Chapter 47

"What's going on?" Lisa asked as soon as she and Jennie had stepped inside the kitchen and saw Chaeyoung crouching under the table and Jisoo standing a foot away from both the table and Chaeyoung Park, who looked particularly surprised at the sight of Lisa.

"She knocked the cup," Jisoo provided the answer. But her eyes were intentionally dodging Lisa's and resolved to looking through the ample space between Jennie and Lisa. Where she could see the two cats throwing jabs on each other and immediately thought of her dog, Dalgom. She really shouldn't have left her bed and Dalgom last night, Jisoo thought desperately.

"Chaeng?" Lisa, somewhat unconvinced, called her bestfriend. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Chaeyoung emerged from under the table, with a quantity of messy red hairs covering a portion of her face. But she was smiling, albeit looking a bit embarrassed, like it was nothing out of ordinary except that there was the presence of Jennie and Jisoo.

"Yeah. Yes, sorry," Chaeyoung Park nodded as she straightened up and placed the empty cup back on the table. "I was in the middle of explaining something to Kim -- I mean, Jisoo, here -- and you know me when I try to explain things, Shutterbug. I end up knocking things," Chaeyoung explained and offered Jennie an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Jennie," she muttered.

Jennie nodded and offered the redhead a warm smile before she asked, "You okay, Chu?" when she veered her eyes away from the redhead to her bestfriend, who looked totally not her usual self.

Jennie had been eyeing Jisoo the moment she and Lisa walked in inside the kitchen. There was something odd about Chu, Jennie noticed. From the way she held herself to the way she would shy away from Lisa's gaze. Even the way Jisoo Kim was folding her hands behind her back was odd.

"Yes!" Jisoo quickly answered, followed by enthusiastic nods. It was short and abrupt, the 'yes'. A clear indication that Jisoo was definitely not okay, as far as Jennie was concerned.

"Actually, we were in a middle of a discussion before the cup thing," Chaeyoung said after she was done tying her hair into a bun.

"Discussion about what?" Lisa inquired. She walked towards the kitchen counter, folded her arms across her chest as she leaned her hips against the cold tile.

Lisa was assessing the situation before her. Chaeyoung standing in the middle of her kitchen with a look on her face that says she's getting an upper hand with her discussion with Jisoo, who was looking anywhere but at her direction and Jennie looking at Jisoo with curiosity.

"Jisoo thinks that she should stop calling you Lisa now that your secret is out," Chaeyoung told Lisa, which earned her a discreet (which Lisa caught before it disappeared) but disapproving look from Jisoo.

Jennie raised a brow and threw a more curious look at Jisoo, Lisa noticed, who was now throwing threatening looks at the redhead. And Lisa realized, just out of nowhere, that it was the first time the four of them were confined in one place (in her place, to be exact) without her bestfriend and Jennie's bestfriend actually trying to bite each other's heads off. Sure, there was still that obvious tension and mutual pleasure of throwing displeased look towards each other, but other than that, both were pretty civil compared to when their first meeting at the Orange. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the two had been spending time with each other, last night including, that they had grown to respect each other's differences. The possibility of a more cordial relationship between the two pleased Lisa that she couldn't help but smile a little, despite the situation she was in right now.

"It honestly did not sound like that when I said it," Jisoo countered, now sounding annoyed.

Or maybe not, Lisa thought with resignation. Doona's words about Jisoo being cranky and scary started to ring on her ears.

"I'm just saying that maybe we should do a re-introduction," Jisoo said carefully as she met Lisa's eyes.

"I understand. But it's really not necessary, Chu. I mean, I'm still Lisa regardless of what the article says about me," Lisa said and offered Jisoo a reassuring smile.

"See? I told you she doesn't mind," Chaeyoung told Jisoo, looking a bit smug, like she just a won a debate of a lifetime. "Jisoo is convinced that this revelation about you would flip everything over," she then told Lisa. "Which I agree to some extent, actually. But I personally think there are more other pressing matters to think about aside from a re-introduction."

"Okay, forget re-introduction," Jisoo said after throwing the redhead another displeased look. "I'm just saying that this would become like a turning point," Jisoo continued and settled herself on the nearest chair. Jennie followed suit. "Because in case none of you ever fully realized it yet, the Kim Group is one of the most powerful group of businessmen in South Korea and the most influentials, network-wise. Jendeuk knows about this, of course," she looked at Jennie, who nodded and whose eyes were glued on the cup before her.

