|take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help falling in love with you
shall I stay, would it be a sin?
if I can't help falling in love with you|
Can't help falling in love//Elvis Presley
We're bringing back the class in classic
--
A typical person finds love in the latter part of their life, when they have a secured job, an apartment and everything else but not Jisoo. She found love way later in life- she have a secured job, an apartment on a fancy neighborhood, a dog and apparently an age where everybody seems to have been marriage.
She's only 30 and everyone's acting like she's bound to die alone- like she cares. She has enough money to take care of herself and so she have not tried any of her friends suggestions to go on a dating site
"And what? get STD? catfished? no thanks" is her reply and her friends just scoff at her and she pretty much got her life in order, she travels every weekend to somewhere new, she can afford to miss work every now and then and she has a dog that protects her on the street- a girlfriend would just ruin that freedom and harmony she have right now.
So thanks but no thanks but Jisoo will not convene to whatever hokum people are into these days - until on February 2 - 12 days before valentines.
--
Jisoo likes routines and so everyday she gets a cup of coffee on the café in front of her apartment before going off to work- at exactly 7:15 she enters the said establishment and order the same cup of coffee and leaves at 7:30 and arrives at work by 8:00 on the dot.
Wendy - the barista Jisoo is comfortable enough to call a friend - waves at her enthusiastically, like always the hamster looking girl is full of energy
"Hey wannie" she greets with a smile
"Jichu! I know you're a stickler for rules but can you go in late today? I just need to run pick someone up by the airport and nobody can watch the shop" Wendy almost begs
"As much as I want to help you out, I don't really know how to make coffee- why do you think I go here everyday?" she points out
"But Jihyo's cousin is arriving an hour from now and my girlfriend trusted me to pick her up- besides I love Chaeyoung enough to let my business suffer for an hour or so"
"And you love me enough to leave me and suffer along with it?"
"No!" the barista says with a cute chuckle, "I trust you enough to handle it" she points out and Jisoo narrows her eyes on her
"That's not gonna work on me- close the shop for a while then open it once you get back or better yet don't close up and tell Jihyo's cousin she's old enough to know her way here" Jisoo smiles sardonically at Wendy knowing that the girl does not have it in her to be angry at anyone
"Love you" Wendy says dejectedly and Jisoo smiles in victory as she exits the door, "Just so you know I'm filling the café up with hearts for valentines day as soon as possible just to piss you off!" Wendy adds
7:31am.
Damn it. She missed her routine- normally she wouldn't care- or she would but not as much. although realizing that Wendy kept her inside her café a little longer to mess up her routine made her smile - maybe she does have it in her to be manipulative at times.
So Jisoo goes back in and Wendy is smiling like an idiot on drugs, "Fine- but I'm picking Jihyo's cousin at the airport because I know you get distracted easily and you're gonna take longer than an hour if you see an Ice cream vendor"
The barista ignores the jab at her ability to focus, "O-okay if you say so - just take care of Chaeyoung"
"Chaeyoung- got it"
--
The airport smells like stale coffee and wet floors, Jisoo cringes at the amount of people. She likes to think of herself as outgoing but she does not like brushing skin to skin with strangers.
She holds up the sign that says Chaeyoung Park and waited, all while sending an email to management that she will be late due to a family emergency- the reply made her snort in laughter
Lisa| re: Family Emergency
Good day!
This is noted although nobody buys the family emergency bullshit anymore.
"Hey"
Jisoo looked up from her phone and saw a blond haired girl with cheeks that looks eerily similar to a chipmunk staring at her- "Jihyo's cousin?" she asks
"Chaeyoung- yes" The girl smiles enthusiastically at her
"I'm Jisoo, nice to meet you. Unfortunately Wendy is a bit preoccupied at the moment so I'm here to pick you up" She says failing to match the energy of the other girl
The drive back to Wendy's café is uneventful- Jisoo is used to driving alone so she doesn't really talk and Chaeyoung looks like she want to say something but doesn't have the guts to, eventually the non-stop ringing and vibrating of Jisoo's phone is enough to get them talking.
She glances at the screen of her phone and saw Jennie's name on the screen- of course Lisa had to tattle to her girlfriend about her being late.
"Do you need to pick that up?" Chaeyoung asks
"No, not really. It's probably just work"
"And that's not important?"
