In My Dreams, You Love Me Back

Prologue

There's a moment in life when one gets struck by realization. Realization is gradual or sudden. It is where a person becomes completely aware of something–anything really. It's like a child walks into a carnival for the first time and realizes they are afraid of clowns. Or, when one flies for the first time and realizes they are terrified of heights.

    For Lisa Manoban, that moment of sudden understanding– that sudden realization came when she entered high school.

She did not know how it happened, all she knew was that looking at her best friend squinting her eyes cutely when she smiled or when that mischievous glint in her eyes appeared while she shared her incredible and hilarious stories took her breath away. She was cunning, she was wise, and she was and is so damn beautiful and– oh christ, Lisa Manoban was in love with Jennie Kim.

Yes, Lisa loved her best friend. And that feeling terrified her. Yet, it was exhilarating. Love was such an odd feeling. However, she knew how difficult her life was going to be. Because, there she sat, hand gripping tightly onto her pencil, smiling but with a clenched jaw as the love of her life swooned over one of the football players, Taehyung. And, to Jennie's luck, he was swooning back from across the classroom.

"Isn't he so cute," Jennie sighed, chin resting on her open palm. Lisa nearly snorted as she slouched in her chair, watching them smiling and making disgusting eyes at each other.

"The cutest," Lisa responded with a small wavering grin.

How could she do this to herself? How could she choose to fall in love with her best friend. But, of course you can't simply choose who you fall in love with. Love is such a fickle thing. Still, it was extremely annoying to feel such intense emotions for someone you know will never in a million years reciprocate those said feelings.

"I can't believe he asked me out on a date this weekend!"

Me neither, Lisa bitterly thought. Lisa forced a laugh,

"Why are you so surprised? It's not like he hid his attraction to you, nor did you ever hide yours."

Finally, Jennie turned to her, her sharp brown eyes staring at her with such gentleness. Lisa loved her eyes. They were so alluring.

"I know, but this is different!" Jennie whined, "Because this time he finally did something about it," Jennie stated as a matter of factly, her lips curving – those lips. Lisa coughed reflexively before focusing her sight on such pretty eyes. She has no right to analyze the curve of her best friend's lips.

"Yeah, and it only took him a year," Lisa teased. Jennie groaned and slouched just as low as Lisa,

"Stop reminding me," she pouted, leaning her head onto Lisa's shoulder and Lisa prayed deeply that she couldn't hear the beating on her chest, "And, it wasn't a year. It was 11 months."

Lisa laughed, finding Jennie absolutely adorable before resting her own head on top of Jennie's head, "Close enough."

And as she sat there with Jennie's lovely shampoo scent, she asked herself again,

How could she do this to herself?

    Lisa walked down the hall of her school. The sound of students laughing, the clang of the lockers opening and closing and God, she hated the day. It was Friday, which meant tomorrow was Jennie's date with Taehyung which also meant shopping for clothes for Jennie's date. Can the world just crumble around her already?

    It didn't help that all Jennie spoke about all week was her date. It's just a date, why did her cute best friend have to make a big deal out of it, Lisa thought with an eyeroll.