"They're ruthless," Jennie said, looking at Lisa. "Brilliant, no doubt about that, but definitely ruthless. The group is their top priority and they won't hesitate to take down anything or anyone that could potentially ruin it."

"Dad is convinced that the other Kims are just waiting for you to commit a mistake, Jendeuk," Jisoo said. "They want you to make a blunder of yourself, so they'd have reasons to take the company away from you."

"Why didn't they when it was your mom manning them before you took the spot?" Chaeyoung asked Jennie. "I mean, if it was me, I'd have made a move already and take over the company while things are still shaky. That would have been easier," she said.

"You're a potentially scary woman," Jisoo commented, which Chaeyoung replied with a smirk.

"I think because my mother is a stubborn woman," Jennie answered, letting out an involuntary chuckle. "She had perfected her reputation as the wife of the most powerful Kim in the group. The other Kim wives are jealous of her, except Chu's mom, of course. When my father died and everything was up to her to decide on things, temporarily, that is, Mom decided to stubbornly hold the post until I was ready. I didn't realize it before. I was too hurt and stubborn, myself, to realize that she's doing it for me.

"Anyway, the other Kims thought it was stupid. That my father was stupid enough to give away the rein to us, Mom and I. They were convinced that Mom wasn't fit to hold the position because she hasn't work all her life and I don't deserve the chairmanship once I decide to take it because 'I'm just a girl'," Jennie said, raising her hands and moved her fingers, implying that she was quoting the last line.

"That's mean," Lisa commented, looking disgusted.

"They're men, Lisa. Of course, they're mean," Jisoo said.

"They hate the idea of having a woman sitting at the helm, holding the rein. It offends their egos," said Jennie.

"Typical," Chaeyoung muttered.

"There was this article published sometime last year attacking Mrs. Kim and Jendeuk's character. It was horrible, the way they portray them as 'shallow' and 'are only into glitz and glamours' because they're into fashion. What with Mrs. Kim sitting first row on major fashion events, getting invites for private tours and events and Jendeuk working as an editor for a fashion magazine in New York--"

"Is that why the media has been keeping a lookout on you?" Chaeyoung asked Jennie.

Everyone in the room turned to Chaeng, looking curious. Lisa had her brows furrowed. She was curious as to why on earth was her bestfriend, who, by the way, extremely wanted to disassociate herself from gossips and other media nonsense, was now asking why the media was after Jennie.

"Alice told me about it when I dropped by her office few days ago," Chaeyoung explained with a shrug.

Jennie nodded. "They had been following me eversince. It stopped when I decided to study and work abroad; I kept a low profile there. Naturally, their curiosity grew bigger over the years. And then they were at it again when they saw me for the first time in a very long time at the airport, when Dad died. I had to come up with escape plans, from both the media and my security, whenever I try to go out. Chu has been helping me."

"Was that why you reacted that way when I was taking your snaps that day at The Era?" Lisa asked.

"I thought you were one of them. The Era was my safe haven, as it was for my dad when he was still around. Nobody would suspect a Kim hanging out in a dingy, old place like The Era. So, when I saw you with your camera pointed at me, I thought I was busted. Which really annoyed me because I've started to like that place," Jennie explained.

"So, who's Alice?" Jisoo couldn't help but ask out of the blue, because 'Alice' sounded like a favorite name, the way Chaeyoung spoke of it like it was a melody. There was fondness and warmth as it escaped from the redhead's mouth. Naturally, she would ask. But for what reasons, Jisoo didn't know yet. Or perhaps she did but didn't want to acknowledge it at the moment.

"Alice is my sister. Big sister, actually. She's a lawyer," Chaeyoung replied.

"Your sister is a lawyer?" Jisoo reiterated. She didn't know that about the redhead. But then again, she didn't know a lot of things about the redhead. Maybe Alice was of those beautiful faces on the Polaroids taped on the redhead's dresser.

"Yeah," the redhead nodded. "And our dad, too. I talked to them about some stuff after the incident at the bar few nights ago. You know, in case something worse will happen?" Chaeyoung said.

"Worse like what, Chipmunk?" Lisa inquired.

"Worse like now, Shutterbug," Chaeyoung replied, looking grave. "Like this, when someone starts invading your privacy. I was wondering if our law will cover your arse as a private citizen, despite the fact that you're foreign," she explained.

"I think my arse is about to get a good amount of whipping after today and I don't think the your law and the law of my country can cover it for me," Lisa said sarcastically, imitating Chaeyoung's twang.

"Hey, I'm sorry. But can I...talk to Lisa in private?" Jennie then said, looking from Chaeng to Jisoo, and then at Lisa.  "Please?" she added.

