Chapter 26

The night went by quickly. Jennie and Lisa have already hit the floor twice, thrice. Maybe more than a handful. Until they both ran out of breath and until Lisa had to take off her suit because she was feeling extremely hot and sweaty from all the dancing. If jumping and just rotating around like a loose top was considered dancing.

Jennie had to keep up with Lisa's energy all night. First, because she was having fun. It had been too long since she last had this kind of fun. And second, because she felt like it was her fault why Lisa was acting like an overcharged energizer bunny all night.

Lisa had downed two glasses of The Slippery Nipple. Jennie had never touched her drink, except when she took a little sip of it and decided that she couldn't drink it and asked Chahee for the Alabama Slammer, instead. So, Lalisa, bold and adventurous that she always was, had offered chivalrously to show off her alcohol-tolerance level to Jennie and decided to drink Jennie's The Slippery Nipple.

"This is for you. I'll do this for you, Nini!" Lisa announced in front of Jennie, in big, booming voice, because the music inside the Orange have gone wilder and louder.

Jennie tried to stop Lisa but she was late. Before she could grab the glass away from Lisa's clutch, Lisa have already downed it, bottoms up.

"Yeah!" Lisa yelled jubilantly, like she had just won an Olympic medal, much to the amusement of the nearby onlookers from the nearby tables who were egging on and applauding Lisa's bravery and foolishness. After all, The Slippery Nipple was 51% alcohol. Two dosage of it would knock the sobriety out of anyone foolish enough to think they could dodge The Nipple's nasty punch.

But Lisa was still on her feet. And Jennie had to keep a watchful eye on her from their table because the tall blond was hitting the floor again, flapping her long arms in the air, dancing in what looked like an overenthusiastic African war dance to a classic Erasure song, along with the equally wild A-yeon, who was still just wearing a lingerie. They looked like two kids trapped in two adult bodies, leading a pack of equally, if not more, wilder and more enthusiastic drunk crowd, claiming and dominating the party like they had the time of their lives.

"Are you sure you still want to keep that child?" a gentle laughing voice spoke closely on Jennie's ear that took her by surprise.

"Oh, hey!" Jennie greeted Chaeyoung Park after she recognized the pretty bar owner and put her phone away. She was taking a short clip of Lisa's hilarious dance moves.

"Hey back at ya!" Chaeyoung said, smiling kindly and somewhat sounding nervous. "May I?" she then asked, pointing at the empty chair beside Jennie. It was Lisa's.

"Yeah, sure." Jennie nodded and smiled back at Lisa's beautiful bestfriend.

"Thanks! What are you doing here all by yourself, by the way?" Chaeyoung asked after she settled herself on Lisa's empty chair.

"My toes are already sore. And I honestly cannot keep up with Lisa's energy tonight. I mean, look at her?" Jennie said, nodding at the direction of Lisa.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. She's a handful when she's drink more than her limit," Chaeyoung said, shaking her head but was looking amused.

She and Jennie were looking over at Lisa and A-yeon who were already surrounded with the bar crowd. They were both laughing and were having all the fun in the world and Jennie was also laughing, herself.

"She is," Jennie muttered and started smiling like the smitten girl that she was whenever she looks at Lisa. "She's funny, though."

It was the first time that she and Chaeyoung would be this close and talking without Lisa. It was weird. It felt weird, especially after what happened the last time. But it was Chaeyoung Park. Lisa's bestfriend and the bar owner. There was no way Jennie would say no to the opportunity. Plus, Jennie had a feeling that Chaeyoung was as anxious to be this close with her as she was with her. After all, they weren't technically friends. Yet.

"She is," Chaeyoung nodded absentmindedly. "So, hey, uhm, Jennie?" Chaeyoung started, sounding nervous and a little embarrassed. "I just want to apologize for what I did that night."

Jennie saw that coming--the apology. And she honestly thought there was really no need for that. Although, yes. It kind of made things awkward between the two of them, but she thought it was more awkward and nerve-wracking for Chaeyoung than it did to her. And she didn't want to make the situation worse.

