Lost and Found (Jirose)

Revelation

"Oh come on lighten up, that's to be expected,  it's one of life's inevitable burdens," Jennie reasoned lightly as the youngest girl in their group bemoaned the current state of her love life. 

Or lack thereof.

"And I wouldn't do that if I were you," Jisoo added, indicating Lisa's face planted on the table, "I mean, think of all the germs that there are. It's not nice to be squashed by a giant face, don't you think?"

"What the actual fudge Jisoo?"

"But she has a point: there are lots of germs on the table, at least put your face on your hand," Chaeyoung interjected gently as she attempted to lift Lisa's face.

"Unnie I lived half of my life running around covered in dirt back in Bangkok before I discovered civilisation and I'm still alive," Lisa deadpanned. "Also, I just feel like DYING from lack of attention."

 Jennie rolled her eyes. "What a drama queen--"

"That's not even the funny part. The funny part is how she implies that she found civilisation instead of civilisation finding her."

"What even is that sentence, Chu?" Jennie said in exasperation, "Civilisation has always been there: Lisa just grew aware of it when she grew up and went to school."

"Semantics, Jen."

"Anyway," Jennie said irritably as she rounded on Lisa, "get a grip, it's not like you broke up, Hobi is busy working hard and earning money for you. You'll reap the benefits later."

"Unnies, she's not used to being neglected by Hoseok, she just misses him," Chaeyoung defended, stroking Lisa's back comfortingly. "Is that such a bad thing? I think it's sweet how she pines for him so much."

"Well she's just being clingy now. She'll have to get used to not being in each other's company as much as she'd like to," Jennie returned as she added the contents of the sugar packet to her drink and swirled, brows furrowing in concentration.

"Oh easy for you to say, I mean at the end of the day you always find your guy next to you but I don't!" Lisa grumbled, "I wish we lived together already!"

"Hold your horses, grasshopper, you guys have only just started dating so take it easy--"

"How much longer do I have to wait?" Lisa groaned.

"Until you grow up and learn the world isn't all rainbows and unicorns," Jennie said sternly. "Lalisa, you worry me sometimes...."

Chaeyoung sensed the tension fall like a pin drop. She held her breath and watched Lisa raise her face, her expression stiff.

"I'm not saying I want you to be all  solemn and proper," Jennie continued steadily, "but you being all childish even about adult things is a bit...disturbing... I'm worried you'd get...hurt."

"Uh, unnie..." Chaeyoung began uneasily. Even Jisoo looked a bit hesitant but Lisa was quicker to respond.

"Jennie, you know my background," she said quietly, "I had to grow up pretty quickly and take care of myself  when I came here. My parents counted on me, they were so proud their only daughter was going to a college in Seoul. Being loud and zany was my way of coping with hard times. 

Being funny and dramatic to put a smile on someone's else face and poking fun at myself was, and still is, my coping mechanism to deal with whatever Life throws at me, you know. I'm sorry if I don't fit your idea of how a functioning adult is supposed to act...."

An uncomfortable silence descended, punctuated by laughter and chatter from nearby tables in the cafe.

"Oh by the way Chaeng, we wanted to talk to you more about Chan--" but Jisoo was interrupted by Chaeyoung's buzzing phone.