Lisa
"Good morning." I said in a singsong voice when I opened the apartment door. Jennie was in the kitchen cooking.
"Good morning." she said.
"I come bearing coffee."
Jennie accepted the drink and took a sip. "That's strong."
"Yeah, it's Four-Shot-Friday."
"Excuse me?"
"I always get four shots on Friday, hence Four-Shot-Friday."
"Are you insane?"
"I don't know about you, but I'm beat on Fridays and I need the extra caffeine just to get me through the morning."
"I don't think you need any more caffeine."
"I'm just going to wait for the text you send me today, thanking me for the extra shots."
"You are definitely something else."
I did a mock bow and settled into the stool for the breakfast that I assumed would be served upon my arrival. I shovelled food into my mouth, unable to resist the delectable meals that Jennie cooked. "You're an amazing cook. Have I ever told you that?"
"Every time I cook." Jennie laughed.
"Good, as long as you know. I think I'll just move in with you guys just so I can have your cooking every day."
"If I'm cooking all of the meals, what are you going to do?"
"I'll clean, obviously. Take the trash out." I thought a moment. "And give you massages when you need them. I think that just about balances it out."
"Massages keep the house afloat?"
"Of course they do! Since you're the breadwinner and the cook you're bound to get tired, so I can give massages."
"I'm the breadwinner? Are you not going to work anymore?"
"Did I mention I'm going to be a stay-at-home wife? The massages are to kind of, offset the fact that you and Jin will be supporting me. Well, let's be real here: Jin is a teacher, so you'll be supporting me."
"Is that so?" Jennie laughed.
"Yes. I always pictured myself as a trophy wife."
"Whose trophy are you, exactly?"
"Yours, obviously. You've already showed me off to Taehyung. Twice. That makes me your trophy."
"You showed yourself off."
"Eh, same thing."
Jennie stared at me for a moment then burst into laughter: a real and mirthful. I stood up so abruptly that my stool toppled over.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" I cried to the invisible crowd. "I, Lalisa Manoban, on this day of December 10th, have made Jennie Ruby Jane Kim laugh out loud. Thank you, thank you." I did mock little bows all around.
"You're ridiculous." Jennie gasped between laughter.
"I made you laugh, like actually laugh. This is cause for celebration!"
Jennie shook her head, with a huge smile plastered to her face. "I can't with you."
"Welcome to Four-Shot-Friday!"
Jennie shook her head. "You're insane."
"So you've said." I winked. "As much as I'm enjoying our time together, I got to get to work so Nancy can harass me all day."
"She's still bothering you?" Jennie asked.
"Yes! Every day she asks me if I'm sure about my RSVP. I'm also pretty sure she's burned a hole in the photo of us that I put on my desk. I swear, ever since I set out that picture she's gotten worse and she's always glaring at it when she passes by."
"Interesting." Jennie said, her eyebrow curved. "Sounds like you need more pictures on your desk."
I shook my head and threw up my hands. "Hopefully she'll chill out after the party. But in the meantime, wish me luck!"
"Good luck."
"Oh, what time do you want your coffee tomorrow?"
"You're even getting me coffee on the weekends?"
"Of course I am."
Jennie smiled. "Bring it to me whenever. I'll be awake."
I blew Jennie a kiss. "Have a wonderful day at work, Jennie dearest."
"Bye, Lisa."
I finished my coffee by eleven and I was wired; Four-Shot-Friday was the best thing I'd ever invented for myself. I moved through my emails and sent off a finished template to a client for approval. I was on top of the world. Better yet, Nancy had yet to approach my desk, instead settling for glaring at me from across the room. I suppose after asking me every day this week if I was still coming to the Christmas party with my date she'd run out of ways to harass me.
Shortly after lunch a man with a huge bouquet of flowers walked into our office. All of our heads turned when he talked to the receptionist, who pointed at me. All eyes turned to me and I looked around confused.
"Lalisa Manoban?"
"Yes?"
The delivery man handed me the bouquet. It was literally as big as my torso; I couldn't see over the top when he handed them to me.
"What the hell?" I muttered to myself.
"Who is it from?" Jackson asked.
"I have no idea." I said, struggling to find the card in the huge bouquet. Jackson plucked it from the centre of the flowers and handed it to me. I put the massive bouquet down and read the card.
Lisa,
Just returning the favour. I hope these flowers piss Nancy off as much as your flowers pissed Taehyung off. Maybe, she'll leave you alone. Or it will make it worse. Have a good day at work.
Jennie
"They're from my fri... girlfriend." I told Jackson. We immediately looked over to Nancy who was glaring daggers at the flowers as if willing them to wilt.
"Wow." Jackson laughed. "That really pissed her off."
"I think that was the point." I said.
"Is your girlfriend jealous?"
"Of Nancy?"
"Yeah."
I laughed. "No. Definitely not. I do think that she wanted to mess with her though."
"That is pretty cool."
"Right? I think you'll like her. You're going to the party, right?"
"I am. You're actually going and not just saying you are, to piss Nancy off?"
"While I would love to do exactly that, I am going and bringing my girlfriend."
"Well I can't wait to meet her."
I sat down at my desk and put the flowers on the floor (the only place they would fit). I glanced up at Nancy who was still glaring at them. I grinned and pulled out my phone to text Jennie.
Me: You're awesome
Jennie: Did they piss her off?
Me: Oh yeah. I think she's waiting until I walk away from my desk so she can burn them.
Jennie: I hope there aren't any doubts that you have a girlfriend now.
Me: I think everyone in the office knows about my girlfriend now and maybe the building next door. This is seriously the biggest bouquet of flowers I've ever received in my life.
Jennie: I figured the bigger they were, the more mad Nancy would be.
Me: You're right LOL.
Jennie: Maybe next week I'll send two.
Me: Haha! You're insane. I knew Four-Shot-Friday would work wonders! How's work?
Jennie: The same.
Me: Don't stay too late tonight.
Jennie: No promises.
The rest of the day passed quickly while I rode the high of Nancy's anger. Every so often I glanced over at my flowers and smiled.
When I got home, I ripped off my slacks and put on sweatpants, ordered takeout, opened a bottle of wine, and turned on 'The Office': a perfect self-care Friday night. I settled into my blankets and texted Jin.