"You really don't have to say sorry for what happened, Chaeyoung. I mean, we were all drunk that night and there are things in life that we really cannot control anymore. Especially when we're drunk," said Jennie and chuckled, trying to sound funny.

"Yeah, you're right," Chaeyoung nodded thoughtfully. "But still, what I did was wrong, Jennie. And I spent all week regretting it. I made everyone around me anxious and jumpy. Lisa, incuded."

"Hey, it's okay. We all make mistakes, Chaeyoung," Jennie consoled the rueful and awkward Chaeyoung Park. "Chu and I have talked about it, also. She, too, was sorry. She said she went out of line. But, I really think it's better if we all just forget about it, you know? Let bygones be bygones?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I think you're right," said Chaeyoung and nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks, Jennie. That made me feel better, honestly," she added with a now comfortable smile.

"You're welcome," Jennie responded with a smile. "And thank you also for inviting me here. This is so fun!" Jennie added.

"You're welcome. This is Lisa's idea, actually. This party, the concept, everything. I had absolutely nothing to do with this. I think maybe that's also the reason why she's out there and just all over the place tonight. She's obviously showing off, that idiot," Chaeyoung said, rolling here eyes and laughing at the sight of Lisa doing extra dance moves now with a lot of hair whipping. "So, anyway. You and Lisa, huh?" she asked coolly, sounding like it was just an afterthought. But really, she wanted to just be done with it and get it over with.

Maybe she needed to know how much Jennie likes Lisa. Maybe she wanted to know if the petite chaebol could ever handle her Shutterbug. That way, she would be able to sleep tonight, knowing that Lisa woud be in good hands. Or at least, she hoped she could.

"What? No!" Jennie said with her cat-like eyes growing as wider and larger as it could do, suddenly sounding defensive. "No, it's not what you think, Chaeyoung. Lisa and I are not a couple--,"

"Yet?" Chaeyoung interjected and laughed a little. "You know, if you are then, it'll be cool. I think Lisa really likes you," Chaeyoung said, surprising herself for not sounding salty at all.

"Really?" Jennie asked, gone was her defensive mode and sounding doubtful but hopeful.

Chaeyoung nodded and forced a smile. "Really," she said. There was still pain, of course. But it wasn't the same kind of pain anymore. Perhaps she'd get used to the idea of Lisa and Jennie eventually. "And I'd like to thank you, by the way," Chaeyoung added.

"Me? What for?" Jennie asked curiously.

"For coming in to Lisa's life, I guess? I mean, you know, if she hasn't met you, I think Lisa would be somewhere else tonight. Hawaii or wherever her soul would wish to be right now. She normally doesn't stay this long, you see? And I'm just honestly so tired of watching that Shutterbug leave, every time. We all do, the girls and I," said Chaeyoung.

"Really? How long does she usually stay here in Korea?" Jennie asked. She and Lisa have never talked about Lisa frequent travels, now that she thought about it.

"Two weeks, max. Three weeks if we're lucky. Sometimes, she'd leave after a week and would be back here after a month and then pack her things and leave again. We--the crew here and I--have to watch her leave and wait for her to come home and listen to all her adventures and everything," Chaeyoung said.

"Wow! That's a lot of traveling in a year. So, if Lisa doesn't stay long in Korea, who takes care of Leo and Luca?" Jennie wondered, her thoughts wandered to Lisa's two cats, imagining them being home alone, unfeed and all by themselves. Jennie felt the sudden impulse to grab Lisa away from her ridiculous dancing and confront her with the issue.

"So, you've already met the two furballs, huh?" Chaeyoung commented. "She's crazy about them, Leo especially. Anyway, Lisa's mom would babysit them, mostly. Mrs. Manoban would bring them to Bangkok when she can't stay here or she would stay at Lisa's place until Lisa would come home after a few days. Sometimes, me. Or Chahee, if she's in the mood. There are also quite a few times when Lisa carries them with her wherever she goes and then complain a lot about Leo being uncooperative and Luca being too timid and all," Chaeyoung explained, laughing.

