In Your Orbit (1st Book) Completed.

Chapter 26: This is Mixed Up

The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the gym windows, casting golden streaks across the glossy floor. The faint hum of students chattering in the hallways blended with the distant squeaks of sneakers from an adjoining court. Lisa lay sprawled across the bleachers, her legs dangling over the edge, absently tossing a small rubber ball into the air. Her movements were casual, but her mind was anything but.

Jisoo sat beside her, head tilted down, scrolling through her phone with a practiced swipe of her thumb. Every so often, she'd let out a small chuckle or snort at something on the screen.

Lisa broke the companionable silence. "Hey," she said, her voice lazily carrying through the nearly empty gym. "Prom's coming up. You planning on asking Rose out?"

Jisoo didn't even glance up. "What do you mean?" she replied flatly, abbreviating her words as always. Her focus remained glued to her phone. "We're already together. It's a given she's coming with me."

Lisa caught the ball mid-air and turned her head to face Jisoo, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, but, like... chivalry isn't dead, right? Wouldn't hurt to give her some butterflies or something." She grinned, tossing the ball again.

"Pfft. The zoo," Jisoo muttered distractedly, referencing the flood of emotions Rose always brought up in her.

Lisa laughed, the sound echoing lightly. "Come on, Jisoo. Think about it. How often do you get the chance to do something romantic and over-the-top? This is prom."

Jisoo finally lowered her phone, meeting Lisa's gaze with a skeptical look. "And you're suddenly the expert on romance? Since when?"

Lisa sat up, catching the ball again. Her grin widened mischievously. "Since now. I'm gonna ask Jennie out, and I'm gonna do it in a way that shows every loser out there who's got her heart."

Jisoo tilted her head, considering Lisa's words. "You're really gonna make it a spectacle, huh? Public and all?"

"Duh," Lisa replied, leaning back on her palms. "I'm not taking any chances. You know how many people are lining up for her? It's Jennie Kim we're talking about. I gotta make it crystal clear she's mine."

Jisoo chuckled, shaking her head. "Alright, Mr. Romantic. You go all out. Make the rest of us look bad."

Lisa smirked. "You should do the same. When's the last time you made Rose swoon, huh? Maybe she's starting to think you've lost the legendary Jisoo charm."

Jisoo's eyes narrowed playfully, and she leaned back against the bleachers. "The Jisoo charm never fades," she shot back, but her tone betrayed a hint of thoughtfulness. "Alright, fine. Maybe I'll come up with something. Just to keep her on her toes."

"Atta girl," Lisa said, tossing the ball into the air once more.

The two sat there, the air thick with their shared camaraderie and the soft thud of the ball landing back in Lisa's hand. Outside, the gym's energy seemed to pulse as students buzzed about the upcoming event, but inside, Lisa and Jisoo shared an easy moment of plotting, friendship, and the undeniable anticipation of making their girls swoon.

Jennie sat at her desk, her pen tapping rhythmically against a stack of papers. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the room, offering a soothing backdrop to her furrowed brow. Her office, though neatly organized, had taken on the chaotic energy of her mood—papers slightly askew, sticky notes cluttering the edge of her monitor, and an untouched cup of coffee cooling on the corner of her desk.

Alex leaned casually against the doorway, arms crossed, watching Jennie with a mixture of amusement and concern. "You look like your brain's about to explode," Alex said, breaking the silence.