Chaeyoung nodded and was the to stand up. She then held Jisoo by the hand. "We'll just be in the living room. Come on, Kim," she said and carefully dragged the other chaebol away from the kitchen, with Jisoo allowing her.

"What's up? You okay?" Lisa asked as soon as Jisoo and the Chipmunk were out of earshot and as soon as she heard her two cats meowed like two teenage flirts from the living room. She had always suspected that her cats have infatuation with pretty women.

"No. I mean, yes. I'm...fine," Jennie replied but looking otherwise, which earned her a shot of an eyebrow from Lisa. "I have to go, though. I need to talk to my mom," Jennie explained, looking furlough.

"Okay," Lisa nodded. "Yeah, of course. I understand," she said. Her hands now resting inside her jeans pockets.

"But I don't want to go," Jennie pouted. "I don't want to leave you like this. You must be worried. You look worried, I can tell," she said as she stood up to join Lisa at the counter.

"And so are you," Lisa replied. She nudged Jennie by the shoulder. "I'm really sorry that you have to go through something like this because of me, Jennie," she said.

"Hey. We're in this together, okay? And it's not your fault, Lili," Jennie said as she wrapped her arms around Lisa's waist. She couldn't contain herself. She tilted her head up so that she could stare at those soft brown orbs. "Don't blame yourself," she said.

"Do you think Chu was right, though? Aren't you afraid?" asked Lisa.

"Are you?" Jennie inquired.

"I'm more afraid of losing us, to be honest," Lisa replied. "I can't lose this, Nini, whatever this is that we have. This is the only thing that feels real in my life right now," she said.

Perhaps it was how Lisa had said those words, like it was a solemn oath uttered in whispers, meant to be said for Jennie's ears only. Or how her eyes looked soft and sincere against the light streaming from the small window behind her; some streaks dancing on the irises, it looked so beautiful. Or perhaps it was that small smile that lingered at the corner of those plump mouth, like a promise that everything will be alright and Jennie only need to believe.

And Jennie did. With all her heart. Because she knew it was real. She could feel it on her veins. It was the kind of truth that she had long been wanted to hear from someone. Someone like Lisa, who looked at her like she was perfect; like she was the other half of the truth. And in that moment, Jennie was torn between muttering a swear word or a prayer, as an answer, both which would describe what she was feeling--how she was feeling. She felt light and heavy, like she wanted to float up, up and away, yet moored with Lisa's hands holding her still by the hips.

Jennie sighed involuntarily. There was nothing like getting turned on just by being held by the same hands that brought her to a hundred different dimensions in less than twelve hours and being stared at with those same brown eyes where she had witnessed a marvelous showcase of a universe exploding while they made love over and over.

"What do you think will happen next?" Jennie asked instead, trying to ignore the tingling sensation she just felt between her thighs.

Jennie thought talking was the best and only option. What with Chaeyoung and Jisoo just a couple of meters away from them and only a thin wall panel separating them from them and the flirty meows and the hushed voices that obviously were discussing about the flirty cats. And maybe, in a more hushed voices, about them--Lisa and her.

"I have to fly home tonight. I need to talk to him," Lisa said and quickly added, "But I promise I'll be back before you know it," when she saw another pout and a fleeting hint of longing flashed on the cat-like eyes.

"Him?" Jennie asked.

"My father," Lisa replied.

"The King?" Jennie inquired.

"Yes," Lisa nodded. "And mom and Marco, too. I might even need to address this issue in front of everyone once I land." The thought of facing everyone back home and explaining to them about everything was already exhausting her.

"Who's Marco?" asked Jennie.

"Mom's second husband; my stepdad. It's a long story and would need another whole day of telling," Lisa answered.

"Is he scary?" Jennie asked.

"Who? Marco? No. He's very gentle and fun," Lisa answered.

"Your father, Lisa. Is he scary?" Jennie asked.

It took Lisa a moment to think about what she would say and how she would say it without compromising her father's character, as both the king and a father, in Jennie's eyes.

"No." Lisa shook her head. "No, he's not scary. He's...commanding, though," she said. "It's his eyes. He knows how to put you in your place with those eyes of his."

"Like how you do with those eyes of yours?" Jennie asked.

"Do I look commanding?" Lisa asked with brows raised in curiosity. She was trying to remember if she ever did look at anyone, especially at Jennie, like how her father would look at people. She had always tried not to, after she was often told that she did look commanding, like him.

