Chapter 34

“Oh! I saw Jisoo today, by the way. I meant to tell you earlier,” Lisa told Jennie while the latter was Indian-squatting on the carpet floor and playing with Leo and Luca.

They were languidly idling the time on Lisa's place, listening to a playlist that Jennie picked. They just came back after they went to the nearest food stalls to eat. Lisa meant to take Jennie to a nice Korean restaurant for a full meal but Jennie insisted that they should try the food stalls lining up along the streets of Hongdae. Lisa wanted to protest because she really wanted a full-course meal, but there was no way she would say no to Jennie.

And so they hit the food stalls, jumping from one stall to the other. Jennie was particularly feasting over the hot mandu. She finished at least a dozen of it, that it made Lisa question her gastronomic capabilities.

“What?” Jennie demanded when she picked her twelfth hot, steaming mandu and saw that Lisa was eyeing her conspicuously.

“That's your twelfth,” Lisa pointed out, while her fishcake was suspended in midair.

“So? I'm hungry,” Jennie said with a pout before she took a mouthful of her twelfth dumpling and fanning the outskirts of her mouth with her hand because it was almost burning the insides of her mouth.

“Who starved you? I never seen you munched food like this,” Lisa said, shaking her head.

“The corporate world. And speaking of starvation, I want to highlight this little food adventure we're having right now with deserts, Lisa,” Jennie said and turned her attention to the elderly woman manning and cooking at the food stall. “Ahjumna! Can you please give me a hotteok? Make it four,” she told the older woman manning the stall and faced Lisa and said, “We'll have two each.”

Jennie looked up and met Lisa's eyes. The blond chose to sit on the couch, bringing her feet up in the upholstery, her chin was resting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs. She had never felt so relax and happy in her own apartment, she realized, while watching Jennie with the two furballs on the carpet floor. And the apartment never felt warmer now that Jennie was gracing and filling it with the sound of her laughter and the cute voice she was making when talking to the two cats. They were even both laughing at some point when Leo and Luca were trying to fit themselves inside two small boxes. Luca succeeded but Leo didn't. And Lisa's heart warmed up when instead of laughing at Leo's misfortune, Jennie chose to shower the cat with kisses on the top of his head to console him. Telling him that he was loved and that she would buy him a bigger box.

“Where?” Jennie asked.

“At the Orange, with Chaeng,” Lisa replied. “Yeah, I know. It's weird seeing them together after they tried to kill each other,” Lisa added with a chuckle after she saw the curious and horrified look on Jennie’s face.

“So, that's why she wouldn't pick up my calls. All the while, I thought she's out of the country,” Jennie said softly and resumed to play with the two cats. “I'm glad to hear she's doing okay.”

Jennie petted them that it made Leo purred loudly, to Lisa's disgust. Leo would never purr at her that loud, even if she would practically beg for it. But she decided to let that pass this time. Especially since Jennie with her two boys on the carpet looked picture-perfect. Especially with the faint sunlight streaming through the curtain cracks on the window.

“Can you hold that still, please?” Lisa told Jennie while she stretched herself to reach her Polaroid camera on the coffee table.

“Anyway, she told me that she haven't seen you for a week now?” Lisa picked up the conversation from where they left it after she took a couple of photos of Jennie and the two furballs. Which, Jennie was too happy to obliged and was beyond giddy when Lisa gave her the Polaroids. She asked Lisa if she could have one of the two copies and, of course, Lisa said yes.

Jennie nodded and pouted after she slid the Polaroid photo inside the pocket of her jacket. “I miss Chu. Things would have been a bit easier if she was around. But it was hard to get away from all the meetings and everything,” she said and looked at Lisa with an anxious look. “Wait, did she and Chaeyoung—,”

“Tried to kill each other again?” Lisa suggested amusely. Jennie nodded and Lisa shook her head and said, “No. They're friends now, I think. They were talking when I walked in on them earlier today,” she said and returned to her old position.

“That's good to hear,” Jennie commented, looking at Lisa. “I tried to talk to Chu about befriending Chaeyoung. I'm glad that she did.”

“I think they both did. Just as long as Jisoo won't try to kiss the Chipmunk again anytime soon, I think. Chaeng was pretty upset about it,” Lisa said.

