Since Ella told me that Jennie has been craving dumplings lately I made sure to go and look for some before I go home. It's quite hard since I don't specifically know this place like the back of my hand yet cause I just moved here. I drive back home when I already got everything. I even got a text from Mingyu asking if I'm already home and if I want to eat dinner with someone then I can just call him. I don't really feel like he's making moves since we both just moved here in LA and we don't know much people. I told him I'll be having dinner with Ella tonight so we can just go eat breakfast together tomorrow which he agreed on.
When I reached the building, I parked my car and took the elevator to my apartment floor. Ella is probably at their apartment since she doesn't have my door passcode. I was about to put down the passcode when Cory's apartment door open
"Do you usually go home this late?" She ask keeping the door open as she stood there
"I lost track of time" I said smiling as I look down to put the code
"The only people on this floor who return home so late are Jennie and her husband" she said. I stick my foot right at the door so it won't shut "but mostly Jennie"
"What about Ella? No one stays with her?" I ask
"Well since I don't work anymore I usually let Ella stay here since my children are at work during the night and some of them live in a different household" I nod my head in understanding
"Is Jennie not home yet?" I ask which makes her shake her head slowly
"Jennie will mostly arrive at 12. Her earliest return is around 5 at noon and the most late one is 2 to 3 am. I'm curious as to why she's not yet home when she mostly go home at 6pm this day"
"She's probably avoiding someone" I said
"Well then go eat your dinner... someone" she said catching who I was referring to, which makes me laugh lightly
"Uh by the way, here I have some extra dumplings. Also do you mind if you call Ella since I don't think Kang would love to see my face right in front of his door step" I said which Cory replied with a nod as she take the bag of dumplings I gave her. I open up my apartment door wider as I turn around to watch Cory walk towards their apartment door.
The door open up a couple of seconds later so I close my door slightly incase Kang was the one behind it. I can't actually hear their voices here since they're talking quietly. When I heard the door closes I open mine again and Cory walks back while looking at me
"He said Ella's still doing homework"
"At this hour?" She shrug her shoulders
"Go text Ella and tell her to come to your apartment. I'll head inside now" she said making me nod. Once Cory walks in I close my apartment door and pull out my phone as I walk towards the kitchen.
I then texted Ella that I'm already here so she can just come to my apartment anytime. It took her a couple of minutes to reply as I also placed the dumplings on the counter top.
'eomma, Kang is asking me to eat in here but I don't want to. I don't know what to tell him cause he might get offended if I'll have dinner with you instead of him.' she replied. I was gonna type something again when I heard footsteps from outside and at this hour it is probably Jennie
'tell your mom to let you have dinner with me okay?' she replied with 'okay' later on. I head to my bedroom to change into a more comfortable clothes.
I walk out to the living room and clean up a bit so it won't look too dirty in here. I then heard 2 knocks on my door which made me instantly run towards it without even thinking. The first thing my eyes land on is the person right in front of me
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She looks at me as well and I can't help but to stare at her for a few seconds. Ella then pop out behind her with a huge smile as she run inside my apartment leaving the both of us there.
"Ella told me she wanted to have dinner with you. I only made an excuse to my husband that I'll eat with Ella outside. I'm not in the position to cut people out of her own life. Just send her back to my apartment once she's done" she said but before she can even turn around I reached out for her wrist to grab it softly making her stop and it made her stiff as well. She turn around so I pull my hand out and raise it a bit to apologize
"You told him you will eat outside with Ella so it'll be questionable if you'll go back there alone" I said "Ella asked me to buy some dumplings for you. I won't do anything stupid to make you uncomfortable. Once you're done you can leave with Ella" I said trying to put myself behind the line. She sigh out heavily, I step aside and she finally walk inside my apartment. I will sound really weird but don't you just miss someone's scent? She's still wearing the same perfume like before. The difference is that I can hold her in my arms before and I don't have to steal glances and secretly inhaling her scent just to remember how it was before. Jennie looks very tired than she does before. I mean she's very hard-working since then but she will always have the time to smile at me whenever we'll see each other whether it is in our home or in the hallway of our workplace. It makes me curious if Kang can make her laugh plenty of times a day just to take her stress away. I wonder if Song does everything I had done to keep her happy, to protect her and to have fun with her.
"Are you alright?" I ask her when we're walking towards the kitchen. Her eyes seems a bit red
"I'm fine" she said in the most unenergized tone
"How long did you sleep last night?" I heard her sigh as she stop from walking and turn around to face me
"Is that really important now Lisa?" She looks irritated
"It is, you haven't slept a lot have you? Does your eyes sting? Come here" I said walking towards the couch but she just stood there so I have no choice but to walk back to her and pull her with me. I told her to sit down on the couch "I was also a doctor incase you forgot and also don't worry... I'm just helping, as a friend" I said smiling. Jennie gave up and sit on the couch with her arms crossed. I turn on the humidifier and walk towards the kitchen to see Ella sitting there "can you go grab some plate and take it to the living room? We'll just eat there" Ella nod her head before I turn around and walk straight to the bathroom. I grab a small towel and soak it in lukewarm water. It'll help her eyes. I walk back to the living room and Jennie's still sitting there with her arms crossed.
"You should've been home earlier mommy so you can sleep a lot more" Ella said while putting the plates down. I walk towards Jennie and sit beside her and since I'm too close she scoot away from me.
"Ya! I'm just helping as a friend" I said as I heard Ella chuckle "if you continue doing that I'll start thinking that-"
"Shut up" she said in another low tone as she roll her eyes. I scoot closer to her again
"Lean back, I'll put this" I said folding the towel so it can fit perfectly. She didn't argue this time as she lean back on the couch. I stood up and lean down closer to put it properly on her face, and for at least a second I was able to take a glimpse of her face this close after 5 years.
