In My Dreams, You Love Me Back

Chapter 16

Lisa never expected to see the girl from the bar again. Let alone show her around campus. She did, however, expect Joy to be just as flirty as she was with her when Seulgi introduced them to each other during the tour, but the moment Seulgi walked away, along with Jennie (who had a strange look in her eyes) Joy was suddenly– well, joyful. She was actually quite funny and sweet. Where was the girl from the bar?

"What made you transfer to this school?" Lisa asked, nearing the cafeteria. She looked at Joy and admitted to herself that she was still as beautiful from the last time she saw her. Only this time, instead of smokey eyes and red lips, she had natural, soft makeup that gave her a sense of innocence. And, instead of a sinfully tight, black dress, she wore a white t-shirt that was tucked into her jeans. Lisa found her cute like this, especially with her baby blue clip holding her bangs in place.

"Seulgi told me this school had really good music classes. And, I really like to sing and dance," Joy said, looking at Lisa and smiling a smile that nearly had Lisa panicking at the spot. And maybe Joy noticed how red Lisa's ears had gotten because her smile widened even more. The smile was not good for Lisa's gay heart.

Lisa cleared her throat, "I-I like to dance too."

Joy winked, "Yeah, I remember." Lisa blushed even more as she opened the doors to the cafeteria and held it for joy to pass. "You're so cute when you blush," Joy cooed, tapping Lisa's head as she passed by.

Lisa playfully rolled her eyes and laughed, finding herself enjoying Joy's company more than she expected. "Are you always this bold?" Lisa asked, walking alongside her and nudging her side. Suddenly, Joy locked their arms together and smirked down at Lisa,

"Only to the cute ones."

Panicking. I am panicking.

Lisa shook her head, a small laugh escaping her grin and when she looked up, she saw her friends staring at them. All curious eyes on Joy but there were a pair of eyes that were staring at her. Hard. It was unnerving and nearly had Lisa pull her arm from Joy.

"Hey guys," Lisa greeted, eyes still on Jennie who had yet to remove her eyes from their locked arms. She cleared her throat and looked at Joy who grew timid from the attention, "This is Joy, Seulgi's cousin." Joy smiled kindly and waved with her free hand.

"Nice to meet you guys." Her eyes swept over all their faces but froze on a certain, quiet person. And seeing that similar look she had at the bar, Joy widened her smile. She was suddenly deeply amused, maybe even excited. She might actually really enjoy her new school.

Jisoo smiled sweetly, "Come join us." She scooted over and tapped the seat next to her, "I'm Jisoo. This is Chaeyoung," she pointed at Lisa's roommate who waved with a happy smile, "And this is Taehyung and his girlfriend–," two girls flinched, "--Jennie."

Lisa glanced at Jennie as she walked around the table to sit beside Jisoo, just across Jennie. Joy smiled at all of them, specifically Jennie (something that went unnoticed) as she sat down...next to Jennie.

After a while, they had all gotten well acquainted with Joy and seemed to like her just as much as Lisa did. Well, not entirely all of them. Jennie had seemed to remain quiet throughout the exchange. And, of course only Lisa found herself noticing.

It shouldn't have surprised her that she always noticed Jennie. Of course she'd noticed the scowl on her face, or the straight line of her lips. It was as if Lisa was waiting for it to curve upwards. Lisa wanted to see her smile. So, why wasn't she? Why did she look so upset?

"Ha ha ha, Joy you're so funny," Jisoo exasperated loudly, earning odd looks from all of them but she didn't care. She needed Jennie to get out of whatever she was in. Why did the girl have to look so obvious? She then glanced at Lisa who had yet removed her own eyes from the quiet girl and nearly rolled her own eyes, And why can't that stupid girl notice? "She's so funny! Right Jennie?"

Jennie moved her glare to Jisoo.

"Stop flirting with my cousin, Jisoo," Seulgi suddenly appeared with Irene beside her.

Jisoo blushed in embarrassment, "I wasn't!"

