20

Turns out hiring Kai wasn't such a bad idea after all, despite the fact he was annoying sometimes. He was like an over-eager puppy. He found a lot of good people for her.

They traveled all around Korea and Lisa had to admit he had been a lot of help. He had a good eye for finding people with a story and Lisa almost thought it might be because he had been hiding for so long he could easily spot his kindred spirits.

Lisa kind of hated that she started to become fond of him. He was annoying and would wrap his arm around her shoulders when they walked in order to annoy her and he started calling her his best friend after their first month of traveling and Lisa always had to shove him off and punch him in the shoulder and he would just laugh in response.

By the second month Lisa had to reluctantly admit they might be friends.

"Best friends!" He would correct her, every time they would introduce themselves to a random stranger on the street.

"He's delusional." Lisa would always say and he would laugh that boyish laugh at her. "She's just in denial. I'm her best friend."

"Rosie's my best friend."

"I'm her best friend behind Rosie." He nodded.

"No, that's Jisoo, but don't tell her that I said that or I'll never live it down." Lisa said, shuddering at the thought.

"I'm her best friend behind Jisoo." He would continue unfazed.

"Nope. That would be Bambam."

"The truck guy!" He said indignantly. "He does have really good food though." He admitted. "Fine, after Bambam. I'm her best friend behind Bambam." He would continue.

Lisa shook her head at him.

By their last month Lisa would always roll her eyes when he called her his best friend but she let him. She stopped arguing with him over it. Despite Lisa's reluctance he had become her best guy friend besides Bambam. They were really the only two men in Lisa's life that she allowed. She didn't really trust men, not after her father left her. She couldn't believe that of all the men in the world she had learned to trust, Kai was one of them.

They got really close. Three months of traveling together and being around each other pretty much 24/7 would do that to you. They got to know each other pretty well and Lisa started realizing Kai wasn't really an asshole after all. He was just a stunted traumatized sixteen year old gay boy trapped in a grown man's body who had learned to cope from the guilt of his uncle's death by becoming something he wasn't.

She couldn't even recognize this man anymore. It wasn't the Kai she had known. It was the true Kai.

They had one more week before Lisa would finally finish her fellowship and move back to Seoul. They had just finished their work so they were going to go eat and have a drink. They were walking towards the night market but were planning on stopping at the first random Pojangmacha they saw if they ran into one because they were both starving.

They'd run around a lot that day. Lisa wanted to get as much as she could this last week and Kai was a surprisingly hard worker so they had talked to entirely too many people that day.

Lisa noticed Kai was kicking the ground like a sad lost puppy though and Lisa raised an eyebrow at him.

"What's wrong with you?" Lisa asked.

Kai shrugged.

Lisa sighed.

"I'll let you take the decent camera tomorrow if you tell me." Lisa said. She had gradually started teaching him how to use certain cameras. Sometimes she needed different angles when she was taking a picture in tandem of people so she had taught him some stuff. She also basically just used him to curate her instagram when she needed to be in the shot and Lisa had found that Kai really liked photography and learning about it.

"Really?" He asked excited.

"Tell me!" Lisa punched his shoulder and he rubbed it, pouting. "You're such a baby." Lisa said, rolling her eyes.

"You hit harder than you think!" Kai protested and Lisa smirked.

"Are you going to tell me why the hell you're sulking right now?" Lisa said, ignoring his comment.

"I'm just sad I guess."

"Why?"

"Because you're going back to Seoul and I have to go back to my mundane party boy life."

Lisa smirked. "Good thing you don't have to go back to that then."

"What do you mean?"

"You sure know how to ruin a good surprise by being all mopey." Lisa scolded him.

Kai looked at her in confusion and she stopped them from walking.

"I was going to tell you once we had some soju bombs in front of us so we could celebrate but I guess that'll come after. I sent some of the pre-edited photos to Gong-Yoo and he loves them so much he offered to extend the funding. So if you want to keep your job you can follow me to Seoul and keep being my assis—"

Lisa was interrupted from continuing that sentence by an excited Kai who had hugged her, pinning her arms down and squeezing her tight, effectively crushing her and twirling her in the air.