"Not all the time, no," Jennie replied, her fingers now tracing the outline of Lisa's face. "But you did put me in my place last night, if I remember it correctly. And this morning, too," Jennie said as she could take away her gaze from those plump mouth. "In your bed," she added when she raised her eyes and saw the confused look on Lisa's face.

Lisa grinned and playfully pulled Jennie. She led her behind the wall pane which was thick enough to hide them from Chu and Chaeng but a little too thin that they had to stand so straight and not moving too much to avoid being seen. Lisa cupped Jennie's face, who was obviously anticipating for a kiss. And Lisa did not disappoint her, as always. She brought their face closer, until the tips of their noses touched and until their lips met halfway.

Jennie sighed, like how she would every time Lisa would kiss her. She felt secured and contented. Although, there was a slight difference about the kiss this time, she noticed. Perhaps it was the fact that Lisa was not Lisa after all and that their secret was already spilled out there. Outside the walls of Lisa's apartment, outside their own little world. It was scary, if Jennie had to be honest. But wasn't that part of the process? Wasn't falling in love and being in love scary? And here she was, clinging to Lisa as if the Thai princess was her only lifeline. Because she was scared to wake up from a very beautiful dream.

And just when Jennie was ready to take the plunge yet again, Lisa pulled them back up to the surface before the kiss could go deeper and before Jisoo and the Chipmunk would start to notice that they weren't standing anymore from the spot where they left them. They were both catching their breaths when the kiss ended.

"You should go before the media will find you and follow you around," Lisa said, her face flushed and her hands were still cupping Jennie's face, like she didn't wantto let go just yet.

Jennie groaned because the feeling was mutual. She pouted and tiptoed to steal another kiss. It was short and quick that Lisa didn't even had the chance to kiss back.

"What about you?" Jennie asked, concern was all over her face.

"Don't worry about me. This is a safe place. Plus, they don't know anything about Lisa yet. Otherwise they're already outside, pestering Bobby," the Thai princess replied with a smirk.

Jennie nodded. She stole another kiss, but this time it landed on Lisa's warm cheek.

"I love you, Pranpriya," said the chaebol with her gummy smile.

Lisa smiled endearingly. She found it beautiful the way how her name sounded like a song of prayer as it escaped from Jennie's mouth. It made her pulse racing. It restored her faith to the world. It made her want to protect that gummy smile and those fluffy cheeks and those cat-like eyes from the cruel world outside. God, she loved Jennie.

"And I love you, Jennie Kim," Lisa said after she planted a kiss on Jennie's forehead.

Jennie made a hard decision, albeit her own defiance to do so. She pulled away from Lisa before she would change her mind. She brought them, hand in hand, to the living room. Where Jisoo's back was on them and Chaeyoung was crouching on the floor with Leo and Luca. The redhead's fingers were running on the cats' furs while Jisoo was watching. The four obviously had no idea that they had stole quick kisses behind the wall panel, like two teenagers who could hardly contain their hormones.

"Chu? I'm sorry but we need to go," Jennie declared as she started gathering her things. Her purse was lying on the shelf, her jacket was clumsily dumped on the end of the couch, her stiletto was thrown aside carelessly beside the door.

"Now?" Jisoo asked, her eyes following Jennie.

"Yes. I'm sure they're already looking for us," Jennie replied as she expertly wore her stiletto one after the other without losing her balanceq.

"Well, I'll see you around, Jisoo Kim," Chaeyoung said as she walked beside Jisoo towards the door.

"I'm sure you will when I return these," Jisoo said and gestured the PJ she was wearing. "Goodbye, Park." She offered the redhead a smirk. "And goodbye, Lisa. Good luck with everything," she then told Lisa.

"Thanks, Chu," Lisa said. "Drive safely."

Jennie pulled Chaeyoung for a short hug. "Thank you for taking care of Chu last night. And please look after Lisa, especially now," she told the redhead.

"Always do," Chaeyoung replied with a reassuring smile. "Oh and hey, Jennie? Everything's going to be okay. Don't worry. Okay?" she added.

Jennie nodded and smiled gratefully. She looked at Lisa one last time before they waved goodbye and headed out the door.

....

"What now?" Chaeyoung asked as soon as they heard the door clicked and there was a ringing silence hanging in the air.

Lisa shrugged. She walked back towards the living room and plopped herself down the couch. "Come sit with me, Chipmunk," she said, patting the space beside her.

Chaeyoung heeded. "Are you okay?" she then asked Lisa.

"I don't think I can look him in the eye after today. I broke a promise," Lisa said, voicing out the desperation that she felt ever since she saw the article.

