Chapter 41

Jennie arrived in front of W Seoul-Walkerhill at quarter past eleven. She was already beside herself and almost took over the wheel because Mr. Young--for the life of him!--was driving his normal speed, even though she specifically told him that it was urgent for her to reach the hotel immediately. And by immediately, she meant for him to hit the needle on the highest number on the speedometer.

She did not even wait for the valet or Mr. Young, himself, to open the door for her and just did it herself. She pushed the door open, walked away in quickened steps from the car without so much as paying a glance to anyone and head straight towards the entrance of the hotel. She slide through and walked past the revolving door expertly, earning herself looks from the people on the lobby because she looked like she was a walking marble statue. Cold, intimidating and who looked like someone on a mission. Which, she obviously was. Plus, she was Jennie Kim. The sole successor of the mighty Kim Group, which the W Seoul-Walkerhill was part of. The hotel crew cowered at sight of her walking across the lobby. Greeting her with a methodical "Good evening, President Kim!"

But Jennie wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to anyone. Her mind was elsewhere. Her eyes were looking straight past everyone. She was still seething inside. The thought of Lisa partying, hugging another and being hugged by someone else was unacceptable. There was no other way to put it. How dare Irene wrapped her arms around Lisa like that? And Lisa smiling like an idiot? That woman! Of course, she was referring to both women but was still torn who she should release and lash out that annoying little creature inside the caves of her chest to.

But Jennie's cold demeanor took a shattering break when she saw the most familiar face standing beside the elevator, sniggering at her, that she almost faltered on her steps.

"What--"

ON. EARTH???

"Chu!" Jennie yelled in bewilderment. "What are you--?" Jennie paused and gave her bestfriend an assessing look from head to toe. She was torn between asking Chu what she was wearing and what she was doing.

Jisoo thought it was the latter.

"I really thought you might need a backup," Jisoo told Jennie. Her smirk was as visible as the teasing laughter on her brown eyes. "You obviously do. You look like you're going to wage a world war. Where's the cavalry?" Jisoo asked, tiptoeing and pretending that she was looking over Jennie's shoulder and smirked.

"Shut up, Chu!" Jennie hissed as they wait for the elevator door to open, and added, "But, I'm glad you're here. Thank you," she said gratefully.

Jisoo was stifling laughter beside her. "With pleasure, Ruby Jane. So, what's the plan?" Jisoo asked.

"I don't know," Jennie replied and paused. "You know what? On the other hand, will you please call your brother? Tell him I need his men right now," she told Jisoo, which eventually made Jisoo laughed out so loud it made her snort, Jennie was shooting dagger looks on her.

"We might as well call everyone from the company to rally behind you, if that's what you really want," Jisoo said, laughing. "Aigoo! I never imagined seeing you like this too soon, Jendeuk."

"Seeing me like what?" Jennie asked snappishly but the expression on her face quickly transitioned from being snarky to anxious because she suddenly realized something. Her shoulders dropped like she had just lost the war she had not even started yet. "Oh, no. I shouldn't be here. Lisa might think I'm sending men to follow her and she won't like it. And you--" Jennie said weakly, shaking her head as she looked at Jisoo, "You shouldn't be here, too, Chu. She'll definitely think we're tracing her and I promised her I won't do that. This is stupid."

Jennie remembered how Lisa was mad mad at her and giving her the cold shoulder after what happened at the Orange two nights ago. She recalled how furious Lisa was about the possibility that her security was tailing them. Jennie hated that night. She despised how Lisa was looking at her accusingly with those round of eyes of hers.

"I'm being stupid. What was I thinking?" Jennie muttered and was about to walk away when Jisoo stopped her and grabbed her by the elbow.

"Love really makes people stupid, doesn't it?" Jisoo told Jennie who looked confused and Jisoo responded with an eyeroll. "We both have an invitation, Jendeuk. We're not gatecrashing and Lisa isn't stupid enough to even think we're here because of her. I don't think she's that conceited. Besides, Irene is taller. You can't take her down all by yourself," Jisoo said jokingly to lighten Jennie's mood, as the elevator door pinged opened and they both stepped inside.

