A fresh start is what I need, Lisa though to herself as she settled herself down on the floor of her newly rented apartment in Seoul, South Korea.
With her two part time jobs, college and her precious dog, Jennie had her hands full with no time for...
Lisa was actively avoiding Jennie, whether at work or in their apartment building. She started going for her run earlier than usual. It had been a week since she last spoke to Jennie, which was especially difficult since they worked on the same floor serving at The Bar. Lisa even spoke with Kai about moving to the back for the next few weeks, stating she wouldn't be able to work many hours because of personal commitments. Kai, of course, approved. Though it had only been two months since she and Jennie became friends at that party, Lisa missed her. She missed their fun interactions, but she couldn't trust herself around Jennie. Her heart pounded whenever Jennie was near, and a single smile from her sent Lisa's stomach into a frenzy of butterflies and made her feel like she was on cloud nine—an experience that left her anxious and nervous.
Lisa had an event to cover in two days, a private publication party for LVMH Watches at the Marriott. She was busy preparing, feeling nervous about the exclusive, hush-hush nature of the guest list. She hadn't even thought about how Chaeyoung managed to score this gig for her. That girl has a knack for anything business-related, Lisa thought.
Arriving at the Marriott, Lisa stepped out of her cab, gathered her equipment, and made her way to the lobby. After checking in at reception to get her pass, she was led to a small but luxurious ballroom. She began setting up her camera and memory cards. This was just a candid photography event, which suited her perfectly. The pay was high enough that she could relax a little and perhaps reduce her hours at The Bar for a few weeks. This thought led her back to Jennie, and she mentally chastised herself for it as she continued setting up.
The event was underway, and Lisa was busy capturing photos of the main guests on her list. She blended in well with the crowd, making it easy to snap candid shots. Her black formal suit, which had been requested for the event, fit her perfectly, helping her look like one of the elite guests.
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Lisa was taking a break by a large window when a tall man approached her.
"Bonjour, mademoiselle."
Lisa glanced to her right and saw a well-dressed man with sandy brown hair and a kind smile. He wasn't particularly handsome, but he had a commanding presence. His accent is so charming, she thought before replying softly, "Annyeonghaseyo." The man laughed and stood beside her.
"I take it you're not with the publication crowd?" he asked, keeping his eyes on her.
"Haha, no, I'm the company's photographer," Lisa replied.
"Oh? You could have fooled me," he said, giving her an appreciative look that made her blush and nervously scratch her neck.
"I'm Frederic," the man introduced himself, extending his hand. Lisa shook it, feeling slightly dazed by his presence.
"I'm Lisa. It's nice to meet you, Frederic," she replied.
"Lisa, would you join me for a coffee? There's a small café just outside the hotel," Frederic invited, bending slightly to meet her gaze.
"I need to finish my shoot here; it won't be done for another hour. But thank you for asking," Lisa said, bowing politely and moving to resume her work. As she turned, Frederic called after her.
"Wait. Here, take this," he said, handing her his card. "Call me later. I'd love to hear more about your photography... and you." With a wink, he walked away. Lisa stared at the card in her hand, watching him go before shaking her head and getting back to work.
A Few Days Later
Jennie was feeling down. She had just finished college, with graduation set for next week, and had already invited Jisoo to the ceremony. Everything seemed to be going perfectly, but she couldn't shake her sadness. She missed Lisa. It had been exactly three weeks since they last spoke in Jennie's apartment. She'd seen Lisa working at The Bar, but not as frequently. Guess she doesn't need the hours anymore, Jennie thought. She knew why Lisa was acting this way and didn't blame her. Jennie needed to get over her massive crush on Lisa and move on. She'd never had any real expectations, but she had thought of Lisa as her friend. They had fun together, and working was a breeze with Lisa's antics and funny faces. Jennie sighed, finishing up the last table, and headed to the staff room to clock out. As she returned, ready to leave, she spotted Lisa with her back turned, talking to a tall, impressively dressed man.
For reasons she couldn't explain, Jennie ducked out of sight, eavesdropping on their conversation. The man was smiling down at Lisa, who seemed to be... fidgeting? Wait, is Lisa uncomfortable? Jennie thought.
"I can't today, Frederic. I've had a long shift and need to go home and rest. Plus, I have editing to do," Lisa told him.
"S'il vous plaît, Lisa, please?" the man said, his French accent unmistakable. Jennie straightened, noticing how the man leaned toward Lisa. How dare he lean toward my Lisa, Evil Jennie thought. She's not yours, Jennie; leave her be, chimed in Good Jennie. Can you both shut up? I'm trying to listen, Jennie scolded her inner voices.
"I'm sorry, Frederic, I can't," Lisa said firmly, moving back toward the staff room.
Jennie scrambled to her locker, hoping not to be caught. Just as she reached it, Lisa entered the room, sighing and dropping her shoulders. She looked up and noticed Jennie.
"Jennie," Lisa said softly. Hearing her name spoken so gently, Jennie felt her resolve crumble. Any walls she had built around her crush for Lisa vanished.
"Umm... hi, Lisa. Long time, no see," Jennie replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Yeah, umm... I've been busy lately," Lisa explained.
"You don't have to pretend, Lisa. I get it," Jennie replied bitterly, starting to walk out. But Lisa grabbed her arm.
"What does that mean? What do you 'get'?" Lisa asked, sounding a bit annoyed.
"I don't need to explain myself to you," Jennie shot back, rolling her eyes.
Lisa stared at her in disbelief before letting her arm go. "What?" Jennie replied haughtily.
"Nothing. I'm out of here," Lisa said, sounding defeated.
"Yeah. That's all you can do—run," Jennie retorted before turning her back and storming out of the room, leaving Lisa standing there, annoyed and hurt.
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(A/N) I know LisFred is being shipped by quite a few blinks, but I am not one of them. I am through and through a JLS.
No hate for anyone. Everyone is free to ship anyone they wish. Its just a story of my imagination so no hate guys! Shipping is for entertainment (JenLisa is an exception of course Khekhe!)
I am sorry for the teeny tiny fight between our main leads, but come on I did warn it was a slow burn. Patience is a virtue.