"It's not your fault," Chaeyoung said firmly.

"Yeah. But the fact that I did something that lead me to this? He's disappointed with me right now. I just know," Lisa groaned and sunk herself deeper on the couch that the top of her head was already on Chaeyoung's chest level. Her long legs were stretch before her, across the space between the couch and the ottoman.

"He loves you and you know that. Despite everything, I know he loves you. And he will understand because he's your father, Lisa. Besides, it's not like you did it on purpose," said Chaeyoung. She was sitting with her feet up on the couch and her knees brought together under her chin.

"I'm not sure about that, actually. The last time we talked, well, it wasn't really a pleasant father-daughter talk," Lisa said.

"Don't be such a pessimist," Chaeyoung replied.

"It's hard not to when I can still remember the way he looked at me that day, Chipmunk. He looked like he failed at something." Lisa almost said 'me' but stopped herself. She didn't want to sound dramatic.

"Our parents aren't perfect, Shutterbug. So are we," Chaeyoung said. "Anyway, did you tell Jennie?"

"Tell her what?" Lisa asked with furrowed brows.

"You know, the whole thing?"

"That I left home and became Lisa because my own father wasn't exactly ecstatic about me being gay? No, I didn't," Lisa said. "She said she admires how I've kept my life private all these years. And I thought she'll be highly disappointed once I tell her that I haven't done anything exceptional other than hiding and walking away from who I am. Both aren't impressive."

"Aren't you undermining Jennie's feelings for you, though? Because I'm sure she will understand, Lisa..."

"I'm sure she will but she already has a lot on her plate and I don't want to drag her into this mess more than I already did, Chaeng. She doesn't deserve that," Lisa said and sighed. "Life was pretty chill when it was just you and me, don't you think?" she said.

"Hey, don't say that!" Chaeyoung slapped Lisa by the shoulder. "I've never seen you on your happiest until you met Jennie. Plus, it was actually pretty lame when it was just you and me. You were almost always away," she told Lisa.

"Okay, about that," Lisa said slowly as she straightened up. "Now that we're on the subject, there's something I want to tell you. But don't freak out, okay?" She was now sitting with her legs crossed, facing Chaeyoung.

Chaeyoung's brows raised a notch and then furrowed. She looked at Lisa suspiciously. "What? Not another royal secret, is it?" she asked.

"Wha--no! No royal secret whatever, alright? It's about..." Lisa paused and let out a groan, composing herself. "Okay. There's a reason why I chose to be away most of the time, Chipmunk," she said.

"Oh, yeah?" Chaeyoung snorted and raised a brow. "What could be more important reason than you were realizing your dream and you just couldn't stay in one place for a long time?" she asked, chuckling.

"You, Chipmunk. Most of the time, I did it for you. I didn't want to hurt you. It's lame, I know. But--"

Chaeyoung frowned. Her pulse was racing but she wasn't sure why. "What are you talking about, Lisa?" she asked.

Lisa inhaled so deep, her chest raised and her shoulders squared, so that when she released it, along with it came all the fears that she had been keeping for years now. Because what she was about to say could possibly break their friendship. And she didn't want that to happen.

"I knew you felt something for me, Chaeyoung Park," Lisa said, almost like in whispers. She was carefully choosing the right words to speak. "And I felt bad that I couldn't feel the same way about you. I still do, to be honest. I mean, you're a great person. You're beautiful, you're talented, you're sweet, you're smart. And you deserve all the happiness in the world, Chipmunk. And I'm sorry that I couldn't give it to you," Lisa said without breaking eye contact.

"What? But how did y--" Chaeyoung was squinting her eyes. That wasn't what she was expecting. Although she didn't know what exactly what she expecting. But it definitely wasn't something like Lisa telling her that she knew Chaeyoung was secretly in love with her.

"You mean you've known all along? Who told you? Chahee? Or was it A-yeon? Did Mom tell you?!" Chaeyoung exploded.

Lisa's mouth dropped. She looked at Chaeyoung with her eyes almost popping out. She did not expect that piece of information.

"Your mom knows?" Lisa demanded. Was that why Mrs. Park had always been fond of her?

But Chaeyoung was more demanding. And scary, Lisa realized, as she looked at her bestfriend whose face was now contorted in rage and was already scarlet red, like her hair.

"Answer the question, Manoban!" the redhead roared so loud it earned her frightened looks from the cats. They had never seen Chaeyoung mad before. She looked so mad that Lisa jumped on her seat and automatically raised her hands.

