This is heaven in hiding

chapter 11

The weather changes, fall teasing at the edges. In the breezes that sweep across the city, that have a sudden chill hidden in them. The rain starts, pouring more fruitfully from the sky and dampening the spirits of all. Cold and wet. The night comes earlier and earlier.

Chaeyoung has been buried in work and Jisoo has been on a short bench trial for a few days. Just by her texts Chaeyoung has a sneaking suspicion it's not going well for her.

It's been a quiet week, with Jisoo in trial mode and Chaeyoung's social calendar busier than usual. Trial Jisoo is a beast unto her own. Chaeyoung finds herself bordering attraction and annoyance with her clipped attitude and singular focus.

It's positively frustrating for her brain and body.

She's not entirely a stranger. This is the Jisoo she has known the longest. But, it's different now.

And so, on one of her favorite days of the year, she finds herself huddled around a table at one of her favorite places in the city with Raven and Jennie. Drinks and appetizers ordered and a few more empty chairs around them, signaling the late arrivals.

It's her birthday and she can't remember ever feeling this content about the calendar flip. "Is Jisoo coming?" Jennie doesn't even try to keep her voice down or hide the look of glee on her face as she blurts it out.

"Jisoo? Why is that name familiar..." Raven trails off, her brain whirring.

And if looks could kill, Jennie would be dead on the dirty bar floor. "Wait isn't that the prosecutor you hate, Chaeyoung?" Raven asks, confused and not nearly drunk enough to forget this.

"Mhm," Jennie nods into her drink.

"Shut up, Jennie!" Chaeyoung snaps, but it's too late. The damage has been done.

Jennie's face lights up in a grin and Raven slams her hand on the table. "Someone explain!"

Chaeyoung groans and Jennie spills, "Chaeyoung's been boning Jisoo for a while now."

"WHAT!"

"Okay, fuck you and fuck you, it's my birthday are we really doing this?"

"Uh, yes. I can't believe you kept this from me, Chaeyoung. I thought we were friends? Oh my god, is that why it took you so long to call me back a few weeks ago? Now that I think about it, you did look a little disheveled." Raven puts the pieces together astoundingly fast for someone who was just pounding shots.

"Yeah, it's also why she was late for Brunch n Bitch," Jennie adds, shooting Chaeyoung a look that screams she's been holding on to that revelation.

"Oh my god, Chaeyoung? Seriously?" Raven looks positively gleeful.

"Ugh!"

Jennie spirals into laughter and Raven just keeps pounding the table and looking at Chaeyoung. And no, nope. Chaeyoung does not want to do this. Not tonight and maybe not ever. "Chaeyoung- you need to spill the beans or I'm cutting you off. No more birthday drinks."

"Rude." Chaeyoung glares.

"Seriously, Rae, it's amazing. Chaeyoung here has no self-control." Jennie is still laughing and Chaeyoung seethes.

"Chaeyoung this is your last chance-" Raven warns.

"You better get me another drink, I am not nearly ready for this," Chaeyoung grumbles and knows there's no getting out of it. Has a sneaking suspicion Jennie has been waiting to drop this bomb since they planned her birthday outing.

As soon as Raven leaves, Jennie smiles like the cat that ate the canary. "Don't make me tell her how pouty you were all day because you hadn't heard from Jisoo."