"I see what you mean about Leo being uncooperative," Jennie responded, also laughing. "But, I guess she's happy with whatever she does out there, though. The way Lisa talks about a photograph that she took from Paris or Japan, or anywhere else, her eyes would just light up," said Jennie, almost blurting out to Chaeyoung how beautiful Lisa looks everytime the tall blond would talk about her passion in photography.

"Of course, she's happy, Jennie. I mean, it's her dream. She wants to see the world through her lens, and you know, we're all up in arms to support her. Me, Chahee, her parents, all of us here. But, sometimes, I'm just...scared that Lisa wouldn't find her way back home eventually because she couldn't find the reason anymore. I know that's a stupid thought but I just don't want that to happen. I think about it every night whenever she's out of the country and I'm worried sick to my stomach. I mean, that idiot can't even fry an egg, for god's sake! How can she survive out there when she can't even fry an egg?"

The way Chaeyoung have blurted out the last two lines was way too funny that Jennie could not stop herself from laughing so hard. And the sound of her laughter, amidst the blaring sound of the music from the speakers, was loud and contagious enough that Chaeyoung started laughing with her. They were laughing so hard at the thought of Lisa's disability to fry an egg and at Lisa, in general. It wasn't really funny and Lisa wasn't generally funny, but it was Lisa they were talking about. And they both loved that woman.

"I seriously hope that you both aren't laughing at my expense, because I can absolutely feel it in my bones right now," Lisa butted in and squeezed herself between Chaeyoung and Jennie. "Are you?" she asked, wrapping both her arms around Jennie and Chaeyoung on her sides and looked at the both of them accusingly.

"No!" Chaeyoung and Jennie answered and then laughed at exactly the same time that it made Lisa laughed and shook her head.

"Well, that's obviously a yes," Lisa said, squinting her eyes, looking suspicious and averting her eyes from Jennie to Chaeyoung.

"Of course, we're not laughing at you, Lalisa. Why would we even? Right, Jennie?" Chaeyoung laughingly told Lisa and asked Jennie with a wink.

"Totally. There isn't absolutely anything funny about you, Lili," Jennie said, stifling a chuckle.

"Except that you looked like an overgrown red bat the way you were flapping your arms out there, Lis," Chaeyoung said, trying so hard not to laugh at the expression on Lisa's face.

"Or the fact that you can't even fry an egg?" Jennie chimed in.

Lisa finally caught on and made a face. The two women were obviously making fun of her. Chaeyoung have finally found an ally in Jennie when it comes to laughing at her incapacity to cook for herself despite the fact that she have two wonderful, great cooks for parents.

"Ha-ha! Very funny!" Lisa said with a hint of sarcasm, looking from Jennie to Chaeyoung and then her face broke into a wide grin. "So, you two are, like, friends now?" she asked, wagging her brows.

Chaeyoung and Jennie looked momentarily stunned by Lisa's question. They looked at each other, awkwardly at first, searching for the other's answer and then slowly broke into a smile.

"Yeah," Chaeyoung muttered and nodded slowly. "Yes, I think we are, Shutterbug. What do you think, Jennie?"

Chaeyoung looked at Jennie and smiled meaningfully, offering her friendship to the very person who have captured her Shutterbug's heart. It wasn't like she was trying to breeze through it, the heavy pang on her heart. But, Chaeyoung thought it was the right thing to do. Not because Lisa was her bestfriend. But because Jennie was a likable person, despite the intimidating and haughty exterior that Jennie was exuding. Besides, she have finally found someone who she can laugh with about Lisa's hilarious and sometimes, foolish, antics. Gaining another friend was better than losing one, Chaeyoung reckoned.

"I'd be glad to, Chaeyoung," Jennie replied and genuinely show Chaeyoung her warm gummy smile.

"Oh, this is great! Just great!" Lisa grinned widely. "Then, you two can finally join me out there. Come on!" Lisa said and suddenly grabbed Jennie and Chaeyoung by the hand, trying to led the two towards the middle of the room. Where everyone, including Chaeyoung's bandmates, and to Chaeyoung's horror, Chahee and Jiyeon, who obviously left the bar unmanned, were already doing a synchronized choreography of Michael Jackson's Thriller.

