The only exception

Part TWO

"Sure," I replied.

She takes a seat on the corner of the bed. "Have you brought anyone here?"

"Jennie?"

"Anyone,"

I thought about it. I did make Jennie stay here, but that was during our second project together, and we had to film some places that were very quiet. Since then, I was always the one who visited their house. Aside from that, I never brought anyone here. I thought there was nothing interesting here.

I could feel myself naked under her gaze and decided to confess the truth. "Aside from Jennie, that would be just you."

She hummed, and I continued to find the clothes I would lend to her. After a couple of minutes, I found it.

"Ah," I said, "Here." I handed it to her.

She took it from me and looked at it. "The color is gorgeous."

"I know," I said. "I stole it from my neighbor back when I was in New Zealand, but don't tell anyone."

"I hope you know by now that all of your secrets are safe with me," Jisoo said, as she tried to see herself in the mirror.

I think for her, it was a throwaway line. But it meant a lot to me. Not because she said it, but because when she said it, I realized I believed her.

"I do," I replied."I do know that."

When you realize that you can tell anyone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is, "You're safe with me"- that's intimacy.

I could feel the goosebumps embracing me. And after I heard her say that, I could not help but feel the urge to hug her and never let go. It made me so appreciative.

"I think it will not fit me," Jisoo said. "I'm not as skinny as you, Chaeng-ah."

"Nonsense. Try it on. I bet it will, and if it does, it's yours."

For the first time, I felt a desire to give her a lot of things. I wanted what I had to be hers. I wondered if this was how it felt to love someone.

"All right," Jisoo said, as she threw her shirt on the bed.

As she pulled on her own clothing, I found myself staring at the paleness of the skin stretched across her ribs. I gazed at the bright whiteness of her bra. She was just as skinny as me. I followed the curve that ran along her hips. Jisoo was still beautiful.

+++

The moment our eyes met, I knew from the start that Jisoo was just going to end up like anybody else.

But then she comes again, in my porch door with that dorky smile all over her lips. I've always hated that type of smile, thinking that they were suppressing a laugh at me for some reason. But whenever she flashes those smiles, it makes me feel warm. Then she would shower me compliments.

"You don't have to appear at my door everyday, Jisoo." I say, stifling a yawn.

"If I don't, you're going to end up late for your first class," She says teasingly. "You should be grateful that you have me."

I rolled my eyes, smiling at what she said before I left the door. I could hear her soft footsteps behind me.

"Ah," She says from behind me. "I knew it, I should have come here sooner. Look at you! You didn't even take a shower, and your first class is near."

"I just woke up," I whined. If Jennie Kim was a nagger, Jisoo Kim is worse. "And also, It's not even seven-"

I winced when she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Yet- okay! Fine, I'm going to shower." I said in surrender.

Then she smiles at me, "Good."

When I'm with Jennie, I've always felt like the older one when we both knew the younger one between us was me. The feeling of needing to care, to do things, and perhaps, to always be there when she needs me. I've always felt that, but with Jisoo, it was a whole foreign world that I'm not used to.

As I came downstairs, all ready to go to school. I frowned at the figure I saw in the kitchen.

"You don't have to cook for me every time you come here." I say, tying my hair before I start to take the plates.

"I don't mind," I hear her say. "I love cooking for you."

I pause mid-way. I took a glance at her and thought about the first time I invited her here. Just like before, for her, it'll be a throwaway line. She probably doesn't know how nice that is, but I do.

I didn't say anything further as I felt the warmth capture my whole body because of her words.

"Your hair paired with that hairpin looks good today," I heard her say and I realized she was looking at me. "I– I mean your hair totally looks good every day, but it's extra pretty today, you know? You should wear it often. You look– uhm, you look extra pretty. It suits you."

Before I could reply, she was already blushing. She hid her cheeks beneath her palm. I could hear her mumbling an apology and about how much of an idiot she was. Despite all that, my attention wasn't on it. Instead, it landed on the hairpin I rarely wear.

I thought no one would notice it, but she did. Jisoo noticed it.

I was unable to reply to her compliment, and when I finally had the courage to say thanks, she had already turned her back, and I was left alone in the kitchen with my heart pounding constantly.