Chapter 38

"Of course, you know my place," Lisa said in a tone tinged with sarcasm when Mr. Young took a turn at a block where Lisa was most familiar with and parked her car on the curb in front of her building. "Why am I not surprised?" she rolled her eyes at him in the rearview mirror.

Jennie and her were sitting beside each other at the backseat, as per Mr. Young's command, stating that it was "for safety purposes, Miss Manoban. Lady Kim is, in fact, well-aware of the protocols" when Lisa insisted that she really should drive.

And perhaps that was what irked Lisa the most. That 'Lady Kim' was already 'well-aware of the protocols' and she wasn't and so she had both Jennie and Mr. Young telling her what to do and "Be still!" inside her own car. It was her car, for crying out loud! That, and the fact that a man she had only met for the first time was driving her car with consent forced out from her.

"It's nothing personal, Miss Manoban," Mr. Young told her on the rearview mirror.

Lisa just gave a noncommittal shrug while chewing the inside walls of her mouth. She was pissed. Of course, he would say that, Lisa scoffed and told herself. Tracing her, locating her house, following her all around, demanding her car key and driving her car while she was sulking and seething at the backseat, some broody Gucci guy showing up at her doorstep, all because Jennie was with her was 'nothing personal' for Mr. Young or for whoever was behind such intrusion, Lisa thought bitterly. And it took every ounce of her patience to not explode and yell at the man sitting on her customized upholstered seat in front of her that it was, in fact, personal. That everything they did was personal. That she was, in fact, taking it personally because it was her personal, private life that they were invading and anyone who would tell her otherwise can go to hell. And what exasperated her even more was Jennie sitting beside her in complete silence.

Mr. Young turned the ignition off and a heavy silence took over. Lisa chose to look outside, biting her tongue to stop herself from asking "What now?" and instead chose to settle her eyes on Jennie's car parked outside her building. Even with the soft light provided by the street post near it, bathing it's gloriousness, its luscious red color still gleamed and glistened with pride. Lisa thought it was mocking her. But, of course, the night could play its tricks on anyone.

She could feel Jennie's eyes on her.  Boring on her. Waiting for her to look at her. But Lisa didn't. She had been stubbornly avoiding eye contacts with Jennie from the moment they left the Orange. And Lisa somehow knew that Jennie knew that she was doing it intentionally because Jennie suddenly spoke after a long while. Finally breaking the glacier surrounding the three of them.

"Can you step outside, Mr. Young? Lisa and I need to talk," Jennie said in a voice that wasn't at all impolite but with the kind of formidable authority which surprised Lisa. It wasn't a request. It was an order. And it was a side of Jennie Kim that Lisa had met for the first time.

It was Lisa's first time hearing Jennie throwing orders to someone, especially at someone older than them both that it made her wince a little on her seat. It was somewhat unnerving, the way Jennie was imposing her rank, her authority, on the older Mr. Young. No wonder how the guy who hovered at the unconscious Jisoo back at the Orange cowered when directly addressed by Jennie. She was intimidating.

"Make it short, Lady Kim. We can't stay long," Mr. Young said, unbothered by the intimidation on Jennie's voice, as he looked at the both of them on the rearview mirror. Particularly at Lisa, who was sidetracked by Jennie's cold demeanor.

Maybe he was already used to it. Or maybe it was how Jennie had always been, that Mr. Young seemed unperturbed by it, Lisa thought to herself as she watched Jennie from the corner of her eyes.

It was dark inside the recluse of her car, with only the soft glow from the lamp post as their source of light. The faint glow was outlining Jennie's features and Lisa couldn't help but appreciate, despite the bubble of annoyance that was consuming her every passing minute, how beautiful Jennie was. With her pearly white skin glowing like an ivory, those cat-like eyes looking sharp and steady, like an angry lynx ready pounce forward to catch her prey and lips that didn't even quiver when she spoke the next words.

"I'll make it however I want it," Jennie said coldly, reiterating her authority and power over the older man.

Mr. Young, as Lisa observed through the rearview mirror, had finally come realized the no-nonsense of what his Lady Kim had ordered him to do. He nodded shortly and finally stepped outside the car.

"What's going on, Lili?" Jennie asked as soon as she heard the door slammed, never giving silence the opportunity to overtake them. Her hand closed around Lisa's wrist.

