The New Girl | 𝘈𝘛𝘌𝘌𝘡

Tipping Point

ELLAJIN

"Noona!" Sunny yells from my couch. "Sexy Aussie boyfriend is calling!"

"Shit," I mumble while scurrying out of my room and yanking a tee shirt on. I manage to get there just before the call goes to voicemail. "Hello?"

"Hey love, what are you up to this evening?" I can practically here Chris's smile through the phone. "I just got through with work. Care for a late night snack?"

"That sounds great, actually." I walk myself back to my room and search for something to wear out of the house. "Where should I meet you?"

"I'll come pick you up and we can go. I know you're miss independent, but I'd feel better not sending you out alone at this hour."

"Okay," I smile to myself and nod even though he can't see me do it. "I can be ready in 10 minutes."

"I'll head over then," he says before ending the call.

"Sunny!" I call towards the living room, but he's already in my doorway.

"I know, the Asian Hemsworth is on his way." Sunny chuckles. "I have to head home anyways. Beomgyu asked me to help him with a photography assignment, so he's coming over to use my dad's studio."

"Oh?" I don't even try to hide my smug grin as I change into black sweats and comb my hair back into a bun. "At this hour? What kind of photos are you taking?"

"Noona, stop it!" He whines as I follow him to the front door. "I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable by confessing to him as his elder."

"You're only 2 years apart," I remind him. "But if you are so sure that confessing is a bad idea, I won't pressure you. I just think you might be wrong about his feelings."

"You just think that because you have a good batting average with younger men." Sunny winks as he finishes slipping on his shoes. "Have fun with blondie!"

"His name is Chris!" I remind him for the hundredth time, but Sunny only laughs in response as the door closes behind him.

I barely have enough time to touch up my makeup before Chris is knocking at my front door. With one last check in the mirror, I head to the door and slip into my sneakers with my bag in my free hand.

"Hey, sorry to drop by so late." Chris chuckles and gives me a kiss on the cheek, his standard greeting at this point. "I know you typically get snacky around this time. I thought we might go for a drive and get something to eat."

"What do you mean? I'm always happy to see you." I lock my apartment door and take his hand to follow him to his car. As usual, I'm forbidden from opening the passenger door on my own and Chris ensures he's the one to open it for me.

It's comfortable and familiar at this point. Being with Chris is comfortable.

"You look beautiful tonight." Chris eases us out of the parking lot and down the street towards the city, his hand over mine once he's finished shifting gears.

"I'm just in sweats," I try to laugh it off, but Chris never lets me get away with dismissing a compliment.

"Correction," he gives my hand a squeeze. "You don't look beautiful, you are beautiful."

"Is there a point to the endless shower of compliments or do you just like to watch me blush?"

"You are cute when you blush, but there is a reason for it." Chris explains as we turn down one of the main streets. "Psychologically, our brains take everything they hear as truth. So if I constantly remind you of how great you are, it will drown out any negative things you say to yourself."

As soon as we reach a parking spot, we pop inside of a seven eleven and pick up snacks before heading towards the river. It's quiet between us for the first few minutes, but then Chris breaks the silence. "I, um, I've been meaning to ask you something... Thats kind of what led me to message you earlier."

"Okay," I look over at him with peaked curiosity. "Do you want to ask me now?"

"I don't mean to make something out of nothing, but I haven't been able to shake the thought..." Chris keeps his gaze straight ahead as he speaks, which is very out of character for him to avoid eye contact. "What is... I mean... uh... is there something going on between you and Wooyoung?"

JENNIE

"Hey Jennie," Anna shout-whispers from her spot on the ground. "Don't look now, but Kai just walked in."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." I duck my head down and try to think through my options. I can't leave my sister and her friends here, but I can't face Kai either.

"Jennie noona," San grabs my hand and gently pulls me down to be eye level with him. "Just stay by me."

"Thanks San," I smile and squeeze myself into the crowded circle between Rose and San. That is, until Rose leaves 5 seconds later to get another drink with her friend. I glance at San and give him an amused sigh. "She's a mess. You know that."

"I know," he chuckles just as the bottle lands on him. We both look up to find Sue and a very unhappy Yunho bickering amongst themselves until San interjects. "If you didn't want to play, you didn't have to join the circle. Rules are rules, bro."

"It's just one little kiss," Sue assures him before leaning across the circle to kiss San. It's brief but sufficient enough to be called a kiss, and it's enough to make Yunho leave the circle in search of another shot to distract himself from watching his girlfriend kiss someone else.

"Uh oh," San chuckles as he watches his friend get up. "I'm a homewrecker."

"You're playing a children's game, San. Don't give yourself that much credit." I roll my eyes and reach for the bottle, seeing how I'm next to spin, but before I can see who it lands on, I see Kai walking over to us. "Shit."

"What-" San follows my gaze over his shoulder for a moment before pulling me in for a kiss. At first, I'm taken aback, but after a few seconds, San pulls back enough to whisper, "is he still looking?"

Fortunately, Kai has disappeared from view, so I shake my head and San lets go of me. The rest of the game participants don't seem phased by the kiss, and instead simply continue on with one of the other boys next to me.

I, on the other hand, can still feel the lingering ghost of San's lips on mine.

"Thanks," I whisper to San. "I haven't talked to him since the breakup. I'm not sure I have the courage to."

"Trust me, I understand the sting of rejection." San whispers back. "Besides, it's not like I mind kissing a pretty girl."