More Than You Know

23 : Something to chew on

It was supposed to be just another variety taping. But already, this episode was about to be remembered as that episode-the one where sparks flew a little too naturally.

The stage lights shifted again, playful colors flashing across the set. Yoo Jae-suk clapped his hands together, his voice booming with excitement.

"Alright! Time for our Team Challenges! Games, chaos, and of course-seeing who survives with their friendships intact!"

The audience roared.

Shin Bong-sun, holding the cue card with a sly grin, leaned forward dramatically. "Since today's line-up is so special, we decided to leave things up to fate." She rattled a transparent box filled with slips of paper. "No complaining if you don't like your team, okay?"

One by one, names were drawn, each announcement bringing cheers, groans, or nervous laughter.

Finally-

"Team Blue Lightning... Jennie, Lisa, Jungkook, Han So-hee, and Yoonchae!"

The studio erupted. Fans screamed, some even chanting, "Jen-li-sa! Jen-li-sa!"

Jennie blinked, visibly surprised. Almost without thinking, her head turned toward Lisa. Their eyes met across the stage. Jennie's lips twitched into a smile before she could stop herself.

The cameras zoomed in instantly, catching every flicker of expression.

"Wow, wow, wow-so the universe itself decided Jennie and Lisa should be together!" Jae-suk teased, clutching his chest. "This is fate!"

Lisa leaned toward her mic, her voice dry but playful. "Or maybe just good luck."

Jennie let out a soft scoff, though her grin gave her away. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

"Ah, she's already annoyed," Bong-sun cackled. "That's real friendship right there."

Lisa just smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction.

Jennie, trying to appear nonchalant, tugged on the hem of her outfit and checked her mic pack-but her gaze flicked sideways to Lisa again, just for a heartbeat. Was she standing comfortably? Did she look tired? Jennie exhaled when she saw Lisa's easy grin still in place.

"Team Red Fire!" Bong-sun continued, pretending to fan the tension away. "Sophia, Daniela, Lee Do-hyun, Na-rae!"

The opposing team clapped and whooped in mock triumph.

"Let's win this, Red Fire!" Na-rae shouted, bouncing on her heels. "I can already tell Jennie and Lisa are going to spend more time teasing each other than playing properly."

The audience laughed knowingly.

Jennie shook her head, biting back a smile. "Don't worry, unnie, Lisa is terrible at games."

Lisa turned her head slowly, eyes narrowing with exaggerated offense. "Excuse me?"

Jennie tilted her chin up, smirking. "You heard me."

The whole room howled. Even Jungkook clapped his hands, delighted. "Noona, you're brave."

Lisa chuckled lowly, leaning just slightly in Jennie's direction, her tone full of warning but softened with fondness. "Careful, Jennie. We're on the same team now."

Jennie's smile faltered for half a second-not out of fear, but because the way Lisa said her name made her heart skip, just once. She quickly covered it by nudging Jungkook. "See? She's already threatening me."

The banter flowed so easily, so naturally, that even the hosts shook their heads in disbelief.

"Honestly," Jae-suk muttered into his mic with a grin, "I feel like we're watching them hang out at home, not on a TV set."