IS IT TIME FOR ME TO GIVE UP?

35

Jisoo's Pov:

Kai's frustration was palpable as Jennie walked away, ignoring his calls with each step she took. His knuckles rapped against the car door in a burst of anger that reverberated through the quiet parking lot.

"No! Stop that, Kai! If you want to release anger, bash your head against the wall, you stupid, reckless jerk!" Seulgi spat out, her annoyance palpable.

After a minute of aggressive outbursts, Kai abruptly drove away.

Seulgi and I had been on our way to Lisa's office when we heard them arguing, instantly recognizing Jennie's voice. Curiosity drove us to stealthily approach the car nearby, hiding to eavesdrop. Both Seulgi and I were taken aback, particularly by Jennie's emotional outburst:

"BECAUSE I LOVE HER EVER SINCE!! AND I REGRET PERCEIVING THE TRUTH WHEN I'VE DONE DESTROYING HER WHOLE."

It was clear even Seulgi was disheartened. We've been close for so long, and she knew firsthand how Jennie had treated Lisa in the past.

"Do you believe her?" Seulgi asked tentatively as we walked together.

"I'm not sure," I replied with a conflicted shrug, trying to process the emotions swirling inside me.

"I'm still furious at her, Sooya," Seulgi continued, her gaze fixed ahead. "Those words don't erase the fact that she hurt Lisa," she added firmly.

"I know," I murmured softly, knowing there were no easy answers.

"Remember that time Lisa and I went out, got drunk, and she disappeared? I was so worried I went to her house to check on her," Seulgi paused, looking at me intently. "I peeked through the window and saw Jennie taking care of Lisa, changing her clothes and wiping her down with a towel. I thought maybe I was just seeing things because I was drunk. But the next day, Jennie made tomato soup. She didn't say it was for Lisa, but it was obvious it was for her hangover," Seulgi confessed quietly. I listened in silence, unsure of how to respond. "But, despite that, Jennie also caused Lisa so much pain. I don't know if I can trust her, I really don't," Seulgi concluded, her voice tinged with frustration and sadness.

Arriving at Lisa's office, Seulgi and I were surprised to find Irene and Mina seated on the couch. Their unexpected presence piqued our curiosity, silently hoping to have a private moment with Lisa.

"Irene, Mina," I greeted them warmly.

"Hi, unnie," Mina responded with her usual cheerful smile.

"Jisoo," Irene acknowledged with a nod, her calm demeanor unchanged.

"Why are you guys here?" Seulgi inquired, echoing our shared curiosity.

Irene glanced at Mina, who returned the gaze, before finally speaking.

"It's nothing," Seulgi quickly interjected, not wanting to make it a big deal if Lisa didn't.

Seulgi quickly deflected, not wanting to make it a bigger issue if Lisa didn't find it relevant. The atmosphere in the room remained subdued, with none of us eager to break the silence that hung over us.

"Do you two already know each other?" I asked, taking a seat across them.

"We just met earlier, in the elevator," Mina explained. The silence stretched, none of us feeling compelled to break it.

"Should I call Bambam?" Seulgi whispered to me, keeping her voice low enough to avoid being overheard. Before I could respond, Bambam unexpectedly entered.

"HELLOOO-Ha?" His greeting faltered upon seeing Irene and Mina, mouthing 'ow' at us. He eyed us questioningly, and we simply shrugged in response.

"Hi Mina! Hi, Noona!" Bambam greeted them warmly.

Seulgi and I breathed a sigh of relief; Bambam always knew how to lighten the mood.

"Just so you know, whenever we're here, we bring tons of food. So, what do you guys want?" Bambam offered with a grin, lightening the mood further.

Laughter filled the room as we all agreed to Bambam's suggestion. Fortunately, Irene and Mina got along well, the awkwardness dissipating.

"It's unusual to see you without piles of work, Pranpriya," Bambam remarked casually, echoing the unspoken thought shared by Seulgi and me.

"Yeah," Lisa replied with a quick smile

Food arrived, and Bambam insisted on paying for it, further adding to the relaxed atmosphere.

"Here," Seulgi handed Irene a plate of food, flashing a smile. I noticed a flicker of disappointment in Seulgi's eyes when Irene accepted it.

"Thank you," Irene murmured, her gaze lingering on Seulgi.

"Excuse me, Ms. Lisa?" We all turned as one to face Lisa's secretary, who was carrying Kuma in her arms. Lisa's face lit up in delight.

"KUKU??" she exclaimed as the dog bounded over to her. "How did he get in here?" she asked her secretary in amazement.

"I have no idea. Ms. Jennie told me to come to her office and bring them to you," the secretary explained, smiling.

"Them? So, Kai's here too?" Lisa inquired with curiosity, to which her secretary nodded.

Seulgi and I exchanged a knowing look, and she murmured, 'Yeah, throwing a tantrum in the parking lot,' prompting a soft chuckle from both of us.

"What's with you two?" Bambam asked, glancing between us as we shook our heads and refocused on Lisa.

"Here they are, Ma'am," the secretary announced as Kai and the cats rushed into the office, bringing an unexpected dose of chaos and laughter to the room.

"Hello, my babies!" Lisa greeted them warmly, her heart melting as Kuma jumped onto her lap and Kai settled beside them.

"Aww, so adorable," Irene remarked quietly, her eyes softening as she observed Lisa's interactions with her pets.

"Thank you," Seulgi chimed in with a smile, earning a laugh from me and Bambam.

Gradually, the office filled with laughter and light-hearted banter. I caught a glimpse of someone standing by the door, unnoticed by Lisa, her eyes fixed on Lisa with a smile that held a mix of emotions.

After a while, the person hurried away, and I shrugged it off, refocusing on Lisa. However, Lisa also seemed distracted, glancing towards the spot where Jennie had been standing earlier. Their eyes met briefly, sharing a similar look of understanding and unspoken feelings.

As the afternoon progressed, we found ourselves growing happier in each other's company. Despite everything, I knew we wouldn't let Lisa stay in that emotional state forever with the use of Bambam's humor and the warmth of our friendship.