They joined a group of middle-aged foreign women who were rapidly talking in their own language and fell silent at the sight of them, especially at Jisoo, and bowed to them over-enthusiastically after they stifled their chuckles. Which, Jennie found somewhat ridiculous given the fact that the group of women were obviously older and it wasn't even necessary at all--the over-enthusiastic and repetitive bowing. Well, not to her, anyway.

"What?" Jennie was obviously sidetracked by all the bowing. "No. No, Chu. I'm not going to fight Irene or anyone tonight. Well, not physically, at least. I don't resort to violence." The little creature growled inside her chest at the sound of her lie. "And we all know Irene. She's a painfully nice person. She's sweet and friendly. Although she overdoes it sometimes. But that's probably why Lisa has gotten comfortable with her," Jennie said bitterly.

"Probably. Or Lisa was just being nice?" Jisoo suggested. "So, how did Lisa end up at Irene's party, by the way? Do they know each other?" she inquired.

"I don't know. That's what I'm going to find out," Jennie replied.

"Because I literally spit out when I saw Irene's story and saw Lisa on that red dress. She looked, well, hot," Jisoo said casually. "Irene does, too. As always. They look good together, actually."

Jennie looked at Jisoo incredulously. Her bestfriend calling her Lili hot and telling her on the face how Lisa looked "good together" with someone else was something she did not expect to hear and totally, without a doubt unacceptable right now. Not when she felt like she was about to rip somebody's throat apart for wrapping their arms on Lisa.

"Whose side are you on, honestly?" Jennie demanded.

"I'm just being honest," Jisoo reiterated with a shrug and eventually laughed at how Jennie's cat-like eyes dilated with so much annoyance and pursed lips, silently telling her to shut up.

The elevator stopped and pinged on the floor where the party was held. The group of foreign women bowed enthusiastically to them once again, which they responded, with Jennie bending her upper body forward once until they elevator doors closed. And just like how Lisa reacted hours ago when she and Doona arrived, Jennie and Jisoo thought they shouldn't have come.

They were welcomed and engulfed in what seemed like a shindig. The music was a little too loud, the lights were dimmed, including the dancing laser lights, albeit the retro-futuristic theme of the lounge bar. The air was a thick mixture of velvet perfume, nicotine, sweat and booze. And the people whom most of them they personally knew, were a little too drunk, if not totally wasted in their most sophisticated way of being wasted.

A highly-fashionable woman, whom they both knew by the face but never had the chance to remember her name, no matter the number of encounters they had been and went together, looked so heavily drunk, she was slumped on one of the egg-looking chairs. And on Jennie's left was a group of boys, whose family lineage they knew, were being extra rowdy and one of them even fell on the floor, laughing so loud he actually looked like he was demented, and it irritated Jennie so much for some unknown reasons that all she wanted to do was tell them off, but Jisoo stopped her.

"Hey, Jendeuk? You won't make a scene, right?" Jisoo asked loudly while looking around. "Because everyone is here, Ruby Jane, and we obviously don't want to aggravate your mother again. Or any of the members of the conglomerate," she told Jennie as they walked past the eighteen-meter long bar, where a woman who seemed to look on her forty's and she wasn't familiar with, was drinking alone on the farthest end of the long bar, looking strangely at peace with her solitary. Jisoo had never seen that woman before.

"No. Of course, I won't," Jennie answered in an equally loud voice. "I'm honestly just here to pick Lisa up, Chu. I can't let her drive when she's drunk. You have no idea what Lisa can do when she's drunk and wasted," Jennie said, and recalling on her mind the ridiculous things that Lisa did the last time she was drunk, including kissing her before passing out.

Jennie couldn't let that happen again tonight, especially with Irene on the picture. The thought of Lisa pulling Irene for a kiss before passing out was unacceptable and the annoying little creature on her chest came alive again.

Nope! Not on her watch!

"Hmm. Pick Lisa up or getting your woman? Because there's a difference, Jendeukie. The former is a lie dressed in white and the latter is the truth spelled all over your face and it's called jealousy," Jisoo said on Jennie's ear and swerved to pick a glass of champagne from the passing server's tray.

"I am not jealous!" Jennie protested.

"You definitely look like one right now," Jisoo insisted as she took a sip from the glass.

