Beat | A Jenlisa Fan Fiction

Chapter 21

JENNIE'S POV

The house was eerily silent as I got home after having dinner with Lisa. I could no longer deny that I was sick. When I said it out loud to her, this entire thing no longer felt surreal, and a huge weight was lifted from my chest because I didn't have to lie to her anymore. I sensed how scared she was for me.

It took some convincing but with my incessant pleading, she agreed to let me finish the competition. This of course was not without ground rules. I promised not to keep anything from her especially about how I was feeling. She told me that for her to be able to help, she needed to know everything. Lastly, she requested—demanded, to be honest—to drive me around and accompany me during check ups and for cardiac rehab, because she didn't want to risk me getting into an accident. She promised she would fetch me and drop me off around the corner of my house to avoid being seen by my parents. I would just let them know that I would be taking cabs for a while because I needed all the rest I could get in my senior year. All were reasonable requests and I was grateful for how much she cared for me so I didn't dispute.

She also asked me if my parents knew and if I was going to tell them soon. I told her I would tell them right after the finals 'cause I wasn't ready. She understood for the most part but urged me to do it soon. They were my parents, after all, and I needed them.

After our talk, I realized that I was finally prepared to tell Jisoo and Chaeyoung about it too because this was real. Like how I was certain about Lisa's feelings towards me, I was confident that they cared about me so they had every right to know.

I sent a message to our group chat inviting the girls for dinner tomorrow. They replied instantly saying they would love to. Lisa offered her loft so that we would have more privacy and I accepted gratefully. I drifted off to sleep despite feeling anxious of telling the duo.

***

The next day, class went on the same except for Lisa being more careful with me. She fetched me from my house, made sure I took my medicines on time, and always asked me how I was feeling. During practice, I took it easy so I wouldn't overexert myself but of course I made sure I still did my best.

On our way to Lisa's loft after practice, she started going on and on about information she read regarding HCM and things I should and shouldn't be doing. As much as I appreciated the effort she'd been exerting for me, I didn't want our relationship to revolve around my illness so I interrupted her, determined to talk to her about it.

"Lili?" I rested my hand on her thigh. "I really appreciate everything you've been doing for me, don't take this the wrong way but can you maybe tone it down a bit?"

"Huh? What do you mean? Tone down what?" she asked, her focus still on the road while she drove.

"I love you and I know where you're coming from, honestly, I'd probably react the same way if our roles were reversed. But..."

She glanced my way momentarily and turned her eyes back to the road.

"I don't want our entire relationship to revolve around my illness. I agree that these things you're telling me about are important but can you please treat me the same way you did before?"

"Things have changed, though." Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

"I know, but we don't have to." I took a moment to formulate what I was going to say so she would understand without her feelings being hurt. "This is a relationship, Lili. There's so much more than you taking care of me because I'm sick. I admit, it is a major part of it now because I know you love me and you want to take care of me but I love you too and I want to take care of you too. I rather not have you going crazy over this. We can just do our best to keep me healthy and still focus on being a couple."