To All The Girls I've Loved Before - Jenlisa

Chapter 15

Early 2020

Lisa tugged on her long grey skirt nervously, hands trying to smoothen imaginary creases on her pleated long skirt. The weather was crisp enough for the blue striped light knitted cream sweater she was wearing, but her left arm was starting to feel clammy.

Suppose it didn't help that she's lugging two huge designer bouquets in one arm: one full of lilies and one full of grape hyacinths and daisies, both very much expensive but worth it. Lisa anxiously looked around the flood of togas dispersing the area, eyes looking for a few familiar faces.

When she couldn't find what she's looking for, she paused a beat to take in the Columbia University grounds, feeling nostalgic for a place that was never her own and yet was part of shaping who she was. Sure, she wasn't really a student there, but she had been an honorary Columbian to a degree, spending so much time in these school grounds the past years that there's a stewing melancholy in her for places she has gone to love.

Like there's that place over at Dodge Miller Theatre to her left, where she would meet the group for a quick lunch bringing sandwiches from Pret-A-Manger, sitting on the steps and Jen and Jisoo trying to cram more details for their econ class while the blonde crams food inside Jen. The latter would even get snippy in between bites why Lisa's not studying with them.

Or that area near the sundial over at College Walk where she used to take photos of Chaeyoung for her projects, asking Lisa only for bowls of Pho over at Columbia Ave as payment. Lisa was so glad about how that shoot turned out that she even bought the girl more bowls on their late night bff dates together, which they later on made into a tradition every time they wanted to bond.

Or when Lisa and Jen would lounge around Morningside Park just outside the university and Jen's hankering for something a little Asian, so Lisa would bring her Korean cheesesteak sandwiches from Wich-One. They then sit on the grass after studying while Lisa took photos of Jen's gummy smile or she's editing her latest project on her laptop, then they just catch up on each other's lives when they're apart.

Sometimes they talk about what they plan to do after graduation.

Usually, it's about world domination.

Or at least, New York domination.

Or often, it's about finally getting their own place in New York, where Jen will work for an international firm as a strategy consultant while Lisa works hard on her portfolio and securing top internships before she graduates. Jen would insist they get a 2 bedroom apartment so she can convert the other room into Lisa's studio. One that has natural light, Jen would push. Lisa would insist on a loft type apartment so she can still work with a bigger space – the common room. Jen would then push back and say they can still get a 2 room loft so she could have her own darkroom for her photography.

Then they would talk about how they would spend their quiet nights together with Chinese take-out and stale wine, or with Jen's quick pesto pasta dishes spiked with dried chilli and sometimes sweet Thai basil that the blonde absolutely adores. Lisa loved it when Jen's eyes light up when they talk about finding a place with a nearby farmer's market, where they can go on weekends to get Jen's strawberries and condensed milk fix.

Or planning on finding a better-looking loft for them later on that would allow pets, finally.

Leo, Jen would argue. That's a perfect first name for a cat, the brunette would say.

Luca, Lisa would dispute. Would be a much better name for a pretty cat, the blonde would say.