Jennie
Lisa didn't call the whole next day. Honestly, I'd expected her to be grovelling at my feet by now, but no such luck. I'm not sure what's going on in that head of hers, but I'm still a little irritated with her and therefore, don't even bother trying to figure her out.
It doesn't escape my notice that it's Friday - the weekend - and despite her vague assurances that she would come to Seoul, I haven't heard from her. I have no idea if she's coming or if she ever intended to. Perhaps she's done with me... perhaps she's given up.
But little does she know that I'm not done with her. Not yet, my pretty - my subconscious cackles mercilessly. Tonight should be fun. I'll get a real glimpse into her life by hanging with her sister. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to divulge more information about her.
I receive a text just after lunch, and I'm ashamed to find myself hoping it's Lisa. With a scowl I check the screen - it's Hae-in.
Hae-in: Jisoo told me Manoban was being a douche again. Sorry.
Such a sincere text is so unlike him. Curious, I reply.
Jennie: I expect nothing less anymore.
Hae-in: She really is a good person, just a little... socially retarded sometimes.
I have to smile at that. Before I can respond, Hae-in is texting me yet again.
Hae-in: I think you're good for Lisa. I think she's feeling a little guilty
Jennie: Good, she should feel guilty.
He never responds. I'm not sure if he's busy or forgot about our conversation or what, but I let it go and instead focus on meeting up with Rosé tonight. I'm a bit anxious at the thought, yet I can't exactly place why that is.
Immediately after work, I head home and get ready. It doesn't take long; I leave my hair straight and change into a simple pair of tight jeans and heels with a flirty blouse. I indulge in a quick Hot Pocket, knowing I won't get a chance to eat on the way or after I arrive.
Once I'm in Busan, I call Rosé and ask for specific directions to the club. She's already there, apparently eager to see me. As I inch closer to the destination, my nerves increase tenfold. My stomach is a bundle of knots.
It's early when I arrive - about eight-thirty - but the place is already packed. It seems to be one of the more popular clubs in Busan. Sweaty bodies pass this way and that, the music is blaring and the lights are low. It's hard to make anyone out, and despite Rosé's assurance that she'd be near the bar, dressed in a tight blue dress, I'm starting to worry I won't be able to find her.
But that fear is soon abated; I find a tall girl with blonde hair sipping a colourful drink. Her back is to the bar as she searches the crowd. Her eyes meet mine, and for a second we simply look at each other, neither of us reacting. But the blue dress tells me it must be her, and I react, quickly stepping closer. She smiles as our proximity narrows.
"Are you Rosé?" I inquire, and she grins.
"You must be Jennie!"
She's very enthusiastic, grinning from ear to ear. I smile, going for a handshake or something equally awkward, but she takes me by surprise, discarding her drink atop the bar and engulfing me in a tight hug. Not that I oppose the idea, but I've never been much of a hugger; nonetheless, I awkwardly return the gesture, wide-eyed, until she releases me.
She picks her drink up again, nonplussed by the situation. "I'm so glad to finally meet you," she says. "Um, yeah. Me, too." I don't know what to say; I feel awkward. I can't help but notice that her eyes are the same startling brown as Lisa's, her nose as straight and her chin just the same - the resemblance is uncanny. She's very pretty, which comes as no surprise.
"You're pretty," she says suddenly, and I can feel my face heating, reddening in the dim light. "You want to get a drink?"
A drink would probably be a good idea... I feel like I need to relax. Rosé gets the attention of the bartender, and I quickly order a Cosmo.
Her attention turns back to me again. "So," she says conversationally, "how did you meet Lisa?" She speaks loudly over the music.
"Um, at a club, actually," I admit.
"Oh. So you go out a lot?"
"Not really. It was the first time I had gone out in a while..." A thought comes to me. "Does Lisa know we're here?"
"Oh, no," she quickly assures me with a chuckle. "I didn't tell her. Did you tell her?"
"No."
"Good. She doesn't know then." She smiles shyly at me. "Sorry, she can be a grump sometimes. She really let me have it last night when we got off the phone." She rolls her eyes.
I'm surprised by this information... and unbelievably intrigued, of course. "What did she say?"
She shrugs. "Oh, you know...she told me not to answer her phone again." Another eye-roll. It seems that's all the information she's willing to divulge. I obviously need to do a little digging...
"What about Irene?" I ask. I don't know what kind of information I'm expecting her to reveal. I just want... something, damn it!
She looks guilty at the mention. "Look, I'm sorry about that," she says.
"I said it was fine," I quickly reply. And I sound fine. I want her to know she has nothing to worry about. "But seriously, Rosé. We've only been dating a week. If she's already cheating on me, I'd like to know about it now... you know, before things get too serious." I fidget anxiously as I say this, and Rosé hesitates, her thoughts torn.
Finally, she sighs. "Jennie, I like you," she says. I wait patiently for her to continue. "But Lisa is... difficult. I've never seen her have an actual girlfriend." This doesn't sound good. She sighs again, a loud, exaggerated puff of air passing her lips. "Look, do you ever just have a feeling about things?" I'm not sure what she's talking about, but I'm certain she's avoiding my original question.
"I don't know," I answer with a shrug. She looks grim, uncertain - an obvious internal debate is waging through her mind.
I bring us back to the original topic. "So is she fucking Irene, Rosé?" I ask point-blank.
Her eyes widen a bit at the profanity. She looks ashamed as she answers - ashamed of Lisa? "She was going to meet Irene last night," she finally admits.
I fucking knew it. I don't want to be mad - I want to pretend it was nothing less than what I expected - but those attempts are futile. I can feel my anger bubbling, my jaw tensing, and my chest tightening. With one quick motion, I down my entire Cosmo before ordering another. Rosé watches this entire process with apprehensive eyes.
I want to tell her it's fine - that I don't care - but I can't. I bite my lip, afraid if I utter one word about it I'll unleash a string of expletives to everyone within shouting distance.
Why do I let Lisa affect me this way? That asshole.