“Yes, that,” Jennie rolled her eyes and chuckled. “I did not expect that from Chu, to be honest. I'm really sorry about that, Lisa. I don't know what she was thinking. She has always been blunt about…not doing things that non-straight people do,” she added.

Lisa gasped. “Wow! That's a very articulate way to put it, the way you said it,” she told Jennie teasingly and laughed.

“Lisa? Don't you want to ask me something?” Jennie asked.

Lisa fell silent and was looking at Jennie with uncertainty. Didn't she want to ask Nini everything? Of course, she did. She had a hundred questions forming and floating on her mind since Valentine's Day. But she didn't want to sound too invasive and prying. She didn't want Jennie to think that she was too curious, which, she really was, if truth be told. So, instead of deliberately constructing a question that wouldn't sound invasive, she blurted out the first safe question that she could think of.

“Why can't I find you in Google?” she asked rather ungracefully and bit her tongue after.

But Jennie took no offense. Instead, she chuckled and shook her head and looked at Lisa teasingly.

“I knew you'd Google me after I left that day,” Jennie said and laughed. “Well, you should've asked Chu about that matter. It's her father's doing, I guess. Or her brother? I'm really not sure who, but I know they're responsible for erasing me off the Internet,” she added as she pushed herself up from the carpet to join Lisa on the couch.

“What do you mean?” Lisa asked and scooted over to make room for Jennie.

But Jennie chose to sit closest to her and copied Lisa's position. Her head was laid on the top of her knees, facing Lisa.

“Chu’s family runs a security company, Lili. And for the longest time now, they've been providing my family the security that we need. Including deleting everything about me on every databases on the Internet, apparently. I honestly didn't know about that until now. I guess they did it since I was tasked to take over the company. For security reasons, of course,” Jennie explained.

Her eyes were searching on Lisa's, looking for a hint of anything, any reactions that would somehow tell her whatever Lisa was thinking after what she had just said. But all she could find in those soft round eyes was plain curiosity. It was almost child-like, the way Lisa's eyebrows were knotted behind her fringe. It looked adorable on Lisa that Jennie wanted to reached in to plant Lisa a kiss, but stopped herself right on time. The kiss can wait, she told herself.

“You're running a company now? No wonder you looked stressed out. What sort of company do you work for? Was it really necessary to have them delete everything about you from the Web?” Lisa inquired..

Jennie smiled and shook her head, biting her lip.

“The sort of company that bears my family name, Lili. And the same sort of company that is now under my name, legally. And last Monday was officially my first day as the Presiden—,”

Lisa gasped and untangled herself from the position that she chose for herself and shifted her whole body to face Jennie. “Holy sh—you're WHAT?!?” she asked Jennie with eyes wide open and her mouth hanging.

Jennie laughed at Lisa's reaction and gave in to her heart's desire, because Lisa looked just adorable. And so she leaned over and planted a peck on Lisa's lips.

“My father left it to me, Lisa. It was on his Will. He wanted me to take over when he's gone,” she said when she returned to her position, after her smile hovered over Lisa's plump lips. She just couldn't get enough of those lips.

“I thought your father had passed away last year?” Lisa asked, now looking really confused.

“I'm glad to know that you were listening,” Jennie said appreciatively.

“Of course. Why wouldn't I be?” Lisa said in a tiny voice and dismissed the sudden embarrassment she felt with a shrug.

“Thank you, Lili,” Jennie mused and smiled appreciatively. “Anyway, yes. He passed away a year ago. I didn't want it—the position he left me and I didn't want to do it—what he asked me to do. I mean, what do I know about running a company as big as his company?”

“Are you honestly being serious right now? Because I personally think you're going to be great, Jennie,” Lisa interjected.

“Thank you for the confidence, Lisa. But I didn't trust myself back then. I still dont. I still have a lot to learn. Working as an editor for a magazine in New York was a lot easier than leading a conglomerate, I realized after I was being inducted as President. To say that it's tough is an understatement.” Jennie sighed. “Anyway, I stubbornly said no at first. I declined the offer. My mother was appointed interim. She had always been convincing me to take the position already…”

“And?”

“And…well, I had to stop running away eventually, Lisa. Although the decision to accept the job was a little desperation on my part,” Jennie said and smiled weakly.

“Why? What happened?” Lisa asked, looking worried.

