Yay update!!! Sorry busy at work!! topsoo7 at your service😍😍
She said yes?
Yes! And she also okay'd the whole staying overnight there.
Fantastic! But I have changed the plans up some. We'll be leaving after four, if that is okay? The restaurant we will be going to closes at midnight, and it would be about that time when we would finally arrive.
That sounds even better. At least we won't be eating at an ungodly hour.
That, and they're playing a show at the Paramount at about nine. I was hoping I could take you there?
I don't mind at all! I've never been to a show before.
Then I'll do the honors and take you to your first show, Jennie. And there's a lovely restaurant next to it, well, the one I planned on taking you to. We wouldn't have to go far nor be late. Do dress suitably, that means you must wear something formal.
Holy shit, Chu. I feel like I'm getting spoiled.
Wait until you see the hotel suite I plan on renting.
Hotel... suite?! I don't want you to spend too much on me with all this fancy stuff.
Don't worry about it, Jennie. I have more than enough funds to pay for this. After all, what am I going to do with my wealth? I have nothing worth spending it on besides you.
You're really super sweet...
Also, I've got another surprise for you.
You... do?
Yes.
What is it?
It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now would it?
No, I suppose not.
Oh, Jennie, I have a question to ask you.
What is it?
Will you be telling Hanbin about this since he's your cover? After all, he will be coming down shortly, will he not? You don't want questions to arise, because I am sure both parties will be thoroughly confused when your mother asks Hanbin of his time with you in Boston.
I suppose you're right... I hadn't thought of that. I'll message him when we've finished talking.
Why don't you do it now ? I ought to see to it that the hotel reservation is intact. I'll talk to you later.
Okay. I'll talk to you later. Bye-bye, Chu.
Goodbye, sweetheart.
Jennie sighed and sat up from her spot on the bed. Minjee had been calling her downstairs for dinner several times and, this time, with warning. She hadn't expected her conversation with Jisoo to be so long, but apparently they just got lost. Although, at least things are cleared up and she'd have to tell her foster mother that she'll be leaving sooner than before. At least all they had planned was a dinner out at the diner and a small birthday cake with whatever gifts that the two had bought for her.
"Jennie! Don't make me come up there!" Her foster mother's voice rang from downstairs.
"Hold on a minute! I'm trying to clear things up with Hanbin!" She huffed and did just that, clicking through her phone to find her friend's name. Now, what will she say to him? She couldn't divulge in her date with Jisoo. Hanbin knew who she was, although he was never one to tell others' secrets. But she still didn't trust to tell him just yet. She didn't think Jisoo would want that. Would she? Well, she had asked Jennie if she would tell Hanbin about the cover...
She'll just vaguely make up an excuse and if Hanbin decided to ask questions, she'd oblige and answer them honestly. That was, if he were to make a promise and sign that damned thing in blood because his would spill if the information shared were to be heard by someone else.
Sighing, she decided to leave as much information out as possible as she sent him the message, hoping that he wouldn't question it too much. She was rather terrified as to what he would think if he knew that this was all for a date and night with Kim Jisoo - an English teacher ten years older than her.
Hey, I need you to do me a favor. Can you cover for me? I'm going to Boston and I told Minjee it was to see you. It's only for tomorrow night.
Hitting send, she had hoped that that would suffice. The blonde would be screwed if he didn't agree to help her- although that was unlikely since he was the nice guy. With a sigh, Jennie picked herself up off the bed, cell phone in hand, and made her way downstairs to her awaiting foster parents- who seemed rather irritated at her tardiness.
"And look at who finally joins us." She heard Daejung rumble in front of an empty plate. "What were you doing up there?"
"I was talking to Hanbin about tomorrow." Jennie quietly replied, inching her way over to her spot at the table where a square of lasagna sit on a plate. "And, Minjee?"
"Yes, Jennie?" The pixie-haired brunette focused her attention to the blonde.
"He's going to be coming at four, if that's okay. He thought seven was a little too late since it's a four hour drive there." Jennie explained, picking her phone up from where she sat it on the table to check the message after it had buzzed. Hanbin had texted her back.
What the hell are you going to Boston for? I'll only cover you if you tell me.
Damn that boy. The blonde scrunched her nose at the phone, sending daggers to the screen.
