just tell dad I'll call when I can. Maybe you guys could do the same." her heels click-clack back into the studio.

The absence of Chaeyoung's parents must have a bigger hole in her than I thought. They're growing distant despite all the distance they have between them. I know Chaeng is doing her part in reaching out everyday, but even just a phone call with them is hard to catch. If you add up the time her family came to visit since her debut, it would only add up to nearly a year's worth of time. In addition, Chaeyoung trained for four years and only saw her family twice. How could one year make up for eight?

It doesn't make sense to me. If I knew why her family was so out of reach then I could help my best friend better. Finding the answers would just have to wait a little longer because I wouldn't want to spoil the night for Chaeng.

"Lookin' good." she eyes me from top to bottom from the reflection of the vanity.

"Not as good as you, Chipmunk." I remark. It's true. In her black, long sleeved, latex, Saint Laurent dress, she'll be turning heads.

Chaeyoung shoots me a kiss with her pouted lips being retouched by the make up artist.

"Ehem."

I walk over to the brunette in her elegant, black, shoulder padded suit top matched with a tight skirt who sits on her own make up chair. "How could I compare, Jisoo?" She's show-stopping.

The two wouldn't let anyone outsell them at their own party. But I'm hanging on to one person who just might. I won't tell them that, though.

"I'll be a little late to the party. Have to finish up some things at the café." I read a text from my girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

I like the sound of that a lot.

"I'll be waiting, baby." Initially, I wanted to escort Jennie here, but because of work, I needed to be at YG all day.

"What are you wearing?" she asks. I try to hide my smile because it's amusing to me that I was just thinking about what she was wearing, too.

"Something you can't handle."

"Is that a challenge, Lalisa?"

"Maybe?"

"Try to keep it in your pants the whole night, then."

I snap my head up in wary, despite knowing no one can see my phone from the corner I'm sitting by. Jennie has been tugging at my hormones ever since our first time the other night. Hell, I'm still on cloud nine at being her first. Yesterday was different, a little rougher I would say, but still loving and emotional.

I've had sex before, that I'm not proud of. I was drunk and Minnie was high. It was confusing, messy, and painful, if I'm being honest. Something you would expect out of a drunk college party with a horny girlfriend.

With Jennie, its exceptional. Even more than that. I didn't think I would ever love sex after Minnie and I, but I didn't really know what sex meant back then.

Besides the other night being Jennie's first time and me as the more experienced, I wanted to tend to her the most loving way I could. The most pleasant and enjoyable way I knew how to make love to her.

I know better, now. It's not just a kiss and fuck. It's intimate and fulfilling and it's like paradise. I don't think there are enough words to describe how good it feels, because nothing feels like Jennie.

"Ladies, the guests are arriving." Jisoo's manager prompts when he enters.

"Show time." Jisoo stands from her chair after her last make up touches. Chaeyoung follows suit. I follow behind my two friends with their escorts to the function hall. They're already stealing glances by the staff we pass by and some don't even try to hide their drools.

I lean in between the two and talk above a whisper for only them to hear. "Let me know if any guy bothers you. Or girl." you just never know with these sex deprived idols.

"We have a whole squad of body guards, Lis." Jisoo laughs.

"Won't stop me from a beating." I wink. 

Staff and security stand by the entrance to the function hall. The music blasting by the DJ grows louder as we approach. This is my first time attending Chaeyoung and Jisoo's parties and it would be my first time interacting with their other friends and idols in the industry.

When the doors open, I know I'm in for a treat.

•••

Roseanne and Jisoo did onto come to play.

The function hall has turned into a full on, A-lister night club. The bar is towering with expensive alcohol, the white and black couches compliment the drinking tables, and the music lights really set the mood of a hype party.

"Where the hell is Jenduek?" Jisoo shouts over the booming music.

"On the way!"

