YOUNG LOVE || 𝐉𝐄𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐀 ✔︎

last chapter

Lisa held her hand over the gas grill, determining that it was hot enough. She had an assortment of veggie burgers and frankfurters, and she brushed each with olive oil to prevent them from sticking.
She turned as a huge splash in the pool elicited laughter all around. It was one of those glorious early summer days—blue, cloudless skies, little to no breeze and the temperature just perfect to be enjoying the patio and pool.

She glanced across the backyard, taking pride in the fact that—unlike all the neighbors—she and Jennie maintained their own lawn. She had been a little surprised at Jennie's exuberance, especially when it came to mowing, but Jennie found it was something she enjoyed. Lisa couldn’t, however, take credit for the flowers. That was all Jennie's and her mother’s doing.

She looked at them now, with Bambam and Mina, lounging by the pool as Kenny and Crissy and two of their friends splashed like the kids they were. Her mother had a contented smile on her face as she listened to the conversation between Mina and Jennie. Lisa had to admit that moving her mother here was the best decision they could have ever made. Her mother had thrived after her surgery and seemed years younger.

Lisa went back to the task of flipping the burgers and frankfurters, smiling as she listened to the laughter of the kids. She’d been back in Daegu over a year now and she found it hard to imagine living anywhere else. She and Bambam were as close as they’d ever been, and there were rarely any disagreements over their business practices. All four of their stores were prosperous and they couldn’t be more pleased.

Her relationship with Seulgi and Irene, on the other hand, was nearly dissolved. As time passed, they spoke less and less. Nayeon had a steady girlfriend now, and the last time they talked, the four of them were planning a cruise together. She would like to say that she missed their friendship, but she really didn’t. As she’d told Jennie, she never really quite fit in with them. She’d pretended to be the person they wanted her to be and it had been easy to fit that mold. But being back in Daegu, she realized how empty it all was…how empty she was.

“Hey. You daydreaming again?”

She smiled as Jennie stood close to her, their shoulders brushing. “Yeah. Daydreaming.”

Jennie tilted her head. “Are you happy? You’re getting to cook.”

Lisa laughed. “Not sure you can really call this cooking,” she said as she flipped the burgers one more time. “Are you happy?”

Jennie leaned closer. “I’m so very happy,” she said. “I love having your family over.”

“Our family,” she corrected. “All we need is Minjoon to make it complete.” She closed the lid on the grill and turned the fire off. “And you’ll get to see him in about three weeks.”

“And he’ll be here for a whole month,” Jennie said, smiling. “I’m anxious for you and him to spend some time together.”

“Me too.” She took Jennie's hand and tugged her inside, pausing to glance over her shoulder, finding Bambam watching them. He smiled and shook his head. She grinned back at him.

Once inside, she pulled Jennie into her arms. “God, I love you,” she whispered, kissing her lightly, slowly.

Jennie's arms tightened around her. “I love you. Always.”

Their eyes held and Lisa saw everything she needed in life, right there in Jennie's eyes. It was a look she’d first seen when…
“I was ten,” she whispered.

Jennie frowned at her words but Lisa simply smiled and kissed her once again.

“Nothing…just…I love you.”

~fin~