Outline of You | Jensoo

Ch18.

The first thing Jisoo does is release her hold on Jennie's hand, almost yanking it out, but to her utter surprise Jennie clutches on, keeping their fingers tightly entwined if not more so. They move forward, closer to Nayeon, and the door closes gently behind them, engulfing them in privacy.

"Hey," Jennie speaks first after a moment of dead silence in which Nayeon's glances interchange between their linked hands and their faces.

Nayeon just stands there. She purses her lips, trying to register the scene in front of her, and it makes Jisoo's hands clammy with guilt. Shaking her head slightly and blinking in a sort of disbelief, she finally cocks her head to a side and pops her lips, "Wow. So... you two, huh?"

"Look, Nayeon, I can explain -"

"Yes," Jennie states at the same time and cuts Jisoo off, who whips her head to look at Jennie with wide eyes. Can't you be more tactful?

Then, Nayeon fixes her gaze on Jisoo, and Jisoo swears her blood literally runs cold. She wants to apologize but Nayeon comments, akin to a revelation, "No wonder you've observed more about Jennie in mere months than I have in years. I've always found it baffling, how much you know about her, but now the puzzle pieces fit."

"I'm sorr-"

Jennie tugs hard on her hand in reproach at the same time Nayeon interrupts her, "Don't apologize, Jisoo. You don't have to."

Jisoo isn't sure she heard it right. "You... you're not angry?"

"No," Nayeon shakes her head and lets out a soft chuckle, "this is unexpected but I can't say I am surprised. Come to think of it, there must be a reason why anyone notices someone to that extent." She smiles, and sadness seeps through, "If anything, I'm surprised I didn't pick that up sooner."

Although nobody seems to be blaming her, Jisoo still feels compelled to clarify, "I didn't mean to hide anything from you, I swear! A-and this certainly isn't how I intended to break it to you, I just-"

"Jisoo, it's really alright," Nayeon shifts her eyes to Jennie, "I've missed the train long ago, when I chose to alight."

Nayeon's smile is one of longing, nostalgia, and maybe a hint of regret, and Jennie reaches out to squeeze her shoulder, "You're still my best friend."

With a chuckle that is lighter now, Nayeon pats Jennie's hand atop her shoulder and motions towards Jisoo with her chin, "Take care of her -- she is a real keeper."

Nodding, Jennie returns the sincerest smile to her best friend, while Jisoo blushes profusely.

Nayeon releases a light laugh presumably at how red Jisoo is turning, and she gives Jisoo's forearm a squeeze, leaning in to whisper in her ear, "Treasure her more than I ever have, okay?"

Before Jisoo can reply, Nayeon has moved past her and out the door, without turning back.

---------

A month passes and Jennie decides to hold a little reunion on her private island, under much persuasion, pleading and some threats all by Lisa. The four of them -- Jisoo, Jennie, Chaeyoung, and of course Lisa -- are here, along with Soojoo, Nayeon, Yeri, Bobby and a handful of his crew. Quite miraculously, Lisa has somehow managed to rope everyone into her very elaborate and advanced nerf war around the island with unnecessarily complicated rules -- everyone except Jennie and Jisoo because Jisoo wants to take Jennie on a tour around the villa, to make up for her absence at the unveiling of it.

"And here's the atrium skylight as you can see..."

"I know!" Jennie laughs again with her head thrown back and her hand pulled along by Jisoo.