“You happened?” Jennie said with a smile. “My mother was desperate to wed me to any boy she could find—,”

“Including that Gucci guy?” Lisa interjected.

“Gucci guy?” Jennie asked with her brows furrowed and chuckled when she realized who Lisa was talking about. “Oh! Did you mean Kai?”

“Oh, yeah,” Lisa nodded. The name was pickling her ears. And she knew that if she would speak it loudly, it would taste bitter on her mouth. It was just some silly fleeting taste of jealousy, of course, she convinced herself. Nothing to worry about, except that she had spent a couple of days seething at the thought that some broody Gucci guy had the audacity to show up at her doorstep and take Jennie away. But Jennie didn't have to know about that. “That's his name. Kai. Yes, I remember now. He's not just a driver, was he?” she asked, trying her earnest to sound as casual as she could. Like she was just commenting about the weather outside.

“Yes, he wasn't. But how did you know, Lisa?” Jennie inquired with amusement on her voice.

“Because he was wearing Gucci and looking smug and broody? Wait, that rhymes,” Lisa paused and chuckled. “He really didn't look like just a driver to me,” she continued with a smirk and shrugged.

“You're sharp, aren't you?” Jennie commented, obviously impressed by Lisa's observation.

Which wasn't something new, Jennie reminded herself coolly. Because she had always been impressed with Lisa's idiosyncrasies. It was as though everything about Lisa seemed to fascinate her. From the way Lisa's eyes would flicker when she would laugh, to the way her mouth would curve into a smirk, like what she did just now. And Lisa's passion for her art was another thing.

“I was told I have keen eyes for details,” Lisa said jokingly.

“Yes, you do. It shows in your photography,” Jennie agreed and smiled. “Anyway, yes. My mother asked him to marry me. Which was really ridiculous!” Jennie said and rolled her eyes to emphasize how ridiculous the idea was. Lisa responded with a chuckle. “And of course, I said no. But before him, there was Yi Eun. Son of the Vice President of the company and Kai’s cousin…”

“I bet your mom’s a bit of a fan of their bloodline, don't you think? It won't surprise me at all if the next person she will ask to marry you is some distant cousin of those two. Like a cousin of a cousin of a cousin,” Lisa said, shaking her head in disbelief.

Jennie laughed because she thought it was funny. Because Lisa had always been funny. And because somehow, she felt relieved that Lisa was taking things lightly. So far.

“So, how did I end up in the equation?” Lisa then asked curiously.

“My mom asked me about you,” Jennie replied, biting her lip. “She knows about you, Lisa. She knew I spent the night in here. Which was partly a mistake on my part, I guess,” Jennie said and quickly added when she saw the confused look that Lisa was giving her. “You were right when you said I shouldn't leave my car in the open that day, if you can still remember?” To which Lisa responded by nodding vehemently. “That's probably how Kai suddenly showed up in here…”

“But why him?” Lisa asked. “I mean, why not someone you already know? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was the first time you met him, yes?”

Jennie nodded. “I think my mom thought that I wouldn't come home that day had she sent any of our staff. Or Mr. Young, himself. Especially him. Anyway, I panicked. I didn't want my mom to pry too much about you, Lili. So, I kinda blurted out that I will accept the position. Just to keep her from asking about you and to stop her from meddling in my personal affairs.”

Lisa breathed out loudly. She didn't realize that she had been holding her breath. “Wow, that's—,” she gulped. “How did she exactly know who I am? Am I… Am I being followed? Should I flee the country now?” Lisa asked incessantly, thinking about her passport and Thailand, leaving Chaeng behind, Leo and Luca, and— “No,” she said, shaking her head furiously, “that sort of thing only happens in movies. Is it?” she added weakly.

Jennie chuckled because she found Lisa cute when flustered and said, “Chu’s dad's company provided her details about you, I guess. They do that sort of thing, actually. Background-checking, profiling… Things like that. I think my mother was a little too curious about you, Lili. She knew I'm the kind of person who would never spend the night in someone else's place. I've actually never done that before.”

Lisa suddenly sprung up and jumped from the couch to Jennie’s surprise. Her impulse was to run. But of course she didn't, because she didn't even know where she would go. And she knew she would look like a complete idiot if she would do so. Besides, Leo had already beaten her to it. The cat was already running for his life because he thought that Lisa was trying to catch him and imprisoned him again for a snuggle. Luca, meanwhile, was curiously looking from Lisa to Leo, who ended up securing himself at the topmost flight of the stairs.