"Put me down asshole or I'll fire you!" Lisa shouted, annoyed at him again.

Kai put her down finally, grinning the whole time.

"Drinks on me boss!" Kai said skipping down the sidewalk.

Lisa watched him and shook her head. "I swear he died and this must be an impostor. Jisoo was right, maybe this is the twilight zone." Lisa said to herself. She still found it hard to reconcile the old Kai from this free spirited, finally being himself Kai.

Kai excitedly waved at her to hurry up. Lisa jogged up to him.

They got too drunk because Kai kept ordering soju bombs because he was so happy he still had a purpose, he had felt so empty those months he had been in Jeju. He'd felt empty most of his life really and Lisa had kind of dragged him out of a downward spiral. He thought he would lose that and go back to being empty but it seemed like his ex mortal enemy would continue to save him.

They barely made it back to their house, stumbling the whole way. They both had their arms around both of their shoulders as they walked, trying to keep each other steady. Lisa would have never allowed it but she was just as drunk as him and he was content that he would get to continue working with his best friend, because he meant it, she really was his best friend now.

He never really had real friends before. Not since high school with Jennie. They were all shallow and based on the fact they were either rich or pretty but ever since he opened up to Lisa he started getting snippets of her life too and he considered her one of the most important people in his life now, besides his mom.

Kai's place was closer so he insisted Lisa take the bed while Kai accidentally missed the couch and passed out on the floor of the living room.

___________

Rosie had demanded Lisa live at Jisoo's new house with them when she finally moved back to Seoul. Lisa kept declining but Rosie was having none of it. Neither was Jisoo, despite saying she was going to hate it.

"I can't trust you to live alone Limario."

"I've literally been traveling the world by myself for the last year." Lisa deadpanned over the phone.

"Yeah and do you want me to count to you the amount of times you made Chipmunk cry. The answer should have been zero! You're living with us or I'll end up having to hurt you."

Ever since Lisa got back to Korea Rosie called her every single day and she would always start the conversation with a countdown of when Lisa would be back in Seoul.

"90 days Lis!" Chaeyoung said excitedly before she started talking her ear off and questioning Lisa over every single thing she did that day.

"Oh my gosh, 70 more days! I hope you know you're coming to live with us."

Lisa tried to protest but Rosie kept arguing with her.

"55 more days!" Chaeyoung squealed. "I don't care what you say, you left me for a year, the least you can do is move back in with me."

"You said it was okay to leave you!" Lisa whined.

"I know, and it was, but it's not okay for you to move in anywhere else but with me after being so far apart from me for so long." Chaeyoung said matter of factly.

"40 Days! I don't know why but it seems like now that you're back in Korea the days are dragging even longer than the nine months you were out of the country. Probably because you're so close."

"25 more days! Guess what! Jisoo is taking me out on a date today." Chaeyoung exclaimed.

"She always takes you on dates." Lisa laughed. "That's not news."

"I know she always does, but it was a surprise date and I just thought it was so cute. Also, your room is ready, so stop protesting and stop looking for apartments because you're moving in!"

"Rosie, you guys are practically married now though."

"Nope, you can't say no. I even bought you a bed because I know you probably didn't sleep on a proper bed all year."

"Chaengie why would you do that! Beds are expensive." Lisa grumbled.

"I need you to recover Lisa!" Chaeyoung scolded her.

"12 days Lisa! Literally twelve days. I can't wait to see you. I'm still upset you didn't fly straight in to Seoul when you first got here but I get budgets and stuff I guess. Did you book your flight yet?"

"7 days, just a week! I'll pick you up from the airport." Chaeyoung told her.

"That's okay Rosie. Don't go out of your way to do that, I know you have class. I'm traveling with an assistant anyway. He has a car ready so he can drive me."

"Oh okay, I didn't know you had an assistant. Drive safe! I'll send the address to the house!"

"It's tomorrow! It's tomorrow! It's tomorrow! I already started cooking, you better be hungry! I love you Lis. I have to go to class. Have a safe flight!"

