I Think I Love You •Chaennie•

Chapter 21

Jennie's POV

I stand on the sidewalk, arms folded against the morning air. The temperature will get to the nineties by noon, but it's early enough to be almost chilly. The only other people out and about are a couple and their small dog, who pauses to yip at every tree they pass. I look up at Kai's wide town house. He's the one who found evidence against Jisoo, so if I'm going to figure out what happened, this is the place to start.

I left Lisa's this morning, where we were supposed to be editing around the fact that we can't shoot any more scenes with Jisoo, but now that I'm here, I have no idea what to do.

I bounce on the tips of my toes, my sneakers squeaking as I try to work up the courage to go knock. I need to see that evidence. For Jisoo. I need to know what happened so I can help her.

As soon as I take a step toward the building, I spot someone running around the street corner. I start, ready to bolt and pretend like I was never here. But then I recognize the tall, slender frame.

Rosé.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

I want to yell at her some more, but if Kai hears and comes out, I'll lose the element of surprise, which is the only thing I have going for me and my whole plan would be ruined.

"Nothing. Thought...," she wheezes, struggling to catch her breath.

I stare at her, biting my lip to stop myself from laughing. Nothing about this is remotely funny, but I still can't help it.

"Breathe," I tell her.

She drops her hands to her knees, staring at the ground and wheezing. "Sorry. Saw you. On Subway. Ran. Catch up."

I can't stop the giggle that escapes my lips, but by the time she looks up at me, I've fixed my face. I glare down at her as sternly as I can. "You should consider going to the gym once in a while."

She straightens, stretching her back. "You're one to talk."

I pinch my lips at her. "Ooooh, witty."

Rosé closes her eyes and sighs. "Look, I'm sorry. I thought a lot about what you said, and you're right. Tae was an asshole, and he totally deserves to be called on it. I'm sorry I didn't do that right away." She pauses, rubbing the back of her neck. "But he does regret the way he reacted."

"Good," I say, surprised at my own viciousness.

"And I also realized that there's no way Jisoo would cheat on anything, let alone something that would hurt Tae. So I wanted to find out what really happened," she says. I stare at her as she gestures to the front door. "Want to come ask Kai with me?"

I purse my lips.

"Come on," Rosé says, jabbing my shoulder. "I apologized. Which," she adds with an arched eyebrow, "is more than you did."

I exhale. She's right. "I am sorry. I was as soon as I said it. I don't know. You're right. I was scared. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

"You were right too," Rosé says. "I shouldn't have let Tae off the hook so easy. Let's investigate together."

I struggle not to smile, but it's tugging at the corner of my lips without my consent.

"What would we even ask him?" I gesture to Kai's place. "I came here without a plan, and I still haven't come up with one."

"We could take a break and prepare interrogation questions," she says temptingly. "We could go on a stakeout and look for clues."

"Fine," I say, breaking. "But on one condition."