"No, no, no, Lisa! You know I can't dance!" Chaeyoung protested and tried to break free from Lisa's grasp. But Lisa was unbelievably stronger and stubborn, especially when she's drunk, so she heard none of it.

Jeennie on the other side was complaining about her sore toes and not wanting to dance anymore in a very sweet voice because she just couldn't say no to Lisa. Not when Lisa was holding her hand in a certain way, as though she was taking her to somewhere beautiful, with a promise of fun, happiness and a series of memories she could keep. When in fact, Lisa was only dragging her towards the middle of the synthesis of body heats, big wigs, retros, Michael Jackson and drunken breaths.

Meanwhile, Jisoo have finally able to break herself away from the herd of gentlemen who have cornered her and have been shamelessly trying to flirt with her. They seemed to be in a tight competition on who's going to win her over and who could take her home like a stupid trophy. Most of them were distinguished people on their choosen fields. Dashing, exemplerary, good-looking, filthy rich, young men who, like her, were trying to make the world a better place, but whose brains seemed to have left their skulls because of alcohol.

The young gentlemen who all couldn't take their eyes off Jisoo Kim, were not only fascinated by what she does and how she thinks. They heard about her, the goods that she have done for the counyry and for the world. But tonight, they were all bessotted by Jisoo Kim's classic and regal beauty. And they would all sigh in appreciation whenever they watched her smile and laugh at some silly jokes she heard from the older gentlemen who Jisoo chose to spend her evening with, to talk about sensible matters and old philosophies of the world. She preferred them over the young ones who would rather want to shower her with flowery adjectives than stimulate her mind by engaging her in meaningful talks.

The gala dinner that she was invited to was held at the grandest function hall of the Park Hyatt Seoul hotel, hosted by somebody big from the United Nation's headquarters. Apparently, the UN people were fascinated by her efforts to spread awareness about the importance of  book-reading and how it could help with educating a child on a very early age. In short, she have choosen the right hobby. Plus the fact that she's a chaebol daughter, an important person. Most of the guests were from the high echelon of the society, Jennie's mother included. But Jisoo made sure that she and Jennie's mother would never cross paths tonight. Not when Mrs. Kim was obviously looking for her daughter in the sea of luxury and influence.

She's standing on her solitary at the secluded and dimly-lit open balcony, overlooking the city lights of Seoul. The cold February night air was dry and biting. But Jisoo preferred it than the sea of warm bodies and well-functioning heater inside in the grand hall, but offered her little privacy.

"Chu! Lisa invited us to an 80's party tonight at the Orange. Ditch the gala dinner and come with us. What do u think? It should be fun! XO — J" was the content of Jennie's first message that Jisoo received from her bestfriend.

And then followed by a series of messages that Jisoo have only read just now because she turned her phone off during the course of the gala dinner and because she didn't want to lie to Mrs. Kim, if ever their paths would cross and Jennie's mother ould bombard her with endless questions about Jennie's whereabouts and decisions in life.

"You cannot believe how hot Lisa looks on what she's wearing right now, Chu! I brought her to Gustav's store, BTW. Can u believe he and Feli thought that Lisa is fit to become a supermodel? Crazy, huh?"

"Aigoo! I thought Jendeuk would never let Lisa in to her world for now? Tsk tsk!" Jisoo muttered to herself as she kept on scrolling down to read Jennie's series of messages.

"Do u think I'm a little overdressed for the party?" It was a photo message, where Jennie was standing in front of a mirror and took a picture of her Little Black Dress.

"Yes, you are, you pretty showoff!" Jisoo again muttered to herself, laughing at Jennie's obvious desire to show off to Lisa.

"Hey, Chu! Watch and listen!" This time, it was a short clip of Chaeyoung singing an Eric Clapton's song. Jennie even had the temerity to include an emoji on the message. One that was sticking its tongue out. And for some reason, it irked Jisoo for a fleeting second the first time she saw it. She repeatedly played the clip a few times until she fully decided that yes, that Chaeyoung woman's voice was eargasm (Jisoo rolled her eyes when she admitted that to herself) and she looked cool and hip in that 80's rockstar outfit she was doning.

