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Caught Me - Chapter 5

Ilian wore a pearly smile, stepping forward to shake Jennie's hand.

Jennie squared her shoulders, and Jisoo swore to god, she was a goddamned peacock, fluffed feathers and all.

Jisoo had to stifle her laughter.

Jennie, however, didn't seem to think anything was particularly amusing, and her gaze said as much. For some reason, this Ilian guy rubbed her the wrong way.

And she even tolerated Suho Bae.

"The famous Jennie Kim." Ilian announced loftily as he shook Jennie's hand.

Her grip was crushing, but he seemed as if it didn't bother him in the least.

"I'm Jisoo's-"

"-Art TA." Jennie finished wryly. "So I've heard."

"Yeah. Jisoo's incredible." Ilian replied, unfazed. "I've never met anyone like her."

"She is." Jennie replied, a proud smile making its way to her face.

"Guys, stop." Jisoo whined. "You're flattering me. Jen, come on, let me show you around so we can go."

Ilian made a noise, and Jennie glanced up at him.

"Jisoo, I hate to do this to you, but you've still got ten minutes on the clock."

Jisoo blinked. "Oh! Yeah, sorry, I forgot Jennie was early. Let me go finish dusting the frames, and then-" Her voice trailed off as she rushed to grab the duster, clearly eager to be done with her menial work.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Jennie turned to face Ilian, jaw clenched.

"Is there an issue with Jisoo leaving a few minutes early? Or is there something else that needs to be dusted?" Jennie drawled. "Your ego, maybe? Your power complex?"

Ilian smirked, to Jennie's surprise. "You're not used to people telling you no, are you, Kim? I'll bet you just...clock in and out whenever you please."

Jennie took a step forward, into his space. "I'm not one of your students, Ilian. I don't know what game you're playing at, but whatever it is: it ends here. Either you give Jisoo what she deserves, not some menial job any idiot could waste their time with, or-"

"Or what?" Ilian folded his built arms, holding his ground, when Jisoo resurfaced from the back.

"Jen, come look at this piece Dante commissioned! I love it! It reminds me of you."

Jennie shot a threatening glare in Ilian's direction. "You don't want to know." She muttered, leaving him with a disdainful glance as she came to Jisoo's side.

Ilian watched the way Jennie protectively curled an arm around Jisoo's waist, and he realized, it was working.

His eyes followed Jennie as she allowed Jisoo to lean against her, the image of a proud girlfriend.

"Isn't it gorgeous?" Jisoo asked softly.

"Yes." Jennie replied, taking in the piece carefully. "Is your piece back at the apartment inspired by this? I feel like there's a connection to-"

"You noticed." Jisoo whispered in awe. "How'd you even have time?"

"I'm not lying when I tell you that your work fascinates me." Jennie replied gently, and Jisoo's heart soared, because Jennie, the most important person in her world, didn't think her work was stupid, or a waste of time, or education.

"Really?" Jisoo asked, genuinely touched. "You're fascinated? "

"Mhmm." Jennie shrugged nonchalantly. "But I suppose that someone as beautiful as you, and I mean inside and out, should be creating and surrounded by art as beautiful as this."