The only exception

Part ONE

By the time I was nineteen, I was familiar with the quote, "No man is an island." I've known that quote ever since I was in kindergarten, and throughout high school, I've proved the quote wrong by being partnered with some random kid in my class and just volunteered to do it alone.

Then, they would show me fake concern with questions like, "Are you sure?" I would nod, shrugging, as I knew really well that they were kind of feeling lucky to have me as their partner. I don't really know what the reason was back then, but throughout the years, I've come to guess that maybe I just didn't want them to see how lonely and miserable I was.

+++

When I arrived at my first class of the day, Mr. Lee, our homeroom teacher, announced that we would be pairing ourselves. He said that to make things fair, Mr. Lee decided he would be the one to decide with whom to partner.

Of course, I didn't have any objection to that, so I was partnered, and that's where I crossed paths with Jennie Kim.

"You don't have to do this with me, Kim." That was the first thing I said.

I can see how her eyebrows furrowed as if she was foreign to it.

"Why not?"

"You don't have to. I can handle geometry, it's not a big deal." I said, though I'm not so sure of my words, but I work harder than the devil.

I can see how she scrunched her nose softly, "Why would I let you eat our project alone, Park? Wouldn't that be unfair?"

I raised an eyebrow, confused. "If you're worrying about the cooperation grade I'll give, I'll give you ten."

"And why would you do that?"

"Just because."

"I'll ask again, why would you do that?"

I look down, "To leave me alone."

"You're shooing your partner, give them ten points despite no effort?"

"Just leave me alone, Kim."

"That's nonsense, Park."

I finally sigh, glancing up to meet her eyes and motioning her to sit down. Jennie Kim was one of the famous students I've seen around the school, and I know that just by associating with her, it'll feel like I'm letting Charon paddle my way to Hades' realm. And I don't want the peace I'm building around myself to be wrecked just because I had some project with some cool girl.

"Look, I know you're trying to pretend that it doesn't make you happy at all, but I do," I took my books to my bag and stood up to walk out. "So be a dear and leave me alone to do our project alone."

"Do you not have trust in my knowledge?" She asks, and I frown at her.

"I do." It was true, I always tend to notice Jennie Kim's name in the top list.

"Then why wouldn't you let me help you?"

"Our conversation keeps going in circles, Kim."

"Then let me help you."

"I told you no."

"Then at least let me write our names and check if the answers are right."

"I have hands and a brain for a reason."

"Then at least let me provide the mater-"

And our conversation goes in circles until I finally sigh in surrender and agree. Between the stubbornness of Jennie Kim and Park Chaeyoung, I have admitted defeat to that.

I always found my legs giving up and tired as I walked towards Kim's house, but I endured it. Jennie Kim didn't need to know that, and so we continued our project that lasted a month. And throughout the project, I didn't expect to find the friendship I've been longing to have for years.

It turns out that Jennie Kim is not that hard to get along with. Turns out, Jennie Kim, who always had a cold expression on her face, can smile brighter than the sun does every morning. Turns out, Jennie Kim, who is rumored to be a party goer, loves to stay at home in her comfy pajamas. It turns out that Jennie Kim, who is portrayed as an evil, slutty, and cunning bitch, is actually a nice, brave, and strong ordinary girl like us, who makes mistakes and has flaws. It turns out that Jennie Kim, who is always portrayed as being dark as hell, is actually filled with unicorns. Turns out the Jennie Kim students idolize in our school is human too. Turns out Jennie Kim is actually a fan of Disney princesses. It turns out that Jennie Kim, who is rumored to be unaffected by any relationship she is in, is in fact heartbroken. Turns out Jennie Kim, despite the heartbreak, keeps trying to find love.

To be honest, I don't know why she does that. Why does she keep trying to find love despite the heartbreak that will embrace her in the end?

"I have something to confess. Someone actually asked me out two weeks ago."

I could hear the voice and I knew that voice very well. I could hear her taking the seat in front of me, and when I glanced up, Jennie Kim was avoiding my eyes. Instead, she looked at her food with a sheepish smile on her lips. I knew this movie very well, I knew Jennie Kim very well, despite our friendship having just recently reached its second year.

"Who?"

"Well... Lisa," she starts, blushing more. "She asked me out."

Jennie Kim stopped killing her food before she placed her spoon down with a blush on her cheeks. I raised an eyebrow. Jennie hated fighting around the bush, and that's what she's actually doing right now. At this moment, I would have pointed out the new behavior she's showing, but I know my best friend is suffering at the moment, so in mercy, I didn't.

"Lisa, who?"

"Oh, you know, Lisa, Lisa, like Lisa... yeah."

"Jennie, I don't know who this Lis-"

"Oh come on, are you really going to make me say her full name? Gosh, Rosie. You started your first year here and you didn't know who Lisa Manoban is?"

I faked a cough to hide the grin on my lips. Jennie was a fun girl to tease.

"Chill," I say. "You didn't have to attack me just because Lisa Manoban asked you out or something."

She blushed, and the next thing I saw, she was zooming out. I let it slide. This was an amusing sight, and it seemed like getting asked out by Lisa Manoban was not the only thing that happened between them. I know it. I can tell.

"She's different, Rosie. I mean, really, really, really different from the guys and girls I've been with."

I hummed, nodding as I urged her to continue. I've noticed countless ways in which Jennie Kim would describe her past lovers, but with this Lisa Manoban, I know I'm safe to say that she's different. Jennie Kim's expression says so.

"She looked at me, Rosie. And the way she did it made me feel as if no one had ever really looked at me before. Not even Jongin." She paused, taking a deep breath, and smiled as she stared at the food. "She's uhm... she treats me so nice. She listens well. She makes me laugh. She never forced me into anything. She would laugh at my jokes like a little kid... and it just felt so foreign and right with her, you know?" She laughed, the kind of giddy laugh that kids have when they're truly happy.

"That's great, Jen."

"It is..." She said, softly, and reached to catch her arm. "She's perfect, hubby. I know she has flaws around her, but that's what makes her perfect."

A month later, Lisa and Jennie became official. For some reason, I was afraid Lisa would be like one of the other guys I'd seen Jennie with, who would abandon Jennie once they got what they wanted. That they would wave her around like a trophy and throw her off once they're done using her. Jennie was important to me, and Lisa was slowly becoming important to me too, and I didn't want those two to break up. I never wanted that, and then, maybe I didn't want that because it reminded me of my family years ago. I don't want Jennie to end up like my father. I don't want Lisa to end up like my mother, who'd promised our friendship would still be the same when, in fact, we both know it won't be anymore.