Lisa had to admit her best friend's excitement was contagious. Lisa couldn't help the grin on her face as she boarded the plane. She couldn't wait to see her either.

Kai slid into the seat beside her.

"I really can't believe you didn't opt for first class." Lisa teased.

"Can't leave the boss behind." Kai said. "Besides, I wanted to see the rest of the plane, I've never been back here."

Lisa rolled her eyes at him but watched in amusement as he looked around excitedly, touching everything and looking at everyone around him. As if this was a whole new world for him. Though Lisa supposed it was. He spent most of the flight talking animatedly with a little girl sitting in the middle aisle who had taken quite a liking to him.

"I think I like this better than first class." He told Lisa when the little girl had finally fallen asleep.

"You do?" Lisa asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah. It's lonely up there. There's partitions and you don't really hear anyone talking unless it's business and they're using the plane's phone."

Lisa felt sad for him again. The more she got to know him the more she realized how lonely he had been ever since he discovered his true nature.

_________________

Kai insisted on carrying all the camera bags and equipment for her and Lisa figured she'd let him slave away if he wanted to. Lisa had hooked him up with Jisoo's old apartment. The old tenants had apparently moved out recently so it had been vacant.

Lisa hadn't told them it was for Kai yet though. She had leased it out under her name considering he was her employee but he was going to pay most of the rent. Her budget allowed for lodging for him but he was boujee and offered to pay the difference if he could get a better apartment.

Lisa was going to have to have a long conversation about that friendship with them at some point. Since Jisoo's house was only blocks away from her old apartment, Kai offered to help with Lisa's luggage.

Especially considering his boujee ass had payed extra to get everything moved from his apartment in Jeju to Jisoo's apartment and his luggage delivered from the airport. He had nothing but a backpack with him. He had offered to pay for Lisa too but she shut him down so quick he almost bit his tongue when he shut up. She at least let him drive her home with whatever fancy car he had rented.

"Whose boujee now?" Kai smirked as they went up the stairs to the entrance of the massive loft house.

"Shut up. This is temporary." Lisa said, "I just have a stubborn best friend who doesn't take no for an answer and is emotionally manipulating me into staying here because I left her for a year."

"Sure boss." Kai said sarcastically and Lisa could hear the smirk in his voice.

They got to the top of the stairs and Lisa dropped her duffel bag on Kai's foot as soon as she took in the sight. Kai almost fell down the stairs because it had hurt so much he had jumped up and lost his balance.

"That was my foot!" Kai complained. "What are you carrying in there bricks? No wonder you're so strong."

Kai looked up and saw a frozen Lisa, he poked her in the shoulder curiously because she hadn't insulted him for yelling at her yet but she wouldn't budge. He followed her line of sight and suddenly froze as well.

"Oh shit." Kai said under his breath.

Jennie was standing near the door of the house. Hand outstretched midway to open the door and staring straight at Lisa, looking like she had just seen a ghost.

Kai tried not to make any sudden movements so he wouldn't be spotted.

Lisa's breath had left her as soon as she had seen her ex-girlfriend, in all her gorgeous glory when she got to the top of the steps. She had immediately lost her grip on her duffle bag.

Lisa hadn't seen Jennie in over a year. Lisa hoped it would take longer than this to run into her so she could prepare her heart from being crushed or having a heart attack but of course, as soon as she got home she was the first person she ran into, just like with Kai. The universe really was conspiring against her lately.

Jennie was as beautiful as ever, more beautiful than she remembered and Lisa hated that she had to force herself to keep her feet glued to the ground so as not to go to her and kiss her senseless and beg her to take Lisa back.

She focused on the crushing, devastating weight on her chest instead so she could keep still. She focused on the fact Jennie had broken up with her and had wanted nothing to do with her for that whole year. It kept her in place but just barely. Jennie had a power over her and staying rooted to her spot was probably the hardest thing she had to do aside from leaving Jennie in the first place a year ago.

"Lisa." Jennie breathed out. She almost ran to tackle her in a hug. The tears stung her eyes. She blinked them back. Lisa was back. After a year she was finally, finally back.

