NO STRING ATTACHED - JENLISA

Prove Me Wrong

Kim Hyun Bin:
"You are the future of this mission, Lisa. And whether you believe it or not, I'm proud of what you've accomplished."

Lisa stood still, letting the words sink in, though they didn't bring the sense of peace she had hoped for.

Lisa (gruffly):
"I'll prove myself. You'll see."

⸻

Private Study – Kim Residence

The door creaked open, but Kim Hyun Bin didn't flinch. He continued to scrutinize the documents in front of him, not expecting anyone to enter. But there was a faint sound of someone approaching from the hallway. He didn't have to turn to know who it was.

Jennie had heard enough. The words that had slipped from Lisa's lips earlier rang louder in her mind now, as if echoing in a new context. She stepped in quietly, her gaze shifting between the two men in the room.

Lisa, still standing stiffly, was caught in a moment of quiet contemplation. Kim Hyun Bin's words about her father, about the legacy that had been thrust upon her, hung in the air. Jennie lingered for a moment, unsure whether to interrupt or stay silent.

But when Lisa finally turned to face her, Jennie didn't need any more explanation. She had heard enough.

Jennie (softly, but with purpose):
"You never told me about him."

Lisa's gaze softened, almost imperceptibly, at the sound of Jennie's voice. She didn't move right away, still caught in the weight of her conversation with Kim Hyun Bin.

Lisa (quietly, almost to herself):
"There's a lot he didn't tell me either."

Kim Hyun Bin stood up then, his back straight as he turned toward Jennie with a slight nod. His usual cold demeanor was replaced with a rare, almost paternal flicker of respect.

Kim Hyun Bin (calmly):
"Your mother may have told you one story about Lisa's father. But the reality... is a far more complicated one."

Jennie's eyes narrowed, catching something deeper in Kim Hyun Bin's tone. She knew better than to push in this moment, but the curiosity that had bubbled within her since hearing their conversation was undeniable.

Jennie (to Lisa, quietly):
"Why didn't you tell me, Lisa?"

Lisa looked at her then, the guarded walls she had put up over the years seeming a little more fragile.

Lisa (quietly):
"Because I didn't think you'd understand."

Jennie (frowning):
"And now?"

There was a long pause. For a moment, Lisa said nothing, caught in the swirl of thoughts she had been suppressing for so long. She had always told herself that her past, her legacy, wasn't something anyone could or should understand. But Jennie's question — And now? — it opened a door to something Lisa hadn't expected.

Lisa (finally, almost reluctantly):
"Maybe now I can start trusting you with it. But not yet... I'm still trying to figure it out."

Kim Hyun Bin watched their exchange, his sharp gaze betraying no emotion, though a slight flicker of understanding passed between him and Lisa. There was something unresolved between them — something that would never be fully healed, but still needed to be acknowledged.

Kim Hyun Bin (breaking the silence):
"You've both been through more than most understand. But it's not about the past anymore, Lisa. It's about what happens next."

Lisa met his eyes, her voice low but firm.

Lisa:
"I know that. I've always known that."

Kim Hyun Bin nodded, his expression returning to its usual businesslike demeanor. He gestured toward the door, signaling the end of their private conversation.

Kim Hyun Bin (with a touch of finality):
"We'll speak more when the time comes. But for now, go."

Lisa hesitated but then turned to leave, pausing just long enough to catch Jennie's eye. Jennie was watching her with a mix of concern and curiosity, her expression unreadable.

Lisa's gaze softened, and for a split second, she let her guard down. The vulnerability from earlier was still there, but she knew Jennie had seen it, felt it.

Lisa (in a low voice, almost shy):
"I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to be... normal with you."

Jennie's lips curled into a smile, a small, knowing smile, as she closed the distance between them.

Jennie (teasing but warm):
"Who said I wanted normal?"

Lisa looked at her, surprised at the softness in Jennie's voice. It wasn't a playful smirk this time; it was more genuine, more real. It made Lisa feel like she could breathe again, even if just for a moment.

Jennie reached out, her fingers brushing against Lisa's arm.

Jennie:
"You don't have to be perfect. Just be here. With me."

For a long moment, the world seemed to stop. There was no tension about her father or the looming responsibility that would come with her choices. There was only the two of them, standing in this quiet space together.

Lisa nodded slowly, the weight in her chest easing a little.

Lisa (softly):
"I can do that."

⸻

Meanwhile – Kim Hyun Bin's Office

Kim Hyun Bin sat back down, his eyes on the papers in front of him, but his mind was somewhere else. He knew what he had done — what he had put into motion. Lisa had always been a wild card, a calculated risk. He had respected her for that. But now, it was more than that. It was something he couldn't explain — a legacy, a bond, a promise made years ago to a friend he would never forget.

But for now, he had done his part. The rest was up to Lisa, and maybe, just maybe, to Jennie as well.