Sheets | Chaelisa converted

Chapter 35

"Wait, wait, wait," Jennie suddenly spoke, pausing the movie before turning to Chaeyoung. After, well, 'coming out', she and Jennie had relaxed into their normal routine, which was both surprising and comforting. Apart from the occasional question about her relationship with Lisa and other related matters, Jennie didn't dwell too long on the whole 'gay' thing, which Chaeyoung was grateful for. Expecting another question about Lisa, she turned to Jennie, only to find her face gravely serious. Flinching a little at the troubled expression, Chaeyoung found herself growing nervous again.

"Jennie...?" She asked carefully, Jennie's finger tapping on her leg.

"Um... but since you're, you know, with Lisa and all... where does that leave Mingyu?" Jennie asked, and Chaeyoung blanched visibly. Seeing her ghostly complexion, Jennie sighed heavily. "Damn, Chaeng. Who would've thought that you out of all people would be stuck in a love triangle."

"Ugh, what love triangle," she spat, hairs rising on the back of her neck. "Mingyu ... Mingyu and I were never a thing... I've told him that." Pausing slightly, she scratched the back of her neck meekly. "At least, I've been trying to tell him that."

"Well, I think you've gotta try harder, Chaeng," Jennie said, patting her arm. "You're my bestie and all, but if you lead him on then you're being a pussy. I know you like pussy, but I'd rather my best friend not be a pussy, you know?"

Giving Jennie a withering look at her quip, Chaeyoung rubbed her eyes as the whole situation with Mingyu started nibbling at her conscience again.

"Trust me, Jennie, I've really tried to tell him. It's just... hard," she said, Jennie nodding. "And, it's like he doesn't want to hear what I have to say."

"Have you tried messaging him?" Jennie asked, and she nodded emphatically.

"Yeah, I did - it took me a good three days to write out one message, but I did. But... apparently he doesn't get phone service overseas, and his hotel internet is dodgy so..."

"The fuck," Jennie said, raising a brow. "Those are bullshit excuses if you ask me."

"Well, I didn't, but yeah," Chaeyoung said, rolling her eyes. "That's kind of always how it goes with Mingyu... Any time the conversation even begins to smell of something he doesn't quite like, he just bolts and cuts me off. I don't even know what to do..."

"Well, you've got to let him down some time. If you told him about you and Lisa he would definitely-"

"No. Definitely not. We are definitely not telling him about me and Lisa," Chaeyoung hastily said, slapping her hand over Jennie's mouth as if she just cursed in front of a toddler. "I'm not telling anyone except you. If other people knew..." The thought of Mingyu knowing... of Hoshi, Nayeon and Sana knowing... of the whole school, her family, the world?

The thought made the bile rise up in her throat.

"I'm not... I'm not ready," she whispered, Jennie casting a concerned look from above her hand clamped over her mouth. Pushing her hand away from her mouth gently, Jennie gave her a small smile.

"Yeah, sorry. Message received loud and clear. If you're not going to come out officially, you just have to be straightforward and, you know, tell Mingyu that you're not into him... or any guys for that matter..." Jennie giggled a little at her final comment.

"I already know that I have to tell him, Jen. It's just... a matter of how and when," she sighed, Jennie
nodding.

"Well, school's starting up again soon. He can't really avoid you when we have to go to school..."

"Yeah," she replied, nodding. "That just leaves the 'how', I suppose."

"Ack, worry about that another day," Jennie said. "We've had enough deep and meaningful talks today, my brain's all tired from processing anything. To be honest, I'm still processing the whole Lisa thing. I mean, you had sex with her!" A goofy grin spread across Jennie's face.