Jennie had just punched the code in to the house when she had felt a tingle on the side of her face, her body had almost vibrated and she looked up and saw the last person she had expected to see.

She had felt like the world stopped spinning for a second as soon as she had spotted her. Jennie couldn't help but scan Lisa's body from top to bottom, checking her.

She inspected her, making sure she was in one piece because despite Chaeyoung's many reassurances, when she would casually throw updates of Lisa during dinner which Jennie knew she did only for her sake considering Jisoo often spoke with Lisa too, she wouldn't believe it until she saw it or heard it from Lisa herself.

She looked back to Lisa's face. That incredibly beautiful face that she missed so much. That face that haunted her dreams more often than not. "You're back." Jennie said and she hated how her voice visibly broke.

Lisa cleared her throat.

"I'm back." Lisa said hoarsely, trying to swallow the frog in her throat at finally seeing Jennie. Her memory of Jennie didn't do her justice. That stupid baby brat was too gorgeous to commit to memory apparently, even for someone so in love with her like Lisa was.

Jennie's stomach did a somersault. She hadn't heard that voice in so long either. She hadn't had the privilege of speaking to her on the phone. She hated that Chaeyoung never put Lisa on speakerphone when they talked at the very least but she figured Rosie thought Jennie wanted to avoid hearing it. The blonde girl was probably trying to do her a courtesy considering Jennie spent a year declining all of Lisa's calls.

Jennie had been so mesmerized with Lisa she hadn't even seen there was a man next to her until he slipped and almost fell down the steps.

She watched as Lisa reached out and grabbed him by the shirt to help him keep his balance.

"Thanks." Kai mumbled. He had been trying to slowly escape but hadn't watched his step because he had been watching Jennie so intently to make sure she didn't notice him that he slipped on the second step and almost died falling down two flights of stairs.

"Watch out asshole!" Lisa scolded. "The cameras."

"Gee thanks, here I thought you cared about me breaking a leg." Kai grumbled, pouting a bit.

Lisa rolled her eyes at him. "You'd survive."

Jennie found her voice.

"Why are you two together?" Jennie asked coldly.

Shit. Lisa thought. She didn't expect Jennie to be here, she should have just sent him home and carried her luggage herself.

"He works for me." Lisa said simply, opting for the truth.

"She's my best friend." Kai said in unison.

Lisa smacked him over the head harshly. "You have to work up to that you idiot!"

"Ow! You're always abusing me!" Kai protested.

"Shouldn't have let me punch you that first time you wuss." Lisa taunted and Kai pouted even more, rubbing his head.

Jennie was equal parts glaring at Kai and incredibly confused at the completely bizarre and unlikely interaction in front of her. She thought this might be hell, or the twilight zone. Maybe she hit her head or this was a nightmare. It couldn't be a nightmare though because a perfectly attractive Lisa was standing right there and Jennie might be so in love with her she knew exactly what she looked like, but her imagination wasn't this good because Lisa looked way too good.

Jisoo might have been right about this being the twilight zone after all because Lisa and Kai were both standing right in front of her, not punching each other.

They were arguing but not with their usual bite. Jennie almost wondered if this was Lisa's revenge on her or something. Trying to make her feel crazy for going and breaking her heart. Forming an alliance because of their mutual hatred of her? That wasn't Lisa though. Jennie was entirely too confused right now.

Kai felt Jennie's glaring gaze and got nervous.

"Anyway I'll just go—let you two talk." He said nervously, putting the cameras down gently on the floor. "You got this right?" He asked Lisa.

"Just go!" Lisa scolded him.

"Right. Um—Jen, sorry for being an asshole. I owe you a better apology. If you ever want to give me a chance to explain just ask Lisa to—"

"Fuck off Kai." Jennie shouted, taking a step towards him menacingly and he took a step back in fear and almost fell down the steps again if it wasn't for Lisa grabbing him by the shirt again, holding him steady.

"I deserve that." He said to Jennie. "Bye Lisa." He finished hastily. Running down the stairs as fast as possible.

Lisa shakily started picking up the cameras.

"You're friends with him now?" Jennie asked softly and Lisa could hear the hurt in her voice.