"Is something wrong, ?"
"Oh, no. It's just Hanbin. He's just wondering... what I'm doing." she shrugged and quickly typed a message back.
I'll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone. And I mean it. Don't tell anyone, not even Chaeyoung or Lisa.
"Well, tell him that you're eating dinner so you can put your phone away." Daejung grunted, quirking a brow. "You know how your mother doesn't like technology at the table."
"I know. I'll tell him." Jennie stabbed her lasagna with her fork and ripped a corner off. It wasn't as good as Jisoo's, but it was still one of the best. If Minjee was good at anything, it was cuisine. She was a marvelous cook and Jennie always appreciated the meals that she made.
"That means now."
"I'm waiting for his reply." The blonde grit her teeth.
"Didn't you talk to him enough?"
"Daejung, please," Minjee gently touched her husband's hand. "Just let her say what needs to be said. Tomorrow's going to be a big day for her."
"Fine..." The man grumbled grudgingly before serving himself another square of lasagna.
"Thank you," Jennie mumbled, checking her phone as another message alert sounded.
I won't. I promise....
I'm going on a date.
Really? You got yourself a girlfriend you don't want your parents knowing about? Tell me who it is and why I have to cover for them- then I'll cover for you.
That was quick.
"Oh my god." Jennie rolled her eyes at his persistence. It was just like him to try and drag everything out of the blonde. She should have known that it wasn't safe to ask him something so vaguely without questioning.
"What is it, Jennie?"
"It's just Hanbin being a nosey little ass like he always is."
"Language," the brunette quirked a brow.
"Sorry..." Jennie mumbled, her fingers flying away at the keyboard.
I don't want you to tell anyone... Promise? Don't say anything. And you know what I mean.
Fine. I promise. Now spill!
"Are you going to put that thing away yet?"
"Daejung."
"In a minute..." Jennie mumbled. "I gotta send this and then I'll tell him I'm eating. He won't be able to wait... although..."
"Honey, finish what you need to quickly so you can eat." Daejung calmly suggested, his eyes no doubt trying to take a peek at the blonde's phone.
"Yeah. I will." With a roll of her eyes she replied with two words.
Kim Jisoo.
And then her cell phone starts ringing, earning her dirty looks from both her parents.
"Now he's calling... Can... Can I take this?" Although, she was afraid to take the call. No doubt Hanbin would be screaming his head off at her.
"Yeah, just be quick about it, dear." Minjee nodded, even though Daejung was shaking his head.
"Thanks..." Jennie quickly hit the answer button and was immediately greeted with a boisterous voice that had her jump in her spot with wide eyes.
"NO FUCKING WAY, JENNIE! YOU'RE DATING MS. KIM? WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?"
"Pipe the hell down, Hanbin. Jesus. Blow my eardrums out, why don't you? I'm at the dinner table." She gave a wry look to no one in particular. "And... yes, I am. I told you not to say anything."
"But you're dating the fucking evil bitch. How the hell did you land on that airstrip? She's, like, your teacher, isn't she?"
"Yeah, but..." Jennie rolled her eyes and stood up from the table. "Just give me a moment."
"Why? I want details. Like, now. After all, you're using me to cover for her."
"I'm at the dinner table if you didn't first hear me." She quickly made her way back upstairs to her bedroom, abandoning her spot at the table along with both parents who were shooting her curious gazes. "Now, first off, don't call her that."
"Right. Sorry. I'm just... wow."
"And she liked me back, surprisingly. But that's not important. What's important is, will you cover for me?"
"If you visit me, fuck yeah I will."
"Tell me where you're at and I'll ask her if we can stop by tomorrow before we leave."
"When the hell are you coming?"
"We're leaving here at about four. So we'll be in around eight. But we're watching a show at the Paramount and eating at that restaurant by it, I think."
"Oh, you're eating at Salvatore's? That place is fancy."
"Yeah... Well, shut up. So, tell me where you're at and I'll make sure we'll stop by on Sunday. It'll probably be early."
"Wait. Sunday? And you're.... Ohhh.... Are you staying overnight?"
"Yes and let's leave it at that."
"You and-"
"Hanbin. Please."
"Fine. And yeah, I'll cover for you." He then proceeded to tell Jennie where he was currently residing, repeating every so often as she wrote the location down.
