Jennie
Work holds as a sufficient distraction for a while. Jisoo contacts me and we text briefly, eventually deciding that we need to get together soon. She has been spending every free moment with Hae-in as of late and, while I'm happy for her, I'm also taken aback by my own wave of jealousy. Hae-in appears to be a perfect match for her - she is obviously smitten with him, granting him attention she has never paid another - and yet their relationship remains so simple, so uninhibited by secrets and bets. Why can't that happen with me? Lisa, the first person I've liked in a long time, is coincidentally the one person I should hate to my very bones. Yet here I am, drawn to what I can't have. To what I shouldn't want.
Why must things be so complicated?
My day takes a sudden, surprising turn when I receive a call from Hanbin.
"Hey, Jennie. I was just wondering if you had plans for lunch today. I thought maybe we could meet up," his cheerful voice greets me. I'm caught off guard by the invitation.
"Um, I mean..." Should I not have lunch with him? Does it really even matter? We can be friends, right? "Sure, Hanbin. Lunch sounds good," I finally stutter. "Did you have a place in mind?"
"What do you like, Jennie?"
Oh, geez... he's being considerate. "Well, there's a place around the corner that's good. Top Hat Cafe."
"That sounds great. What time do you do lunch?"
"I can be there at about twelve-thirty," I offer.
"All right, it's a date. I'll see you then."
I hang up the phone feeling confused. It's a date? Did he mean an actual date? I suppose it doesn't matter - it can be a date if I want it to be. I am allowed to date people, after all. It's not like Lisa and I will be going exclusive soon. After this weekend...
I shake my head to clear it and try to return to work. My thoughts, however, are merciless; they drift to Lisa, then to Hanbin, and I can't help but feel uneasy about the entire situation.
I'm relieved when my phone beeps, signifying an incoming text. It's from Hae-in.
Hae-in: Hey lady - working hard or hardly working?
I welcome the distraction and inconspicuously text him back while I work.
Jennie: Working hard. Some of us have to earn a living
Hae-in: Don't I know it. You see Lisa last night?
How does he suspect these things? If he'd talked to Lisa he would already know. I glance over my shoulder suspiciously, as if I might discover him lurking behind the water dispenser.
Jennie: I might have. Are you stalking me?
Hae-in: No, I stalk Lisa.
Jennie: Well that makes sense.
Hae-in: So I have another idea-we should meet up to discuss it. I also thought of a name for us - the She/He-Man Player Hater Club.
I snicker towards my lap and then quickly look around to see if anyone is watching. I'm grateful for the entertainment.
Jennie: That has a nice ring to it. Should I make t-shirts?
Hae-in: Now you are just being a fancy Nancy.
Jennie: Just trying to contribute.
Hae-in: Oh, I also think I may have found you a nice fat cat for our plan. It's so big its crate had to be special ordered.
My head hits the table with a loud thud.