Gone was the biting cold on her voice. Gone was the imposing authority and the intimidating demeanor. And all that was left was the softer side of Jennie Kim--the side which Lisa was most familiar and comfortable with--talking to her. Asking her in an anxious, worried tone. Worried was, in fact, an understatement with how Jennie sounded.

Lisa should be glad. She knew she should be comforted and flattered with the fact that Jennie just went from being ice queen to an anxious marshmallow when it comes to her. But Lisa wasn't pleased. She was vexed and she had issues that she needed to discuss with Jennie. She sighed sharply enough to reiterate her annoyance, before she shifted on her seat to face Jennie and opened her mouth to speak. Unintentionally yanking her hand away from Jennie's grasp.

"You tell me, Jennie," she said a little too roughly. But one that did not even made Jennie flinched a muscle. On the contrary, Jennie was all ears and eyes on her. It was slightly unnerving. "What's going on? Who are those people? Who is he?" she asked, pointing at Mr. Young who was standing still like a ridiculous marble statue just a couple of meters away from the hood of her car, withstanding the cold air of the night. "Who are you?"

Jennie's cat-like eyes flickered visibly even in the dark. She looked somber, hurt and offended. Jennie sighed but chose not to look away and instead met Lisa's glare.

"That last question kinda stings, Lisa, because I thought I already told you who I am," Jennie said, her voice was tainted with emotions that resonated with pain, regret and exhaustion.

"Yeah. Except that you forgot to mention that you're being followed and monitored by a group of men. That we're being followed by your men, Jennie." Lisa breathed out to compose and prevent herself from exploding. "I can't have them lurking around my place or anywhere near me, whenever you're with me. I can't tolerate them looking around and digging everything about me like I'm a. . .a criminal just because I'm going out with you! This is crazy!"

Lisa was exhausted. She was confused and most definitely not pleased with how the night had turned out. Thanks to Mr. Young and his egotistical approach to impose his masculinity on her by forcing her to give up her key. She would never forgive him that easily.

"Lisa, I didn't know I'm being followed, either," Jennie replied calmly. "I specifically told them, even before I met you, even before the death of my father--especially on the death of my father--that I don't want anyone to tail me wherever I go. That I don't want any of them near me. You can even ask Chu about that. She knows how much I hate this kind of stuff," Jennie said and leaned back on her seat, tired from the events that took place an hour ago.

"How can I ever ask Jisoo and believe her when you haven't even told me she's also a Kim? For god's sake, Jennie! What? Forgot to mention that, too?" Lisa retorted.

So, maybe the thing about Jisoo being a Kim was irrelevant to the issue. And maybe it was nothing to do with her. But it definitely took her by surprise that Lisa felt the need to bring that one up.

"No, Lisa," Jennie said, shaking her head. "But it's not mine to tell. And Chu and I don't go around telling everyone who we are, foolishly parading ourselves like most of the people we know, getting mobbed by those who take pleasure in devouring and feasting our private lives and then whine about how we can't enjoy our privacy. Which is stupid, really. Chu and I like to keep our identity as private as possible, thank you very much." She ended it with a haughty scoff.

Lisa huffed. "Yeah. Until something like that would happen and blow your covers, right? Your men, included?" she commented rather sarcastically.

"You mean after when Chaeng put on a show and blew everything up? Because that's technically what happened back there, Lisa. In case you've forgotten," Jennie pointed out.

"Are you blaming the Chipmunk?" Lisa asked hotly.

But Jennie shook her head and said, "No, Lili. If there's anyone to blame, it's me. This is on me," she was pointing herself, her voice slightly quivered. "So, stop taking out your anger on anyone, especially not at Chu because she doesn't have anything to do with all these and just take it out on me, Lisa. Be angry with me, if you must."

And that was all it took for Lisa to calm down, especially when she thought she heard a sob escaped from Jennie. Lisa considered reaching out to hold Jennie's hand but decided against it. She wanted to, really, but her pride was getting on her way. It wasn't the time yet to kiss and make up, she told herself. Especially when there were still questions that need to be asked and matters to be discussed with. To settle things. For her own peace of mind.

Silence had started to creep around them. It was heavy and antsy. It was Jennie's turn to avoid eye contact and keep her silence. And Lisa just let her until she couldn't take it anymore. Jennie did to her what she did on their way from the Orange, she realized. And here she was, thinking how unfair the silent treatment was to her. Hypocrite, she castigated herself. But she'd rather have an annoyed Jennie than a silent and distant Jennie. So, Lisa decided to break the ice.