"Thanks."
"I'll be expecting you. Both. Of. You."
"Yeah. Oh, and Hanbin?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell anyone. No one knows."
"My lips are sealed, Jen. Lips equal sealed."
"Thanks... Uh, I gotta get going. I'm supposed to be eating and my parents are probably fucking fuming."
"Alright. Talk to you later and see you on Sunday."
"Yup. See you."
"Bye."
And so she hung up, sticking the piece of paper on top of her dresser so she wouldn't forget it tomorrow. Dear god, that went better than she had thought, albeit it could have gone better. Now Hanbin knows about her and Jisoo, but at least she could trust him enough to keep his lips sealed. And it actually took some pressure off Jennie's chest to divulge such information to her male friend. Now, the next challenge was to tell Jisoo and hope that she wouldn't mind taking the blonde to visit her friend on Sunday.
"Happy birthday, Jennie!" A collective cheer rang through the otherwise quiet diner. The blonde smiles sheepishly, still not used to the attention she was receiving from the rather large crowd. She felt as if she were in a spotlight, especially when they all started to sing that stupid Happy Birthday song to her, and she stood there awkwardly until they finished.
"Thank you," she squeaked and blew the eighteen candles poking out of the rather large cake. Holy shit, she hadn't expected this for her birthday. Her friends, Lisa and Chaeyoung were here along with a few classmates including Mino, Lisa's grandmother, Chaeyoung's father, her own parents, and a few acquaintances and friends of the adults. This party set up for her had been the largest she had ever had- and that was mostly because she only celebrated with Minjee, Daejung, and her three best friends.
It was to her surprise when Minjee, Daejung, and herself walked into the diner around noon for their usual special lunch when, without any sort of warning, she was berated with a collective "Surprise!" Then all had proceeded to eat from a small buffet that Lisa and her grandmother had made- which ultimately was their gift to Jennie since she absolutely loved food and free refills of cinnamon hot cocoa.
That was two hours ago and now Jennie sat surrounded by gifts with awaiting eyes on her. Giving a sheepish smile, the blonde stabbed her fork into the middle of the cake and received the first box given to her by Minjee. It was flat, like a box that clothes were usually wrapped in. The box, though, seemed heavier than any regular pair of pants or shirt that the brunette woman bought her. It was either several articles of clothing, Jennie thought, or something entirely different.
"Go on, open it!" Her foster mother grinned with excited eyes.
"Okay..." And the blonde did just that, ripping the prettily wrapped paper off the box with a smile as wide as the brunette's. She threw the box's top to the side and gasped when she saw red.
"Oh my god, Minjee! I love it! I- thank you!" she pulled out the object that had her squealing like an idiot, which so happened to be a red, leather jacket. It was the same one that she had seen at a shop a few months back and begged Minjee for but they hadn't the money at the time. Little did she know, her mother had gone back to get it shortly thereafter.
"So I take it you like it?"
"Yes!" Jennie beamed and shrugged it on, the smile only growing wider. She then turned her body to hug the brunette woman sitting next to her. "I love it!"
"I knew you would. You were positively begging me to buy it for you when you saw it." She chuckled and returned the hug. "You look beautiful in it."
Jennie blushed, just as bright as her new jacket, and stuffed a forkful of frosting laden cake into her mouth.
"Yeah, but I beat that won't beat what I got her." Daejung held up a large, rectangular box, a smug smile on his face.
"Nothing will compare, Daejung." Minjee crossed her arms, a confident look on her visage.
"Just wait and see." He smirked in response.
Jennie quirked a brow and took the gift that he had handed her. It was rather heavy, much more so than the jacket. What the hell was in here and what could positively be more better than the red leather jacket? Unless...
"Holy shit!" she squealed when she had finally opened the packaging.
"Language, Jennie..." Minjee sighed, looking defeated as her eyes roamed over the black, leather boots that lay in the box.
"Holy crap!" Jennie mended, taking one of the footwear items out. "It's... perfect! Thank you thank you thank you so much!" The blonde turned to her other side to give her foster father a tight hug. "How did you know?"
"I saw you gawking at them when we went to get you new shoes for this year." Daejung grinned, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "I figured why not be a good father and actually get you what you want for your eighteenth birthday."
