Love Galore (Chaennie)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

On Monday morning, when Jennie enters the K-Corp lab at 7AM, she's not at all surprised to find the doors unlocked and the lights on. Half the time, Bambam beats her in. The two of them typically work silently for a couple of precious hours before the rest of the staff start filtering in and distract them with social interactions.

Bambam has his head bent, staring into his microscope. Although he undoubtedly heard Jennie come in, he doesn't spare a second's worth of attention away from his work.

Jennie greets him with, "I hope you went home last night."

"No, but as I interpret your statement as a question as to whether I worked all night, I can assure you that I did not."

Normally, this would be the end of the conversation. These early morning staff-less hours are valuable, and neither of them likes to waste it. But, well, things happened that weekend, and they sort of concerned Bambam.

Jennie begins delicately. "Did you see Lisa?"

Bambam doesn't move, doesn't look up from his microscope, but his smile is evident. "Yes."

"Are things going well between you two?"

"I believe so."

"Have you..." Now, how to phrase this. "Is it getting serious? I mean, have you met each other's friends and such?" Clean the reels and break out the tackle box, because Jennie's going fishing for information.

"No."

As it turns out, some fish are annoyingly unhelpful. "Lisa works at YG MediaCom, right?"

"Yes."

"Does she talk about it?"

"Yes."

Very, very unhelpful. Maybe she should be fishing with dynamite.

"Has Lisa ever mentioned a Rosie Park to you?"

Still glued to his microscope, Bambam hums as he thinks about the question. "Yes. One of her friends from the magazine, I believe."

Finally, they're getting somewhere. "What did she say about her?"

"That they work together at the magazine."

"Is that all?"

"She's nice. Likes food."

"Does she also breathe air and walk on two feet?" Jennie asks sarcastically.

"Well, I'd assume."

This is probably Jennie's fault in the first place. She should've known that this would happen. It's like fishing in a rain puddle.

"All right. Thanks, Bambam."

She pauses, wondering if Bambam is finally going to ask why she's asking these questions.

But all he says is, "Yup, okay."

***

The next time they meet, it's at a chocolatier near Rockefeller Center, a few blocks north from Jennie's apartment.

In the week since they've last seen each other, there's been almost no communication. No calls or texts, not until Rosie sends a text on Friday night asking Jennie what her plans were for the next day.

Jennie texts back "nothing," then cancels her spa plans with Irene. Irene would understand. If she knew. Which she doesn't. Jennie's told no one of what happened. Because some part of her thinks that there's really nothing to tell. Although things had gone well that night and they had exchanged numbers, she didn't know whether she would see Rosie again. She wasn't sure that Rosie would reach out. Wasn't sure that Rosie would respond if she reached out first. Wasn't sure that Rosie really wants to see her again.