"I'm sorry," Lisa said.

"It's okay, Lili," Jennie replied.

"So, are you and Jisoo related? Are you sisters? Or cousins, perhaps?" Lisa asked after she wasted time figuring out what to say.

Jennie sighed and let out a soft chuckle.

"I wish we were. Life would have been a bit more fun and exciting if I had Chu for a sister. But, no," Jennie shook her head, her smile was fading. "We just share the same family name, Lisa. They're part of the Kim Group. That's basically why it's called 'Kim Group'. Because it's made up of a bunch of egoistic non-blood-related Kims when my grandfather started it.  Although, we aren't as exclusive now as we used to be. What with the other families marrying non-Kims," she explained further.

Lisa opened her mouth and closed it. She thought it was ridiculous because 1. She personally thought it was absurd how a company was made up of people with the same family name. How typically closely mimed it was to the old monarch system of the old world and it was absolutely preposterous in her opinion. But to each his own, right?, and 2. Jisoo and Jennie's relationship seemed so special and deep--like what she and Chaeyoung had--that Lisa didn't want to tread any further. Although, she was pondering whether she'd like to ask Jennie if the Gucci guy was also a Kim or not, but thought against it despite her nagging curiosity, so instead, she asked: "So, who are those people?"

And Jennie knew that they were now okay, that the tension between them had eased down a little. At least. Because she could hear the curious tone on Lisa's voice again. The same curious tone she had heard when Lisa asked her if she was part of a mob. It was so much better than when Lisa was trying to contain her emotions to stop herself from exploding.

Jennie made a bold move and inched closer, leaning a little closer to Lisa to bridge the gap between them. She wanted to hold Lisa, to ease away whatever ugly thoughts Lisa had on her mind. To tell her that it was alright to ask questions and to get mad if need be. But mainly because she wanted to be closer to Lisa. To feel her warmth, to breathe next to her.

"You mean those men at the bar?" Jennie asked, her tone a little warmer now. Although she still tiptoeing with her tone and her words. "They're part of our family's security aid, Lisa. I realized that when I recognized one of them, if you remember?"

Lisa nodded. She remembered vividly how the man recoiled under Jennie's gaze back at the Orange, as though he was singed and burnt.

"Remember when I told you Jisoo's dad is running a company that has been providing security for my family?" Lisa nodded again. "They're his men, Lili. That's why they recognized Chu, too. You saw how all of them reacted when Chu lost her consciousness back there," Jennie explained.

"And you didn't know they were there?" Lisa asked and Jennie shook her head.

"No. I swear, I didn't. Chu didn't know, either, obviously, or she would've told me. She's never had anyone from her dad's company tailing her because she said it's not necessary. She doesn't work in the company. And so the only logical explanation as to why they were there was because of me, Lisa. I'm sorry," said Jennie.

"What about him?" Lisa asked, nodding her head towards the tall and sinewy figure of Mr. Young outside.

"That's Mr. Young. He's the head of our security. My security nowadays after I was inducted on the highest position in the company. He's been around since I can remember. My father trusted him. My mom, too, I guess," Jennie answered. "It was probably my mother who ordered them to tail me. Given that I slipped past under their watch today."

"And you don't?" asked Lisa. "Trust him, I mean?"

"I can't say that I don't. He's the best at what he does for my family, Lili. No doubt about that. But there are occasions when I think he forgets his place," Jennie said and explained further. "He oversteps and he's assertive, which really annoys me most of the time. Sometimes he'd get to the point where he would tell me what to do. Well, you saw and heard him earlier."

Lisa made no comment. And another stretch of momentary silence took over between them. It was comforting this time, though, Lisa thought. It gave her time to ponder on things, to re-evaluate her emotions. It gave her enough time to appreciate the fact that Jennie still chose to sit beside her when she could just leave. That Jennie was still talking to her, explaining things for her, being with her rather than leave her and her questions unanswered. Besides, there was no point getting mad at Jennie Kim. It was obviously a lost battle from the beginning.

"I don't know exactly the technicalities of his job and how should he behave when he's around you," Lisa said, "but can you please tell him he can't drive my car again? That I don't want him to even lay a finger on my car again, ever."

