Tribal (Jenlisa)

Chapter 6

Jennie's POV

When we arrive at the training, I quickly notice there are mostly men and a handful of women.

Lisa rushes to us and I shrink back behind Chaeyoung.

"What is she doing here?" Her annoyance is evident.

"Chief Marco said it's time for her to choose a skill she's going to master. They are part of our tribe and will be treated as such."

Lisa doesn't even bother to look at me but shakes her head and leaves.

I thought by now her animosity toward me would be something that I could get used to, but no. It still stings. Especially when I think of her lips against my own. I stare at her retreating back, and frown.

Irene is the next one to come up to us and she looks more annoyed than Lisa. I step in front of Chae, not bothering to hide my displeasure of seeing her.

"What are you doing here? I've never seen you at these training sessions before," Chae cuts her off.

Irene narrows her eyes at me. "I thought I should learn how to protect myself in case someone decides to turn on us."

I decide to ignore her. I stand up straighter and walk away from them to stand in the circle formed around Lisa.

I look back to wave at Chae. She smiles and gives me a small wave, then says something serious to Irene.

I turn back to the group. If I think about it for much longer, I'll just run back to the other side of the village where I'll be away from the only two people in the village who hate me the most.

Had Chaeyoung informed me that Lisa would be here, it would have never crossed my mind to come. But I will not give her the satisfaction of me running off.

Lisa moves to the middle of the circle. She starts the training with no introduction. She has Wonho stand next to her to help demonstrate how her technique can take down someone twice her size. No wonder she's a great hunter.

She goes over five specific hand-to-hand combat moves. Each time she shows it, she highlights each movement of her body.

I try to keep my eyes focused on her movement but I'm finding it harder and harder to concentrate on anything other than the timber of her voice, the graceful movement of her arms, and the way she's extending her fingers.

All too soon she turns back to the group and asks us to partner up. I turn to Jungkook, extending a hand but someone else takes it. It's smaller than Lisa's.

"I think because this is our first training session together, we should partner up." Irene yanks me away from the group. I want to argue with her logic but it makes sense.

Standing in front of her I feel I have an advantage. She's slightly shorter and leaner. But if Lisa's training has taught me anything, is that technique can outweigh size anytime. I'm a fast learner, but I just hope Irene is not as great of a student as I am.

We both bow the way Lisa taught us to before fighting and then take on a fighting stance.

Without warning, Irene strikes me with lightning speed and my head snaps back. I bring a hand up to touch my lip, and it's bleeding.

I barely have time to recover before she attacks me again, this time dropping me on my back. The air is knocked out of my lungs and I grunt.

Irene comes to stand over me and gives me a mocking smile. "I'm sorry, did I say today was my first day of training?"

I frown. Clearly, she has been looking forward to this. But why? What did I do to her?

I want to dig a hole and bury myself from the embarrassment, but the mocking glint in her eyes fuels my anger.