CRAZY IN LOVE | JENLISA

PROLOGUE: Our First Meet

"Including black flag?" Joy raises her eyebrow at me in which I just sigh and close the book. It seems I have no escape. Their full attention is on me.

"Yeah. What about it? Is there even a black flag?" I ask, shrugging and fixing my braided low ponytails. But then the four glance at each other before nodding.

"Y- yes. And I heard that the black flag means your partner is manipulative as hell and abusive. Can kill, or worse, kill you. That is worse than a red flag partner, Jen." Rosie gulps with an aghast look.

"Oh," is all that I can say.

I'm in a trance of what Rosie just said. Thinking of having a black flag partner is something no one will ever want to have. Who would ever want a violent partner?

But I squeeze my thighs inwardly. My breath starts to get heavy and this tingling feeling below my abdomen makes me feel weird.

What... what is going on with me?

"Ugh. Guys, can you quit it? We know that Jennie can be too innocent sometimes although she's the smartest one here." Irene snorts, flicking her wrist to us, trying to rub out the thought. The girls smile, relieved of what Irene unnie said.

But then I look down, staring at my hands gripping on my jeans.

"Black flag... Huh." I bite my lip, thinking of someone grabbing my hair, slapping me, and choking me, and— I slap myself in no time, feeling my flushed cheeks.

Just what in the world was that? Why am I blushing with that idea? Oh gosh. This is the girls' fault for making me think of something lewd.

"I'm going to return this book," I mutter, looking down and trying my best for them not to see my heated face.

I leave them as I walk my way to the bookshelves where a bunch of romance books are being displayed. With my eyes on every title of every book and my fingers tracing them,  a certain book catches my attention.

"Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen!" I rejoice. But I cover my mouth, muffling my giggle at how delighted I am and not wanting to be kicked out of the library.

My eyes are probably glistening right now. Ironic how I'm into romance books despite not believing love is real and to me, it's just a sweet yet empty word.

But this book has been dominating the social media group pages of bookworms about how wonderful this book is. I won't waste the chance to read this book and maybe it will help me believe that love is real.

There's no ladder on this shelf. So I tiptoe, hoping I can reach it since it was placed on the fourth row of the bookshelf which is I guess beyond my height to reach it. But I wince, trying to poke the book out in the middle of it.

"Just a little bit..." I bite my lip, still attempting to get the book. Maybe I can get it without a ladder's help. "Come on..."

"Let me get that for you, missy."

I suddenly feel someone's presence behind me with those long and strong fingers and veiny hand that help me get the book. Relieved, my feet lay flat on the ground as I turn around with a beam.

"Oh, thank you so—" My breath hitches. A cat got my tongue.

No.