Home Is Always You

011

"Bona, have we packed everything already?", Nayeon asked her cousin who was half pulling half dragging three luggages in hands.

"Yeah, I think so", the younger answered, "If I ever left an underwear somewhere under the bed, then that'll be just my gift to Jisoo."

"You're so gross, I can't believe you're my cousin", Jisoo yelled from a distance when she overheard the conversation.

Everyone gathered at the villa's front yard that Saturday morning, bidding goodbyes to each other while waiting for their chauffeurs to pick them up. It has been quite a week for all of them. Some were still hungover from the fun, while some were...just hungover.

"Jennie left early, eh?", Bambam commented after looking around and not spotting the brunette.

"Yups, said she's still gonna check on their Seoul headquarters", it was Minnie who answered, "She might already be in Seoul by now."

"But, it's Saturday??"

"Workaholics don't know weekends."

"Oh, well", Bona joined in, "But, she's gonna stay in Korea until after the wedding, right, Chu?"

The mentioned bride-to-be, who was comfortably leaning on her fiancé's shoulder while they're side-hugging, looks up to reply, "I think so. I remember her telling us how she needs to do some errands for her dad. Maybe that's also why she's checking up on the Seoul HQ."

"I see."

Giving each other knowing looks, the engaged couple, then, gestured at their other friend who was spacing out the whole time, looking so sleep deprived.

Roseanne couldn't remember how few hours she's slept last night, or if she ever slept at all. She could only recall Jennie's retreating figure after she's poured all her heart out. The brunette didn't even spare her a final word. She just...left her there. And now, the girl flew to Seoul way earlier than all of them without a single goodbye. It's not as if she's expecting anything anyway. Everything hurt. But if that was Jennie's answer to her confession, then she'll respect it like an adult.

There's one more thing in her mind, though.

Deliberately approaching Jisoo while she fiddles with her car keys in hand, she asks the girl if they could talk. She knows she still owes them an explanation. She promised that. But, she's not sure if she's got enough time to do so when they're already about to part. She's just realizing now how much time and chances she's wasted this past week, when she could've just told them straight up.

Their feet had led them to the back yard where the others couldn't hear them, and Roseanne tries to gather her words.

"Chu", she started, "I honestly don't know what to say but...I just want to thank you."

Jisoo bobs her head in a nod, her face was stoic as usual.

"You know, for giving me a chance", the singer added, "Inviting me here means a lot to me. Especially knowing how hard it was for you and Lisa. So, thank you, really."

"No need to thank us", the older girl answered, "We all know it needed to be done."

"Yeah, about that actually. I know I still owe you something. And I'm sorry if I've ran out of time to clear it up to you and Lisa, I swear I—"

"We already know."

Pushing back all the words she's prepared to say, Roseanne was evidently taken aback by the statement.

"When you and Jennie left the room last night, Lisa and I got worried something bad might happen", Jisoo continued before heaving out a sigh, "So, we followed you."