Jennie
I call Jisoo as I'm climbing into my car to let her know I'm coming over just in case she's busy humping Hae-in's leg or vice versa- that's something I never want to walk in on. It turns out she's not alone, but she eagerly agrees to meet me at my apartment for some girl time.
I trudge back up the stairs and pace around my living room. I don't know what to do with myself. I reread some of Lisa's texts, warping the words for motivation.
Lies. They're all lies.
Even the sweet texts are lies! They must be. She only had one purpose in this charade - to bed the sad, abstinent Jennie for bragging rights and maybe a hundred bucks or something. What the hell else do these sick bastards ever bet for?
I should have known anyone who associates with Kai would be just like that asshole himself!
Jisoo lets herself in when she arrives. She eyes me warily, still unaware of the new information I discovered. Her approach is slow, and I assume she's taking precautions after discovering me in such a frantic state.
She stands a good ten feet away, nearly at the door.
"Are you okay?" she asks me.
I freeze and look at her. I'm sure the turmoil is evident in my expression. "No."
"What did the texts say?" she asks, her tone lacking room for nonsense. She wants the truth, and she's not ready to fuck around about it.
I sigh heavily and plop down on the couch. My mind is racing, my thoughts coming in incomprehensible clusters. I can't make sense of exactly what I'm feeling right now.
I look at Jisoo, silently pleading for her to make sense of this mess.
"Lisa said she should be able to sleep with me by Saturday and that I'm still just a bet." My words come out in one quick rush. Jisoo's gasp is audible all the way across the room. She's standing in front of me in just three quick strides.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" she hisses. She seems so surprised, but isn't this what she expected all along?
I frown, confused.
"No. It's exactly like you said."
"I didn't think... I mean... Hae-in just seemed so sure..."
My eyes dart to hers. "What are you talking about?"
She sits beside me, equally dismal. "Hae-in talked to Lisa and... I don't know. He thought Lisa liked you. I mean liked you, liked you."
I huff, not amused and not surprised. Since when has Hae-in ever thought rationally about anything?
"Well, he was wrong," I say sullenly.
"I'm sorry, Jennie."
I wait for her to tell me she told me so, but it doesn't come. I want to cry. I can feel my irritation ebbing to sadness again, and I hastily wipe at my eyes, completely aware that my face is reddening from holding everything inside.
Jisoo wraps her arms around me and gives me an honest to goodness hug. I think it's the first time we've ever hugged. And finally, the dam breaks, unleashing not only my tears, but every fear and insecurity - every bit of desperation and longing for this forbidden man - that I had tried to keep concealed.
She listens silently, keeping all opinions to herself. It's very unlike her. And in the end, I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel lighter, as though I can finally breathe again.
My thoughts do not come any more clearly, but I've come to expect this. At least for tonight.
Jisoo pulls away to assess me. Her eyes are narrowed and business-like.
