The Quiet Contract

Nami - Coffee

Jennie POV

The ride felt oddly... pleasant. Not at all what I'd anticipated. I thought it'd be awkward—Lisa fumbling for conversation while I sat in annoyed silence. But that wasn't the case at all.

Lisa was easy to talk to, and the atmosphere in the car was relaxed. She had a way of steering the conversation that didn't feel forced, weaving humor and sincerity seamlessly.

What really surprised me, though, was her choice of music.

The car stereo softly played an old tune I recognized from my parents' collection—some soulful classic with meaningful lyrics that tugged at my chest.

"You listen to this kind of music?" I asked, breaking the silence as another oldie filled the air.

Lisa glanced at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. I like songs that tell a story, you know? Something that sticks with you."

I nodded, trying not to show how impressed I was. "It's... different. Not what I expected from you."

"Oh?" Lisa raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing. "What kind of music do you think I'd listen to? Bubblegum pop? Heavy metal?"

I smirked. "I don't know. Something goofy, like you."

Lisa laughed, the sound warm and contagious. "Goofy, huh? Well, guilty as charged. But these songs? They're special. They remind me of home."

"Thailand?" I asked, curious.

She nodded, her eyes softening. "Yeah. My mom used to play these while cooking. She loved classics. It stuck with me, I guess."

I leaned back in my seat, listening more closely to the lyrics. The song was slow, the words heartfelt. Normally, I gravitated toward modern hits—catchy tunes with beats that got stuck in my head for days. But this? This was different.

And I didn't hate it.

In fact, I found myself tapping my fingers lightly against my leg, almost in time with the music.

Lisa noticed and grinned. "You like it."

I scoffed. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to," she teased, her grin widening. "Your fingers gave you away."

I rolled my eyes but didn't bother denying it. "Fine. It's decent."

"Decent?" Lisa repeated, feigning offense. "These are masterpieces, Jennie. You need to appreciate them more."

"Don't push it," I warned, but I couldn't stop the small smile forming on my lips.

Lisa's playlist continued, each song adding to the calm yet intriguing atmosphere in the car. I couldn't deny it—there was something about her music taste that felt... genuine. Like it reflected a part of her I hadn't seen before.

The two-hour drive didn't feel like two hours at all. Lisa made it effortless. Between the songs, her casual humor, and the way she made me feel like the center of her world even in the simplest ways, I couldn't help but relax.

As another song faded into the background, I glanced at Lisa from the corner of my eye. She was focused on the road, her expression calm and composed, her hands steady on the wheel.

It made me curious. Someone like her, with so much influence and stature, yet she rarely made waves in public the way other big names did. She stayed out of the spotlight even when it was shining directly at her.