Lisa
The server gives us several to-go boxes. This time, Jennie wasn't able to eat everything, though that's not to say she didn't try. Even as she's pouring her food into her box she's randomly popping stray pieces of chicken or broccoli into her mouth while complaining, "Oh my God, if I eat anymore I'm going to burst."
I wisely keep silent.
Everyone gives Jennie a hug good-bye. Rosé is especially emotional.
"I leave on Monday," she mumbles against Jennie's shoulder. She has her locked in a death-grip as if her life depends on this moment. "But I'll try to come up again soon. Then maybe Chanyeol can come, and you can meet him, too! He came up for Thanksgiving last year."
"Rosé, one thing at a time, sweetheart. It's only August," Marco wisely interjects. He turns to Jennie. "It was nice meeting you, Jennie. Hopefully you won't be a stranger."
Jennie smiles politely. "Of course not."
"You have my number, right, Jennie? Be sure and keep in touch," says Rosé with a wink.
It feels much later than it actually is by the time we make it to my car. Jennie is abnormally quiet; she buckles herself up in the passenger's seat and rests both boxes of food on her lap, lost in thought. I climb in beside her.
"That went well," I comment. "Or at least better than I expected. They really seemed to like you."
She looks at me quizzically. "Did you think they wouldn't?"
"No. I didn't know what to think, to be honest. I've never introduced them to any of my girlfriends before."
I don't even realize what I've said until Jennie blurts, "Girlfriend?"
I'm caught off guard by my own loose tongue. What the hell was I thinking? It just slipped out. "No, I uh... I just meant, you know... a girl that I'm seeing." I can feel my face heating and I'm thankful it's dark inside the car. Jennie's eyes are practically boring holes into my skull.
"You know, most people consider a girl they're seeing to be their girlfriend," she remarks.
Fuck.
"Jennie..." I begin with a sigh, but she quickly holds up a hand and interrupts.
"Don't worry about it, Lisa. I get it. We've only known each other a week. It's too soon, even for me."
Thank God.
"Your parents did seem to like me, though," she smugly adds.
I smirk at her. "You always talk about my big head, but I have it on good authority that yours isn't any smaller."
"Please! Your head's so big I'm surprised it'll fit in the car."
"I'm surprised yours fit inside the restaurant."
"I'm surprised yours fit inside the parking garage."
I laugh and shake my head. "You're impossible, Ms. Kim."
"As are you, Manoban."
A comfortable silence settles between us. I'm the first to break it.
"You never told me you wanted to be a writer."
She glances at me, though it's impossible to read her expression in the dark. "You never asked."
"Have you written before?"
She shrugs. "You know... just journals and stuff. I wrote some in college but nothing major. Mostly just for fun."
"You should do it," I suddenly suggest.
