In Your Orbit (1st Book)

Chapter 7: Unspoken Jealousy

The days after their clinic encounter felt... different. Jennie couldn't put her finger on it, but something had shifted between her and Lisa. They still laughed together, sat at the same table during lunch, and exchanged their usual banter, but underneath it all, there was a tension—an invisible thread pulling them closer while simultaneously holding them back.

Jennie found herself lying awake late at night, replaying Lisa's words in her head.

"I love you, Jennie."

Those four words echoed in her mind like a haunting melody. Lisa had said it so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Best friends say that all the time, Jennie told herself. It's normal, right? But then why did it feel like it meant something more? And why did it hurt a little when Lisa added, "Shouldn't best friends say that?"

Jennie wasn't sure why, but the term "best friend" stung more than it soothed.

As she went through her daily routines—studying for upcoming exams, helping with the student council, and even hanging out with Rose and Jisoo—her thoughts constantly drifted back to Lisa. She'd catch herself staring at her phone, tempted to text Lisa just to feel closer, but then she'd stop herself. What would she even say? There were no words to describe this confusing mess of emotions.

Meanwhile, Lisa was dealing with her own inner turmoil. Ever since that moment in the clinic, she felt like she had exposed a part of herself she wasn't ready for Jennie to see. She hadn't meant to say "I love you" the way she did, but now that it was out in the open, she couldn't take it back. And calling Jennie her "best friend"? That was her safety net. A way to cover up the truth of what she really felt.

Lisa tried to distract herself by throwing herself into volleyball practice. She pushed herself harder than usual, even though her shoulder was still healing. Her coach noticed, of course.

"Manoban, what's going on with you?" Coach Kim's voice was stern as she pulled Lisa aside after another sloppy play. "You're off your game. Is it the injury?"

Lisa shook her head, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Nah, Coach. I'm fine. Just... tired, I guess."

But that was a lie. The truth was, no matter how hard she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting back to Jennie—Jennie's laugh, Jennie's smile, Jennie's soft touch when she had dressed her wound. And then there was Alex, always lurking in the background, ready to swoop in at any moment. The thought of Jennie spending time with Alex made Lisa's stomach twist in knots.

Lisa's unease grew when Jisoo casually mentioned something that made her freeze. "Oh, I heard Jennie's meeting up with Alex after the student council thing later. Coffee or something."

Lisa's jaw clenched, and she forced a smile. "Yeah? Cool," she muttered, trying to keep her voice neutral, but inside, jealousy roared like a wildfire. Jennie hadn't mentioned anything about it to her, and Lisa was too proud—and too scared—to ask.

Jennie, on the other hand, found herself sitting across from Alex at a small café near the school, stirring her iced coffee absently. The atmosphere between them was... off. She couldn't stop thinking about Lisa. Being here with Alex didn't feel right, and that confused her even more. This is supposed to be easy, she thought, Why do I feel so uncomfortable?

Alex was talking, but Jennie wasn't really listening. She was too busy comparing this moment to every second she spent with Lisa. With Lisa, everything felt light, effortless. But here, with Alex, there was a weight—an awkwardness that made Jennie feel like she was in the wrong place.

"Jennie? You okay?" Alex's voice broke through her thoughts, and Jennie quickly nodded, forcing a smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, but the truth was becoming harder to ignore.