"I will," Jennie said, nodding. "Are you mad at me?" she asked.

"No," Lisa said, shaking her head. Her voice was hanging in the air as if she wanted to add more but chose not to.

"But?" Jennie wheedled subtly the remaining words out from Lisa's mouth.

"But you shouldn't have told me to give him the car key. Especially when you obviously knew I didn't want him to have it. It felt like you were bossing me around and I didn't like it, Jennie. It made me feel. . .helpless. The way I couldn't say no to you, even when it goes against my principles," Lisa said breathlessly and anticipated for a defensive counter from Jennie.

But Jennie nodded and sighed deeply. She took Lisa's hand and placed on her lap, holding it in a way like she was afraid to let go of it.

"I'm sorry, Lili. I shouldn't have done that. I honestly didn't mean to make you feel that way," Jennie said apologetically. "But I know him. He will take it from you, one way or another. And we needed to get away from there quickly," Jennie explained.

"Why?" asked Lisa.

"Well, you saw how those people were trying to get a piece of me back there, Lisa," Jennie said.

"Exactly. Why did they get so excited after they recognized you? Who are you exactly, Jennie Kim?"

But Jennie wasn't given the chance to open her mouth to speak because Mr. Young was already at her side of the window, knocking on the glass. His face was hovering over it. He was waiting for Jennie to roll the window down for him.

Jennie did, but just half of it. Obscuring the lower half of Mr. Young's face.

"What?" she asked curtly.

"We need to leave, Lady Kim," replied Mr. Young.

"Lisa and I are still talking, Mr. Young. We'll leave when we're done talking," Jennie said and about to roll the window back up but Mr. Young placed his hand on the glass to stop her, which earned a scowl from Lisa.

"Madam Kim has called. She said she heard what happened and she wants you home before she'll mobilize the whole company to look for you and take you home whether you will like it or not. Her words, not mine. I did not tell her you're here," Mr. Young said, his eyes darted at Lisa for a second.

And Lisa understood, even when she didn't mean to, that it was up to her now to convince Jennie to leave. That Mr. Young was asking her to help him convince Jennie that it was to leave.

"You should go, Jennie," Lisa told Jennie.

Jennie heaved out a long, heavy sigh and nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But give us another minute," she said, addressing the head of security. A hint of pleading was on her voice. "Please?"

Mr. Young contemplated. He darted his eyes from his boss to Lisa, who was staring back at him with those soft, round eyes. He then nodded and turned around. His back was on them.

Jennie immediately seized the opportunity to bring herself closer to Lisa for a kiss. Which Lisa happily accepted and responded.

"I'm sorry if I can't spend the night," Jennie whispered when their lips parted.

Lisa smiled and shook her head gently. She brought her hand to tuck Jennie's hair behind her ear and affectionately caressed her face after.

"No. Don't worry about it. I, uhm... I think I need to be alone tonight, anyway. You know, to mull things over," she said and nodded towards Mr. Young. "Besides, I don't want him lurking around outside my place the whole night. That's creepy." She tried to be funny, which made Jennie chuckled.

"Hey, have you Googled the Kim Group yet?" Jennie asked and Lisa shook her head. "You'll find me there, Lili. It won't give you everything you want to know about me, but it will give you a glimpse of who I am and why I had to keep it from you. But please don't ever think that it's because I don't trust you. Because I do, Lisa. It's them I don't trust," she said.

Lisa did not say anything but pulled Jennie closer and kissed her again. Her heart felt like it was about to burst open. Jennie trusted her. Despite the circumstances, despite everything, maybe it was all that mattered.

They kissed a little longer and a little too intensely this time. There was desperation, too. Lisa feared it might be the last time that she could so. Because at the back of her, things would never be the same after tonight. She didn't know what would happen next. What tomorrow might bring for the both of them. And Lisa knew that Jennie was thinking about the same thing, too. Because Jennie was kissing her back with the same amount of ardor. As if she never wanted to stop and let go. As if they both never wanted the night, their night together, to end just yet.

But Lisa pulled away before she couldn't think properly. Mainly because she heard the faint sound of Mr. Young clearing his throat, subtly telling them stop doing whatever it was they were doing behind his back. Because Jennie had to leave already.

"It's been a crazy night," Lisa told Jennie, her pulse and her breathing were jagged and racing after a long kiss.

