babe? ● blackpink oneshots collection

speak now • jensoo

Jennie bit her lips nervously, jittering a little as if she just had an unusual amount of caffeine. Her hand was sweating as her eyes couldn't stop looking at her own feet covered by the purple skirt of her dress. There was nothing she was supposed to be anxious about, but she just was.

The church Jennie stood at was grandeur. The ceilings had paintings of the story of the creation of the world according to the bible. The beige walls stood tall and gave all the attendees of the wedding a sense of security and comfort. The old wooden benches were just there to become silent witnesses for another important moment in the part of human lives, just the way they have for hundreds of years. Skylight seeped through the colorful stained glass windows. The white robed priest stood, his eyes fixated to the opening of the great door.

A beautiful woman and a man dressed in white entered the hallway, hand in hand. While the groom smiled, the gloomy nature of the bride struck the guests and the priest. There was nothing odd, supposedly, about this couple, but the bride was, Jisoo was.

The pianist played a wedding tune as the two walked on the "clean" but dusty velvet red carpet. Jisoo and his soon-to-be-husband walked down the aisle slowly as they stepped into the light. A little girl crowned flowers, carried a bouquet, as she led the two towards the main stage. But, Jisoo's eyes were unsure, flickering with nothing but hopelessness and fear.

Jennie's gaze was fixed. Her focus was shot right towards the bride, as if she was calling Jisoo to break through. It took some time before Jisoo finally acknowledged and felt the gaze, so she turned her head and looked back. Once their eyes met, through Jisoo's veil and through the cold air around Jennie, it felt like the world had crashed and collided. It was magical. It was unruly. It was.. simply beautiful.

Jisoo was relieved. Although the groom's family decided to not invite Jennie, and Jisoo was very much helpless, she couldn't help but secretly wish upon a star for her beloved to come. At least, the forcefully arranged marriage would feel a little better with her around.

Yes, Jisoo's wedding was arranged. When Jisoo's parents found out that she was gay, they got mad at her and dragged her into a horrifying nightmare of an arrange marriage. It wasn't just a matter of family honor; it was a way to fix what they saw as a "mistake," to force her into a box that didn't fit her, no matter how much it cut her edges. Jisoo had pleaded, cried, and even begged, but her parents were unshakable and they stood clearly proud of their decision. They had chosen a "respectable" man from a "respectable" family, and there was no escape. So, Jisoo came to a conclusion of the unhappy life laying in front of her.

Now, standing at the altar, Jisoo felt like a puppet in someone else's story. The groom's hand on hers felt cold, foreign, and weighty. Her heart ached not for what lay ahead but for the life that was slipping away behind her—her life with Jennie. Although the groom was such a good man that Jisoo couldn't deny the kindness, pure-heartedness, and loyalty that he had shown her, Jisoo couldn't be more distant with him. He was dull and the furthest of what Jisoo wanted in a partner. She could love him as a friend, but for more would be only one space for Jennie.

Jennie, who now stood in the shadows at the back of the church, was everything that made Jisoo feel alive. Her courage, her warmth, and the way she would laugh at Jisoo's jokes even when they weren't funny. Jennie had always been her light in the darkest times, and now, here she was again.

The appalling voice of the priest boomed, shaking Jisoo out of her thoughts. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of—"

Jisoo couldn't hear the rest. Her heart was pounding too loudly. She could feel Jennie's gaze pulling into her back like a silent plea to turn around, to make a choice, to fight back. The question now wasn't whether she could—it was whether she would.

The world seemed to still as Jisoo clenched the bouquet in her trembling hands. She looked at the groom. He smiled faintly, perhaps aware of her hesitation, perhaps not caring. She turned her head slightly toward the priest, who was now waiting for her response to the vows he'd just read.

And then, finally, her eyes darted back toward Jennie. Jennie, whose eyes were wide with unspoken hope, her lips slightly parted as though willing Jisoo to speak the words that could change everything.

"If anyone present knows of any reason why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

The room was silent, save for the faint creak of someone shifting uncomfortably in the pews. The stained glass windows painted the scene in hues of red, blue, and gold, casting an ethereal glow over the church. And then, Jisoo spoke.

"I can't do this." Her voice was soft at first, barely more than a whisper, but it carried a resolute strength that seemed to echo in the vast hall. "I'm sorry. I can't."

Gasps rippled through the room, and murmurs followed. The groom's smile faltered, replaced by confusion and anger. Jisoo stepped back, letting the bouquet fall to the ground. Her hands trembled as she lifted her veil, revealing tear-streaked cheeks and a look of raw determination.

"She's right," said Jennie, loudly as she stood up. Although she saw the furious stares of Jisoo's parents, she couldn't hold it anymore. Jisoo's parents was hurting their own daughter, and Jennie couldn't stand it anymore. "I'm her lover and I have loved her ever since. This marriage can not go on when the bride clearly doesn't love the groom."

"I can't marry someone I don't love," she said, her voice louder now, steadier. Her gaze found Jennie again, and she smiled for the first time that day—a small, bittersweet smile. "I'm sorry for everything, but I have to follow my heart."

Without waiting for anyone to stop her, Jisoo turned and walked down the aisle, toward Jennie. Toward freedom. Toward love. Jennie stood frozen, her own tears falling freely now, until Jisoo reached her and extended a hand.

"Let's go," Jisoo said simply.

Jennie didn't hesitate. She took Jisoo's hand, and together, they ran out of the church, leaving behind a trail of whispers, shocked faces, and a velvet red carpet that would no longer bear witness to a forced union.

Outside, the sun was shining brightly, as if the world itself was celebrating their escape. For the first time in what felt like forever, Jisoo felt like she could breathe. Jennie squeezed her hand, and Jisoo turned to her, smiling through the tears.

"We'll figure it out," Jennie said softly.

Jisoo nodded. "As long as I'm with you."

And with that, they disappeared into the horizon, leaving behind a story that wasn't theirs to tell—because they were finally ready to write their own.