In My Dreams, You Love Me Back

Chapter 17

"What do you think they're talking about?"

"I don't know, try to read their lips."

"Elephants...pink...rock..."

"Okay that's definitely not what they're saying Chu..."

"Can you guys keep it down?" Jennie hissed, "I'm trying to study," her voice was cold. Nearly sent shivers down Chaeyoungs and Jisoos body.

They had never seen Jennie look so annoyed before. Yet, the situation was something Jennie had never been in before, Jisoo told herself as she analyzed the twitch in Jennie's brow, the scowl and the way Jennie kept looking over her book to stare at Lisa and Joy from across the room.

It's been a few days and the party for Joys welcoming was tomorrow. Jennie would rather host a goodbye Joy party instead.

Jealousy at its finest, is what Chaeyoung wanted to say.

"And what are you studying?" Jisoo asked, resting her elbow on the table and placing her chin on her palm, smiling innocently.

"Or, who are you studying?" Chaeyoung asked, mirroring Jisoos position and smile.

Jennie took in a deep inhale before slamming her book down, smiling tightly at the duo. Their smiles were so antagonizing that she nearly wanted to rip it off their cute faces. "I'm studying for my English exam. Something you both need to start doing."

Suddenly, Jennie's ears perked hearing a familiar laugh and that same bubble of annoyance built up in her chest. That annoyance was something she had never felt before. Ever. She must be sick. She had to be.

Jennie looked over to the table Lisa and Joy sat — a little closely and scowled deeper.

"They seem close, don't they Chae?" Jisoo sighed out, feigning a look of utter happiness. "Just look at the way Lisa smiles."

Jennie huffed and brough the book up, high enough to cover her face.

"Oh yes, indeed. That smile of Lisa's must be so contagious since Joys is also smiling. Aww, how adorable."

Jennie's grip tightened. Chaeyoung and Jisoo could practically see her knuckles turning white. They shared a smirk.

"Oh my, are they leaning in to ki—."

"What?!"

Jennie slammed the book down, eyes widened and searching and searching and Jisoo nearly felt guilty. The girl looked horrified. But as her eyes only met an empty table, she glanced towards the door and barely saw Lisa's smile before the doors shut and they were both gone.

All that was left was a closed door. It felt as if another door had closed for Lisa and the thought terrified her, even though she had no clue as to why and what... Again, Jennie was entering a crisis.

She groaned and leaned down, pressing her forehead on the book, "what is going on?" She muttered to herself.

"We were only kidding, Jen," Chaeyoung frowned, brushing her fingers through Jennie's hair, feeling guilty.

Jennie huffed, "That wasn't funny," she cutely whined. Chaeyoung smiled, patting her head before sending Jisoo a look. The look.

Jisoo nodded before looking at the sad lil kitty, "Why wasn't it funny to you?" Jennie scoffed but Jisoo cut in—

"Wait— the real question is, why are you so angry?"

If only she knew.

Jennie slowly lifted her head, taking Chaeyoungs hand and holding it for comfort, her eyes were so lost and Jisoo wanted to scream at her, she wanted to tell her everything but she knew that this was something Jennie needed to figure out on her own.

"I-I don't know. Maybe because I thought Lisa and I would hang out more since the villa? We had gotten so close and then some girl arrives and I suddenly get forgotten. I suddenly no longer exist to her. I suddenly get replaced— oh," she smiled humorlessly, pain in her chest, "Is this what she felt?"

"Jennie, don't go there. That was the past and Lisa forgave you right?" Chaeyoung asked, tightening her hold on Jennie's hand.

"I think so." She looked back towards the closed door, "I just.." she glanced at her friends again, "I just miss her. I want to spend more time with her and—."

"Then why aren't you telling her that?"

A deep voice spoke from behind and all three flinched. Jennie turned around and met her boyfriend's sad eyes. His eyes looked upset but his smile was still just as kind as him.

"Tae—."

"You're friends now aren't you? Why don't you just tell her this instead of dragging this out?" He placed his hand over Jennie's shoulder and she could feel the caress of his thumb. Before, that mere action always sent her heart to a frenzy, now?

Nothing.

"You just got your friendship back with her. So, go on and talk to her. I'm sure she would appreciate knowing how you're feeling," he said, reaching down and closing Jennie's book before offering his hand so she could stand up.

Jennie sighed, taking his hand and standing up with a small smile, "You're right," she brought her book to her chest, "I should talk to her. We are friends again. It shouldn't be too difficult." Tae smiled before looking down.

"But that's just it right?"

Jennie tilted her head and stared at him in confusion, "Is what it?"

Slowly he looked at her and she could see the pain in his eyes as clear as daylight. She felt her chest physically ache all over again.

"It is just a friendship between you two, right?"

Jennie's eyes widened and Chaeyoung began to choke on her drink with Jisoo shushing her while patting her back.

Jennie opened her mouth, ready to deny everything. Deny that Lisa didn't make her heart feel funny or that Lisa's smile didn't light up her days or— Jennie closed her mouth because she couldn't. But as she opened her mouth to try anyways, Tae shook his head, his smile looking sadder by the second,

"I don't want an answer yet. I think you're going to have to figure it out a clear answer for yourself. But, Jen?" He paused, shoving his hands in his pockets, something Jennie knew he did when he was nervous, "Can you please tell me soon?"

"Tae, where is this coming from?" Jennie sounded breathless. She was scared as well. So much was happening  and she had no answers to anything. She knew nothing. What was going on with her?

Tae sighed, his shoulders sagging, "I can ask you the same thing," he said before nodding his head to the girls behind Jennie before turning around to walk away.

Again, she watched as he left and as the doors closed.

More doors were closing.

"Are you okay Jennie?" Jisoo asked, slowly standing up, watching Jennie's back carefully. She was trembling at the spot and when Jennie turned to them, they both frowned and felt their own chests ache.

Jennie was crying.

"I- I don't know w-what's going on anymore."

A/N: sorry for the short update but I'm going to be making the next chapter longer for a reason! See you next week!