Where You Left Us

What If I'm Not Ready?

Jennie's POV

The apartment was quiet again.

Taehyung and Kai had left after pretending they weren't hovering, both promising to "mind their business" and then sending me ten memes five minutes later. Classic.

I stood at the bathroom sink, gripping the cold porcelain with both hands. The steam from my shower still lingered in the mirror, but my reflection was starting to show through — pale, expression tight, eyes unfocused.

"Did you use protection?" His voice echoed in my head again.

The answer had been no. And the worst part was... I didn't even think about it. Not once.

I was too caught up in what it meant or didn't mean with Lisa. Too busy pretending we hadn't crossed a line we couldn't uncross. Too busy avoiding feelings to remember consequences.

I wrapped my arms around myself, slowly sinking onto the closed toilet seat.

My phone buzzed on the sink, but I didn't look at it. What was I supposed to do now?

Take a test? Call a doctor? Call... Lisa?

No. Not yet.

It was too soon to know anything for sure. But suddenly, everything felt different. Heavier. Realer. Because for the first time in my life, I realized...

This might not just be about what happened between us. It might be about what comes next.

And the truth was—I didn't know if I was ready.

Not for that.

Not for this.

Not for her.

_______________

Lisa's POV

I was lying on the hotel bed, still in my jeans, one sock on and the other somewhere across the room.

something felt off. It had been almost a full day since I last heard from Jennie. She'd only replied once — "I'm at work." I stared at my phone for a second longer before I finally gave in.

I tapped the call button.

Ring.
Ring.
Ring.

I was about to hang up when the line finally clicked.

"Hello?" Her voice was quiet. A little off. "Hey," I said, trying to sound casual. "You okay?"

There was a pause.

"Yeah. Just... tired." I frowned. "You sound weird."

"I'm fine."She says. That was her classic line when she wasn't.

"Did I call at a bad time?" I asked gently.

"No," she said quickly. "No. I'm... I'm glad you called."

The silence between us stretched, not awkward exactly — just full of things we weren't saying.

"Jennie." I called again.

"Yes, Lisa?"

"I'm concerned."

She giggled — actual giggled — and I immediately knew she was doing that thing again. That deflect-until-it-goes-away thing.

"I swear I'm okay," she said. "I just had a weird brain moment. Anyway! How's Jeju? Did you eat? Did you steal any hotel bathrobes yet?"

"...No? Should I?"

"Absolutely. That's what rich people do."

"I'm not rich," I laughed. "I'm a photographer staying on company budget."

"So... poor with taste."she says. I rolled onto my back and just admiring her face on the video call. "You're weird." I say to her.

"Yeah, but you like it."A beat passed.

"I do," I said. She didn't answer right away, but I could see her smiling.

"Sorry I freaked you out," she said softly. "I just... I didn't want to ruin the vibe."

"You're allowed to have a moment," I said. "But next time, don't start it like a horror movie."

"I panicked," she said. "Sue me."

"Mm, I'll think about it. Might just fine you in kisses instead."

"Oh my god," she groaned. "That was so corny."

"But you smiled."I teased her.

"Shut up, I'm hanging up—"

"No you're not." I said quickly.

Yeah"I'm not," she admitted.

There was a long beat where neither of us said anything. Just stared. Smiled. Breathed in sync even through pixels.

"So..." I said, shifting onto my side, "You coming to get me tomorrow?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, fake casual. "Maybe I'm busy. I have work. Emails. A full-grown brother who won't stop stealing my leftovers."

"Wow," I deadpanned. "You're gonna make me ride a taxi all the way home with my big duffel bag alone? That's cruel."

Jennie smirked. "You could ask Rosé or Jisoo."

"I already did." She blinked. "You what?"

"They both said you'd kill them if they showed up before you did."She groaned and hid her face behind her phone. "What? I didn't even said those."

"I think it's cute."I say. As she peeked out from the side of the screen. "What is?"she asked.

"That you were gonna come either way," I said. "Even if I didn't ask."She went quiet again. But her smile didn't fade.

"I guess I'll bring the car around," she finally said. "But only if you promise to come out in slow motion. Hair blowing in the wind. Movie music playing."

"I already downloaded the soundtrack."

"You're such a dork." She said while laughing.

"But I'm your dork," I said, biting my lip.

Her eyes flickered for a second. Soft. Unspoken...."Yeah," she whispered. "You are."