THEIR STORY (JenLisa)

FIRST MEETING

I keep myself busy with work, I go out and have fun with my friends, and I'm doing fine. But in those quiet moments, no matter how hard I try not to, I catch myself thinking of you.

~M

~~~

Jennie stood nervously at the edge of the pool, adjusting her swim cap and glancing around. The bright, inviting water shimmered under the overhead lights, and the small children in the class were already giggling and splashing in the shallow end. Jennie couldn't believe she and Lisa, whom she just met earlier and hit it off, were the only adults there. She needed to learn how to swim for her new job, and Lisa was cashing in on her best friend Chaeyoung's silly birthday gift.

Lisa, standing beside her, gave a playful nudge. "This is going to be interesting," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I can't believe we're actually doing this."

Jennie laughed nervously, adjusting her goggles. "Yeah, well, I need to learn for work, and you... well, you have your friend to thank for that birthday gift."

Lisa chuckled, remembering her best friend’s gift. "Leave it to Chaeyoung to give me swim lessons for my birthday. She knows I can't swim to save my life."

Their instructor, a cheerful woman named Joy, blew her whistle, signaling the start of the class. "Alright, everyone! Let's get in the water and start with some basic floating exercises."

Jennie and Lisa exchanged a glance, a mix of excitement and trepidation. They stepped into the pool, the cool water sending shivers up their spines. As they positioned themselves in the shallow end, Joy began demonstrating the proper floating technique.

"Just relax and let the water support you," Joy instructed. "It's all about trusting the water and staying calm."

Jennie took a deep breath and attempted to float, but her body stiffened, and she quickly sank back down. She glanced over at Lisa, who was having a similar struggle, her body bobbing awkwardly before she lost her balance and splashed back into the water.

Lisa burst into laughter, her playful spirit undeterred. "Wow, we're really good at this, huh?"

Jennie couldn't help but laugh as well, her anxiety easing in the face of Lisa's humor. "Yeah, natural swimmers, the both of us."

As the lesson continued, Jennie found herself stealing glances at Lisa. She noticed the way Lisa's eyes crinkled when she laughed and the way her smile seemed to brighten the whole room. She couldn't quite understand why she kept looking at Lisa's lips, but the attraction was undeniable.

Lisa, on the other hand, was captivated by Jennie's catlike eyes. Every time Jennie smiled or laughed, Lisa felt a flutter in her chest that she couldn't quite explain. She was instantly drawn to Jennie's warmth and the way her eyes seemed to light up even in the dim pool lighting.

After several failed attempts at floating, Joy called for a short break. Jennie and Lisa climbed out of the pool, sitting on the edge and dangling their feet in the water.

"Why do I feel like a fish out of water?" Jennie joked, wiping the water from her face.

Lisa grinned. "Because we kind of are. But hey, at least we're in this together, right?"

Jennie nodded, her smile softening. "Yeah, it does make it a lot better having someone to laugh with."

Lisa's gaze lingered on Jennie's lips for a moment before she quickly looked away, feeling a strange mix of excitement and confusion. "So, what's the deal with needing to learn to swim for your new job?"

Jennie sighed. "It's a safety requirement. They want everyone to be able to handle themselves in water, just in case. I never thought I'd have to take a beginner's swim class at this age, though."

Lisa chuckled. "Well, at least you're not alone. I just have to survive this so Chaeyoung can stop making fun of me for being the only one in our group who can't swim."

Jennie laughed, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Looks like we both have our reasons. And maybe we'll actually get better at this. Who knows?"

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the sounds of the pool and the children's laughter filling the air. Jennie found herself sneaking another glance at Lisa, marveling at how easy it felt to be around her. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, there was something undeniably comforting about Lisa's presence.

Joy blew her whistle again, signaling the end of the break. "Alright, everyone! Back in the water. Let's give floating another try."

Jennie and Lisa exchanged determined smiles as they slipped back into the pool. This time, they were more relaxed, more attuned to each other's encouragement and laughter. They still struggled, but it felt less daunting with each other's support.

As the class came to an end, they climbed out of the pool, both a little more confident and a lot more connected. Jennie wrung out her hair, smiling at Lisa. "So, same time next week?"

Lisa nodded, her smile wide and genuine. "Absolutely. And maybe by then, we'll actually manage to float."

Jennie laughed, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I wouldn't count on it, but at least we'll have fun trying."

Lisa's eyes softened as she looked at Jennie, her voice sincere. "Yeah, fun with you is pretty much guaranteed."

Jennie felt a blush creep up her cheeks, her heart racing at the unexpected compliment. "Same here, Lisa."

As they parted ways, both felt a spark of something new and exciting. They didn't know exactly what it was yet, but they were eager to find out. The swimming lessons might have started as a disaster, but they had already brought them closer in ways they never expected. And for now, that was more than enough.