I woke up in an unfamiliar room, in an unfamiliar bed, with a familiar headache. In
slow motion, the night came back to me and I remembered that I'd gotten drunk off hot
toddies and wine while baking with Taehyung. I couldn't drive home. I'd had to sleep with
Taehyung.
Taehyung had one request: that I didn't cuddle up to him, but we both knew that was never going to happen; it was a core personality trait of mine. I was wrapped around his body, head comfortably tucked between his shoulder and head and arm around his waist.
I looked around the room. I looked at Taehyung's pajamas. Wait . . . This wasn't Taehyung's room. I was also fairly certain it wasn't Taehyung was I cuddled up to. I looked next to me; that most assuredly was not Taehyung. I stared at Jennie for a few moments while the gears in my brain turned and reminded me I'd crawled into Jennie's bed to test it out and promptly fallen asleep.
Oh my God she was going to kill me.
I had no idea how I was supposed to dislodge myself from her. I always knew cuddling was one of my strengths, but last night I'd betrayed myself. Our legs were tangled together and her head was resting against mine. I didn't think the CIA could safely extract me without denotating this bomb.
My heart hammered so loudly in my chest I was surprised that didn't wake her up.
Okay, okay. Focus, Jis, I told myself. You can totally do this. Slow and steady.
I needed to get up. I needed to get up right now and slip out of here like I'd done many times before and pretend this never happened. Then I needed to practice my confused face. I did what? Queue confused laugh. Oh my God I'm so sorry I don't remember a thing.
Jennie would see right through me.
Try as I might, I was reluctant; my body didn't want to move. I was so warm and comfortable pressed against Jennie and the thought of being cold crumbled any resolve I had of slipping out of this bed. I really did have to ask her where she got her bed and comforter.
I refocused and tried to move slowly, tried to move without disturbing Jennie. I started with the legs, pulling my leg out inch by inch. Unfortunately, Jennie was a light sleeper and her eyes fluttered opened.
I had no idea what to say so I let out an awkward laugh.
"Hi," I whispered.
"Hi," she said.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep in your bed," I said immediately. "But in my defense it's a lot more comfortable than Taehyung's."
"I know it is."
Jennie looked at me, then down at my body tangled into hers and I felt myself beginning to blush.
"Also, sorry about the cuddling." I finished extracting my leg and pulled myself away. "I get cold."
Jennie smiled. "I know."
"Your bed just looked really soft last night and I wanted to lay down for like a second and test it out and then I felt your comforter and it was also really soft and warm and then I guess I just wanted to close my eyes for a second but I fell asleep in your bed and you were probably super annoyed with me last night and I'm really sorry I fell asleep you could have totally just moved me or told me to leave and I-"
"Take a breath," Jennie commanded. I did.
"Sorry," I said again.
"It's fine," Jennie said. "I'll admit I was a little surprised when I came to bed but it's fine. The bed is big enough for two."
"Okay good... I'm gonna go home and change and I'll be back with Starbucks."
I didn't wait for Jennie to respond, I hopped out of bed, gathered my clothes from the bathroom and hurried out of Jennie's room.
"I'll wash your pajamas and bring them back," I said. Jennie may have said something to the effect of 'you don't have to' but I was already out the door. Taehyung was in the kitchen making himself coffee when I came in. He looked horrible. I probably looked like that too.
"Walk of shame?" he said.
"Going to school hungover?" I retorted.
"You know I am. I'm putting on a movie." Taehyung had a box of popcorn next to his bag.
I shook my head at him.
"So you and Jennie, huh?"
"I fell asleep in your sister's bed because it's so much softer than yours, not for any other reason."
"She came to show me."
"I hate that you two talk about everything. I really do."
Taehyung grinned. "So how was it?"
"Sleeping in a soft bed? Great."
"Sleeping with Jennie."
"I have to go."
"Did you guys cuddle?"
"Leave me alone!"
"She'll tell me if you did!"
"There's nothing to tell!"
"Just tell me how it was; you can't sleep and not cuddle someone!"
I slammed the apartment door and rushed home, suffering a mild panic while I got ready for the day. Why wasn't Jennie mad at me this morning? Why didn't she try to move me last night? Was this part of some bigger plot of hers for revenge? Maybe she'd embarrass me at my holiday party. Was it too late to find a new date? No, I already had pictures of her up on my desk.
I took a few deep breaths and looked at myself in the mirror.
"Maybe Jennie isn't mad at all and it really was no big deal," I told myself. I nodded a few times, encouragingly. I was going to stick with that. Everything was fine; absolutely peachy. I finished getting ready and couldn't find my glasses anywhere. Great. Just great.
I picked up our Starbucks order and hustled up the stairs to the apartment.
