The Proposal - Jensoo - English Version

15

Jisoo knocked three times on the side door and didn't even wait for authorization to enter. She knew how much Irene hated her doing this, but she didn't care, she was too upset to care. Without delay, she went to her cousin's bed and lay down beside her. The brunette was working on her computer and had her eyebrows together because she didn't understand what her cousin was doing in her room.

"Have you been kicked out of bed?"

"Almost," Jisoo snorted. "My fiancée doesn't like me the way I thought she did."

"What did she do? Didn't let you order dessert for dinner?" Irene closed the notebook placing it on the desk.

"It's all lies, Bae. There's nothing between us."

"How not? You're engaged, you're getting married this weekend. How can it be a lie? " Irene looked at her.

"If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone?" Jisoo asked sitting on the bed watching her cousin nod. "It's all fake. We are not a real couple. We're just doing this so she doesn't get deported and lose her job."

"And why did you get into this trouble?"

"She involved me in this. And I couldn't say no to her. It's just... I don't want it to be a lie."

"And have you mentioned this to her yet?" Irene analyzed her cousin who had her shoulders hunched and her eyebrow lowered.

"She should know. I took her to my restaurant. I wanted to do everything in a special way and in the beginning it was, she knew it was a date. Then she started talking about Soojoo and I realized I was jealous, I thought it was the perfect time to say something nice" Jisoo looked at Irene who couldn't hide her surprise at all that. "I told you she had captivated me in a way only she could. She was silent and when I asked her to say something, she asked to leave."

Irene could see how upset her cousin was. Even when she broke up with Soojoo it wasn't like that.

"First of all, very cute and very gay what you did" Jisoo couldn't contain a smile at Irene's teasing. "Second, you're stupid."

"Which side are you on?" Jisoo looked at her irritated, not understanding the offense.

"From the couple and that's why I'm saying you're stupid" Irene tried not to laugh at the way Jisoo looked at her. "Jennie clearly struggles with displays of affection. She gets all awkward when we go to hug her or try to get into matters that are much more personal. With you, she's more open because she's known you longer and, well, you'd have to pretend, it would be awkward if you two didn't touch."

"I don't understand. So does that mean she's really faking it and that she doesn't like me?" Jisoo scratched her head in complete confusion.

"Why am I not surprised that you don't understand anything about relationships?" Irene shook her head in denial while smiling. "Jisoo, if she didn't give a shit about you, do you think she would have had to defend you today because of what your father said? Do you think that if this was all just an act for her, knowing her the way you do, do you really think she would have gone to dinner with you? Who would care to get to know us and treat us well? As much as she came here with the intention of pretending, today that I had lunch with her and she is far from you, she really seems to be the person I imagined."

"I didn't... think about it." Jisoo was sincere as she really only considered that Jennie didn't want her and not all the other things that could be in question. "I didn't plan on falling in love with her, but Grandma made me see that maybe it was always inside of me and encouraged me to pursue her. That's why I did what I did today. I was honest, I thought it was fair for her to know, but when I told her, she just stood there without saying anything or not even... I don't know, hugging or kissing me, I started to regret it."

"And you did a really nice thing, but she could have just been scared by what you said and stopped and that doesn't mean she doesn't want you by her side," Irene said patiently, seeing the blonde's expression change from upset to thoughtful.

"Was I stupid with her? I said that her silence was already an answer. She said no, but I didn't take her seriously."

"Neither of you are being idiots, but each of you has a different perspective on the situation. You are more open to the world, it is easier for you to face these situations because that is your way. However, Jennie is more withdrawn, is quieter, talks little about her life, and sometimes allows herself to let go a little more. With you she does that. Each one has a different experience and, just as you are upset that she didn't say anything, she may be upset for the same reason."

Digesting Irene's words, Jisoo realized that she might be right, and if she was, it would only reinforce what her grandmother told her. Jennie was a really withdrawn person, always keeping a safe distance from everyone. Seeing her act more openly with her family—apart from her father—made her happy, as she knew she was alone in the world. And it was precisely because she realized that the brunette hadn't had anyone for many years that she realized that Irene was right on several points.

"And what do I do now?" Jisoo asked innocently. "I told her I was going to sleep here because I needed to get away from her."

"I won't criticize you because I understand the side of you two. Those who are inside the situation do not always see what is happening. So just be you." Irene shrugged.

"What a shit advice!" Irene rolled her eyes at the comment.

"Be you, keep acting with her the way you act and show her that you understand her side, but that she doesn't need to be afraid to open up to you."

"Now that was better advice." Jisoo smiled. "Should I go back there? Like, today? Now? Talk to her or not say anything, but show that I'm there?"

"Yeah," the brunette encouraged her. "Do something nice. She may have been a pretty bad boss, but she's not a bad person. You've been here for three days, if she was all that monster you said, one hour she would have let her claws escape to hurt someone."

"At the publishing house, she was always tough and bossy. Doesn't look anything like the Jennie from here" Jisoo tugged a corner of her lips as she remembered some situations. "She'd send any idiot running and she didn't even have to get off her heels. I think she's amazing for exactly that reason."

"It took you three years to realize what you felt. She's here with you now, you can show her so much more than you've shown her during this time. Like her, I lost my parents, but I had Aunt Dara to raise me, Grandma, even GD. You had that chance too. She lost her parents and was left alone. Imagine what she didn't have to face to get where she is."

"You're right."

"Even if it all started with a lie and she can't go further at the moment, just show her that you're on her side, not as an assistant, but as the person who wants her well" Jisoo was enveloped in a hug.

"Thanks. Thanks. Thank you" Jisoo placed a kiss on her cheek. "What would I be without you?"

"I don't know either," she replied, laughing at the euphoria that Jisoo was feeling. "Grandma's right, you'll win the girl over."

Bouncing, Jisoo left the room determined that during all these days, she would show Jennie that she was not alone now. Grandma Kim had made her see that she was in love and now Irene has made her realize that not everything is what it seems.