Seven Brothers (JENSOO)

Chapter - 10

"So you embarrassed the hell out of her and she wasn't even mad at you?" Nayeon clarified with a confused look on her face.
"If anything she was more pissed at Soojoo" I nodded as I sat at the counter, watching Nayeon work. Even though it was a Saturday and I wasn't working, I decided to come in to chat with Nayeon and Rosè whilst they worked.

"Well, the Kim Jisoo I've heard all about would have given you grief for the next month, so what's changed? It sounds like someone has a soft spot for you" she pointed out, blunt as ever. "Me and Jisoo? No, never, nope, nah"
"That was three more no's than was necessary" she raised an eyebrow at me.
"I'm just extra certain that nothing is going on between us and never will" I clarified before taking a long sip of milkshake, attempting to bury the conversation.

It was true though, Jisoo and I were so wrong for each other. In many ways we were very similar, we were both stubborn and both argumentative, it was a recipe for disaster. We constantly argued, I mean, they were playful arguments and they weren't meant in a harsh way, but still, we're at each other's throats all the time - and not in the way couples are meant to be.

On top of all that, she was my brothers best friend, they basically considered her family and I wasn't sure who they'd be more protective of, me or Jisoo. I shook my head, trying to physically get rid of all thoughts of Jisoo. God, why was I thinking about her so much lately?

"Sure if you say so" she shrugged as she turned on the blender and filled the cafe with noise. I couldn't quite pinpoint in my mind why I was so relieved that conversation was over. "Look what the cat dragged in" Rosè chimed as she walked past me to serve a table. I sighed when I turned to the door and saw Tristan walk in, heading directly towards me. Other than Hong Soojoo, I couldn't think of anyone I would less rather see.

"Before you go all rocky on me, just hear me out" he said, holding his hands up. Looking at him now, I can't believe I had the guts to hit him, the guy was literally just a wall of muscle, I think even Namjoon would struggle to intimidate him.

"I'm listening" I mused, humouring him.
"What happened to your eye?" he suddenly asked, leaning in closer to inspect my eye.
"I fell!" I exclaimed, by this point sick of the way people kept staring at me and asking what happened. "Oh, why doesn't that surprise me?" he chuckled.

"I believe you were about to apologise" I glared at him. "Oh yeah! Listen Jennie, I was such an idiot, not only for what I did to you, but for the way I acted after. I look back now and realise that I threw away something that could have been amazing, all because I had too much to drink. It was wrong of me to kiss someone else and it was wrong of me to then make up some dumb excuse and say we weren't exclusive. Jennie, you are so special and I just need another chance to prove to you that I am not the jerk you think I am" he gushed and I believed that he meant it sincerely.

The truth was, once I got over the initial shock, I got over it pretty quickly. I wasn't angry any more. "I'm afraid Tristan, that words alone are not enough to earn my forgiveness" I began, spinning my chair so that I could face him, and I put on my most sincere face. "Words?" he was confused, but he also looked desperate which almost made me chuckle. "I think that another milkshake might just be enough to soften me up"

***

Later that day I parked the car I shared with my brothers on Jisoo's driveway, looking up at her house I felt slightly nervous. We had never hung out, just the two of us. Well technically, it wasn't just us hanging out, technically she hadn't even invited me over, her sisters had. They invited me over to bake with them and how could I refuse? I liked her family, and also, cookies. I walked over and knocked on the white front door, I could hear music from inside and I smiled as I could hear voices singing along to it.

"Jennie!" Dara exclaimed as she answered the door. I peered around her mum to see Jisoo dancing around the kitchen with her sisters, not a care in the world. I chuckled at the sight, I had never seen her like that, so playful and free. "Hi!" I grinned at her.
"Come on in, we're just getting started" she practically dragged me into the house where the music was blaring. "Turn that down, we have a guest!" Dara called over the music, the three of them turned to look at me and Jisoo instantly paled.

"You saw nothing!" She shouted in an accusing voice. "Relax twinkle toes! I'm not gonna tell anyone that I just saw you tap dancing" I giggled as I walked over to the kitchen. "Good" she said sternly before breaking into a breathtaking smile, it was the most genuine smile I had seen and it literally took my breath away. When she smiled, properly smile, her whole face lit up, from her dimples to her glittering eyes.

"Jichu dances all the time" Mina chuckled.
"Is that so, Jichu?" I looked up at him with amused eyes. "That is vicious slander, Ruby" she returned my stare.

***

"These cookies are delicious" I said as I took a bite of my second one. "You're gonna make yourself sick" Jisoo told me as she watched me eat. "I drank two milkshakes before I came here and I felt absolutely fine" I glared at her. "Why would you have two milkshakes" she raised an eyebrow at me.
"Well, Tristan offered to buy the second one and I couldn't say no, could I? That would be rude" I lied, technically, the milkshake had been a bribe, but Jisoo didn't need to know that.

"Wait? Tristan? Why were you talking to Tristan" she suddenly gave me a very serious look, swivelling on the sofa so she was directly facing me. Her mom and sisters were in the kitchen finishing up. "She was apologising to me, if you must know"
"I really hope you hit him again" there wasn't a hint of laughter on her face, in fact she looked quite angry and for some obscene reason I felt the need to defend myself.

"He bought me a milkshake! How could I stay mad at the guy when he bought me a milkshake?!" I exclaimed, shrugging my shoulders. "Well I'll remember that next time I piss you off"
"No doubt it won't be too long" I murmured before she looked at me with an offended.

"I am an angel, Rubyjane!" She glared at me. "I'm inclined to disagree" I said before she pounced on me and began violently tickling me. "Stop! I'm gonna pee!" I shouted as she straddled me and tickled me mercilessly. "Say I'm an angel, Rubyjane!" She called above my painful laughter. "You're the devil!" I gasped as my body was assaulted by waves of discomfort.

She tried to hold me still as I squirmed underneath her, but my body was flailing about wildly. "Say it Rubyjane" she demanded, her voice came out calm and authoritative despite the rapid actions of her hands. "Never!" I exclaimed as I heard battle cries sounding from the kitchen.

Before I knew it, Mina had appeared out of nowhere and tackled Jisoo off of me, but she was no match for her. She simply slung her over her shoulder before she placed her hand on Ryujin's head, stopping her advances. Her arms were too long so none of her hits actually reached her. It was a happy sight, to see them all whole-heartedly laughing with one another.

"Do you want some of this? I've still got legs to kick, Rubyjane" she chuckled as she strained to hold Ryujin back and control Mina as she kicked at her. "Retreat!" I yelled, grabbing Ryujin and dragging her out of the war zone, into the safety of the kitchen. We were both laughing like mad men by the time we got there.

I looked over to where Jisoo was messing around with Mina and I felt this weird feeling form in the pit of my stomach. I can't describe it exactly, it was like a mixture of excitement and hope, it was a warm feeling. Its sort of like the feeling you get when you miss someone and you know you're going to see them soon, except that Jisoo was right in front of me.

Seeing her with her sisters, the way she had acted with me, it made me realise how special she had become to me. I relied on her, she made me feel safe and for someone reason I felt I could trust her beyond anyone else. I felt something special between. And then it hit me, metaphorically and literally.

I realised I liked Jisoo, and a part of me always had, just as she sent a pillow hurtling towards my face, knocking me down. If I get another black eye she is dead.