"It's a long story." Lisa said noncommittally. She hated hurting Jennie but she also didn't really think she deserved an explanation, she probably didn't want one anyway. Jennie hadn't cared to know about Lisa's life for the last year so there was no reason for her to explain anything to Jennie now.

"Oh." Jennie managed to say. She could tell Lisa was uncomfortable and Jennie knew she really had no right to ask. Lisa probably hated her. No, she definitely hated her, judging by the way Lisa wouldn't even look at her.

"Do you need help?" Jennie asked hopefully.

"I got it." Lisa said as she picked everything up and Jennie stood there awkwardly as Lisa made it to the door. "Shit." Lisa cursed.

She had forgotten the code already. She awkwardly tried to pull out her phone to read the text Rosie had sent her with the door code to Jisoo's house.

Jennie realized Lisa was locked out so she walked to the door, stepping in beside Lisa and punched it in for her. "Here."

Jennie hoped Lisa hadn't noticed how her hands shook when she did it. She was too close to Lisa and she could smell her familiar scent. It almost made her dizzy, in the best way. She got deja vu of nights laying curled up, enveloped in Lisa's arms and her warmth and her scent. Of mornings scolding Lisa for moving because Lisa was her "pillow" and she was disturbing her sleep by not staying still and cuddling her properly.

"Thanks." Lisa mumbled, stepping inside with everything in tow. Lisa was impressed with the house. It was impressive outside but inside was unreal.

The living room was massive, the black couches wrapped around a huge tv in an indent on the floor. There were a couple steps you went down to get to them. There were spiral staircases going upstairs and Lisa saw several doors downstairs on either side of the living room and she couldn't imagine how many rooms there even were.

Jennie reluctantly followed. She didn't really know what to do.

Jisoo and Rosie weren't home yet. She didn't know Lisa would be coming back to Seoul today. She had no idea she would be dropping by either or she would have hidden in her room.

"Um—I think Rosie will be home in an hour. She should be in her last class right now. I didn't know you were coming back today but I guess I should have since Rosie has been cooking all week. Are you hungry?" Jennie asked Lisa as she set her bags down. "I can heat something up for you while you wait."

"I'm alright Jennie." Lisa said in an even tone.

Jennie didn't know her heart would hurt so much at not being called baby brat anymore. She used to hate that nickname and now she yearned for it. It hurt hearing her actual name come out of Lisa's mouth in that tone. Though she knew she deserved it.

"Okay. Well the kitchen is through there if you change your mind, help yourself. The fridge is completely stocked with how much she made for you."

"Is Jisoo here?" Lisa asked hopefully. She had just gotten her new number a few months ago and since Jisoo was always with Rosie when she called she hadn't gotten her number yet so she could contact her and find out herself.

"No, she's got some real estate thing she was doing I think." Jennie answered.

"Oh. Why are you here then?" Lisa asked in confusion, considering neither of the other two were here.

"I live here?" Jennie answered curiously.

"You live here!?" Lisa asked sharply.

Jennie flinched a bit.

"Yes?" Jennie answered with her eyebrows furrowed at Lisa's reaction.

Lisa was seriously going to murder Park Chaeyoung when she got home.

They stared at each other for a little too long. Jennie shrank from Lisa's gaze and looked at the ground. Lisa was looking at her with hurt in her eyes and Jennie couldn't take it. She was about to excuse herself and let Lisa know she could roam around the house if she wanted to but she was interrupted.

One second Lisa was looking at Jennie who looked like she was two seconds from running away and the next Lisa was being tackled by a squealing flying chipmunk. She hadn't even heard the sound of the code being punched in or that the door had even opened.

"Lisa!"

Apparently Chaeyoung couldn't wait to see Lisa so she had skipped the rest of her class. Jisoo followed in the house behind her.

Lisa had been caught so off guard she ended up on the floor with Chaeyoung on top of her who was crying and kissing her face and squealing and telling her she was so glad she was finally home.

Lisa smiled and hugged her back just as fiercely, her anger momentarily forgotten because she had missed her so much.