"Hey, I'm running late, so I can't stay," I said when I walked inside. I handed Jennie her coffee. She smiled at me and my heart stuttered. I held my breath.
"Thanks for the coffee," she said.
"No problem. See you later?"
"Bye, Jisoo. Have a good day."
"You too!"
I ran out of the apartment and tried not to think about Jennie.
***
"Long night?" Jungkook asked.
I blinked a few times and tore my dead gaze away from my computer screen. "What?"
He laughed. "I asked if you had a long night. You look..."
"I maybe had a few too many drinks last night while baking cookies."
Jungkook laughed and pulled some aspirin out of his drawer. "Here."
I gratefully accepted. "Thank you. I was in such a rush this morning I forgot to take something for this headache. I also can't find my glasses, which is great."
"You're have quite the day, aren't you?"
"You have no idea."
I tried to focus on my computer screen, but without my glasses my eyes were useless. I leaned closer to the screen to look at the design I was working on, made a small shift, and completely destroyed the beautiful image I'd created yesterday. I undid the change and tried again with the same result. I cursed.
"Hey, isn't that your girlfriend?" Jungkook asked.
It took a moment for me to realized Jungkook was talking to me. I looked at him and followed his gaze. "I don't have a girl-" I stopped short when I saw Jennie looking around my office. I glanced at Jungkook quickly then stood up and walked over to her.
"Jennie?" I asked, dumbfounded. "What are you doing here?"
"You left your glasses at my apartment last night."
My face burned red like I'd committed some crime. I accepted my glasses and put them on my face. The world immediately cleared.
"Thank you," I said. "I couldn't see anything and it was giving me such a headache."
"Your headache was from not having your glasses?" Jennie teased, a bright smile on her face.
My face burned red again. "I'm—"
"Stop apologizing," Jennie said. "Girls already apologize too much as is."
"Oh sorry," I said immediately. Jennie looked at me. "I did it again, so-" I cleared my throat. "Thanks for bringing my glasses, I couldn't remember where I'd left them and I've been messing up my project all morning."
"Can I see what you're working on?"
"Sure." I led Jennie to my desk and showed her my screen. She looked at my design and smiled.
"You're pretty good."
I laughed. "Gee thanks."
"It's cute in here," Jennie commented, looking around.
"Of course you'd find the over the top Christmas decorations cute."
"I think the pictures on your desk are a nice touch."
I grinned.
"Are you going to introduce us to your friend?" Jungkook asked.
"Oh yeah. Jungkook this is Jennie. Jennie, Jungkook."
Jungkook stuck out his hand. "The rare and elusive Jennie; it's nice to finally meet you."
Jennie smiled sweetly and shook Jungkook's hand. "The pleasure is mine. I was afraid Jisoo's coworkers would start to think she was making me up—" I looked at Jennie mortified. "-because I always got called away with work. I'm happy I'll be able to come to the party this Friday."
"Me too, I'm looking forward to it."
I chanced a looked at Soojoo, who was staring wide-eyed at Jennie. Thankfully she was on the phone and couldn't pull herself away to make introductions, but I knew we would run out of time.
"Can I walk you out?" I offered.
"Sure."
We walked out the office and I looked over my shoulder at Soojoo, who's eyes grew wider. I smirked.
"Thanks for the glasses," I said. "I don't know what I would've have done today without them. I seriously couldn't see."
"If you hadn't left in such a hurry today you wouldn't have forgotten them."
My face burned red again. "Listen, Jennie, I'm really sorry about last night." I rubbed the back of my neck.
Jennie laughed it off. "Jisoo it's fine. I'm sure it was more comfortable than sleeping with Taehyung; he snores."
I smiled. "If you're sure."
"I'm sure. Besides, I got to see where you worked and size up Soojoo before Friday."
"How did you know which one was Soojoo?"
"She seemed to be the only one that cared I was there and the only one glaring daggers at me."
"That's her. Sorry, she might be a handful Friday."
"I think I can handle one jealous woman."
I laughed. "Is there anything you can't handle?"
Jennie pretended to consider my question for a moment before answering no. I shook my head.
"Seriously, thanks again for the glasses; I know it's a little out of the way for you."
"I like the walk."
"Even when it's snowing?"
"Especially when it's snowing."
"I can give you a ride to work really quick if you want?"
Jennie shook her head. "Thank you, but I prefer to walk."
"See you tomorrow then?"
"Bright and early."
I smiled and stopped by the door. Jennie glanced up.
"Don't worry it doesn't work," I joked, noting the mistletoe someone cleverly hung from the exit of our building. Who's bright idea was it to get co-workers to kiss?
"No?"
"No, you don't have to kiss your co-workers or your friends," I said.
"We're not friends."
"Wow."
Jennie laughed, kissed me on the cheek, and left. "Bye Jisoo."
I stood there dumbstruck.