Progression

1. Jajangmyeon - April 2013

8/27/2022 Author's Note:

Hello everyone, please see my offering for the Chaelisa fandom. I recently got into Blackpink and I find Chaeyoung and Lisa's relationship very inspiring and beautiful. Whether they are just close friends or something more, you can tell there is a huge amount of love between the two of them. Hope you enjoy this fic, cheers!

3/16/2024 Author's Note:

A new update for Progression almost 2 years later? Whaaat? The Balsa story talked about in the 'Kill This Love' countdown vlive was too cute to pass up. I also wanted to do a rewrite the chapter of Intro to Luca and SBS Gayo, taking a certain relationship out because it didn't ring true to me anymore.  I was brand new to kpop at the time, I know more things now. I hope you like this edit.

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To say things were tense at the YG Entertainment trainee dorms was an understatement. After they had gotten back from dance practice, Jisoo and Jennie suddenly announced they needed to 'buy snacks' and made a quick getaway to the convenience store, leaving the two younger trainees alone.

Lisa sighed, glancing over at Chaeyoung who was sitting in the corner of the living room, sulking. She figured at least one of them should start talking.

"Come on Chaeyoung, don't be like this."

Lisa got a death stare in response. Fine, she thought.

Lisa went to the fridge and angrily poured herself a glass of orange juice. Sometimes Chaeyoung confused her a lot. At times she was a cute dork, other times a serious, intense perfectionist, sometimes too intense.

Lisa remembered the seeing her in the elevator when she arrived, a shy girl with a guitar at her back. At first, she was intimidated by Chaeyoung's reputation, the top pick with the beautiful golden voice, flown in all the way from Australia.

Eventually they became friends, and Lisa realized that Chaeyoung was just a normal, down to earth girl. They found out they had a lot in common with each other. They were the same age and the only two trainees brought in from overseas who had to take Korean language classes together. They spent their days off together when the other girls went home to their families, hanging out in the dorm, shopping, watching movies, and snacking on junk food.

It was hard being so far away from their families. Sometimes at night, when they were especially homesick, they cried together on neighboring beds, finding comfort in the fact that they weren't sobbing alone. But sometimes they bickered, usually over food or dance choreography which was what they were doing now.

"I just don't know why you're making such a big deal about it," Lisa said, setting her glass down.

"You called me out in front of the whole dance class! Like seriously, what is your problem with me?"

"Okay one, it wasn't in front of the whole class, half the people were gone already. And two, you are always over thinking everything. Dance practice is taking twice as long with all your little questions."

"I'm always over thinking everything? Well sorry, some of us can't be as naturally gifted as you."

"Excuse me? Are you saying I don't work hard on this shit?"

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"Oh Rosie, can you just stop?" What Lisa meant to say next was, 'you're so jjajeungnage (annoying)' but...

"You're so jajangmyeon (black bean noodles)!" Lisa yelled.

Chaeyoung's eyes widened and a beat of silence passed before put her hand over her mouth and burst out laughing.

"Jajangmyeon??"

Lisa was so embarrassed. "I mean, you're so jjajeungnage," she mumbled.

"Oh my god!" Chaeyoung exclaimed, laughing so hard that she was almost hyperventilating.

Lisa was still mad at her but couldn't stop her chuckles from bubbling up. Finally, she gave in and they just laughed together for a long time, the fight forgotten.

When Chaeyoung eventually calmed down from her laughs, she looked at Lisa. "How about this, do you want to get some black bean noodles? My treat?"

"Fine, let's go," Lisa said, begrudgingly. She couldn't say no to food.

While walking down the hall, Chaeyoung couldn't help but tease her again. "I'm so jajangmyeon eh?"

"Shut up," Lisa said, bumping their shoulders together, affectionately.