“And…and Jisoo knew about this? She agreed on this? Did she… did she help digging informations about me?” Lisa demanded. Of course, she had all the right to freak out, hadn't she? What if Jisoo was only being nice to her to gather informations about her? Yes, she was freaking out, for god’s sake! “Was that why she was always nice to me?”

But Jennie shook her head gently. “Chu has got nothing to do with it, Lisa. She doesn't meddle in their company’s affair. She doesn't work there,” she said and smiled when she suddenly remembered something. “Although, she did meddle once? For me,” she said in a tiny voice. “Remember that day in Tongyeong?”

“Of course. How could I ever forget that day,” Lisa replied, now sounding calm, and went to sit beside Jennie again. “I missed that.”

“Me, too,” Jennie smiled. “But it wasn't coincidental that I was there, Lili. I, uhm,” she cleared her throat to compose herself first and continued, “went there because I wanted to see you…that day. Chu helped me,” Jennie confessed.

She had been wanting to confess that to Lisa ever since. But she was waiting for the right moment, because she didn't want to scare Lisa. She didn't want Lisa to think less of her about that day or any days. Or at how she had been keeping her identity to Lisa for so long.

Lisa just blinked; she was lost for words. Perhaps she was freaking out? Again? God! These rich people and what they can do! She was screaming and screeching internally.

“She, uhm,” Jennie hesitated, “she used her dad's computer, she told me. Without his permission, of course. She's not allowed to even touch it. I think she said something about locating people through their phone's GPS?”

Lisa was still lost for words. She just resolved into staring at the wall panel in front of them. Her mouth was agape. Her brows were knitted under her fringe; her immaculately unbothered forehead was now creased. But it wasn't because of Jisoo locating her GPS because, hello?—anyone could do that nowadays. Anyone except her, that is. She wasn't that much of a techie.

“A—are you mad at me, Lili? Say something!” Jennie commanded when Lisa was still in resolute silence and quickly added, “Please?” in a softened tone because she realized she was imposing the company President in her on Lisa and she didn't want that.

Lisa turned her head to face Jennie.

“What?” Jennie asked when she couldn't take it anymore how Lisa was just staring at her with a blank expression on the face.

“So, you really went there just to see me? You flew all the way from Seoul to Tongyeong just to see me?” Lisa asked. The corner of her mouth had slowly curved into a smirk. “Guess who's whipped?” she quipped.

“Oh my god!” Jennie groaned and brought her hands to her face. She felt it burning against her palms. “Oh my god! Out of all the things I told you, that's all you can say, Lisa? Unbelievable!”

Lisa responded with a loud laugh. Too loud that she was almost shrieking and scared the usually-chill Luca away. Who scuttled and decided to join Leo at the topmost flight of the staircase. Both were throwing scornful looks on Lisa.

“Okay, you can laugh. I'm done talking,” Jennie proclaimed and stood up. Her face was flushed. She was too embarrassed too even look Lisa in the eye. “I'm leaving,” she declared.

“Oh, no you won't, Jennie Kim. You still have a lot of explaining to do,” Lisa said teasingly and grabbed Jennie by the hand, she was still laughing.

Jennie had lost her balance when Lisa tugged her hand. She accidentally landed on Lisa's lap. And everything went still as they were both staring into each other's eyes, too caught up in the moment to even utter a word.

Lisa was the first to recover. She half-smiled when she heard Slow and Steady had started to play on her music player, as if the universe had decided to select that particular song for this particular moment.

“Hi,” Lisa said, smiling. Her arms were slowly snaking around Jennie’s waist to secure the petite beauty on her lap.

“Hi,” Jennie replied shyly, her gummy smile was showing off.

Her eyes were boring into Lisa's, as her hands automatically curled on Lisa's shoulder blades. Lisa's face was so close to hers that Jennie could practically count the number of times Lisa's irises had dilated in just a matter of seconds. It was fascinating. Like, there was a whole new universe inside those brown orbs and it was slowly opening up for her. Showing her its beauty, sucking her in by its gravity.