"At the moment? I don't think so"
Chaeyoung looks uncharacteristically guilty, "I'm sorry you had to miss work"
Jisoo has got to admit that pout made her knees turn to jelly, "Don't be I'm an hour late it's not a big deal"
"Your phone is blowing up- it seems like you're a big deal"
"I am but it's not- it's just my friends. I don't usually get late and I told them it's a family emergency and they think I'm in some sort of secret date or something" she babbles on and Chaeyoung giggles and Jisoo is more convinced she's actually a chipmunk
"Family emergency?"
"Well...Wendy's your almost cousin in law and she's pretty much family to me so yeah in some ways- family emergency"
"And the secret date part?"
Jisoo smirks, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Chaeyoung flushed in deep red, "I-uh..."
"I'm sorry-" she laughs, "It's just that they've been haunting me to get a girlfriend already since I'm 30 and will probably die alone"
"I'm sorry- 30?! I though you we're younger than me"
"I'm already driving you, no need for flattery Ms. Park" she teased
"And you're single?"
"Yeah- not really into dating apps and I'm busy enough in my life to not meet new people"
"Oh- well I'm single too, it does look like where on a secret date"
Jisoo would've read into that but the way Chaeyoung says so innocently she backtracks, it's not like her to flirt with someone she just met and the promise ring on the other girl's hand makes her doubt
•×•
"Safe and sound and in one piece" Jisoo tells Wendy as soon as they arrive
Wendy launches into her and pulled her into a bone crushing hug, effectively ruining her well ironed clothes
"Thanks" she says sarcastically and checks the time again, she's almost two hours late and her clothes are crumpled
"Are you still going to work?" Wendy asks, her tone is suggesting she manipulated Jisoo again
"I have nothing better to do"
"Stay here" Wendy practically squealed in her ear, "I'm going to run a few errands, I'll pay you your daily salary" the shorter girl offers and Jisoo bits back a laugh
"No offense, Wannie but I don't want to bankrupt your business"
"Fine, you can accompany Chaeyoung and you can run my errands for me"
"-I traveled all the way from Australia just to run errands?" The blonde asks, hands on her hips
They both ignored her, "what's in it for me?" Jisoo asks
"1 week free coffee and dessert"
"Hey-"
"-2 weeks"
"Can I be included in-"
"-one and half"
Chaeyoung groans in the background as Jisoo and Wendy shaked hands, "I'll send you the list" she singsongs and pushed the two out of her café
Jisoo is emailing management that she won't be able to attend work today due to the unexpected family emergency
Chaeyoung wonders what reply she got to make her thst flustered
Lisa|re: Family emergency
Noted. Sex must be good huh? Get it Jichu!
•×•
They both went from one store to another and bought whatever it is that Wendy told them to, it was on the first store where they had to buy coffee beans that Jisoo realized Wendy did not gave any money to pay for the groceries
"Damn it" she murmurs as she hands the cashier her card, not that she's not on a strict budget- money is not a problem for her now but being manipulated into paying especially by Wendy? come on , she's better than that.
"So...How long have you known Wendy?" Chaeyoung asks as they we're driving to a new store to pick up cups and other sorts of materials for valentines that Wendy has custom made
"I knew Jihyo first and then I met Wendy when they started dating during high school, most of my friends I only know because I knew their partners first"
Chaeyoung nods, "How about your last relationship? you said you've been single a long time"
Jisoo would've shot her questions down since she doesn't really divulge her personal life to anyone- let alone a stranger but she didn't because who is she kidding she's been attracted to the blonde the first she laid her eyes on her, "My last relationship ended in a train wreck- we're good now but mostly because we tend to see each other more often than we want"
"Why is that?"
"She's Jihyo's other best friend so..."
"Ah" Chaeyoung says in understanding
It was silent for a moment so Jisoo figures it was her turn to ask questions
"How bout you? your last relationship, did he gave you that promise ring?" Jisoo glanced at the ring on Chaeyoung's index finger
"She did not, I gave this to myself to ward off unwanted advances- you will not believe how many Australians fall for this face" Chaeyoung says- her tone sounded like a brag but the innocent look on her face contradicts that
"Oh I think I have some idea how you affect people" Jisoo says- it was a risky thing to say so she glances at Chaeyoung, only to see the girl taking off the ring and putting it in her pocket
huh? what could that possibly mean?
