The only exception

Part TWO

Before I could say anything, our orders had arrived, and again, I saw how the guy flashed another charming smile. This time, Jisoo noticed it, and didn't flash anything aside from pursing her lips.

"I've actually just seen this cafe around social media and I'm surprised they actually have chocolates here." She says, gasping and grinning as she takes a sip. And it reminded me of Jennie somehow.

"Is it good?" I asked, a little bit curious after I'd seen how she softly gasped.

She moved her straw towards me and said, "Try it."

I blushed when I noticed, and to be frank, I've lost count of how many times I've blushed around this woman. I took a sip and couldn't help but taste a little bit of the lipstick she used on my lips. The chocolate was indeed good, and I gave her a thumbs up.

She laughed. She sipped her drink once more, and I did the same with mine, which tasted strange. Maybe I was not hiding my expression really well, because the next thing I heard, she was asking me if the drink was okay.

"If I were to compare Jennie's strawberry homemade milkshake to this, I would still choose this." I said, raising the milkshake a little bit and slumping my cheeks at the desk only to straighten my posture.

I heard her laugh at me. "You don't have to be uptight around me, Rosie. And also, if you have some time, Why don't we paint together?"

"You do art?"

"I do. Ever since I was little."

"Jennie never told me that."

"That's because you never asked." She coyly said, with a hint of tease.

She takes a sip of her chocolate and can't help but notice her lips. Before I knew it, she handed her drink to me and said, "Here. Have mine."

"Ah, you don'-"

"I don't mind. You seemed to regret your choice, and plus, I'm full."

I sheepishly looked away. That wasn't the reason why I was staring, and frankly, I also don't know why I was staring.

"Thanks..." I mumbled under my breath and took a sip of the drink she gave me.

From the corner of my eye, I glanced at the window and saw how she smiled at me. She was smiling as she saw me sipping her drink, and when I decided to look up to catch her, I couldn't help but open my mouth to say something.

"What?"

"I really like you, Rosie."

I didn't say anything. Instead, I looked at her sideways.

She laughed at me. "I know that's not something most strangers would say, but I don't want to be like most strangers. I really like you. I like watching you focus on something. I like how you just blurt out and do what's on your mind. I like the way your raven hair flows freely behind you and looks so natural on you. And to be honest, I like how you just became you, and took the leap of faith to choose something on the menu despite not knowing what it would taste like."

I blushed, and I could see how her grin grew.

"Plus, I can't wait to do art with you. Ever since Jennie told me about you, I have been waiting to hang with you. I want to see you shine, I mean." She said, and on second thought, I wonder just how much Jennie exposed me to Jisoo for her to become so interested in me.

+++

After a few days, I was thinking of Jisoo, and I didn't want to think of her at all. So I buried myself in the school's paperwork. But here's the thing I've learned for a couple of years: if you run, there's no point, because you have to face it in order to feel free. So I decided and when I was finally free for one night, for the first time, I invited Jisoo tonight to my house.