And Jennie allowed herself to be sucked in. She leaned forward. Slowly. Closer. Her eyes was still fascinated by the explosion being displayed on Lisa's brown orbs and only shut her own lids down when she was meet halfway by those plump lips that she probably wouldn't get tired of kissing. And Jennie knew that the universe had exploded yet again. Slowly. Magnificently. Like fireworks lighting up the dark sky on New Year. She could hear and feel it with the way their kisses sound.

Loud.

Bright.

Burning.

Intruiging. Like stars exploding in the outerspace, displaying its wonders.

Jennie gasped and moaned when Lisa's tongue had finally made its entrance. Its tip was teasing her, inviting her for a dance. Tapping softly, waiting for a consent. And Jennie gave in. She welcomed the soft flesh in the threshold of her mouth. She earned a soft moan from Lisa. The sound of it was endearing. Like music. Not too sensual, but sensual enough that it made the tiny hairs of her body to prickle and stand on their ends, as if she was electrocuted. She had never felt more alive, Jennie thought as the kiss deepened like how their hold of each other had deepened. Clinging for support because they were torn between drowning and staying afloat above the surface. And just when Jennie had decided to get drowned in, Lisa suddenly pulled back from the kiss.

“Why?” Lisa asked. Her eyelids were barely open. Her lips now a little more plump, shamelessly displaying the evidence of the kisses.

“Hmm?” Jennie could only hum. She was too intoxicated from the kiss that she knew that if she'd even try to speak, her words would only slur.

“Why did you want to see me that day?”

Jennie smiled and rolled her eyes in amusement. Of course, she still had a lot of explaining to do. She repositioned herself, a little boldly this time. She stopped herself from laughing out loud when she saw how Lisa's face had stiffened when she decided to straddle on Lisa's lap. Her knees on her sides, resting on the soft upholstery of the couch.

Jennie then brought her thumb to Lisa's lips; her other hand was resting on the blond’s shoulder. The tip of her thumb was tracing the outlines of those plump lips; her cat-like eyes following every move. She could feel Lisa relaxing under her touch and it made her smile. Her eyes traveled l and marvel on Lisa's features. Soft, plump cheeks, long nose that was slightly upturned on the tip, and soft brown eyes that were curiously looking at her expectantly. Obviously waiting for an answer.

Okay, then. It's confession time, Jennie amusely told herself.

“You intrigued me, Lisa. You made me feel things at The Era. Things that I've never felt before…with anyone. And you made me laugh so hard when you sang The Beatles inside my car. I like how you made me laugh that night and the days after that,” Jennie chuckled. “I've never laughed that much after my dad passed away. I've always felt like it's a sin to laugh after he was gone. You made me realize that life doesn't stop just because somebody had already stopped living it,” she said, almost in whispers.

“And the third reason?” Lisa asked as she rested her hands on Jennie’s hips.

Jennie laughed, her shoulders were shaking. The sound of it echoed across Lisa's place, making the two cats on the top of the stairs stirred and craned their necks to get a better view of a laughing Jennie. It was a beautiful sight.

“Do you want me to show it to you or would you rather I'll tell you a story?” Jennie asked playfully.

Lisa contemplated for a moment. She was absentmindedly chewing the walls of her mouth.

“How about we make a deal?” she asked. “Tell me a story, and if it's a good enough story, I will show you something. What say you, Jennie Kim?”

Jennie raised a brow and asked, “Why do I feel like you're patronizing me the way you're saying my name right now?”

“So, it's not a deal then?” Lisa replied, looking smug. But a shadow of a smirk was hinting on the corner of her mouth.

“Fine. Deal,” Jennie said. “Remember when I said I'd been to Paris before I showed up in front of your studio?" she paused and waited for Lisa to nod and continued when Lisa did. "I had dinner with some friends in a lovely restaurant one night, the Eiffel Tower was at the side of my window. It turned pink. One of my friends said it only happens once a year. And I got so excited that I hastily left the table and went outside the restaurant to get a better view of the pink tower. It was so romantic, Lisa. And I…I thought of you. I missed you from miles away. And later in the evening, when I was alone in my hotel room, I was looking out the window and the Eiffel was looking exceptionally bright and then it hit me.”

“What?” Lisa asked curiously.

“That I wanted to see you so bad I booked a flight first thing in the morning and went home. I can't not be with you on Valentine's Day. It was the first time that I got so excited about Valentine's, it was crazy!” Jennie said, laughing.

