Loved You First (Jenlisa) COMPLETED

FINAL CHAPTER

One Year Later

Lisa stole another glance down the aisle at the faces of her audience. It was absolute torture to sit in a theater while her friends and family watched her film for the first time.

The word nervous was too basic a term.

Sure, it had already done well at the festivals, even picking up a couple of awards here and there, but this was different. Crazy different. These were the people who mattered, and it was their stories she was telling up on that screen.

And, might she add, sitting still for eighty-eight minutes while the thing ran was virtually impossible. What she really wanted to do was pace, get out all of that extra energy coursing through her. Or better yet, get a drink and see them all once the whole thing was over.

Picking up on Lisa's restlessness, Jennie placed a calming hand on her knee and offered her a smile.

"Relax," she mouthed.

She nodded, already responding. Jennie had a way of resetting her just when she needed it. She had to admit, it was beyond hospitable for the theater to offer a complimentary screening of the documentary for the citizens of Daegu.

A quick glance at the screen told her that the film had less than five minutes remaining. She could do this, she decided. In fact, the ending was her favorite part.

She settled back in her seat as the film cut to the final interview with Roseanne and Jisoo. This was the denouement, the film's wrap-up section that tied everything up into a nice neat little bow. Not all films had the luxury of such an ending. She was glad this one did.

She'd shot the interview on their front porch, loving the texture the railing offered. Quaint. Very much in contrast to Roseanne's big city sophistication they'd established earlier in the film, which made it all the more perfect.

"You never know what life has in store for you," Roseanne told the camera before sneaking a look at Jisoo, next to her. "Two years ago, if you told me I'd be living in a town like this one and enjoying every minute of it, I would have laughed in your face. But love has a way of changing things. I even wear less black now."

Jisoo chimed in. "It's true. The love thing, I mean. She still wears a ton of black. When I think about my life just over a year ago, I'm amazed at the contrast. I was a closeted bartender who came home to the television and my dog each night. I thought that was it for me. But my life was forever altered by a pretentious socialite from the big city."

Roseanne's mouth fell open. "Hey!"

"It's true, baby. Highly pretentious."

The audience laughed right on cue as the shot cross-faded to a largely pregnant Nayeon applying frosting to a batch of cupcakes at Flour Child.

"I flat-out hated the guy. I'm not even going to lie about that. He got my fur up. Now, I'm having his baby and more excited than I've ever been in my tiny little life. We're decorating the nursery tonight. In pink."

The camera panned to Kai who stood across the prep table from Nayeon grinning at her like she'd hung the moon. He looked over at the camera, the tears visible in his eyes.

"I still can't believe I'm about to have a family." He swiped at his face sheepishly as Nayeon came around the table and put her arms around him.

The screen went black and faded up on Jennie's face. She looked past the camera as if lost in thought before finally settling her gaze just next to the lens.

"You can't choose who you fall in love with. I used to think you could. But sometimes your heart overrules your head. And you know something? I think it knows what's best for you. Falling in love with Lisa was the most terrifying and worthwhile thing I've ever done. Trust me, I fought it. Our situation wasn't ideal, but then really whose is? Love takes work. But this"-she gestured with her head to the blue Beetle that pulled into the driveway-"this feeling I get when I see that she's home at the end of the day is pretty much the best thing ever. And while I'd love to talk to you about it some more, I'd much rather go kiss the woman in that car. So if you'll excuse me."

Soft guitar music strummed under the image of Jennie pulling Lisa into her arms in the driveway, Nayeon and Kai hanging a mobile above a crib, and Roseanne and Jisoo toasting over dinner. The film's title, How Sweet It Is, faded into the frame as the camera pulled back to slowly reveal Main Street, the center of Daegu.

The theater broke into massive applause, and a few folks even dabbed at their eyes. It was a more emotional response than a typical audience, and of course, Lisa understood why.

"They loved it," Jennie whispered in her ear as the applause continued. "And you were right. Love in unexpected places was a better subject for your first project. It was absolute perfection."

"You should listen to me more often."

Jennie grinned. "I will listen to you from here to eternity."

"Oh, good, 'cause I have a lot to say. Now kiss me so we can celebrate properly." And as the credits scrolled in beautiful white letters, they did just that. Finally, the words, The End, faded up languidly across the screen.

Lisa and Jennie turned and looked, knowing that for them, it was anything but.

THE END

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So there it is. I decided to just publish everything today because I'm getting busy and might forget about this book😂 I have a lot of good stories on my drafts and will probably publish another if I have time. I hope you enjoyed reading this one :)