"I just don't think that it's a good idea for anyone to wrap their arms around Lisa and post her on their social media accounts for everyone to see. People will now start to get curious about her, including those within the circle. And I'm sure Lisa won't like that because she's a private person, Chu," Jennie explained breathlessly.

"Sure. And you actually look jealous right now," Jisoo said stubbornly.

"I don't!" Jennie hissed.

"You're seriously the worst liar I've ever met, Jendeukie," Jisoo hissed back and almost hit a body headlong before Jennie pulled her.

"Careful with that head, Jisoo Kim," the guy standing before them said and clicked his tongue. "Look who's here. Hmm. The immaculately perfect Kims of all the other immaculately perfect Kims," Taehyung sniggered as he looked from Jennie to Jisoo. He was blocking their way, stopping them from scanning the first floor to look for Lisa or Irene.

Or both, Jennie thought scathingly, because she was sure that the two were still together this time, probably laughing at how Lisa was being clumsy and adorable, and it made the little creature inside her chest growl. Again.

"Including myself, of course. I mean, I can't let the two of you get all the glory," he added as an afterthought and smiled at them, showing them his perfect set of teeth that annoyed Jennie.

Move!, Jennie wanted to yell at the blue-haired, sniggering, smirking, Taehyung Kim. But she decided against it. She promised Chu she wouldn't make a scene. Not even when she felt like leaving V alone with his stupid blue hair and over-inflated ego.

"Fancy seeing the two of you here, though? I mean, everyone is saying that none of you will ever come. Especially you, J," he said, looking at Jennie but his finger was pointing at Jisoo and laughed at himself. "Wait, hold on a sec. You're both J!" He said like it was the most fascinating thing he had ever discovered his whole life and then downed the contents of his bottle and let out a celebratory laugh after, spilling his beer down his chin. Which he wiped off using the back of his hand.

"It's really good to know that you've finally learned the alphabet, V. You've learned the J. Next is K, and so on. You'll soon get there. Now, can you please let us through? We're in a hurry," Jisoo said in a hilariously sweet manner. With a painfully wide smile painted on her lips which she made it obviously fake.

Jennie and the aggrieved little creature she was harbouring and nurturing eversince she saw that stupid picture of Lisa and Irene didn't want to play word games with Taehyung Kim. Not tonight. Especially not tonight. Or she would definitely definitely rip throats before the night would end, including V's, if he wouldn't get out of her way.

"I'm honestly surprised you're here, V. Your father have been whining nonstop during meetings about you wasting his money abroad. Hopping from one university to another, I heard?" Jennie said without even batting an eyelash

"Ah, yes. You've met the old man during meetings, of course. Well, I can't miss Irene's party. As I'm sure we all do. Because we all know that Irene throws the best parties in South Korea, ever! And that's probably why you both decided to show up tonight, albeit late," Taehyung told them.

"Probably. Or not. It depends," Jisoo answered, nodding. "But then again, we can't just live our lives in probabilities, V. It's not a toss coin and I would really appreciate it if you'd just move so we can pass through?"

Taehyung looked like he was hit by something. His brows furrowed and his eyes squinted. He stared at Jisoo for a long time as if seeing her for the first time. He was lost for words to retaliate. He looked bewildered and confused and so he averted his eyes on Jennie because he decided that Jisoo was incomprehensible for him and his alcohol-sodden mind at the moment and he wasn't up to such profundity for discussion.

But Jennie only gave him a non-committal shrugged. Because her mind just drifted back to the Saturday night parties at the Orange and ended up comparing it the one she was at at the moment. And Jennie realized she had never felt more alive whenever she was at the Orange, surrounded and engulfed with the familiarity of it, of Chaeyoung and her band's music, of Chahee and Jiyeon's concoction of vodkas and cocktails. Of Lisa being comfortable with all of it and making her feel at home. It was weird but she felt like Hongdae had already played a huge part of her life, despite how short the time she had just spent on the district.

