Unspoken Desire JenLisa AU

Chapter 3

It was the last day of the reunion, and the house buzzed with the chaos of packing, farewells, and plans for the journey back home. Kids were still out playing in the sand, their laughter filtering in from the beach, while the adults bustled about gathering belongings. I wandered inside, greeting the elders, pausing here and there for brief conversations. My mind was elsewhere, though—searching for one person.

When I spotted Chaeyoung, she was in a lively discussion with one of our cousins, talking about the transportation arrangements back to Seoul. I caught bits of their conversation, and the mention of Lisa's name made me stop.

"Lisa and I were thinking of taking a long drive back, maybe making a road trip out of it instead of flying," Chaeyoung said with a smile. Her tone was casual, but the words felt sharp, twisting something inside me.

I didn't waste a beat, slipping into their conversation with a smile. "That sounds fun," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "I actually thought about doing a road trip too, maybe I could tag along?"

Chaeyoung seemed surprised but didn't think much of it. "Oh, I'm sure Lisa wouldn't mind! I'll let her know." She turned to glance around. "I think she's upstairs, packing some things." Her enthusiasm made me feel worse than I already felt but my mind has decided, I won't stop, till I have Lisa back.

I nodded, doing my best to look nonchalant as I excused myself, claiming I needed to use the bathroom. But instead, I found myself drawn toward the stairs, my heart thudding as I made my way up. Each step felt heavier, charged with anticipation.

Reaching the room Lisa was in, I paused at the door, gathering myself before I opened it quietly. She was standing by the bed, folding clothes into her suitcase. The moment she noticed me, she froze. I could see her throat work in a swallow, and her hands fumbled a little before she forced herself to look back down, focusing on her things.

The door clicked shut behind me, and the air felt thick, electric. Just me and Lisa, alone in this quiet room. My pulse was wild, racing like it had when I first saw her again.  I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way she held herself as if any movement might shatter her resolve. But I hadn't come all this way, waited all this time, to let her pretend I didn't exist. Not anymore.

"Lisa," I started, trying to keep my voice steady. I wanted it to be strong, certain, but it came out softer than I'd intended, a mix of longing and frustration. "We need to talk. I need to tell you something."

Her hand froze over the shirt she was folding, and she finally looked up, her gaze intense and conflicted. "There's nothing to say, Jennie." Her voice was low, thick with tension. "This... us... it's not right. It can't happen." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as me.

"Not right?" I echoed, stepping closer. "What was right, then? Moving on with... with her?" The words came out sharper than I'd meant, but the thought of her with Chaeyoung—it cut deeper than I'd ever admit. "You think I should just forget that we had something real?"

She sighed, finally standing properly to face me. The look in her eyes was a mixture of frustration and something else, something she was trying so hard to bury. "Jennie, please. I'm married now. To your sister. I can't... you can't just—"

"And you think that means I should pretend none of it mattered?" I interrupted, stepping even closer. I was so near now, I could see every line of her face, every flicker of doubt in her eyes. "Lisa, I still feel it. You do, too—I know you do."

Her jaw clenched, and she averted her gaze, but I wasn't about to let her look away. My hand moved almost instinctively, reaching up to touch her cheek, turning her face back to me. Her skin was warm beneath my fingertips, and I felt her exhale, just slightly, as if she'd been holding her breath.