Chaeyoung pulled back enough to inspect Lisa just like Jennie had done.

"You're too skinny." Chaeyoung declared and Lisa rolled her eyes.

Jisoo had been too busy staring at her baby cousin's face, letting them have their moment. She worried about Jennie, she looked equal parts relieved and distraught at having Lisa back.

"You alright Jendeuk?"

"She's back." Jennie said reverently.

"She's back. So please stop sulking because I swear I can't take you locking yourself up in that room and your office anymore." Jisoo said honestly. "You had a year to hide from the real world but she's back now and she's safe so promise me you'll stop isolating."

Jennie blushed but didn't answer her.

Jisoo finally went up to rescue Lisa from Rosie because she was hugging her so tight Lisa looked like she might suffocate to death.

"There's our favorite dumbass." Jisoo said, helping lift Lisa off the ground once Chaeyoung got off of her and hugging Lisa herself. "I missed your annoying face."

"I missed you too." Lisa grinned.

Jennie tried very unsuccessfully not to feel jealous at the fact that even Jisoo got to hug Lisa or the fact Lisa told her she missed her too. Jennie had probably been the one that missed Lisa the most, even more than Rosie because Rosie had always had Jisoo to comfort her, but Jennie didn't get to express her happiness at having Lisa back because she had broken her heart.

Jennie had to hold the tears back again.

"Where's your stuff?" Rosie asked. Lisa pointed. "Good! Let me show you your room! It's furnished mostly but I figured I would let you decorate it."

Chaeyoung helped Lisa with her stuff and showed her to her new room.

Jennie paled and looked at Jisoo. "Her—Her room? Is she staying the night?" Jennie asked Jisoo.

"She's moving in." Jisoo said tentatively. "Surprise?"

Jennie's face went from paling to angry in less than two seconds.

"You didn't think to tell me that my ex-girlfriend who probably despises me for breaking her heart is moving in to the room across the living room from mine Kim Jisoo!" Jennie hissed.

"It was the chipmunk's idea!" Jisoo protested, you know I can't say no to her! I wanted Lisa to move in too, and so do you! You know you do!"

Jennie ignored her. Panicking already.

"That explains why Lisa freaked out when I told her I live here. She didn't even know did she! You didn't tell her either! Oh god. She hates me. I'm moving out." Jennie said, turning to go to her room and pack. Jisoo grabbed her shoulder to stop her and dragged her to the kitchen.

They heard shouts a second later.

_____________

"It's huge isn't it?" Chaeyoung said motioning to the room in excitement. She picked the one with lots of natural light for Lisa because unlike Jennie, who was a literal vampire and hated windows in her room because she liked it dark in there, Lisa loved the light. There were two large sliding doors with a balcony that made the room all bright. It was perfect for Lisa.

Lisa was frowning and Chaeyoung deflated. She was about to get scolded, she knew it as soon as she had gotten home and seen Lisa and Jennie staring at each other.

"She lives here?" Lisa asked incredulously. "You didn't tell me she lives here!" Lisa shouted, unknowingly raising her voice now.

"You guys needed to talk." Chaeyoung said in her normal soothing voice.

"Talk? Talk! Talk about what Rosie! She doesn't want to talk to me. She never even answered my calls! She didn't deign to talk to me once, not once in a whole fucking year. Not even a single word. What the hell do you mean! We haven't spoken in a year and you expect me to live with her! She broke up with me Rosie. She wanted nothing to do with me!" Lisa shouted, the tears stinging her eyes.

Lisa deflated a bit, speaking a lot softer this time because she was choking as she tried to hold them back, it came out in a whisper that Rosie barely even heard. "You know I never got over her. How could you do this to me? How am I supposed to live with the girl that doesn't love me back?" She said in a broken voice.

"It physically hurts to see her Rosie!" Lisa shouted again, not realizing even the neighbors probably heard her with how loud she had been. She was too distraught.

Chaeyoung softened too. "She never got over you either." She whispered honestly.

"Bullshit! She avoided me for a reason. I guess she did hate me after all. As soon as I can I'm moving out." Lisa said storming out of the bedroom and slamming the door behind her, not even realizing Jennie had overheard part of their argument from the kitchen because she had been so loud. She was too upset, she stormed out of the house.