The way she felt when she thought of the vibes of the Orange was strangely similar to how she felt when she thought of Lisa's place. It felt like home. Not necessarily the same, but, still. And it dawned on her how much she missed Lisa, even though it had only been two days. Her heart was longing for her Lili, no matter how she was feeling like a raging ocean inside at the moment. Tumultuous. Like, tall, big waves crashing against the big pile of rocks inside the caverns of her chest, creating a loud, thunderous sound. And Lisa would be the only person in the world that could calm it for her. She just knew.

"You're a weird Kim," the tall and handsome, but definitely drunk, Taehyung told Jisoo and was about to turn his heels to leave, but Jennie stopped him.

"Have you seen Irene?" Jennie asked, trying to contain the frustration on her voice.

"Which Irene?" Taehyung asked standoffishly, like he just realized he wanted to get away from the two Kim women as quickly as he could. He was looking anywhere but at Jennie and Jisoo. Especially at Jisoo. Because he could feel those deep shades of brown judging him and his soul. It was...emasculating.

"Your favorite party-hostess Irene, V. Who else?" Jisoo said with hint of sarcasm. She, like Jennie, had enough of the charade.

"Upstairs, with that woman. Izza or whatever her name is. I honestly won't be surprised if they start kissing now the way Irene couldn't keep her hands to herself," Taeyung replied and rolled his eyes at them behind his round glasses.

"Thanks!" Jennie said hastily and pulled Jisoo hurriedly away, without bidding goodbye to the boy she used to foolishly consider of marrying one day. It was a stupid, childish notion and nobody knew about it. Not even Jisoo.

"Tell my father I said hello, Jennie Kim!" Taehyung yelled after them. "And Jisoo! You look gorgeous, babe! I specially like the slippers!"

"Oh, God! I really can't stand him!" Jisoo muttered as she pulled the waistband of her PJ, with tiny faces of her dog, Dalgom, printed all over and struggled to keep the bedroom slippers, with those fluffy, bunny ears, from falling off because Jennie was literally dragging her up on the staircase.

"Did you hear what he just said?" Jennie asked, her nostrils flaring and her cat-like eyes shooting daggers. She was definitely mad mad now.

"Yes. And he's probably right," Jisoo replied while adjusting the headband with fluffy dog ears because it was starting off her head. "But you need to calm down."

"Jisoo Kim!" Jennie glared, stopping midway on the steeped staircase made out of granite and glass.

"I'm just kidding! Let's go and get your woman so we can all go home," Jisoo said, now doing what Jennie did to her a while ago--dragging her towards the second floor. "I miss my bed and Dalgom. I shouldn't have come here."

"You shouldn't have come here wearing your favorite bedroom attire. What were you thinking?" Jennie said snarkily. But deep down, she was eternally grateful for Jisoo for still showing up when she told her no. Because she knew she couldn't confront the bubbles of acid forming on her stomach all the way up to her throat right now by herself.

"I didn't have time to change, for your information. And it's not my fault that Lisa's out with another woman, Jendeuk. Don't take out your jealousy on m--Oh, look! There they are!" Jisoo exclaimed on Jennie's ear and pointed the farthest and somewhat secluded set of luxurious of cushioned seats, fronting the massively high glass-plates window, where the glittering canvass of the Seoul night lights was a view to behold below them, provided by the W Seoul Walkerhill's strategic high-on-the-hills location.

And true enough, Jennie was looking at the silhouettes of two women sitting beside each other, with a mininal distance between them. One, Jennie recognized, was Lisa facing the huge window, probably marvelling at the sight below. And the other was Irene, facing Lisa, her elbow raised and resting on the backseat of the long sofa they were sitting on, the side of her head propped up by her closed knuckles. She was also laughing. Probably at something Lisa said.

V was wrong, though. Jennie breathed out in relief. Thank goodness they weren't kissing and it definitely was not a cozy sight. But Jennie wasn't pleased with what she was seeing, though. Because she thought that the sight before her was an intimate, private moment between two women who chose to seclude themselves away from the noise and it personally wasn't a pretty sight for her. What with Lisa pointing something at the glittering lights of Seoul below them and Irene laughing and nodding, probably agreeing to what Lisa had said.

"Looks like Lisa is having fun," Jisoo commented.

"How do I look?" Jennie asked Jisoo after she pulled the band of her hair to let it loose, ruffled it a little on the tips and pulled her blazer down.