"Nobody told me, alright?" she rambled. "I kind of just figured it out on my own because you weren't really subtle about it, Chipmunk. Okay? Especially with the mixtapes. It felt like you were giving me love letters, except that they were songs. Something that I knew you'd do for someone you love way before you started giving me mixtapes that contain songs about love, basically." Lisa was rambling so fast, she thought she might have sprayed some spits out and she might have looked like an idiot from doing so, especially with her hands held up in front of her. But she really couldn't care because she had only seen Chaeyoung mad once and it wasn't a pretty sight. She could still recall how the Chipmunk lurched forward like a prey to get at Jisoo when the two met for the first time. And now that she was the subject, the reason, of Chaeyoung's rage, Lisa wondered how Jisoo had walked out from the Orange unscathed.

Lisa was expecting an attack. An onslaught. She was so ready to defend herself, just in case. But Chaeyoung's expression faltered. She turned from looking like a mad woman ready to pounce, to someone who looked like she had seen defeat way before the war had even started.

"Why are you telling me all these right now, Lisa? Is this...goodbye?" Chaeyoung croaked. She was about to cry.

"What?" Lisa was taken aback. She was shaking her head furiously. "No! I just, you know..." She released a long, tensed sigh. "I thought that now is the right time to talk about it. My secret is out, right? And they've outed Jennie and me. I mean, what's the point of keeping more secrets, especially from you?"

Chaeyoung was lost for words. She had never been naked in front of anyone before but she felt like she was stripped naked at the moment. She felt vulnerable. She was flustered. She could feel her face burning from embarrassment and shock, and the bubble of annoyance was slowly forming back at the base of her throat, it made her throat her dry. She slowly raised herself up from the couch without so much as throwing a glance at Lisa, who was now biting her lip and looking at Chaeyoung anxiously.

"Where are you going?" Lisa asked, worried that Chaeyoung might just leave without sorting things with her. She stood up rather quickly and followed Chaeyoung, to her relief, who headed to the kitchen.

Chaeyoung was still not saying a word. She walked towards the refrigerator, opened its door, picked a bottle of water and downed its contents; some drips dribbled down her chin. She was still not looking at Lisa, who chose to keep a convenient distance between them and was still watching her anxiously.

"Chipmunk?" Lisa called carefully. But the redhead was still not paying her one bit of attention.

Chaeyoung returned to the living room after drinking (Lisa followed in silence) and sat back on the couch (on the same spot she was sitting at a couple of minutes ago). She brought her arms together tightly across her chest. Her lips formed into a thin line, brows were still furrowed and when she finally drew her eyes and threw an ice-cold glare, Lisa gulped. It was agitating.

"Are you mad at me? Please say something," Lisa said. She was standing a couple of feet away from Chaeyoung.

And without so much as a slight hesitation, Chaeyoung kicked Lisa by the shin. It was hard enough that Lisa had to yelp in pain so loud it echoed across the walls of her apartment. Leo and Luca scuttled away upstairs, with Leo leaving displeased hisses on his wake.

"What was that for?" Lisa demanded. Her eyes were watery as she was jumping on the spot in one leg because she was holding on to her other leg, her hands were closing around at the aggrieved part.

"That's for all the times I ugly-cried everytime you fly off to wherever you decide to go, idiot! And this," she pitched a pillow that nearly hit Lisa in the face, "is for all the times I've put up with your absence!"

"I'm sorry! Okay?" Lisa said aloud, but immediately backed away when Chaeyoung stood up and advanced forward. She stood behind the ottoman.

"You could've been straight-up honest with me, Lisa!" Chaeyoung yelled back, her hands were on her waist now. "You knew I was worried about you. A lot! You could've saved me from bawling my eyes out and everything! My mom even thought of calling you every freakin' time just to shut me up! God, I feel so stupid right now!" She was livid.

"I know, I know! I'm sorry!" Lisa said, with her hands stretched forward in front of her.

Chaeyoung aggressively heaved out a breath. She dropped her hands and looked at Lisa. Gone were the glares and the knitted brows. If anything, she looked tired. As if all her energy was slowly draining out of her at the moment. Her back was hunched, her shoulders dropped. Chaeyoung looked like she was about to cry but held herself together.

"I've always wondered how you feel about me, you know?" Chaeyoung said, her voice quivered a little. "Yes, we're bestfriends and everything and I know in my heart that you love me. But I've always wondered what's really going on deep down inside you, you know? I mean, I was kind of wondering if there was a chance and that all I have to do was ask you, which was silly. And believe me, I wanted to ask so many times but I was too scared to hear the truth. Or the lie. Because even though you're a bad liar, I know you'd try to lie just so you won't break my heart, Lisa. And I didn't want that."