______

Jisoo looked at Jennie in concern. Jennie had started crying immediately, as soon as she had heard what Lisa was shouting at Rosie and now she was almost sobbing.

"I hate him." Jennie said as she sobbed. "I hate him so fucking much for making me make her cry. I broke her heart. She told me she loved me and I had to lie and tell her I didn't feel the same way yet and break her heart." Jennie choked out.

"Who? What do you mean Jendeukie."

"The president." Jennie said, unable to hold it in anymore, a year of that overwhelming crushing weight of keeping that a secret finally spilled out of her mouth without her permission. She was too tired.

"Your father? What does he have to do with you breaking Lisa's heart?" Jisoo probed.

"He was going to pull her fellowship." Jennie said as she gasped for breath, still crying hysterically.

Jisoo suddenly understood. The reason why Jennie had broken up with Lisa despite everybody knowing they were both still very much in love. The reason for Jennie calling Lisa a cheater even though she continued to check up on her all year, going so far as to research the countries she was in and making sure she was safe as if she didn't actually believe Lisa had cheated. Jennie forcing herself to go to those Galas with Kai and letting her father summon her despite her finally gaining financial freedom and not needing to let him control her anymore.

"He blackmailed you." Jisoo said darkly, the anger in her face evident. "He used Lisa against you and blackmailed you."

"Of course he did." Jennie said derisively. "I should have known better. I taunted him and brought her into his life and he almost destroyed her opportunity. She was too good Jisoo. I almost ruined it for her by bringing her around him. I put a target on her back." Jennie cried again.

"Jendeukie why didn't you tell us! We could have done something."

"Like what Jisoo?!" Jennie shouted angrily. "Like let Lisa give up on her dream! She wouldn't have gone and you know it. What was I supposed to do? Let her go and then tell her what I did and let her get stuck in Yemen if I rebelled against him because I was desperate to talk to her when I thought she was dead?! I had to do it! I had to lie and tell her I wasn't in love with her yet and I had to stay away and not talk to her."

"I don't get it though Jendeukie, you could have kept your relationship a secret. Why did you break both of your hearts?"

"I wasn't allowed to talk to her. He monitored all her calls. He would have pulled her fellowship if we had even a single conversation and then she would have been stranded in those dangerous places and not been able to come home."

"You have to tell her Jennie! Tell her what you did for her." Jisoo pleaded. "She's back now. He can't do anything to her anymore. You kept her safe all this time."

"I can't."

"Why not Jendeukie? She thinks you don't care about her when clearly you do!"

"I can't because she'll just feel bad."

"Why would she feel bad?!" Jisoo asked frustrated.

"Because I traded my dream for hers." Jennie said softly. "He held my charity hostage too, not just Lisa."

Jennie didn't wait for Jisoo to respond, she started walking out of the kitchen and ran into Chaeyoung, who was looking at her sadly. Jennie knew she must have overheard.

"Please Rosie. Please." Jennie begged. "I know she's your best friend but please don't tell her. She's better off thinking I didn't love her and that I truly believed she cheated on me than feeling guilty over the fact I broke up with her so she could go on her fellowship."

"Jennie that's not true." Chaeyoung protested.

"Stop it. It is. I made a choice. She's already suffered enough. She already hates me. It would be selfish of me to have put her through all that the entire year. Breaking her heart and having her think I didn't love her too just to make her feel guilty about what I did so that I feel better about myself. Its not fair to her. She's probably moved on anyway, she's just hurt. Please respect my decision."

Jennie left them both in the kitchen and locked herself up in her room. She was glad her room was so big and had an ensuite bathroom. Her office was right next to her room and a door connected them both so she didn't have to go outside to get to it. She figured all she had to do is buy a mini fridge and a coffee maker and she wouldn't ever have to leave unless she had class.

The least she could do is avoid Lisa at all costs. So as not to hurt her.

Jennie could hardly sleep that night.

"It physically hurts to see her."

Jennie cried herself to sleep.

___________