The One I Love

10:00

"nayeon, i found a new bakery that opened up near the school." jennie mentioned while tying her shoes. "we can get one of their cakes for christmas."

nayeon leaned against a locker, already having changed. jennie always took her time.

"your new boyfriend might want to spend christmas with you." nayeon reminded her.

"ah, you're right. i almost forgot about that."

"you almost forgot about your boyfriend?" the other girl asked suspiciously, a brow raised.

"no, no. just that couples spend christmas together." jennie denied unconvincingly. "ah, damn. i really wanted to eat cake."

"you can eat cake with yoongi."

jennie pouted.

nayeon looked over at her with a sigh.

"i'm gonna go ahead, jen." she stood up straight, giving her friend a little wave. "i need to talk to the teacher about something."

jennie stayed in the locker room, still not finished changing into her gym clothes. she occasionally hoped that if she wasted enough time changing she wouldn't have to do anything in class.

"you're really cruel." hayi told her, breaking the silence in the room.

jennie jumped slightly at her voice, forgetting that she had also been changing.

"what do you mean?"

"i guess you were the only one in school who didn't know nayeon liked yoongi."

"you're kidding, right?" jennie tried to process the information, but it didn't make sense. hayi stared her down obstinately.

"do we have a relationship where i would joke with you?"

jennie grit her teeth at the unexpected snide comment.

"and? what am i supposed to do with that information?"

"i just thought you might want to be more careful with your words, i know you have a problem with that."

"worry about yourself, hayi. do you even know what minho's going through right now?" jennie snapped. "his mom is dying and you're here picking a fight with me over my relationships."

hayi went quiet. she took a breath, closing her eyes before looking at jennie.

"i pity you, you know?" she said, her lips in a grim line. "you hurt the people around you without even realizing it. when you're left all alone you won't even know why."

jennie wound back to slap the other girl, watching as she flinched in reaction. instead, jennie stopped short, patting hayi's cheek softly.

if she had hit her that meant she was telling the truth, right?

that jennie really was that kind of girl?

...

jennie sourced her frustration and anger into a newfound excitement for spending christmas with her boyfriend. yoongi had told her anything would be fine, that she should plan whatever she'd like.

she took full initiative, buying a new dress and planning a menu for the evening. she couldn't help but think about all the times minho had come over for christmas dinner. they would sneak sips of wine and eat whatever treats her mom had brought as a souvenir.

jennie shook her head, trying to get rid of the thoughts swirling around.

she got dressed, as if preparing for battle. she lined her eyes and applied lipstick like warpaint.