“But you said you went there to sub your mom, right?”

“I really love that you've been paying attention,” Jennie swoop in for a light peck. “And yes, I went there on her behalf. Chanel threw a party and my mom was invited. But she couldn't come because of the company, so she sent me instead. I needed to do my part and socialize, she told me. She almost fainted when she saw me walking through the door earlier than she expected of my return. I did not attend the party, you see.”

“Wow! No wonder your mother is prying what she could find about me and sent a Gucci guy to fetch you. You ditched a glamorous Parisian party for me,” Lisa said, laughing but looked pleased and impressed at the same time.

“You're worth it,” Jennie commented unabashedly that made Lisa blushed. “So, what are you going to show me?” she then asked Lisa.

“Uh, it's actually upstairs but I don't want to move right now,” Lisa said with a smirk, her eyes were fixed on a spot in Jennie’s chest. “I like the view.”

Jennie gasped and said. “I didn't know you that you have this kind of…of perversion in you, Lisa!” and brought her arms across her chest.

Lisa responded with a laugh that resonated throughout the whole house. “What? I was looking at your necklace. It's beautiful,” she said, pointing at the necklace that Jennie was wearing. The pendant bearing the Chanel monogram was resting in the middle of Jennie’s chest. It's gleaming gold was a contrast against the black fabric of the turtleneck that Jennie was wearing.

Jennie rolled her eyes and unlatched herself off from Lisa's lap. “Go on. Get it, whatever that is you're going to show me,” she said as she planted her feet on the soft carpet.

“Don't you want to come with me?” Lisa asked, an eyebrow was raised.

Jennie contemplated and then shook her head. “No, thank you. I'm good,” she said and went back to her spot on the carpet floor.

“Are you sure?” Lisa asked, as her two cats were running passed her, heeding Jennie’s call. “You and the cats can play in the bed.”

“Lisa, can you please stop doing whatever it is that you're doing right now?” Jennie said, playfully throwing glares at Lisa.

“It's working, isn't it?” Lisa concluded, her eyebrows were wagging up and down, teasing Jennie Kim.

“Maybe,” Jennie answered coyly. “Now go, before I'll change my mind.”

“You can change your mind.” Lisa suggested with a shrug.

“Lisa!”

Jennie laughed out loud. “I'm just kidding! My room's a mess right now, anyway. I can let a company president see it's state right now. That would be totally embarrassing,” she said and gave Jennie a wink, which Jennie replied by rolling her eyes and making a face, before heading towards the staircase. “I'll be right back,” she called out.

Jennie shook her head while listening to Lisa's footsteps running towards the loft. She called Leo and Luca when she heard frightened meows as the two cats ran for their lives when they saw the sprinting Lisa towards them.

Leo being the older took the liberty and settled hurriedly at the space between Jennie’s legs while the hooman was cross-sitting on the floor carpet. Luca stretched out and yawned. He laid his body next to Jennie. Both were trying to stay as close as they could with her.

Jennie chuckled when she thought about the all the spices and pancake ingredients she saw that Lisa had stored on her fridge and cupboards when she rummaged the kitchen as soon as they arrived from the food stalls. Lisa told her that she had been stocking her storage just in case someone who knows how to cook will come over and cook for her.

“Here,” Lisa said as soon as she planted herself in front of Jennie, handing her a big, brown envelop. She noticed how her two cats stirred and looked at her but only returned to their stupor. She smirked at how smitten her two furballs were with Jennie. It was kinda amusing, actually.

“What's this? Can I open it?” Jennie asked curiously.

“Sure. I'm supposed to give it to you, actually,” Lisa said and dropped herself beside Jennie. She was staring at Jennie and smiled when she saw how those cat-like eyes dilated and those soft lips formed into an ‘oh’ when Jennie pulled the papers inside the envelop. It was a pure joy to watch.

“Holy crap, Lisa! They're beautiful!” Jennie gasped as she took the contents of the envelop one by one and laid them on the carpet in front of her. “Oh my god! Thank you!” she said and gave Lisa a peck on the cheek.

“You're welcome,” Lisa said and smiled. “I'm glad you like them.”

“Like them? I absolutely love them, Lili. I'm going to put them on a frame and hang them in my room and in the office,” Jennie declared.