She nods her head and moves on to the dance floor where her friends enjoy the music. I watch from where I sit on the couch. Re-examining everyone's faces because Jisoo and Chaeyoung introduced me to each and every one, and I have a lot of names to remember. With Jisoo are Jihyo, Jeongyeon, Daniel, Namjoon, Teddy, and G-Dragon. With Chaeyoung by the bar are Nayeon, Chungha, Ryujin, Suho, and Jackson. It would take me longer to name the rest of the guests drinking and dancing the night away.

I would have thought that idols were more worldly, I'd say, in a party like this. But the consistent alcohol consumption, glass after glass, and the grinding of bodies set a different scene.

"I'm really close by. See you soon, baby." Jennie texts. I stand up from the coach and advance to the doors so I could meet Jennie there. I squeeze through, trying not to interrupt the celebrities.

"Lisa, right?" I'm stopped by the bar.

"Yes." I extend my hand, because I haven't met the black haired girl yet. I would have remembered her bangs and big eyes. "Nice to meet you."

"Momo." her hand is cold from shifting her beverage to the other. "I choreograph for Nayeon in JYP Entertainment. I heard that you do the same for Chaeyoung now." her pretty face has me looking down at her killer body of a dancer, but I don't linger long. She might mistake my jealously for interest. "I can't wait to see what you've put together for her comeback." there's a light squeeze to the hand.

"Thanks! Tomorrow is the big day." I squeeze back and let go.

The door is just a few feet away.

Momo leans in to my ear as the music is straining our throats. "We should put together a choreo some time and get to know each other more." sounds like a fitting idea to make a new friend. I could learn a lot from her, too if she's been creating dances for Nayeon, who has some of the catchiest songs.

We exchange numbers for when we have the chance to meet up. I hand Momo back her phone and my attention is caught by the doors opening.

It seems like I'm back at Coffee Pages for the first time.

Like when the snow stopped mid-air, the party lights are still. Like when the music went muffled, the DJ has changed genres. Like the first time I saw Jennie in her café, I am enthralled.

Because there she is.

So perfect.

In everything true, Jennie is perfect.

I wonder if everyone else is staring, too. I would tell them to stop, but the belle standing so heavenly deserves to be recognized for her ravishing, prepossessing, beguiling, perfection.

"Excuse me." I make my way forward and I might just crash into her.

Her eyes find mine.

Perfect.

Her lips curve up.

Perfect.

"Jennie."

Perfect.

"Hey, you." She hugs me hello. My hands hold her smooth back, thanks to the backless dress. Always so warm. "Did I miss anything?" she asks when we pull away. The party continues on behind me.

"The party missed you." Her curves are accentuated in the black fitted silk dress. Her braided hair is a crown that sits neatly on her brown locks, flowing over her shoulder. She's taller with her heels on, too.

I think Jisoo and Chaeng would agree they've been outsold.

She rubs her fingers over the collar of my outfit, raising an eyebrow. "How dare you hide this from me all day?" She must know I'm having trouble keeping it in my pants.

But I could really care less now.

"You are the most beautiful person ever, Jennie Kim. Really." I sound like a broken record, but I just have to tell her again. I'm breathless, but I hope she heard me.

She tucks my hair behind my ear and gives me a kiss on the cheek. One on the lips would be appreciated, but there are a lot of people here. "I could say the same to you, Lili." she laughs and takes my hand in hers. I bring her over to the bar to say hello to Chaeyoung.

"Jennie!" They hug and my girl greets the rest of the group. Nayeon starts a conversation with Jennie, as she says that she hasn't seen her since her Chaeng's birthday party. Suho, who stands behind Nayeon, listening but not engaging, keeps his gaze on Jennie. I guess you could say I'm doing the same with the two girls back and forth, but my eyes don't speak 'fuck now, talk later'. The prick is practically stripping her naked with his ogling.

Fuck what I said about not stoping the stares on Jennie because I'm about to set this motherfucker on-

"Lisa." Jennie tugs on my wrist and I realize that I was squeezing her hand too hard.

"S-sorry, did I hurt you?" I let go immediately.