"You look like a jealous woman preparing to win a war, aiming to cut Irene's throat and anyone who will stand in your way and go home victorious before the night will end." Jisoo replied after assessing the aftermath of Jennie's hasty makeover and pointed at Jennie's chest. "I think you should open those two buttons, by the way. Show them what you got, Ruby Jane," Jisoo said with a smirk.

"Should I?" Jennie considered the idea for a moment and eventually heed to it.

She completely took off her expensive Chanel blazer, placed it on the nearest chair and started sashaying towards where Lisa and Irene were, with Jisoo beside her.

Her hips were swaying, her legs crossing from one after the other, her eyes were fiery and steady. Jennie looked like a cat, preparing her claws and ready to pounce, while looking at her prey.

And just when Jennie was about to clear her throat to announce her arrival, Lisa decided to turn her head towards her direction. As if the blond was sensing her presence. And the look on Lisa's face melted everything that Jennie was currently feeling. The jealousy, the bubbles of acid on her throat, the menacing glare, the need to rip somebody's throat to satiate her jealousy. All of that immediately evaporated when she was directly staring at those bright, happy, round brown orbs looking back at her. As though Lisa was waiting and expecting for that exact moment to happen all night. And it was one of those moments that Jennie knew that it was a thing between Lisa and her. Something that only them could understand without discussing it. It was pure, raw and sweet. Although, Jennie still felt like cutting Irene's throats and rip her limbs apart. Especially those long arms.

"Jennie!" Lisa exclaimed and sprang up excitedly. Happiness, relief and sunshine was all over her face. It was lovely. Lisa looked lovely, Jennie thought helplessly.

But that wasn't exactly what Jennie had on her mind. She should be the one calling Lisa's name, in her most bone-chilling voice. Or Irene's. Depending on whether whose name her mouth would speak first. And Lisa shouldn't have shown those happy brown orbs at her. Or that heartstring-tugging bright smile to her and spoke her name like it was the most beautiful thing, ever. Because it was making her heart leaped out of her chest and bounced happily against the thick glass-plates window. It made her feel helplessly melting like a butter under those sunshiny round brown orbs. She loved every second of it.

"Lisa," Jennie muttered in monotone, keeping a straight face to prevent herself from smiling from ear to ear and practically ignoring Irene. She could hear Jisoo huffing beside her.

"Hi, Lisa, Irene!" Jisoo greeted the two jovially to ease the tension, which earned a chuckle from Lisa and an impressed look from Irene.

"Hi, Chu!" Lisa greeted brightly.

"I love the outfit, Chu!" Irene gushed, dramatically rolling her eyes while putting emphasis on the second word, like how the Westerns would do it on TV (which Jisoo could tell was genuine but somewhat not totally believable--blame it on the way Irene rolled those eyes), and set her steady eyes on Jennie, after.

"Aww, Jennie! I was brokenhearted when you declined my invitation," she told Jennie with a pout and looked genuinely hurt. Like her heart was actually broken to shards, with her free hand clutching her chest, but got over it quickly that it made Jennie thought Irene was a good actress and asked, "So, you, three, know each other? Really?! What a small, small, small world! Oh. My. God!"

Jisoo's brows furrowed at the repetition of the word. She thought it was totally unnecessary, because despite how she understood that Irene meant it to be something else, Jisoo couldn't help but took it literally. She wanted to tell Irene that although it was shocking for her--for Irene--how her world had collided and crossed paths with their worlds--hers, Lisa and Jennie's, the world wasn't that small. It was massive and round and people meeting and knowing each other was totally not improbable. But she decided against it, because the brewing war wasn't hers to ignite.

"So, how come you, three, know each other? Like, seriously? This is amazing!" Irene gushed once more, her eyes averted from Lisa to Jennie and at Jisoo and back at Lisa. She was that curious and confused.

Lisa spoke and said, "Well, we're--" the same exact second as when Jisoo also opened her mouth to speak and said, "Lisa is--"

"Mine," Jennie said distinctively, cutting Lisa and Jisoo's words and earned a collective gasp from the two. "We're seeing each other. Exclusively," she added, pulling Lisa possessively closer to her and stared straight at Irene. Daring the latter to wince or laugh, or even throw judgements.

