Fifteen minutes before 4 PM, Jisoo went to the restroom to get ready. She washed her face, put on some make up and brushed her hair. Her father loved to joke that even if his daughter failed her study, she didn't have to worry. He said she had a pretty face and she could model for a living. It was like a charm he kept on repeating; emphasizing on the fact that the neighbors were jealous of him because of that.
"You've always been pretty, Jisoo-ya, even since you were a child," this was her father's favorite brag, "and you have this good attitude and you're smart. Everyone adores you, my lovely daughter! My perfect daughter!"
Jisoo had never cared about being pretty or not. She was still unsure why some of the freshmen were flirting with her, if anything, it only made her uncomfortable. But today, as Jisoo looked at herself in the mirror, never in her life she wished that it was true.
She wanted to be pretty for Jennie.
She layered the lip balm on her lips once again. Jisoo had this assumption that it was one of her asset that Jennie most appreciated. Oftentimes, she would catch Jennie looked at her lips for too long and acted nervous after.
Jisoo was blushing.
When she went out of the restroom, she saw Jennie was sitting on their table, chatting with her friends. She brought coffee and donuts. It was a break that her friends enjoy, she could tell. Even Soojoo looked happy. Maybe both Soojoo and Jennie had realised that they had a lot in common and being friends wasn't a bad idea. Maybe Soojoo had acknowledged her defeat. Maybe Jennie had decided to compete respectfully. Whatever the reason was, Jisoo was glad to see their current dynamics.
"Hey... you're already here."
Jennie looked at her, her face lightened up, "I'm here." she got up, "Shall we go now?"
"Yes." Jisoo then said to her friends, "I'm going for a few hours, I'll be back before dinner..."
"Take your time, kiddo." Lisa winked at her, "We'll take our time with the donuts, too."
"Bye girls..."
"Take care of my Jisoo, Jennifer..."
"I swear to God, Soojoo..."
Jisoo pulled triggered Jennie away and gave Soojoo a death stare. Soojoo and the others were just laughing as the girls made their way out of the library.
***
"Where are you taking me, Miss Kim?" Jennie smiled and once again her gummy showing.
"To the city." Jisoo smiled back.
Jisoo observed Jennie, she dressed comfortably, wearing a well-tailored deep blue coat with her doc martens. Jisoo decided that she could take her for a walk as she had planned.
That was true. Lately Jisoo had became needy. Nowadays, she would push Jennie to make time for her. Just because she wanted to. Maybe it was her anxiety from the upcoming exams that made her become a lot daring; and her greatest remedy from the stress was obviously: Jennie. So Jisoo just let her know.
And Jennie didn't seem to bother. She gave in to Jisoo, letting her to be forward about what she wanted.
Jisoo let her know with her requests to talk, to meet, to make time for her, to bring her coffee: that Jisoo wanted Jennie.
***