Nayeon and Suho's attention are drawn to Jackson chugging a whole bottle of vodka at the other end of the bar.

"No, it's okay." she takes my hand in hers again. I take a deep breath to cool my internal irk. "Are you okay?"

I just nod.

Jisoo comes over and we hang around at the bar with her and her friends. Except for Suho, everyone is good company. We take shots, dance around, and enjoy the last few hours of the year.

And the best part is that I get to do it all with Jennie.

My hands snake around her waist from behind and I pull us close. "Lisa, people are gonna stare." she giggles, but tries to pry my arms off. "Baby, let go.".

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm just so in love with you." I thought it was the alcohol at first, but it must be my infatuation for my girlfriend that has my vision in soft focus. Because she is the only one glowing. The only one perfectly lit despite the dim room and light beams shooting around in neon colors. Everything else is a little blurry and she is the only one who is clear to me.

Jennie turns around in my arms and pinches my cheeks with a scrunched up nose. "I could say it a million times over, Lisa, I love you so much."

We move away from the dance floor to one of the empty couches in the corner. "Here you go." Jennie hands me a glass of water for all the dancing we just did. She sits next to me and I hold her hand on top of my lap. It's the only thing we could do that would pass as just being friendly.

"I can't believe the year is already ending. It felt so quick." Jennie says.

"Did you enjoy the year, though?" I ask. She brushes on my bangs. I'm starting to think she does it out of habit because my hair isn't even out of place, but I'm not complaining.

"You saved it for me, babe."

God, I wanna kiss her.

"1 minute!" the DJ shouts and the room cheers loudly.

She doesn't turn away, but rather, holds my face in her hand. The glassy feline eyes stare right through me and the slight curve to her lips is inviting. "I'm so lucky." she tells me.

And I might just cry.

"3!"

"I'm so so lucky."

"2!"

Oh, Jennie.

"1!"

Our heels echo in the building's walls with our laughter mixed together. We're quick to claim Jennie's surrendered coat from the ushers. The cheers of the party fade in the background as we run towards the elevator and enter. "I didn't bring extra clothes for tomorrow, Lili."

"Just borrow mine. It's not like you haven't done that before."

The agonizing wait to pull her into a kiss is starting to hurt, but I'll have to endure it a little while longer because of the cameras around.

If we hurry then we could finally get that New Year's kiss.

"Did you come all the way here in those heels?" I ask, concerned that her feet will freeze to death going home.

"I took a cab on the way." she says, putting on her thick coat.

"I have an extra pair of sneakers in my locker."

We run down to the dance studio. I get all my belongings together in my duffle bag. "It's been so long since I've been back here." Jennie sighs, observing the surroundings of the make shift dressing room. "The last time was with you guys.".

"It hasn't changed one bit, huh." I pull my coat on and change my heels into my white sneakers. "I'll go get the other pair." I rush to the locker room and take out my extra shoes. They'll be a bit big for her, but it's better than what she has now. "Here, baby." I help her into them and zip her heels in my bag.

"You're the best." she coos.

"Yeah, yeah, let's go!" I swing my duffle over my shoulder and we charge for the back exit of the building, knowing that paparazzi would be waiting at the front. Her laughing fits are contagious and I keep looking back to not miss a second of her smile.

The automatic doors fly open and we're hit with the frosty air.

We don't stop there, but when we turn the corner of the street, I drop the duffle and pull Jennie into my arms. We're struggling to catch our breath from the run and the winter breeze, but we're still snickering at our quick get away. "Finally." I breathe out. The streets are empty. "You have no idea how hard it was to-"

"Shut up and kiss me already."

She crashes her lips on mine. The fireworks in my mind go ballistic, popping and exploding in all the bright colors, like the words 'I love you' are etched in every fire that lights the sky. It's so vivid in my mind that I can capture it like a photograph to keep in my box of memories and I'll remember it just like this every time.

When we pull away, I'm out of breath again. My heart is bursting. "I love you so bad, Jennie." and I'll say it a million times over, too.