Unspoken Desire JenLisa AU

Chapter 1

Jennie's POV

A lively pop song pulsed through the house, filling every corner with energy. My family-no, my real family-had rented this resort just to throw a party. They called it tradition every year, but I could tell they'd pulled out all the stops for me. It was a "welcome home," though "home" felt like a strange word.

As cliché as it sounds, being around so many people wasn't as bad as I'd expected. Growing up, it had just been me and my adoptive parents - well there's my adopted cousin but I see her more as a sister. Their own family didn't exactly embrace us; the few times they did, the air was thick with politeness masking disdain and I could still vividly remember how Jisoo would get scolded just by hanging out with me. But with this family-my family-there was something different. They laughed together, hugged without hesitation, and even treated in-laws as if they were blood. Maybe it was the way they embodied that stereotypical "family-first" warmth I'd heard about but never really believed in.

Of course, I'd paid for the accommodations without telling them. I wasn't ready to let them fully into my life just yet. Blood or not, trust wasn't something I handed out easily. But they credited it all to my real sister, Chaeyoung, who'd welcomed me like she'd known me her entire life. She was a burst of sunshine, so different from my own reserved energy, yet somehow... she was exactly what I needed.

After years of silence, the orphanage had called to say someone was looking for me. I didn't know what to expect, but somewhere deep down, I'd hoped. Hoped they'd find me, reach out. And now, here we were-sixty days since that call. I could see the sorrow in their eyes for abandoning me, but I couldn't let them see my tears. I wasn't that kind of person. Affection wasn't in my vocabulary, even if I did care. And I did. I just... didn't know if that was enough.

"Jennie, I hope you're enjoying yourself," my aunt Josie said as she tried to wrangle her young son, who was squirming out of her arms with boundless energy. "Sorry about your nephews and nieces. They're wild and... well, you can see for yourself." She smiled apologetically, though her exhaustion was clear.

I surprised myself with a genuine laugh. "It's alright. I didn't know being this noisy could be so... entertaining."

She chuckled, continuing to chase after her son, while more family members approached me, each eager to make small talk. They told me about their lives, their pride in finally finding me, how I'd completed the family. It was overwhelming, their joy almost suffocating, but I tried to keep up. After what felt like an eternity, Chaeyoung pulled me aside, laughing.

"Thank you," I sighed in relief.

"You did great!" she said, amusement in her eyes as she patted my shoulder. We wandered to a quieter corner, where she began explaining all the family connections. Who was who, who married whom-it was like a crash course in a family history I'd never known.

"Oh! Grandma really wants to meet you," she said with a spark of excitement. "She's upstairs." Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I nodded as she led the way.

On our way up, she glanced back at me, her smile dimming. "Just so you know, Grandma... she has Alzheimer's. She doesn't remember things well, not even Dad sometimes."

I swallowed, feeling an unexpected pang of sadness. "How is she now?"

Chaeyoung's smile turned bittersweet. "She's old and confused."

When we entered the room, my real parents-my mother and father-were gently feeding her, helping her sit in her rocking chair, her fan in hand despite the air conditioning. It was a small, tender moment I'd rarely seen, even in movies.

My mother noticed us and beamed, holding out her hand to me. "Jennie, come sit next to Grandma," she said, guiding me forward. Her touch was light but grounding, and my heart raced as I looked at the elderly woman before me.