She was looking at the photos of her that Lisa took inside The Era the first time they met. One was a photo of her staring out the glass window. The faint light streaming through the glass bathed her face, Lisa caught the slight creased on her brows, totally unaware that she was photographed. The other was a photo of her glaring directly at Lisa's lens, like an angry cat preparing to snarl. And the last one was a photo of her face behind a book. The only part of her face visible were her creased forehead and knitted brows. All of three of them were in crisp black-and-white colors.

“They're so beautiful,” Jennie sighed appreciatively. “You're really good, Lisa. The world needs to see your art.”

“Thank you,” Lisa said, humbled by Jennie’s words but made no further comment about the last part. “I wanted to frame them, actually. But—hey, do you want to hear a story? It's actually a good one,” she said. “Better than yours,” she added as an afterthought.

Jennie raised a brow and asked, “Is there any way you can top my Eiffel story?”

“Of course,” Lisa replied with confidence.

Jennie nodded in a condescending, teasing manner and chuckled. “Let's hear it, then,” she said as she slipped the photos back inside the envelop.

“So, I’ve been carrying that around for weeks after I developed them and went back to The Era everyday, hoping that I'd see you again so I can give it to you personally…” Lisa started.

“But I stopped going to that place after that day,” Jennie interjected, looking sorry for the wasted efforts that Lisa had exerted.

She remembered how she fought the urge to go back to the old diner because she was afraid to see Lisa again. She wasn't yet ready to deal with all the weird things that her heart was feeling back then.

“Yeah, I know,” Lisa nodded and chuckled. “Anyway, Chaeng suggested that I should've just set up a tent outside that place so I won't have to stalk around it like a psycho. William saw me one day, we talked a little. I took a photo of him, with his consent, of course. And then he introduced to that grouchy waitress—,”

“Who? Haeyun?”

“You know her name?” Lisa asked, bewildered. She was sidetracked by the new discovery. That grouchy woman had a name?!?

“Of course. She was with William when they went to my father's funeral. She used to give my dad his coffee whenever he would pay a visit at the diner, she told me,” Jennie explained.

“What? So, she knows you, too?”

Jennie nodded. “Yes, Lisa. William introduced her to me. But why do you look so shocked?” she asked.

“I think I might murder her one of these days,” Lisa murmured, looking dumbfounded.

“What?” Jennie asked in horror. She heard Lisa, apparently.

Lisa whirled herself around to face Jennie and said, “I asked her about you, Jennie. And she told me the most outrageous story I've heard in my entire life!”

“Which was?” Jennie asked.

Lisa immediately opened her mouth to speak but closed it again and shook her head furiously.

“No. Never mind,” Lisa said and groaned. “Oh, god! Was that why she was mocking me when we went there to pick up the jukebox that Chaeng had acquired? I feel so stupid right now for even listening to her. Oh my god! I'm so stupid!”

“Lisa, what did she say about me?” Jennie asked, now looking really curious.

“Nothing. Forget it,” Lisa dismissed her.

“Lisa!”

“Fine. She said you're connected to a mafia. Like a leader of a mob or whatever. That conniving…” Lisa gritted her teeth, “witch.”

Jennie looked totally perplexed and asked, “And you believed her, didn't you?” She was stifling a laughter.

“I did not!” Lisa answered indignantly.

“Yes, you did,” Jennie said and was quick to add before Lisa could even deny it, “You did, Lisa. You asked me once if I'm part of a mafia.”

Lisa fell silent, unable to counter that fact. Because, well, she did.

“She won't even call me by my name,” she said instead, like it was the most offensive thing that the grouchy waitress—Haeyun, or whatever her name was, she thought bitterly to herself—did to her.

“What did she call you?” Jennie asked.

“Barbie,” Lisa said grumpily, like it the most disgusting name that anyone could ever think of to call her.

Jennie laughed so loud, she was rocking her body back in forth, to Lisa's dismay. She did not stop until she ran out breath and her sides were already screaming in pain from all the laughing. Tears were pooling on her eyes.

“If it makes you feel better, Lili—you definitely don't look like a Barbie to me,” Jennie said after she spent an entire three minutes in mirth.

“What do I look like to you?” Lisa asked sullenly.

“Mine,” Jennie replied with a smile.