"Anytime is crazy whenever I'm with you, though. Tonight is just one of the many, Lili," Jennie said and chuckled.

"Tonight had been the craziest!" Lisa laughed but turned somber. "I'm worried about Chaeng, though. And Jisoo, too. I'm worried about everybody. We just left them there," Lisa said mournfully.

"Me, too. I'll call you as soon as I get updates about them," Jennie assured Lisa. "I hope your friends won't think so little of me and Jisoo now, after what happened," Jennie said.

"Oh, I'm sure they won't. They like you--both of you. Well, Chahee obviously still has got issues with Jisoo, but she'll get over it. And A-yeon thrives for this kind of thing. I'm sure she was beyond herself when she saw the chaos earlier," Lisa said and laughed. Jennie joined her.

"Lady Kim?" Mr. Young muttered.

"You really should go now," Lisa told Jennie.

Jennie nodded. She leaned in for peck on Lisa's cheek, never minding that Mr. Young was looking at them.

"Please say hi to Leo and Luca from me. Tell them I miss them already," Jennie said. There was longing on her voice. She didn't want to leave, obviously.

Lisa smiled and nodded. "I will," she told Jennie.

"And Lisa?" Jennie said, her cat-like eyes were searching and seeking for Lisa's in the dark. And when she did, she beamed and leaned in for another peck, this time on Lisa's plump lips. "I'm yours. You asked me who I am and that's the closest, most concise answer I could ever give you right now," she said after the kiss. "I'm yours, Lili. Don't forget that," Jennie said before she pushed her door open and stepped outside.

Leaving Lisa alone inside the Impala with her thoughts swirling around and trying to make sense of how their night had turned out.

. . .

Jisoo had been sitting on the hospital bed, cross-legged, eversince she was brought there. A security aide stood by beside the door, not directly looking at her but definitely watching her every move from the corner of his eyes. Which, Jisoo thought, was a no-brainer for him because she hadn't been moving a lot at all. Except when she tried to reach out for her phone from the bedside table and the aide reached it before she did, handing it to her like it was the most fragile thing he had ever held. Weird.

"Had she left already?" Jisoo asked the aide for the third time.

And for the third time during their quiet, awkward time together inside an immaculately clean hospital room, the aide shook his head to her.

"She's still outside, Miss Jisoo. She said she won't leave unless she's allowed to  come in and see for herself that you're fine," the aide said.

Jisoo heaved out a breath. Stubborn, she told herself. She wasn't expecting Chaeyoung Park to be this stubborn.

"Fine. Let her in and leave us alone until I say so," Jisoo told her aide.

It felt weird giving out orders to her Dad's men. She hadn't been demanding service from them eversince, perhaps occasionally. But it felt a lot weirder that he heeded to the order without even batting an eyelash. So much for being a Kim, Jisoo thought.

Jisoo watched the aide as he went and opened the door. She watched as he stepped outside and left her in solitary, as he fetched the redhair outside for her.

And a moment later, the tall figure of Chaeyoung Park appeared on the doorway. Her long, red hair was ruffled, her jacket was crumpled and she looked like she had just beaten a deadline because she looked exhausted and worried. Jisoo felt guilty.

"Hey," Chaeyoung said softly as she was slowly walking towards her. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"I'm good," Jisoo replied.

"Good. That's good to hear," Chaeyoung mumbled. Her eyes were downcasted. She was looking at her boots, unable to look Jisoo in the eyes.

"Why are you still here, though? What about the bar? Your show?" Jisoo inquired.

"Show's cancelled. And Chahee called to inform me that they closed early," Chaeyoung replied. She was now standing a foot away from the hospital bed, dithered.

"You're not a good businesswoman, then," Jisoo commented. She was trying to humor the crestfallen Chaeyoung Park in front of her.

"Maybe I'm not," Chaeyoung agreed and raised her head for the first time to look directly at Jisoo. "You sure you're okay? What did the doctors say?" she asked. Concern was all over her pretty face.

"Have you been outside my door the whole time eversince we got here?" Jisoo asked, instead of answering the questions.

"Yes. Well, no. I left for a couple of minutes to get something from the vending machine," Chaeyoung replied.

"You shouldn't have left," Jisoo reiterated.

"I was hungry and nervous. I needed something to eat. I had a granola bar," she explained herself. "So, what did the doctors say?" she asked again. "Do you have, like, any concussions? Broken bones? How long will you be staying here?"

