Unspoken Desire JenLisa AU

Chapter 2

The morning light crept in, gently illuminating my cabin. I stayed motionless, eyes fixed on the ceiling, the events of last night replaying in my mind in excruciating clarity. My phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand, but I couldn't muster the energy to reach for it. Even in my groggy, hungover state, I could still remember everything-the taste of her lips, the warmth of her touch.

"God," I muttered, running a hand over my face in frustration. My head throbbed from the hangover, and my stomach churned, making me wince. Regret gnawed at me, but it was tangled with desire and jealousy that made everything feel even worse.

A sharp knock sounded at the door, pulling me from my thoughts. Whoever it was, they were persistent, knocking repeatedly for five minutes straight until I finally got up, muttering under my breath. Swinging the door open, I was greeted by my mom's bright smile, her hands full with a container of soup.

"Good morning, sweetie!" she chirped, stepping inside as I moved aside. "I heard you were a bit... tipsy last night, so I made you some hangover soup."

I forced a weak smile, feeling every bit the mess I was trying to hide. "Thanks, Mom."

She set the soup on my small dining table, and I immediately poured myself a bowl, grateful for the warmth as I watched her open the curtains, letting the light flood in. I winced at the brightness, squinting against it.

"Oh! Sorry, sweetie," she apologized, reaching to close the curtains again.

"It's fine," I said, waving her off as I took a spoonful of soup. The flavors were comforting, grounding, but I could feel a restlessness gnawing at me. "So... how is everyone?"

She smiled, taking a seat across from me. "Well, most of them are suffering like you." She grinned, pushing a plate of toast my way. "Your sister, Chaeng, especially."

My hand paused mid-air, and I set down my spoon, trying to sound casual. "Chaeng was that bad, huh?"

"Oh, she passed out," Mom said, laughing softly. "But Lisa was right there with her, taking care of her." She smiled warmly, oblivious to the impact her words had on me.

I forced myself to keep eating, but my hand trembled. The image of Lisa tending to Chaeyoung like a devoted spouse dug into me, and the jealousy twisted in my chest, suffocating. Lisa had been mine once, in a time that now felt distant and bittersweet. And yet... that kiss. Last night, she was mine again, if only for a moment.

"Yeah?" I managed, swallowing hard and reaching for my water to cover the raw ache in my voice. I changed the subject, forcing a neutral tone. "Where did Chaeng meet her anyway?"

Mom's eyes lit up with memory. "Oh, it's a cute story! Lisa was here as a tourist. She accidentally took Chaeyoung's favorite coffee order by mistake, it turns out they have the same taste and that's how they met."

"Iced White Chocolate Mocha," I murmured, the memory slipping out before I could stop it.

Mom looked at me, surprised. "Yes, exactly! How did you...?"

I fumbled for an excuse, heat rising in my cheeks. "I mean, Chae mentioned it to me once," I lied quickly, forcing a weak smile.

She seemed satisfied, nodding and looking pleased. "It's so wonderful that you and Chaeng are close now."

I nodded, but inside, a storm raged. I knew I shouldn't be thinking about Lisa like this, but the memories were like a wound that kept reopening. She was married to Chaeyoung now, yet I couldn't help but cling to the past, to what we had. My fingers curled into fists beneath the table, and I felt the guilt gnawing at me as I excused myself to shower.