Undercover Affection

chapter 11

The next morning, Lisa paced around her loft, trying not to think about how weirdly serious things had gotten between her and Jennie the previous day. She’d spent the whole night tossing and turning, her brain doing that annoying thing where it refused to shut up.

You make things easier.

Jennie’s words kept playing on a loop in her head, and Lisa had no idea what to do with them. Feelings were supposed to be simple, like picking out socks or ordering takeout. Instead, they were more like a complicated puzzle where half the pieces were missing and the other half were shaped like churros.

Lisa flopped onto her couch dramatically, letting out a groan. “Okay, Lisa, focus. Today is the day we avoid emotional disasters. Today, we stick to what we do best—being ridiculous and having fun.”

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her self-pity spiral. She grabbed it off the coffee table, already knowing who it was before she even checked.

Jennie: Are we still on for today?

Lisa grinned, some of her nerves fading. Ah, yes. Today’s mission: karaoke.

She had been trying to convince Jennie to sing for weeks, and finally, Jennie had given in. The plan was simple: go to the karaoke bar, distract Jennie from whatever mafia-related stress she was dealing with, and absolutely not let anything get too serious. Easy, right?

Lisa quickly typed back.

Lisa: Oh, we are VERY on. Prepare your vocal cords for glory. And your ears for my musical masterpiece.

With that, she hopped up from the couch and started getting ready. Nothing was going to ruin this. Not even her heart doing its annoying fluttering thing every time Jennie smiled.

---

A few hours later, Lisa stood outside the karaoke bar, bouncing on her heels like an over-caffeinated kangaroo. When Jennie arrived, looking as effortlessly chic as always in her black leather jacket and sleek ponytail, Lisa had to remind herself to breathe.

“Jennie Ruby Jane Kim,” Lisa said, pointing dramatically. “Are you ready to witness the greatest karaoke performance of your life?”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. “I’m more ready to see how you manage to make this a complete disaster.”

Lisa gasped, clutching her chest. “Oh, ouch. Already throwing shade and we haven’t even started? I see how it is. But mark my words, by the end of tonight, you’ll be begging for an encore.”

Jennie smirked, clearly amused. “I doubt that.”

“Oh, you will,” Lisa said, grinning as she pushed open the door to the karaoke bar. “In fact, you might even join me on stage for a duet. Just wait.”

Jennie gave her a skeptical look but followed her inside. The bar was dimly lit, with neon signs on the walls and a stage in the corner where a small group was currently belting out a very off-key rendition of *Don’t Stop Believin’*. Lisa’s eyes lit up—this was exactly the chaotic energy she thrived on.

“Ah, yes,” Lisa said, scanning the room. “This is it. Our stage. Our destiny.”

Jennie chuckled softly. “You really love this, don’t you?”

Lisa turned to her, flashing a wide grin. “What’s not to love? It’s like... the ultimate no-judgment zone. You can be completely ridiculous and still get a standing ovation. Plus, there’s usually nachos.”

Jennie shook her head, smiling. “I’m still not singing.”

“Oh, you say that now,” Lisa teased, nudging her playfully. “But give me twenty minutes, and you’ll be up there with a mic in hand, belting out some Whitney Houston ballad. Trust me.”