NO STRING ATTACHED - JENLISA

Checkmates

EPISODE 3 — "CHECKMATE'S FIRST MOVE"

INT. BASECAMP – MOMENTS LATER

The laughter from Jennie's reveal fades. The squad slowly settles, a new energy rippling through them — not chaos, but readiness. Confidence.

Jennie steps forward, commanding calm, her voice clear.

JENNIE
Taeyong, I need you to prepare a new room for our next strategist meeting. Completely offline.

Taeyong raises an eyebrow but nods.

JENNIE (CONT'D)
Rin's been here before. That means she's installed surveillance — devices, mics, hidden nodes. We don't talk about plans until we sweep everything.

SEULGI
Understood.

JENNIE
Get every detector we've got. Until we have a confirmed clear zone, we move and brief in silence.

SOMI (grinning)
Damn. Remind me never to underestimate the doctor again.

ROSÉ (half-whispering to Jisoo)
She's terrifying when she's like this.

JISOO
Kinda hot, not gonna lie.

Lisa watches it all quietly. Arms crossed, chin tilted slightly upward — proud. Damn proud. Jennie isn't just holding the squad together. She's leading them.

Jennie catches Lisa's eyes. Doesn't say anything. Just gives a small, subtle nod. Lisa's heart kicks against her ribs.

⸻
INT. STORAGE ROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT

A dim, dusty room tucked in the far corner of the temporary base. The buzz of the outside fades behind the heavy door.

Lisa leans against a crate, arms relaxed for once, waiting.

Jennie enters. Quietly closes the door.

Silence sits between them for a moment.

LISA
So... daughter of Kim Hyun Bin?

JENNIE (teasing)
Surprised?

LISA
Shocked. A little betrayed. Very turned on.

Jennie chuckles, stepping closer.

JENNIE
I didn't want anyone treating me different. Being the general's daughter comes with expectations. And power games.

LISA (gently)
But you handled the whole squad like you were born for it.

JENNIE
I was trained for it. But I left all that behind for medicine. I never wanted command... until today.

LISA (soft)
You were incredible.

Jennie's smile falters slightly. She steps closer. Her hand brushes Lisa's knuckles. Skin to skin, pulse to pulse.

JENNIE (quiet)
I saw her rifle aimed at you. I moved without thinking.

LISA
You got hurt because of me.

JENNIE
And you broke protocol for me.

They lock eyes.

LISA (hoarse)
I don't care about the rules anymore, Jen.

Jennie looks up, something vulnerable flickering behind her calm.

JENNIE
Don't say that. You need to care. You're the captain. If we fall, it has to mean something.

Lisa takes a slow breath, voice steady.

LISA
Then let me fall for something real.

A beat.

Jennie exhales — not quite a sigh, not quite surrender. Her hand slips into Lisa's, fingers threading.