TW: SA
Roseanne
Jennie joined us in the living room for excellent Chinese, a sweet plum wine, and Monday night television. As we flipped channels and laughed over the hilarious names of some reality television shows, I watched as two of the most important women in my life enjoyed some relaxation time and each other. They got along well, ribbing and playfully insulting each other in that way they had. I'd never seen that side of Lisa before and I loved it.
While I hogged one whole side of our sectional sofa, the two girls sat cross-legged on the floor and used the coffee table as a dining table. Both were wearing loose sweatpants and fitted T-shirts, and I appreciated the view. Was I a lucky girl or what?
Cracking her knuckles, Jennie dramatically prepared to open her fortune cookie. "Let's see. Will I be rich? Famous? About to meet Mr. or Ms. Tall, Dark, and Tasty? Traveling to distant lands? What'd you guys get?"
"Mine's lame," I said. "In the end all things will be known. Duh. I didn't need a fortune to figure that out."
Lisa opened her and read, "Prosperity will knock on your door soon."
I snorted.
Jennie shot me a look. "I know, right? You snatched someone else's cookie, Manoban."
"She better not be anywhere near someone else's cookie," I said dryly.
Reaching over, Lisa plucked half of mine out of my fingers. "Don't worry, angel. Your cookie is the only one I want." She popped it in her mouth with a wink.
"Gag," Jennie muttered. "Get a room." She cracked her fortune with a flourish, and then scowled. "What the fuck?"
I leaned forward. "What's it say?"
"Confucius say," Lisa ad-libbed, "man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day."
Jennie threw half her cookie at Lisa, who caught it deftly and grinned.
"Give me that." I snatched the fortune out from between Jennie's fingers and read it. Then laughed.
"Fuck you, Roseanne."
"Well?" Lisa prodded.
"Pick another cookie."
Lisa smiled. "Pwned by a fortune."
Jennie threw the other half of her cookie.
I was reminded of similar evenings spent with Jennie when I was attending SDSU, which made me try and picture what Lisa had been like in college. From the articles I'd read, I knew she'd attended Columbia for her undergraduate studies, then left to focus on her expanding business interests.
Had she associated with the other students? Did she go to frat and sorority parties, screw around and/or drink too much? She was such a controlled woman, I had a hard time picturing her that carefree, and yet here she was being exactly that with me and Jennie.
She glanced at me then, still smiling, and my heart turned over in my chest. She looked her age for once, young and seriously fine and so very normal. At that moment, we were just a twenty-something couple relaxing at home with a roommate and a remote control. She was just my girlfriend, hanging out. It was all so sweet and uncomplicated, and I found the illusion a poignant one.
The intercom buzzed and Jennie leaped to her feet to answer it. She glanced at me with a smile. "Maybe it's Jisoo."
I held up a hand with my fingers crossed.
But when Jennie answered the door a few minutes later, it was the leggy blonde from the other night who came in.
"Hey," she said, taking in the remnants of dinner on the table. She eyed Lisa appraisingly as she politely unfolded and stood in that powerfully graceful way of her. She shot me a smirk; then unleashed a dazzling supermodel smile on Lisa and held out her hand. "Tatiana Cherlin."