Chaeyoung giggled, playfully pinching her cheek, "Awww, sure you weren't." Joy laughed,

"I didn't mind. Jisoo's a cutie," she playfully winked and Jisoo groaned in annoyance, her face reddening even more than before as she swatted Chaeyoung's hand away. Joy laughed again before hissing and whining. Irene flicked the side of her head and looked down at her sternly,

"What did we say about teasing others?" Irene had always been close to Seulgi's family. So, it came to no surprise that she knew Joy really well.

"Ooo mama bear," Lisa joked, grinning up at Irene who looked at her happily. Their eyes held recognition. And Jennie felt even more annoyed than before. Especially when Irene poked Lisa's nose, causing it to scrunch up cutely.

Darn her cuteness.

"Stop flirting Lisa," Seulgi whined, rushing to Irene's side, "You've done that enough already!" She wrapped her arm around Irene's shoulder protectively and Lisa couldn't help but smile happily. Especially since it had seemed the two were close again. Yet, not close enough.

"Ooo, does that mean Lisa can flirt with me now?" Joy suddenly asked and instantly Jennie studied Lisa's expression. Her fists clenching on her lap as she felt that weird, annoying, tightening feeling in her chest. She had never felt so uncomfortable before. It was new. And she absolutely hated it.

She watched Lisa's widened eyes, internally scowling at her reaction. Her cheeks were a deep shade of red and her smile curved upwards shyly. Who the hell did this Joy person think she was? And why the hell was Lisa acting this way?

If Jisoo looked closer, steam would be shooting out of Jennie's ears by now.

"Anyways..." Irene interrupted Joy's flirty eyes at Lisa with a pointed look, "I wanted to personally invite you guys to a party this weekend. Wanted to welcome Joy to the school properly."

Taehyung nodded happily, "Of course we'd come." He agreed, placing his hand over Jennie's fist, side eyeing his girlfriend curiously. His touch shocked Jennie for a second as if the red she saw disappeared and she was back to reality. Right. Reality.

"Of course." Her voice was strained. Her eyes found Lisa again who was smiling kindly at Joy. Why is she smiling that way? Is she that pretty? Her knee began to shake and slowly felt anger bubbling up in her throat. She needed to get some air.

Jennie stood up suddenly, "I'll be right back," she smiled at them but Lisa could see right through that smile of hers. That wasn't a genuine one. And of course, to no surprise, Lisa was worried. She truly would never escape this woman. She glanced at Taehyung who stood up as well, clearly knowing Jennie was feeling off.

She could never escape her and she could never have her.

"Is everything okay?" Lisa asked, trying to sound as casual as possible not to show how attuned she was to Jennies moods. Quickly, Jennie looked at Lisa, exhaling deeply as if to look relieved that her eyes were no longer on Joy or Irene. Must be in Lisa's imagination.

Jennie smiled and Lisa nearly melted and Jisoo almost rolled her eyes while swatting chaeyoung's hands off her chips. "Get your own."

"Yes, everythings okay. I just forgot something in my dorm." Of course it was a lie. But then why was she lying? Why did she need some air? Why couldn't she breathe when Lisa was staring at her with so much intensity? Why was Lisa making her feel all....this?

"I'll see you later then?" Taeyhungs caring voice cut through her crisis. She turned to look at him and nearly felt her heart breaking. He was genuinely worried for her and all she could think about was Lisa's smile on Joy. Her thoughts were clouded and there her boyfriend was loving her the way every woman wants to be loved so what the hell is wrong with her?!

She smiled at him and took hold of his hand. Watching that, Lisa felt something burn in her chest in the worst way.

It was like acid.

"Of course," Jennie whispered.

But then, a hand took hold of Lisa's. Lisa looked up to see Joy smiling at her,

"Come get coffee with me." She didn't even wait for a response. She had stood up and rushed out all while holding Lisa's hand. And Jennie could not look away till they were completely out.

She was angry and she didn't know why.