"You shouldn't have left, Chaeyoung Park. So you could've seen that there weren't any doctors or nurses coming in and out of this room. Nobody was fussing about concussions and broken bones and I'm not staying here because I faked it," Jisoo said, staring straight into the redhead's eyes, daring her.

"What do you mean you faked it?" Chaeyoung asked, perplexed.

"I mean I faked the whole thing. I had to shut you up, Chaeyoung Park," Jisoo said.

"You shut me up by feigning to pass out right in front of everybody at my bar and brought chaos after? You played me for a fool!" Chaeyoung said angrily. She was livid.

Her face was flustered and her eyes were bloodshot. If Jisoo had know better, she'd thought that the redhead had been crying. But Jisoo wasn't sure about that because why would Chaeyoung be crying? Jisoo decided to set the thought aside.

"I might have overdone it, yes. But I did it in good faith," Jisoo said defensively.

"In good faith? Do you have any idea how worried and. . .and guilty I was when you suddenly dropped on the floor just like that?! I've never had anyone dropping on my floor like that, ever! Not even the wasted ones and there were a lot of wasted ones!" Chaeyoung retorted.

"I had to shut you up!" Jisoo shot back.

"You could've done something less dramatic instead of playing unconscious and put on a show, you idiot!" Chaeyoung fired back.

"Like what? Huh?! And don't you think you deserve the title more than I do?" Jisoo retaliated.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chaeyoung demanded angrily.

"You put on a show a first, in case you've forgotten, you idiot! Telling everyone that we're supposedly dating when we're actually not? You just used me to get back at Lisa!" Jisoo replied.

"Get back at Lisa? Why would I even get back at Lisa?" Chaeyoung was definitely livid. She was shaking.

"Because you're in love with her? And she wasn't? So, you put on show in front of her, in front of Jennie and everyone else to make her feel bad because she's dating my bestfriend, at my expense!" Jisoo shouted back. She, too, was livid. She had never engaged in a bout that would consist a lot of yelling and throwing dagger looks before with anyone. But there she was, doing it with the equally-livid Chaeyoung Park. What a night!

"You probably hit your head pretty bad when you decided to drop on my floor earlier. Because that's a ton shit of accusations and poor judgement on my character that you're throwing at me right now. And seeing as you're alive and still annoying as ever, I can finally leave in peace!" Chaeyoung said, her shoulders squared up and started to head towards the door. She looked back and said, "Don't ever come near my bar again!" walked a few steps and turned around for the second time. "And don't use that tax-paying-citizen crap on me again!"

"If you didn't do it to make Lisa feel bad, then why did you do it? You know very well that we're not dating, Chaeyoung Park," Jisoo said before the redhead could even touch the door handle.

Chaeyoung halted on her steps and did a one-eighty. She looked like she was ready for battle. Her eyes were on fire.

"You know what? Fine! It was my fault. Happy? And you were right about one thing, actually. I did it to get back at someone. But not at Lisa, you idiot! I won't ever do that to her. I did it to get back at you. Well, not really getting back at you because I already told you we were even back in Ciuri Ciuri," Chaeyoung said.

"So, you wanted to settle the final score? You could've done better, you know that? If you wanted to play a game of who's better at humiliating one of us, you could've told me. We could've laid out the terms and everything on the table. But not that, Chaeyoung Park. It wasn't funny!" Jisso replied.

Chaeyoung did not speak. She was about to, but words failed her this time. Because Jisoo was right. It was wrong. It wasn't funny. She did something awful.

"Do you have any idea about the gravity of what you did? About the consequences of the show that you put on back there?" Jisoo asked, her tone a little lower now. Catfight was never her thing. Fighting, in general, was never her thing. She suddenly felt exhausted from all the yelling.

Chaeyoung still did not speak. She just stood there, looking at Jisoo with rueful eyes and pursed lips.

"Don't you want to know why I had to shut you up?" Jisoo asked the redhead.

"Fine. Why?" Chaeyoung asked sullenly.

