Faking It

8. Meetings

Jisoo stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her dress. She felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. Beside her, Chaeyoung was getting some last-minute adjustments from Lisa and Jennie. The two of them looked perfect together, their outfits complementing each other flawlessly.

"Thanks, Jennie. Thanks, Lisa," Jisoo said, giving them a grateful smile.

"No problem," Lisa replied, giving Jisoo a thumbs-up. "You two look great together."

Jennie nodded in agreement. "Good luck in there."

With that, Jisoo and Chaeyoung made their way downstairs to the dining room. As they entered, all eyes turned to them. Jisoo's family observed them with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.

"Good morning, everyone," Jisoo greeted, trying to sound confident.

"Good morning, Jisoo. Chaeyoung," her mother replied, eyeing Chaeyoung up and down.

They took their seats, and breakfast began. As usual, Jisoo's siblings dominated the conversation with their accomplishments. Her brother bragged about his latest business deal, while her sister boasted about her upcoming charity gala. Jisoo felt like the black sheep of the family, but she tried to keep her composure.

"So, Jisoo," Chaeyoung said, breaking the tension. "How has your morning been so far?"

Jisoo's face lit up. "It's been great! I helped one of the maids with a new recipe. It was so much fun."

Her mother's disapproving gaze fixed on her. "Jisoo, you shouldn't be wasting your time on such trivial matters. It's not appropriate for someone of your standing."

Chaeyoung interjected smoothly, "Actually, I think it's wonderful that Jisoo is so kind and generous. It shows her true character and will benefit her in the long run. Her reputation is one of kindness and generosity, which is invaluable."

Jisoo's jaw dropped in surprise, and her siblings' partners exchanged shocked glances. Chaeyoung had stood up to her mother without missing a beat. Ignoring the tension, Chaeyoung turned her attention back to Jisoo, who was still processing what had just happened.

"Thank you, Chaeyoung," Jisoo said, her voice soft but filled with gratitude.

The rest of breakfast passed in a blur. Once it was over, Jisoo and Chaeyoung found themselves sitting on a bench in the garden. Jisoo waved to the guards, who smiled at her. When Chaeyoung waved, however, they glared at her instead.

Jisoo chuckled. "They've always been protective of me growing up."

Chaeyoung nodded, looking around the garden. "It's beautiful here."

Jisoo smiled. "My older sisters always wanted a garden to look at flowers, so our father made one for them. It's my little safe place away from my family."

She reached out and plucked a flower from its stem, offering it to Chaeyoung. The blonde looked at the flower, then at Jisoo, confused but accepting it with a smile.

"Thank you," Chaeyoung said softly.

They continued walking around the garden, enjoying the peace and quiet. Suddenly, Chaeyoung tripped against the edge of the small pond, and Jisoo, caught off guard, tumbled in with her. Water splashed everywhere as they laughed and tried to regain their balance.

From Jisoo's balcony, Jennie and Lisa watched the scene unfold. Jennie leaned against the railing, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Why did you help dress her for the ball?" Lisa asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Jennie shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "For some reason, I trust her. I can't exactly explain it, but I know I can."

Down below, Jisoo and Chaeyoung continued splashing water at each other, their laughter filling the air. In that moment, it felt like everything was going to be okay.