"I couldn't tell you the truth because I was scared, too," Lisa said. "I was scared that you'd stop being friends with me if I tell you that I can't love you like that, Chipmunk. And you're right. I didn't want to break your heart. Not like that. I don't deserve that kind of love, Chaeng. In fact, I don't deserve you at all. You're too precious. And I don't know. I mean, look at me?" she spread her arms wide. "Whoever wrote that article about me was wrong. I'm not a prodigal princess. I'm a coward, that's who I am. I walked away from my life. My father doesn't like me because I'm not the daughter he expects me to be. I'm a disgrace to my bloodline."

"Don't say that," Chaeyoung said. "You're perfect, Lisa. Regardless of what your father thinks about you, to me, you're perfect. And you deserve to be happy."

"You can hate me if you want," Lisa said with a shrug. She felt tired all of a sudden.

"Don't be stupid. You know I can't."

"So, are we okay now? Are you still mad at me?" Lisa asked tentatively.

Chaeyoung shook her head. "No," she said.

"No, we're still not okay? Or no, you're not mad at me anymore?"

Chaeyoung sighed and shook her head again. She smiled a little; her eyes meeting Lisa's. And the smile turned into soft chuckles. And the chuckles turned into sobs, to Lisa's horror. Lisa pulled the crying redhead close without words. She hugged Chaeyoung as the latter was sobbing on her neck.

"Oh, no no. Please don't cry, Chaeng," Lisa tried to hush the redhead.

But Chaeyoung was already crying so hard she could have been wailing if she hadn't pressed her face on Lisa neck to muffle her sound and she could have dropped on the floor already if she wasn't clinging on Lisa as if it would be the last.

Lisa held the crying redhead tightly. Her arms were around Chaeyoung's waist and she would occasionally rub her hands on the redhead's back and would whisper something to hush Chaeyoung. But Lisa knew too well that the Chipmunk was a crybaby. And as much as she didn't want to think about it at the moment, Mrs. Park had all the right to attempt to call her whenever she was away, like Chaeyoung said. Probably to scold her from leaving her daughter again. Because everyone knew that once Chaeyoung would start crying, it would be hard for anyone to stop her and Mrs. Park probably had a hard time calming her baby down evey time. Like how it was taking Lisa quite a long while to calm the redhead down at the moment.

"I'm sorry, Chipmunk," Lisa whispered, she was already in tears.

Because fact number two about the crying Chipmunk: her cry was infectious. It would make anyone within closer radius dissolve in tears, too.

"I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry," Lisa keep saying repeatedly, sobbing.

"Don't," Chaeyoung replied in between sobs and pulled away from the hug. Her nose was red, her eyes were starting to swell and her face was covered in tears. It was a pathetic sight and it broke Lisa's heart into tiny pieces.

"It doesn't matter now. I've already given up on that love, actually. These are happy tears," she said as she was wiping the liquids off her face with her hands.

"Happy tears?" Lisa wondered and brought her hands to the Chaeyoung's face to help the redhead drying her face. "One moment you were kicking me, next thing I knew you were sobbing on my neck and you call these happy tears?"

"I'm just happy we're still here, Shutterbug," Chaeyoung replied, although her eyes were still watery. She wiped Lisa's face. "And I'm sorry I kept that from you. I can lose that kind of love, Lisa. But I cannot lose you. Life would be so boring without your annoying arse." Chaeyoung chuckled despite the tears.

Lisa cupped Chaeyoung's face. She held it tight that it somehow contorted the redhead's face as the latter was trying to get away. Chaeyoung probably knew what was coming.

"You," she started planting loud, sloppy wet kisses on the redhead's cheek. "Are," another kiss, louder that the first, "a crybaby!" and another kiss, "And I love you!" and another kiss. "You can't get rid of me, Chipmunk. I'm staying forever," Lisa told the redhead.

"I have long accepted my fate that I'm doomed forever," Chaeyoung replied with a scowl after she finally succeeded in pulling her face away from Lisa's grasp. But she still kissed Lisa on the cheek, anyway. Gently and definitely not sloppy. "I love you, too, Shutterbug," she said.

"Just out of curiosity," Lisa started. "Have you ever wondered what it's going to be like if we became, like, a thing?" she asked.

"More times than I can count, actually," Chaeyoung replied. She drop herself back on the couch. "We definitely look stupid crying like that like two idiots."