But none came. None, except soft chuckles and slow nods from Irene Kim.

"I knew there was reason why you've been acting aloof and disinterested all night. I can see that now," Irene told Lisa and then looked at Jennie. "I mean, not just to me, Jennie. People have been showing interest on Lisa the moment she stepped in here and I thought I have to keep her away from the rest of them because I could tell that it's making her uncomfortable. Hence, we're here," she said and gestured the grand set of upholstery. "And you're here," Irene added with a smirk as her eyes lingered on Jennie's opened chest buttons of her semi-fitted white sleeved. "It was an absolutely good idea that I posted our photo on my Story or you wouldn't have come here, Jennie."

"Wait! You posted what photo?" Lisa asked Irene curiously.

"Just one of the many photos I have tonight with friends and guests, Lisa. I need to update my followers about tonight's party," Irene replied.

"I'm sure you do," Jisoo said condescendingly. She decided just now that she didn't like Irene that much. She was still harbouring ill feelings about Irene's perspective of the world being thrice smaller. Or maybe she just disliked Irene for interfering with what could have been a peaceful night.

But Irene seemed unfazed about Jisoo's condescending tone or the way Jennie was eyeing her with hostility. Because Irene said, "I'll leave you, three, now, then," in her sweetest voice. "It was a pleasure talking to you, Lisa. I would love to see your work. I'll drop by the studio, soon! I promise," and went to wrap her long limbs around Lisa and planted a kiss on Lisa's cheek, much to Jennie's displeasure. "I'll see you around, Jennie," she then told Jennie after and nod at Jisoo. "It's lovely to see you again, Chu," she smiled and left.

And to Lisa and Jisoo's surprised, Jennie followed suit without so much as looking back at them both. But Jennie took a different path from Irene, relieving Jisoo from worrying.

"Anyway. So, uhm, we're leaving, obviously," Jisoo said as she and Lisa both watched Jennie picking up her blazer and headed towards the stairs, looking smug and haughty. "Jendeuk will take you home because she said she can't let you drive alone when you're drunk. Are you drunk or just tipsy?" asked Lisa.

"Neither, I guess? I'm fine, Chu. Thanks. I need to take Doona back to her hotel, though, " Lisa said.

"Who's Doona?" Jisoo asked as they both descended the staircase, bumping bodies of Irene's guests they met along the way.

"She's a friend. I came here with her. I left her at the bar downstairs," Lisa replied.

"Short hair, long, slender body, high cheek bones and collecting shot glasses of vodka in front of her?" Jisoo asked, pausing midway, recalling the solitary woman she saw at the bar on their way to the second floor minutes ago.

Lisa looked horrified. "Oh my god! So, she's still there?"

Jisoo nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I'm not judging you or anything, Lisa. But how could you ever let a friend drink alone like that?" she asked and resumed her steps.

"I didn't. But she insisted I should go with Irene upstairs. She wanted me to socialize," Lisa replied.

"I'll do it. I'll drive your friend back to her hotel," Jisoo volunteered.

"You will? She usually just pass out when she's wasted, Chu. I'm not sure if you can carry her," Lisa said, looking worried. "Besides, I'm suppose to be her DD."

"I'd be more worried about Jendeuk, if I were you, Lisa. Anyway, if it really worries you, I'll just ask Mr. Young to take your friend to her hotel?" Jisoo suggested.

"No, don't," Lisa said, shaking her head. "She'll kill me if I let a man lay a finger on her."

"Then, it's settled. I'll drive your friend back to her hotel, you go with Jendeukie," Jisoo said conclusively, while subtly looking around for the sight of Jennie in the middle of the bodies of people dancing and getting lost in the sea of laser lights, booze and loud pumping music.

"So, uhm, what's up with Jennie?" Lisa asked.

But Lisa soon realized it was a bad idea when Jisoo faced her squarely, looking stern and ready to flip out.

"What's up with you going out and hugging somebody else and not telling Jendeuk about it?" Jisoo asked. "Go, figure, Lisa."

"Oh," Lisa muttered. "So, she's--? Oh, okay," she said, breathing out after realizing what was going on.

