Enigmatic Eyes | JENLISA

Chapter 12

Enough was enough. By early afternoon that Saturday, Lisa's mind had been made up. A week! She had given Jennie her space, respected her wishes (more or less) for a week! And still, her text messages went unreciprocated. Her calls were unanswered. She knew she had fucked up. Oh, how she knew it. But... Jesus, at least give me a chance to fucking talk to you! To explain! To apologize for the millionth time!

So without wasting another moment of rational thought; before she could talk herself out of the deed she was about to hurl herself into, she slid into the Audi and pulled out of the garage.

Her mind was turned off for the short drive and strangely at ease; a stark contrast from the chaos it had been the last few days. Upon arriving at the Kim's, Lisa parked and jumped out of her car, dashing for the door in a few, determined strides before her mind could reawaken and jolt her back to her senses.

She knocked. Once. Twice. Thrice. And finally, the door was peeled backward and Haruto stood just yonder, looking up at her first with confusion, then in pure joy; he beamed up at Lisa, who was powerless to do anything other than beam back.

"Lisa noona! Hi!" He closed the short space between them and engulfed Lisa's midsection in a tight embrace. "I missed you soooooo much! Come in! Jennie noona is upstairs in the shower, want some hot choco? I was just about to make some!"

Before she could even reply, she was tugged forward, Haruto slamming the door shut behind them, and leading her towards the kitchen.

"Haruto, um, I just need a few minutes with Jennie. Will she be long?" Lisa asked, rubbing the back of her neck at the strain she began to feel pent up; still slightly uncertain if showing up unannounced was the right move.

"Nah, she's finishing up her hair I think. We're already running late, so she's rushing. Hey Noona! Are you free right now?!" He asked, dropping the packets of hot cocoa on the counter when the idea flashed across his mind.

Uh-oh. "Well, um, yes, I am. As in I have nothing planned, but I should... You know what kid, can you just let Jennie know I stopped by? I should really get going..." And with her confidence slowly disintegrating, she turned and dashed for the door, ignoring Haruto's pleas for her to stay. She had her hand on the handle and was about to turn when -

"Lisa?" An unsteady voice cracked behind her, and she froze, suddenly afraid to turn. She heard the cautious sound of footsteps take on one step at a time until both feet finally stopped on the first-floor landing. Lisa exhaled, swallowed, and spun.

"Hey..." She managed to speak, which only evoked a scowl from the brunette, and she knew she was in deep shit right off the bat. "Listen, I shouldn't have come here... I'm sorry. I was actually just about to walk out but-"

"Noona, you don't have to go! You're always welcome here... right, Jennie noona??" Haruto had reappeared from the kitchen, and had now joined the two women in the parlor. Lisa wondered if the kid could hear the crackling sound of the bubbling tension erupt between them.

"Haruto, go and grab a sweater. It might get chilly later and we can't have you getting sick." Jennie ordered, without ever removing her eyes from Lisa, who would occasionally tradeoff between looking from Haruto to Jennie.

"Lisa noona, why don't you come with us! Holy moly, yes, come! It's gonna be so much fun! And anyone is invited! Please?! You said you were free...aaand Jisoo noona is coming too! It will be fun, right, Noona?!"

Lisa saw Jennie shut her eyes nearly painfully for a brief moment. "Haruto... sweater. Lisa and I are gonna have a little talk outside on the porch, ok, sweetie? Grab your sweater and go make your cocoa. We'll be right back." Although her tone was soft and soothing, Lisa didn't miss the hiss that was delivered the second her name was spoken. She wanted to lie and say she wasn't scared shitless, but the frightening glare and the tightening muscles around Jennie's jaw made her intestines loosen a bit.