Lisa followed suit. "And?" she asked.

"And I'm genuinely glad that we're not, Princess. Because I bet you'd be extra annoying if we were and I'd probably have a very stressful life, if ever. At least Jennie knows how to tame you. I bet it's those eyes of hers. It shakes the stubbornness out of you. The King should thank her," Chaeyoung said.

"Hey! That's foul!" Lisa scowled.

Chaeyoung laughed. The remnants of her tears had dried out. Her nose was still blotchy red, though, and her eyes were still bloodshot. But other than that and the damp on her upper PJ from all the crying, she looked fine now compared to how she was minutes ago.

"So, you and Jennie are making the headlines now, huh? Any idea who did it? Do you have anyone in mind?" Chaeyoung asked.

"No, I can't think of anyone. There are only a few of you who know about it," Lisa said.

"What about Miss Doona? Jisoo said she kind of slipped about you being a princess last night. Hence, she asked me about it. I lied, of course. I had to make up a believable enough story. Jisoo might have bought it until she saw that article this morning," said Chaeyoung.

"I'm sorry that you had to lie for me, Chipmunk," Lisa apologized.

"Don't worry about it. Like I told Jisoo, we do what we can to protect the people who matter to us, Shutterbug," Chaeyoung replied, waving her hand dismissively. "So, do you think it was Miss Doona?"

"No, I don't think it was her," Lisa said firmly. She didn't want to believe it was Doona, who was one of her most trusted friend. "Doona would never do such thing."

"Jisoo suspects her, though. Although she's not too sure because it could be anyone. But she said she'll look into it as soon as she can," Chaeyoung said, as if it would settle the matter. "What?" she then asked after she noticed that Lisa was looking at her conspicuously.

"So, you and Chu, huh?" Lisa asked, imitating how the redhead had asked about Jennie and her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chaeyoung inquired, rather hotly. But it probably also had something to do with how her face had turned furious red.

Lisa shrugged and smirked. "You tell me, Chipmunk. You couldn't stop talking about her just now and she was wearing your favorite PJ, I noticed."

"I lent it to her last night. She picked it herself from my closet. She wanted to drive at 3 AM and I told her she can stay for the night. She slept in my bed," Chaeyoung explained and quickly added, "Nothing happened," when she saw the look Lisa was giving her.

"Okay. So, I kissed her," the redhead said, raising her forefinger. "Once," she said. "Just once, Lisa. I swear!" Chaeyoung swore when Lisa's brows were hitching higher and higher.

"You're getting braver," Lisa said, trying to stifle her laughter and patted Chaeyoung on the back.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Chaeyoung replied and they both laughed.

"I'm surprise he hasn't yet send a battalion in front of my building right now to pluck me out of the building and drag my ass back to Thailand," said Lisa when their laughters had subsided.

"Maybe he doesn't want to make a scene?"

"Or he's probably just waiting for me to come home in my own will."

"When are you leaving?" asked Chaeyoung.

"Tonight," Lisa answered. "I really want to invite you to come with me because I'd definitely need some moral support when I get there. But I can't let you bear witness when he starts whipping my ass because that would be embarrassing."

"I think it's going to be a privilege watching you from the first row getting your arse beat up and I really would like to come," Chaeyoung said with a smirk. "But I need to discuss things with Dad and Alice. Plus, Mom will kill me if I won't give her updates about what's going on. The three of them have been calling me nonstop and I haven't picked any of their calls yet."

Lisa let out a low chuckle and made a tutting sound. "Expect Mrs. Park to bite your head off when you do," she said. "Anyway, I'm thinking of filing a lawsuit. But I'll decide on that when I get back. Can you give Alice and your dad a heads-up, though?"

Chaeyoung nodded. "I will. That's actually the main reason why I need to talk them," she said.

"Thanks, Chipmunk. So, uhm, do you think Jennie will like it there?" Lisa asked.

"Thailand? Why? Are you taking her with you tonight?" Chaeyoung asked excitedly.

Lisa shook her head. "No. But maybe one day, when the coast is clear," she said. "So, do you think she'll like it there?"

Chaeyoung considered a moment before she nodded earnestly. "I think she will. I think she'll like the people there, aside from the country itself, of course. It's going to be like a breath of fresh air for her," she told Lisa.

"Yeah, but under the circumstances?" Lisa asked.

"Your people love you, Shutterbug. I'm sure they're going to love Jennie, too. She's an amazing person and she's head over heels in love with you. Nobody can't say no to a beautiful lovestory."