"I honestly wouldn't say 'okay' if I were you right now, though," said Jisoo sternly. "There's a reason why I came here rushing, wearing pajamas and looking like an idiot, Lisa. I was trying to prevent Jennie from doing something stupid. She looked murderous when she arrived."

Murderous was an understatement, Lisa thought as soon as she saw Jennie sitting on the hood of the Impala in the parking area, with her arms crossed across her chest, waiting for her. Those cat-like eyes were glaring at her, following her movements. It was intimadating. The full, red lips were sealed tightly and Jennie's perfectly-penciled brows were arched in a manner that which Lisa could tell was not a happy one.

"Key," Jennie said coldly as soon as Lisa had planted herself near her, with her open palm outstretched, waiting for Lisa to hand over the key of the Impala.

"I'm fine, Jennie. I'm sober enough to drive," Lisa said, standing tall in front of Jennie in her red polka-dot dress, looking like a life-sized Barbie.

"Don't make me ask again, Lisa," Jennie said, her hand was still outstretched.

Lisa sighed in defeat and handed over her car key to Jennie, who jumped from the hood as soon as she got hold of the cold key. Lisa hadn't solved yet the puzzle on how to decline Jennie Kim. She highly doubt she ever would.

"Whatever it is you're thinking, there's nothing goi--"

"I know," Jennie interjected, as she pulled the door open. "Get in," she told Lisa, who hesitated for a second before following Jennie inside the car.

"Are you mad at me?" Lisa asked as soon as they were inside the car, darkness and silence were taking over.

"No," Jennie replied curtly as she put her seatbelt on.

"Where's Mr. Young?" Lisa asked and did the same. She wasn't particularly interested with the whereabouts of Jennie's security aide. She was just trying to strike up a conversation, because the silence between them was making her uncomfortable.

"I sent him away. You and I need to talk," Jennie said as she turned the ignition on.

Meanwhile, Jisoo was looking at how Doona was drinking the liquid contents of the shot glasses given to her. She would wince every time the liquid would hit and burn Lisa's friend's throat, as if it was burning her own throat. Jisoo wondered how a slim-jim could survive too may alcohol in one night.

"Do you need something?" Doona asked Jisoo when she couldn't ignore the gaze that the latter was giving her anymore.

"How many glasses left?" Jisoo asked.

"Four. And I'm about to pass out," Doona replied and chuckled, obviously drunk. "I'm Doona, by the way," she introduced herself to Jisoo and downed another glass. She raised three fingers in the air as she winced with her burning throat. "Three!"

"I'm Jisoo," said Chu.

"Jesus?" Doona asked with eyes squinted, looking at Jisoo. "You don't have a beard."

"No. Ji-soo."

"Yeah, okay. Like, a singular Jesus. You're pretty," Doona commented and downed another glass. "Two!"

"Thanks. I'm suppose to drive you back to your hotel, by the way," Jisoo told Doona. "What satisfaction will you get when you complete the forty glasses?" she asked curiously.

"A bad hangover tomorrow, probably?" Doona replied and downed another glass. She went still for a moment, with her eyes closed and raised her index finger up in the air after. "One! One more shot and I'm done! Hell, yeah!" she yelled victoriously. "Where's Pokpak, by the way? Are you from Uber?" Doona asked Jisoo.

"No. But, who's Pokpak?" Jisoo asked curiously.

"You know, Pokpak? Pran-hik!-pri-ya," Doona replied and groaned. "The world is spinning with hiccups. This is madness! I think I'm dying..."

"Who's Pranpriya?" Jisoo asked.

"Her - hik! - Royal - Highness - hik! - Pranpriya." Doona couldn't contain the hiccups anymore.

"Who?"

"Oh, singular Jesus! Come on! Pranpriya Manoban? Thailand's prodigal princess? L--" Doona said before dropping her head rather hard against the cold contertop.

Doona just passed out, to Jisoo's dismay. Lisa was right to warn her. She just didn't listen. How was she supposed to carry an unconscious, drunk, slim-jim of a woman with her bedroom attire, alone?

"So much for volunteering, Jisoo Kim," Jisoo told herself as she tried to heave Doona by the armpit. "Okay, here we go!"