Imperfectly Perfect [Chaelisa]

twenty two

Chaeyoung clutches onto Lisa's hand as she follows her friends through the shopping mall. She doesn't really know where they're going - she hopes it's somewhere quiet - and she's not really paying much attention, because her friends' words are getting tangled into conversations with people passing by, and this is why Chaeyoung really hates the mall. She didn't even want to come, but her friends had told her that Lisa was going and that they would be heading back to Somi's later to bake, and Chaeyoung really likes baking at Somi's.

She just really, really hates the mall.

They go into a makeup store that's incredibly cramped because of a sale that's on, and it makes Chaeyoung nervous because people she doesn't know are getting too close and she hates it. She doesn't say anything though, because her friends are happy and smiling and she doesn't want to ruin it.

"Hey, Rosie," Lisa's soft voice gives her something to focus on, "Can I do your makeup one day?"

"Makeup itches," Chaeyoung voices her train of thought and touches a hand to her face. "It itches and it's bad and I only wear it if I have to do something important."

"You didn't answer my question, baby," Lisa reminds her, and Chaeyoung realises that she's right. "Can I do your makeup one day?"

"Um," Chaeyoung bites down on her lip and taps her fingers against Lisa's knuckles. "I don't know. Maybe if we have to do something important I will let you put makeup on me. But it itches."

"Alright. Maybe if we go to a fancy dinner one day." Lisa squeezes her hand and turns back to the shelves full of makeup, and Chaeyoung lets out a sad whine because now her distraction is gone and everything is starting to flood back into her head. Lisa picks up on it. "You want my attention, honey?"

Chaeyoung nods. "Yes. It's too, uh... crowded. I can't concentrate."

"Go and wait outside the store for me. I'll be a few minutes, I just need to buy some mascara," Lisa kisses Chaeyoung's cheek and lets go of her hand, and Chaeyoung grabs on again, because she doesn't want to go by herself. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to go alone," Chaeyoung looks towards the door apprehensively, aware of the people crowded around the racks of makeup by it. "There's too many people."

Lisa nods and tugs her towards Jennie, handing the other girl the mascara she wants and a ten dollar bill. "Can you get this for me? I need to take Chaeyoung outside."

Jennie nods and sends Chaeyoung a comforting smile, which she appreciates. Then, Lisa pulls her towards the door, muttering an excuse me to the people blocking it. While it's slightly quieter outside the store, the mall itself is still busy, and busy always equals loud.

Lisa leads Chaeyoung over to one of the benches that generally only occupies old people and sits her down. "Is this better?"

"A little bit." Chaeyoung mumbles, burying her face into Lisa's neck. "It's so loud. I hate the mall."

"Why'd you come along, then?" Lisa asks, and Chaeyoung shivers when her girlfriend's fingers start combing through her messy hair. "You didn't have to come if you didn't want to."

"You're here. Somi told me you'd be coming when she texted me, and then you said in the group chat that you're coming." Chaeyoung replies, not sure why Lisa doesn't understand that. "I wanted to be here because you're here and I want to spend time with you."

"Aw, Rosie," Lisa kisses her on the top of her head, "We can do other things together. You didn't have to come somewhere you know you hate."

"I want to do things together with our friends." Chaeyoung replies, tapping out a pattern on her leg. "Our friends like shopping and it makes them happy so I said I'd come. And then- uh, then we're going to go back to Somi's to bake, and I want to help bake."