Jisoo can't stop the smirk on her face as Chaeyoung turns beet red as if she can't believe she just did that.
When they arrived at the shop and paid for whatever it is that Wendy had ordered and to their drive home, everything is quiet- it wasn't an uncomfortable silence, it was a nice feeling- something that Jisoo hadn't felt in a long time
She usually doesn't like change but this is good- this is great.
When they arrived at the café and Jisoo have unloaded all of the things they bought and Chaeyoung had to go back to Wendy and Jihyo's apartment down the street to rest but not before,
"Hey, so the wedding's not until next month but would you like to go as my date?" Chaeyoung asks boldly
"Are you sure?" Jisoo challenged to see if the blonde would back down- she didn't and so Jisoo has a date on Jihyo and Wendy's wedding
She's still in daze that when Wendy asked her how much she said, "Don't worry about it, my treat"
"Okay" the café owner says and the way she agreed so fast got Jisoo thinking she was scammed and manipulated today by none other than Wendy 'the embodiment of good' Son
•×•
They don't see each other till next week but kept constant communication. Jisoo is busy with work and Chaeyoung is helping Jihyo and Wendy organize the rest of the wedding
Although Jisoo liked the change in her life brought by Chaeyoung, it doesn't mean she's throwing her whole life schedule into the fire- except she does.
Instead of leaving after she got her coffee she hangs around for a minute or two to see if she'll see the blonde that has been occupying her mind lately
"So...Chaeyoung's birthday is tomorrow" Wendy says casually and Jisoo tries not to act like she cares
"Uh-huh"
"We're celebrating it here, 9pm. Don't be late"
"Sure, whatever" is what Jisoo replies but her mind is racing thinking of a gift to give Chaeyoung
...
Jisoo arrives at the party a little late- 2 hours late and to say Wendy was not thrilled is an understatement
The cafe is filled with heart decorations already since valentines is 2 days away and she tries not to cringe.
Jisoo spots Chaeyoung talking to Lisa and Jennie, she overhears some part of the conversation before she decided to break it up
"Oh yeah- Jisoo is extremely stubborn" Lisa says with a smirk
"Hey" she protested and smacked Lisa in the head, she hands her gift to Chaeyoung while Lisa and Jennie leaves to complain to Wendy
"Thank you" the blonde says shyly, "Why are you so late? Lis said you didn't even go to work today"
"Woah- Lis? Since are you two best friends?"
"Since two hours ago, she and Jennie are the perfect couple- and you didn't answer my question"
"-can you please just open my gift" she pleads
Chaeyoung huffs but opens the hand size black velvet box
Inside is a ring with 3 diamonds encrusted in the band and Chaeyoung's name engraved on the inside
"Ohmygod" was all that the blond said, obviously too stunned to speak. Jisoo smirked, looks like she accomplished her goal
"Check if it fits" Jisoo says and Chaeyoung carefully detached the ring and put it on her index finger
"Are you proposing already?" Chaeyoung jokes
"No- not yet. This is more of a promise ring"
"What's the promise?"
"Well...it's more of like a promise to myself that you're the change I wasn't expecting but very much welcomed"
Before Chaeyoung can respond to that, Elvis Presley's can't help falling in love plays loudly inside the cafe
And since pretty much everyone has a partner, they all decided to dance
Jisoo held out her hand, "shall we?"
And Chaeyoung smiles at her as they join the others
"We're bringing the class back in classic" Wendy says as they dance to the old song
"And Jisoo is the ass in asshole" Lisa says obviously not over the smack in the head
•×•
Change is something Jisoo isn't accustomed to but if it comes with Chaeyoung she'd welcome it in open arms
The promise ring she gave held on, the promise lasted till valentines and Wendy's wedding, then halloween, and christmas
Up until the next valentines day and the next and the next until Jisoo decided to put a more permanent ring on it
And now she stands in front of this girl who turned her world upside down, yet again making another promise
"I'm not one to fall in love easily but you make it difficult not to, I like to think some things are meant to be- like you and I" Jisoo utters with a shaky breath as she gets down on one knee
"Will you marry me?"