Music Lovers (Taennie Version)

8

"I don't know." Jennie shakes her head. "Anywhere else."

Lisa glances at Fred with a knowing look. "Can we have a minute?"

He nods as he turns on his heels. "I'll go check out the backyard."

The younger sister heaves a sigh when she's alone with Jennie, reaching for her hand. "Fred wanted me to tell you all of this sooner but I knew it would freak you out. I wanted to show you how well I can live the small town life. Are you convinced?"

Huffing, Jennie pulls her hand from Lisa's. "No wonder you spent so much time on the farm. You're lucky I was so busy with work. If I weren't, what were you gonna do with me? Force me to wear plaid and a farmer's hat against my will?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't completely honest with you. But lately I've been feeling like...you do so much to help me through life...to be like a parent to me. I don't want to burden you," Lisa reasons.

"Lis, you're not a burden. And I am like a parent to you," Jennie says softly.

"That makes me feel so...incapable."

"I just want to be there for you," Jennie explains.

"But I shouldn't be a priority. I shouldn't expect too much from you. You're not Mom. And you're not Dad. It's not your job to take care of me anymore." Lisa grabs her hands again. "It's too much. For the both of us."

"That's not true."

"It is," Lisa replies. "I have Fred and we're gonna have our own family and I can't imagine putting my worries on you anymore."

"I want to help," Jennie says, an icy pang lancing through her. Memories of the last few years being a parent to the only immediate family left in her life lingering in her mind. "I want to take care of you."

"I know." Lisa lifts Jennie's hands between hers, holding them against her heart. "You always do and I love you for that. But I don't want you to think you have to be Mom or Dad to me forever."

The distance that will be between them- from Seoul to Gimhae - proves to Jennie that all Lisa really wants is a sister. Nothing more, nothing less.

"It's hard for me," Jennie admits. "I hate feeling like I can't protect you. Especially when you're gonna be hundreds of miles away."

"I know. But..." Lisa's eyes close, and when they open again, she struggles to keep her voice from splintering. "You can't. And I need to know I can be okay without you. When we lost Mom and Dad, I was gutted. Still I was never scared about how we'd get by. I knew you'd make sure we did...and Nini...I appreciate it more than I could ever put into words."

"You could try," she jokes quietly. "Maybe get me a card or something."

Lisa laughs tearily, pulls one hand free to swipe at her eyes. "At some point, I have to know I can do things on my own. And you need to make room in your life for other things, other people to matter to."

Three beats later, Jennie finally says, "Deal." Then she draws back, her smile shifting into a wince. "I guess. Can I help you decorate the new house at least?"

Lisa wraps her arms around Jennie's neck and drags her into a hug. "Let's put furniture shopping on the vacation list."

~~~~~~~

"Producer?!" Jennie says in surprise at what YG's CEO just told her on the phone.

"Yes," the CEO answers. "With Heejin's resignation, we need a new producer for Girls Next Door. You'd be working with Chaeyoung so it's not an executive position yet. But you would be in charge of their next comeback."