One-shots (Jensoo)

Time of my life

Lisa sat on the edge of the bar's counter, her fingers tapping anxiously against the smooth surface. The flickering neon sign above the door cast a soft glow over her face, shadows shifting as she turned to face her sister. "Jennie, come on, please?" she pleaded again, her voice carrying a mix of desperation and hope. "It's New Year's Eve, and it's not just any night, it's the last real time we'll have together before you leave for New Zealand. I don't even know when I'll see you again."

Jennie sighed, staring down at her phone as if it held the answer. She understood where Lisa was coming from, but the idea of attending another social gathering was the last thing she wanted. "Lisa, I already told you. New Year's Eve isn't really my thing, and I still have a lot to wrap up before my flight." Her reasons were more than just a list of obligations, they were a shield, a way to distance herself from the impending goodbye.

Lisa frowned, her brown eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned forward. "Come on, nini, don't do this. You act like you're disappearing forever, but I still need this night. You're not just leaving me, you're leaving our bar." The tone of her voice softened as she spoke, and it tugged at the corners of Jennie's resolve. Lloud was more than just Lisa's pride and joy, it was the place where their bond had been forged after years of distance and misunderstandings. It was the place where Lisa had finally trusted her enough to hand the keys over to take charge.

Jennie met her sister's gaze, and for a moment, the weight of everything they hadn't said in years hung between them. Lisa's eyes were filled with a vulnerability Jennie hadn't seen in a long time, and it was almost too much to bear. "I don't even like crowds," she mumbled, more to herself than Lisa.

Lisa's face softened. "You don't have to like it, but you can just be there. That's it. We'll do this one last time together. Please?"

The way Lisa looked at her, like a little girl begging for one last night with the sibling she'd lost, was enough to make Jennie cave, even if it was just for a moment. She exhaled sharply and nodded. "Fine. I'll go. But if I hate it, I'm blaming you."

Lisa grinned, the tension in her shoulders melting away. "If you hate it, I'll owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you, nini."

But as Lisa busied herself with organizing the bar's New Year's Eve setup, Jennie's thoughts lingered on the reality that this was one last goodbye, not just for the night, but possibly for a long time.

—

Across town, in a cozy apartment filled with laughter and the clinking of mugs of drinks, a different kind of planning was taking place. Rosé clutched her phone, her screen lit up with potential party locations. "We need to find something fun," she said, her voice bubbling with excitement. Her friends, Irene, Seulgi, and Jisoo, were sprawled across the living room, some with feet propped on the coffee table, others leaning casually against the couch.

Irene smirked, holding up her own phone. "I saw a place that has an open mic. That's not your usual bar vibe, but it might be interesting."

Rosé's eyes lit up. "Open mic? Perfect! I've been dying to perform something."

Jisoo, who had been quietly sipping tea, looked up from the armrest she was leaning on. "Do you really think that's the best idea?" She glanced toward the window, where the city lights sparkled against a darkening sky. "Bars can be so loud, and I just... I'm not sure I'm in the mood for something like that."

Seulgi placed a hand on Jisoo's shoulder. "Come on, Jisoo. It's New Year's Eve. You owe Rosé for that impromptu concert last weekend."

"But I don't sing," Jisoo retorted, though her voice lacked conviction.

Rosé waved her hands in the air. "Nah-uh. You do sing. Let's just find a place, and if it doesn't feel right, we'll leave."

Irene chimed in. "Found one. Lloud Bar. Looks like it's hosting a countdown and open mic event. The photos on social media look amazing."