"Thank you so much, dad." The blonde giggled. "I'm totally wearing both of these tonight! I hope it'll look nice with the dress that I'll be wearing... It's black, so, probably."
"When do you have to go back again, dear? It's almost two-thirty now." Minjee had looked back to Jennie after checking the time, her lips forming a slightly sad smile. "And don't you still have to pack? You sort of just passed out after watching the movie with us."
"Yeah, I do. We should probably head back when we're done. I still have to get ready, too."
The two of them nodded, Minjee still looking sullen which had Jennie feeling rather horrible for leaving her- even if it were for just one day. She didn't want to fret much on the subject, but she still had that thought weighing her mind down. In reality, she was leaving the pixie-haired brunette- for what she thought would be to tour the city she would be living in, which would be another reminder that she wouldn't be staying home for long- and she had lied to her foster mother, as well, in order to head to Boston.
With guilt weighing her down, and a heavy smile, she took the next gift that Daejung had handed her and opened it. There was a CD beneath the wrapping, one that of her favorite musical artist- and one that she hoped Jisoo enjoyed when she had her listen to a song during their lunch. Perhaps she'd allow her to play the CD on their way to Boston later.
"You don't have that one, do you?" He asked, frowning slightly at her expressionless face. Jennie looked up and beamed, shaking her head in response.
"Nope! Thank you, Daejung! This is perfect." She set it aside when Minjee had given her another wrapped gift which, if Jennie guessed correctly, would be another compact disc. Jisoo and Jennie were going to have some fine tunes to listen to on the way to the big city. It's all to hoping that the brunette teacher had a player in her car to listen to the media.
With the smile still stretched across her face, she opened up Minjee's gift to reveal that it was, indeed, another CD. This time, it was another one of her favorite artists. Boy, did she hope Jisoo liked her.
"I hope you don't have that one, Jennie. I think that it was the new album that you mentioned was out." Minjee reached over to gently touch the blonde's wrist.
"No, it's perfect. Thank you, Minjee!" She grinned widely and stacked her two new CDs on top of one another.
"Why do you still get CDs? Those things are like... so old." Lisa's voice muttered next to the blonde, one of her brows quirked when Jennie turned to glare at her.
"I get them because I like to have physical copies of things. And if I have a car that takes CDs, and not tapes, I can play them. Or put them on my laptop, so I don't have to search up every goddamn song on the internet that I want." she explained calmly, eyes still shooting daggers at her friend.
"Alright, jeez. Sorry. I didn't realize you still lived in the stone age." The wry smile on Lisa's lips told Jennie the joke was meant to be light and playful, so the blonde took it as such to not fret over it.
"Here, I got you something." The brunette waitress smirked and handed her a long, flat box. "You know, since the dance is coming up in a couple weeks and I'm sure you don't... I mean. Open it."
"You got me a dress, didn't you?" Jennie quirked a brow as she tore the wrapping away, then quickly flipped the lid off to reveal black. And black was all she saw until she actually picked up the rather delicate material, which reflected some of the light in a soft sheen. "Satin?"
"Yeah, dude! I got it for me, actually, but I didn't really think black was a good color on me, you know? I prefer red and white. I figured you needed a dress in your closet, you know, if you ever go out on a date or anything. It's not really school appropriate, but with some jackets and leggings or socks or something, it'll work." Lisa gave her a cheeky grin before squeezing into the spot between Daejung and the blonde.
"I'll try it on later..."
"You better take pictures." Now she wore a wolfish grin on her visage. "I wanna see how hot you'll look in that."
"Yeah." Jennie bit her lip and tried to suppress the smile she could feel threatening to break across her face. Jisoo would like this, she wouldn't doubt. Maybe she could wear this to Salvatore's instead of the pantsuit outfit she had planned out. But the problem was, she couldn't wear it out of the house. Minjee and Daejung would surely freak if they caught her in this. Hopefully Jisoo planned on stopping by the hotel first. She could change then.
"Are you trying not to... smile?" Lisa chuckled and nudged Jennie which had caused the restrains on the smile to break, and the blonde just beamed from her thoughts.
"Thank you, Lisa. I'm sure it'll come to some use."
"It better, I didn't pay a hundred bucks for that thing."
