Outline of You | Jensoo

Ch15.

Jisoo kicks the rocks restlessly, the noise and life of the campfire fading further into the background, and before she knows it her legs have taken her to the waterfall. She settles on the edge of one of the smoother rocks, dangling her feet and leaning back against her palms propping her up. Tilting her head back and closing her eyes, she relishes in the cool mist enveloping her and drowns her eardrums in nothing but the loud roar of nature. She inhales deeply and holds her breath for a moment, before exhaling completely and blinking her eyes open. The stars are completely out now, shimmering against the never-ending stretch of black.

Like a safe haven all to herself, it is just the therapy she needs. The combination of Project Villa and Mission Nayeon and sleepless night has left her drained and somehow, empty in spite of her accomplishments.

"Hey." A voice right beside her.

"AhHhH!" She jumps with a horrified start and her butt almost slides off the slippery edge. She clutches her chest and hyperventilates, "What the fu-"

"Sorry!" Jennie yelps, skipping a giant step aside and hurriedly raising her hands in front of her to signal she means no harm. Very, very slowly, she crosses her legs and lowers herself, sitting an arm's length away from Jisoo.

Scrunching her features in discomfort from the spike in heart rate that is struggling to be appeased, Jisoo breathes deeply through her nose and throws her intruder a flimsy wave.

"It's fine," she croaks. "Why aren't you at the campfire?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Jennie shakes her head, tousling her hair in the wind, before meeting Jisoo's eyes. "At least I gave my thank-you speech, it's a shame my head architect wasn't there to hear it."

"She is sorry for missing it," Jisoo breaks eye contact to pick up a stone, tossing it as far as she can towards the gushing cascade that is out of reach, "and also sorry for the other night." Her voice drops a notch but Jennie picks up on her words.

She hears Jennie exhale through a smile and say, "She's lucky she's done a fine job with the villa. Else she would really be sorry now."

It's an empty threat that pulls Jisoo's lips into a grin, and she plays along, "I thank you for your magnanimity on her behalf. She is eternally grateful for your grace and forgiveness." She even bows a little to complete it.

With her nose in the air like mock royalty, Jennie offers a dismissive wave, "Why, of course. Don't mention it."

"Okay, she won't ever."

Jennie lets out a scoff through a grin, and when Jisoo meets her gaze, they laugh and she realizes how much she has missed that lop-sided smirk of the architect's.

"Is there more that she is eternally grateful for, besides my grace and forgiveness?"

"Of course!" Jisoo raises her tone dramatically. "Your intellect too!"

"And?" Jennie straightens her posture and pretends to adjust her attire and bask in praise.

"Your kindness, opportunities, glowing presence, heart of gold, beauty-" Jisoo suddenly feels shy, when Jennie should probably be the one blushing instead, and she clears her throat. "And um," she steers the topic to reconciliation and sticks out a hand, "if you will, friendship?" She thinks it's safe to be friends with Jennie now that she must have accepted Nayeon's intentions.

Her heart skips when Jennie's adorable gummy grin displays, and she melts when Jennie slides her hand in hers in a warm shake, "Friends."

Heavy clouds start to obscure the stars after a while and they hurry back -- Jisoo shedding her jacket and holding it above both of them as they dash, while Jennie uses her phone as a flashlight to navigate the almost invisible path. Jisoo has an arm over Jennie's shoulder to ensure maximum jacket shelter for the CEO, and the way Jennie is pressing her body into her makes it hard to breathe without inhaling that intoxicating scent or stealing glances at her profile, cat-like eyes, fluffy cheeks, full lips. There is no particular reason to laugh but they do anyway, like excited children half-heartedly escaping the downpour as they splash in muddy puddles, squealing and giggling.