The Clandestine Us

Forty-six

───── ❝ Jennie's POV ❞ ─────

Time passes so quickly whenever I'm on a short vacation. A week used to feel long, but after living such a busy life, a week off suddenly feels short even if it's well-spent.

"I was just trying my shot when I sent you flowers with that demanding note," Taeyong said shyly while sitting across from me.

He is one of the few people who consistently congratulates me with flowers whenever something goes well for me or the girls. I'm with him today because I was doing my usual routine whenever I'm free, which is checking gifts and messages I've received.

"Demanding?" I teased. "It felt more like you were ordering me around, with that short guilt-tripping note."

We were at a café, finally fulfilling his long-forgotten wish to have a drink out with me.

"Don't tease me too much," he said, covering his face slightly. "You're making me shy again. I didn't even think you read the notes, since I heard you've been getting so many gifts lately with your tour starting."

"Oh? And how did you know that?"

"Lisa told me."

"That girl," I sighed, half-laughing. "She's been trying to set me and Rosé up with her friends and acquaintances lately."

"Really?" he asked with a grin. "Well... for me, I don't really mind."

"You're not serious, are you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes playfully.

"I'm trying my luck here, but don't look at me like that. I might melt," he said, smiling shyly before looking away.

"Corny! That doesn't suit your 'leader' image," I joked, and he laughed.

"But seriously," he added, "you're probably the only person I can't handle when you look at me like that." He covered his face again, laughing out of embarrassment.

"Gosh, Taeyong, you're NCT's leader and yet you're blushing in front of a girl who's only five-foot-four," Lisa said teasingly as she came back from the restroom, emphasizing the "five-foot-four" part.

I rolled my eyes.

I brought Lisa with me since they're close, and honestly, to avoid the awkwardness of being alone with Taeyong. I'm not closing doors to dating, but I'm careful about potential conflicts— especially since Yuta, his bandmate, has also been subtly giving me signs that he wants to start something with me.

I'm not blind to ignore it. And I'm not a child to act innocent about it either.

Lisa and Taeyong talked like old friends, and while I joined in here and there, I actually found myself enjoying just listening to them.

"So, all my advice worked?" Lisa asked Taeyong, side-eyeing me as if to catch my reaction.

"Uh... sort of? I mean, we're here, right?" he replied, scratching the back of his neck.

"Advice? You mean that guilt-tripping note?" I asked, pretending to glare at them.

Lisa laughed.

"It wasn't guilt-tripping, unnie. It was just a reminder!"

"Aish, Jennie-ya, stop bringing that up. I'm already embarrassed," Taeyong said, hiding his face again.

We stayed in that café for a while, catching up like old friends, even though it felt more like getting to know each other all over again.

That was the start of Taeyong becoming even more consistent. If he was consistent before, he's much worse now, in a good way. Before, it was just flowers and notes. Now, it's also morning and nighttime greetings.