Always Beside You (JenLisa FF)

Chapter 7

"Mom, I'm home." Jennie went straight to her bedroom the minute she comes into the house.

"Oh, honey here... you... are..." Mrs. Kim's gaze followed Jennie's movement until she shuts her bedroom door at the same time she completes her greeting to Jennie.

"I see. She's tired okay." Mrs. Kim spoke to Kuma and Kai, who were staring at Jennie's bedroom.

If you felt like I am saying those words to you eonnie, that is true because I am. Words from Piya keep on echoing in her mind. Jennie was confused. She doesn't know if she would feel happy or she would feel sad about it.

Suddenly, there are butterflies in my stomach again. What are you doing to me, Piya? Why do you have this effect on me? Should I tell her that my lines are for her also? We can't be like this. We are a group. We shouldn't be awkward with each other. Maybe we should talk about it like what adults do. Right, Jennie? Gwenchana, gwenchana. Why does it feel like it's getting hot in here? I should get cold water. Jennie stood up from bed and when she opens the door, she found her mother unconscious lying on the floor. Jennie immediately runs towards Mrs. Kim. She kneels and holds her head into her arms.

"Mom! Mom! Wake up!" Jennie becomes anxious and worried about what was happening to her mom. She was about to call an ambulance when Mrs. Kim reach Jennie's hand.

"Mom! Are you okay? What happened to you? We should go to the hospital." Mrs. Kim stopped her from calling.

"No. No need for that Ruby Jane. I just got dizzy and the surroundings become dark. The next thing I know is that you're waking me up." Jennie helped her mom to stand up and escort her to the bedroom. Mrs. Kim lay down on the bed and Jennie covers her with a blanket.

"Should I sleep here? Do you want a glass of water? Should I come here tomorrow?" Jennie can't hide her distress over what happened.

"I'm okay Ruby Jane. No need to worry about me. I'll skip work tomorrow. For now, lay down here beside me." Mrs. Kim taps the space beside her and Jennie scoots in bed with her.

The next day, Jennie prepared a simple porridge for her Mom. She placed it on the bedside table and went to her scheduled event.

She then leaves a note, 'Eat well, mom. Please call me whenever you are feeling sick or have any discomfort.' Mrs. Kim smiled. She realizes how caring and thoughtful her daughter is.

The girls went to a radio guesting to promote their newly released song. After the scheduled event, Piya went to Jennie to ask her out so that they can talk about the uncomfortable things going on with them.

"Hi Jennie eonnie. Do you have any plans today?" Piya asks her.

"Oh. Uhhmm no, I don't. I'm just thinking about mom." Jennie was still awkward with Piya but manages to calm her nerves.

"Is she okay? Did anything bad happened to her?" Piya looks worried about Mrs. Kim.

"She collapsed last night. Good thing that I am at home. I haven't taught Kuma and Kai how to use a cellphone, yet." Jennie smiled at her.

"I remember, we haven't met your mom yet. She never visited you at the dorm. Hmmmn anyway, can we go out? I mean eat outside and talk about things recently." Piya shyly asked Jennie.

"Yeah, sure. I wanted to talk to you too." Jennie and Piya bid goodbye to the other members. When they are about to enter the car, Piya looks back at Chaeyoung and winks at her. Chaeyoung on the other side, crossed her eyebrows while looking at Piya to scare her a bit, then smiled and nods at her.

Piya and Jennie reached their destination. They are seated at the inner corner of the restaurant so that no one may identify them.

"Let's order our food first." Jennie insisted so that she can get a glass of water to calm the butterflies on her stomach.

They ordered a few foods and talked about the happenings recently. About them being an idol. The two ladies look awkward but trying so hard not to show it to one another. When Piya finishes her food, she starts the topic they needed to talk about in the first place.

"Jennie eonnie, I am sincere on what I have told you last time. You just left me in the parking lot saying nothing. I just want to clear the air between us. If you don't want me to continue, please spare me some time." Piya looked into Jennie's eyes with all her emotions intact.

"I want to clear the air too, Piya, I don't want us to feel awkward with each other. We are together every day and it's really difficult for me to ignore what I feel about you." Jennie can't look to Piya out of embarrassment.

"Wait! You mean you like me too?" Piya showed a broad smile.

"Maybe? I don't know Piya, honestly. I am still confused. I don't want us to be pressured. Work is more than enough. Plus we have an upcoming tour. Let's just enjoy each other's company. Let's just go with the flow, I guess? All I know is that I am happy whenever I am with the members, but most especially when I am with you. You make me laugh that no one could ever do. Let's be each other's strength when the world goes against us." Jennie holds Piya's hand and this time, she looked directly into her eyes.

Piya was speechless. She was blown by Jennie's words and Jennie's confession to her. Jennie smiled and hugged her.

"Those lines from our rap part. I made it for you Piya." To Jennie's surprise, Piya breaks the hug.

"I want you to see how happy I am right now, with you." Tears are falling from Piya's eyes and Jennie wiped them.

"Happy tears." Jennie said.

They both look happy when they went back to the dorm. Jennie called her mom to make sure that everything is okay. While Chaeyoung pulls Piya into the bedroom. They are about to seat on the bed but Chaeyoung started to talk.

"What happened? What did you tell her? What did she tell you? Did you say why are we here? Or why are YOU here? Have you noticed the lamp?" Chaeyoung bombarded her with questions.

"Hey! Calm down! One at a time!" Piya can't hide her happiness. She is smiling widely.

"So uhmmm I told her what I feel about her. And she told me she feels the same. Well, not directly. But she told me that I could make her laugh, that no one could ever do. I didn't tell her about the mission, yet. But that is not important right now." Piya is still smiling while Chaeyoung's face is unreadable.

"What are we going to do about our mission, Piya? I don't want to take you away from your happiness. I wanted to see you happy. Really. But I was sent here to keep you on track. And that is your mission too, Piya. To keep Jennie on track." Chaeyoung is worried about their current situation and Deity too.

"What mission?" They were both shocked when they saw Jennie, who was standing at the door.

"Jennie eonnie, it's nothing. Don't mind what Chaeyoung said." Piya said to Jennie.

"No, Piya. Tell Jennie why are you really here and why I am here." Chaeyoung's voice was firm.

"I heard everything, Piya. You can't deny any single thing." Jennie was looking at Piya seriously. She didn't even glance at Chaeyoung.

Piya sighed. She leads Jennie into the living room, where the feather lamp was placed. Jennie noticed the feathers were getting dry like the leaves of a tree every autumn.

"Those are mine." Piya said to Jennie, while caressing the withered feather.

"I know that's yours, Piya. Eonnie gets it from your bedroom. And what's the connection of that to what I am asking you?" Jennie looks irritated. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"Those are my feathers. It fell off from me." Piya shed tears once again. But those aren't happy tears anymore.

"What do you mean, Piya? Can you just tell it to me and don't make me guess what's happening. Don't act like you are Suho Cheonsa. That exists in the movie, not in real life." Jennie said.

"We, are." Chaeyoung added.