"What the fuck." Jennie blinked. "How the hell did... did this cost a hundred bucks?" she squawked, holding up the thin piece of fabric.
"It was probably more than that, I dunno. And, Jen, dresses are fucking expensive, and lemme tell you. I was pissed when they wouldn't take that damn thing back." Lisa snorted and glowered at the dress in Jennie's hands with disdain. "So you better enjoy it."
"I will, Lisa." Jennie rolled her eyes and carefully placed the dress back into the box. "And I'll get you pictures when I get home- but don't share 'em with anybody or I'll find some way to kill you."
"I won't..."
"Except for me, you mean?" Chaeyoung butted in, squirming between Minjee and Jennie with a big grin and a small, rectangular package. "I want to see you in a dress."
"Oh my god, guys." The blonde's cheeks burned brightly as some of the other guests looked towards them. "Fine. I will. Just... shut up about it."
"Yay! Now open up my present!" Chaeyoung grinned, shoving the neatly wrapped package into the blonde's arms. "I bet you'll love it."
"Depends on what it is..." Jennie mumbled, mercilessly ripping the paper off and throwing it at both her friends. Then she looked down at the object left behind, which was a book. A very familiar book. It was that same one that brought her to her very first library so many years ago, and the one that she made sure to look for and reread every single time she went there. Holy shit. How did Chaeyoung even find this? Jennie couldn't find a copy of those goddamn book anywhere and she didn't bother with online sites. Most copies of the book were very nearly trashed. But this one... it was so pristine.
"Do you like it? I remember when you told me this is the first large book that you've read and it meant great importance to you. I searched online for a good copy and finally stumbled on a site that had super old copies of books in perfect condition. Let me tell you, they cost about an arm and a leg, but it was totally worth it." Chaeyoung beamed at a misty-eyed Jennie.
The blonde quickly wrapped her arms tightly around the tall brunette and chuckled with elation. "Oh, god, Chaeyoung. Thank you so much! Holy shit, I've been looking for this for a while now. I couldn't find a good copy..."
"It's no sweat. It's your eighteenth, Jen. It's a milestone in your life and you deserve the best of gifts."
"I love you, both of you." Jennie couldn't help but to laugh again, this time pulling both of them into her arms. "You're so amazing, even if one of you gave me a dress."
"You know you secretly like it, Jennie." Lisa smirked.
"No comment." The blonde chuckled, setting the book next to her other birthday gifts. "But I do appreciate it, especially since it was apparently so goddamn expensive."
"Yeah, you better appreciate it, bitch." The waitress giggled and playfully nudged her friend. "But, hey, no problem. I'm sure you'll get me something equally as awesome... huh?"
"You'll just have to wait and see. I've got plans for both of your upcoming birthdays."
"I want something expensive."
"I'm just happy with books." Chaeyoung commented, shooting her brunette friend a quick eyebrow raise.
"I'll be sure to save up for your expensive tastes." she grinned wryly.
"Unless you blow whatever in Boston." Lisa sneered and crossed her arms.
"What?"
'Why didn't you tell us you were going down there today?"
"Because it's none of your business?"
"Didn't her mother say that Hanbin was coming to pick her up?" Chaeyoung's soft voice chirped.
"I thought he was coming down in two weeks to spend time with us?"
"He is. I just-"
"Hey, Jennie! I got you something, too." A masculine voice sounded behind the three friends and Jennie slumped in her spot. Oh, great, here comes Mino. Perhaps he won't take it upon himself to be annoying as usual. At least she was saved for now from having to talk about why she was leaving later.
"You did?" She blinked and stared at the hand that had extended towards her. Her green eyes slid up to meet a grinning face.
"Yup."
"What is it?"
"Open it and find out." Mino waved the envelope in his hand towards her and she snatched it from between his fingers.
"Okay..." she muttered, using her thumb to tear open the envelope and pluck the card out that was inside. On the front was a lone cat and when she opened it, there was a handwritten message.
"Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Jennie. I've got you two gifts. One, look up and two, listen."
Jennie quirked a puzzled brow at the words, but obliged, and did what it had said as she looked up to see Mino extend a single red rose to her.
"Uh... thanks." she muttered, taking the flower. "What... do I have to-"
"Will you go to the dance with me?" He asked oh so innocently, and Jennie could hear the suppressed snorts of laughter from her friends.