But Jisoo was still feeling a little standoffish and hostile against the thought of her appreciating Chaeyoung and Chaeyoung Park, in general. And Jisoo's thoughts then unintentionally drifted back to that particular moment that night, before the fight broke out and before Chaeyoung was overeager to get a piece of her. That part where Chaeyoung was licking the drips of beer on her lips. That part that kept repeating on Jisoo's head for the last week and was causing her troubles from sleeping. It. Was. Annoying. As. Hell, she thought to herself before she moved on to the next message.

"I think I found another crackhead that could finally match your being a crackhead, Jisoo Kim!" It was a ten-second video of Lisa dancing hilariously in the middle of the floor, which earned a laughter from Jisoo, surrounded by people wearing wigs and retro clothings, who looked equally hilarious and more drunk than Lisa. Jennie scribed words on the video, that says: "GO LISA GO LISA!"

And the last one was a short clip of them, all of them (or at least, that was how it appeared to Jisoo) dancing to Thriller (Jisoo laughed at the idea of Jennie dancing to Thriller on Valentine's Eve). And Jisoo's eyes would unintentionally drift towards Chaeyoung Park, who was standing a a little obscurely behind Lisa, laughing and reluctantly following Lisa's inaccurate and funny imitation of the Zombie walk.

"Ya, Jendeukie! Stop sending me whatever! I'm still not going!"

Jisoo was typing away in haste on the screen of her phone and muttering to herself when a voice, familiar and tipsy, broke the silence of her solitude.

"Oh, you're here, aren't you? Your fans are looking for you back there," the sneering voice of a man told Jisoo. He was obviously referring to the herd of men admiring her. The sound of his steps against the cold floor was faltering and moving closer.

"What are you doing here, Yi Eun? Tired from all the acting that you did tonight?" Jisoo asked humourlessly.

Yi Eun laughed a dry laugh and raised his glass to Jisoo with a sneer. His handsome features were illuminated by the dim lights of the balcony and the hazy city lights around them. His tall figure was hovering over her, trying to intimidate her.

"Where's Jennie, by the way?" Yi Eun asked instead of providing answers to Jisoo's queries.

"Somewhere far from you, I suppose?" Jisoo replied dryly.

"Hmm," Yi Eun, the son of the Vice President of Jennie's father's company, muttered and nodded nonchalantly.

"If you'll excuse me," Jisoo said and started to walk away from Yi Eun.

"Tell your friend that I'll soon be taking over her company if she won't cooperate with the engagement," Yi Eun spoke before Jisoo could grab the door handle.

Jisoo wheeled herself around and faced the sneering Yi Eun.

"That's probably the most pathetic thing I've heard tonight. And I've heard a lot, mind you," Jisoo said and laughed. "Get over yourself, Yi Eun. You're not her type. Never will be," Jisoo added, sneering back at the man who Jennie's mother thought and considered would be the most fitting to tame her daughter and could help Jennie run the conglomerate.

Yi Eun laughed with enthusiastic sarcasm and drank the remaining contents of his glass before he spoke.

"Be careful, Jisoo Kim," Yi Eun said patronizingly. "Once my father will get hold of the chairmanship and Jennie and I will get married, you and your father, along with that arrogant and useless bitch bestfriend of yours and her pathetic mother, all of you will go down. I promise you that," Yi Eun said sweetly, pointing his finger on Jisoo.

Jisoo scoffed and said, "If Jendeuk will allow it to happen, Yi Eun. Which, I'm pretty sure, she definitely won't. Enjoy the rest of your night," and left Yi Eun in the balcony.

Her resolve to never ever step on that bar again and see that woman with flaming red hair again was on the verge of her putting it all aside for Jendeuk's sake. Jisoo will never let any man threaten to bring her, her father and Jennie Kim down. The thought of them bowing to a jerk like Yi Eun and his greedy father was absurd, horrifying, more horrifying than the possibility of facing Lisa's bestfriend again, and totally unacceptable.