"Because I was trying to protect my family, Chaeyoung. And Jennie, too. Those men who brought us here, including the guy who fetched you outside, they work for my Dad. My Dad and his men work for Jennie. And Jennie is the head of a conglomerate where my father's company belongs. She's still trying to find her way to lead an empire that do not approve of her. The conglomerate is made up of traditional old people. In short, most of them are homophobics, Chaeng. Lisa and Jennie are dating. We both know that. They're in love. We both could attest to that," Jisoo paused and pointed herself and then at Chaeyoung. "Us? No. We just shared a few stupid kisses but we're not dating and we couldn't be in love with each other. Especially you, because you're in love with Lisa," she paused and waited for Chaeyoung to say anything. But the redhead remained quiet, so she continued. "And if I hadn't feigned fainting, things will get pretty bad for Jennie and my family. They're vicious people, the members of the conglomerate. They'll do everything to take the chairmanship away from Jennie and then they'll usurp my Dad's company if they'll hear about a dating rumor that involves two women."

"Oh my god!" Chaeyoung whispered in horror, loud enough for Jisoo to hear. "Holy crap! I didn't know!" she said, her hands clasped on her mouth. She looked terrified.

"Of course, I'm just assuming things here. I'm expecting for the worst scenario, just in case. But from my point of view, as someone who has seen and understood enough about how the other members of the Kim Group think, it's likely going to happen had I not shut you up," Jisoo told the redhead.

"So, what's going to happen now?" Chaeyoung asked, making a beeline towards Jisoo's hospital bed.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to my Dad yet," Jisoo replied, tapping the space in front of her to offer it to the redhead.

Chaeyoung sat a feet away from Jisoo. "And Jennie?" she asked.

"I haven't talked to her yet, either," Jisoo answered. "From what I heard, she left with Lisa and Mr. Young before things could get worse back there. Which was the right thing to do, of course. Jendeuk should never be seen in a situation like that. The press will devour her if they'll ever find out."

"Who's Mr. Young?" Chaeyoung inquired. If this Mr. Young guy had Jennie and Lisa, he better be on their side. Or else. . .

"Jennie's family's head of security. He's a good man, don't worry," Jisoo assured the redhead. "Annoying, most of the time. But he has a good heart. He has Jennie's best interest at heart. Did Lisa call you yet?"

"No," Chaeyoung replied, shaking her head. Her ruffled mane dancing behind her. "I'm sorry. For what I did, for what happened back there. I didn't know," she said with her head down and her shoulders hunched.

"You couldn't have known, though. If there's anyone to blame, it's me. I shouldn't have provoked you in the first place," Jisoo replied and tried to smile when Chaeyoung raised her head to look at her.

"So, what do we do now?" the redhead asked.

"We'll wait for tomorrow, I guess. And pray that I'm wrong," Jisoo said.

"I'm going to call Lisa," Chaeyoung said as she fished out her phone from the back pocket of her jeans.

But Lisa wasn't picking up. She heard her phone ringing maybe a hundred times already over the past hour but she didn't have the will to move and pick it up. Well, she did. Once. And it was the Chipmunk that was calling her that time. It was probably the Chipmunk that had been ringing her nonstop for the last hour.

She had been staring at the screen of her computer for too long now her eyes were already stinging. Leo had been trying to engage her in a game that they would usually play before bedtime. A game that would consist mainly of Leo trying to take a chunk from Lisa's arm and Lisa laughing while fending away the cat. Luca, meanwhile, had been trying to get her attention by trying to engage her in a staring contest. Both did not succeed, though. Because Lisa was feeling weak and dizzy all over after she saw what she had been looking for on the Internet.

There, on her computer's screen was Jennie. Sitting on an expensive-looking chair behind an equally expensive-looking desk. Behind her was the Seoul skyline. Jennie wasn't smiling on the photo, though. Unlike how she would smile for Lisa's camera. Jennie looked different. Her jet-black hair was tied in a low ponytail, looking sleek and glossy. Her hands were resting most probably on her lap, because it wasn't visible on the photo. She was wearing a classic white dress, her lips full and red, her Chanel necklace was gleaming. Jennie's eyes were staring back at her. Cold and somewhat ruthless, unlike how those cat-like eyes would stare and smile warmly at her whenever they were together.

Beneath the photo was a long paragraph written in Times New Roman, stating who Jennie was--her birthday, her educational background in New Zealand and New York was highlighted, the name of her parents, among some other informations that made Jennie who she was and what she was in the Kim Group--the sole heiress and newly-appointed President of a multi-billion dollar company and the newly-inducted head of a conglomerate that was made up of multi-million companies.

"Holy shit, Jennie!" Lisa muttered to herself.