"What does this have to do with anything?"
"I... wanted to take you to the dance in a couple weeks and I thought I could pay your fee to get in."
"Bribe much?"
"Jennie," Chaeyoung warned. "Don't be so rude."
"Yeah, Jen. He's asking you to the dance, and as far as I know, he's the only one that has asked you. You don't have a date."
"Yeah, because I had no plan to go." Jennie looked over to the boy still standing in front of her. "No offense, but I just hate dances. They're loud and stuffy and there are so many people."
"Oh, come on, Jen." Lisa whined. "Chaeyoung and I are going."
"We are?-"
"We don't want to be there alone and I doubt Mino does, either. It's just one dance and it won't kill you." The brunette waitress crossed her eyes and gave Jennie that look.
"Oh, come on..." the blonde began to protest, but she was cut short by a finger in her face.
"You're going to that dance, Jennie Kim, unless you have other plans that I don't know about, but that's like... impossible, because you're Jennie." She smirked. "Plus, I don't see a line of suitors waiting to ask you to the dance."
"And you can make good use of the dress Lisa got you..." Chaeyoung tried her best to persuade.
"You're never going to let me pass, are you?"
"Nope. Now grow a pair and say yes."
"Fu-... Fine. Only this once." Jennie turned to an expectant Mino who had no doubt been eavesdropping in on their conversation. "I'll go with you to the dance... Under one condition. No... kissing or anything like that. As a matter of fact, no touching."
"Oh, come on... The whole point of a dance is to touch each other."
"That sounds wrong." Lisa snorted.
"Shut up, Lis." Jennie snapped and crossed her arms. "Fine. But only touch when dancing and no place inappropriate or else I'll be gone faster than you can say sorry."
"Okay..."
"Got it?"
"Got it." He mumbled solemnly.
"Good, now, thank you for the rose." Jennie smiled politely. "And the card. It was nice. I like the cat."
"You're welcome." Mino's mood seemed to change in the blink of an eye with a dazzling smile. "I've got some cake calling my name, so... I'm out. We can work out details for the dance later." And with that, he was gone.
"Well, you got yourself a date to the dance, Jennie." Lisa giggled as she enjoyed the blonde's torture. "Although, it's with a guy." she whispered the last part as to not let Jennie's parents overhear.
"Yeah, well, I don't see any willing chicks in this school..." Jennie snorted and twirled the rose around.
"Jennie, honey, are you just about ready to leave? It's almost three." Minjee's voice interrupted whatever witty comment that Lisa was about to say. "I know you wanted to be home to pack and change."
"Yeah, right. And I gotta get all this stuff into their new homes." The blonde nodded and stood, stretching in her place before turning to look down at her friends' sitting forms. "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"And you better be telling me what Boston is like. I haven't been out of this stupid town yet." Lisa grumbled. "It's so unfair that he's only taking you up there."
"Excuse me, but who's birthday is it?" Jennie smirked. "And, anyways, I'm moving up there with him when school ends. All he's doing is touring me around the city."
"I hope you have fun." Chaeyoung meekly responded. "Don't let sourpuss get you down."
"I won't." Jennie narrowed her eyes at the brunette waitress. "I was going to buy you some stuff, but if you're going to act like that..."
"Fine. Fine. I'll shut up."
"Good." Jennie giggled and bent down to hug them both before gathering her things to leave. "Thanks for the stuff, guys. And thank your grandmother for me, Lisa, for letting us use the diner."
"No problem, and I will."
"You're welcome, Jen."
They both smiled up at her and waved when the Ims and herself left. She waved right back, all the guilt that she had earlier weighing her down once again. It was so horrible to lie to the people that you love because you know the truth and they do not. They're forced to believe in some fairytale bullshit that is made up instead of the reality behind it all. But Jennie couldn't tell her friends the truth as to why she was going to Boston, like how she couldn't tell her parents. She didn't want Hanbin to know, either, but since she was using him, she was sort of forced to- or at least pestered to. But, there was a part of her that didn't feel so guilty because they would all learn the truth later in the future- when it was safe enough to publicise her and Jisoo's relationship.
That was something to be worried about later, right now, Jennie needed to focus on packing for her trip. She knew that she should have done it last night, but god, did she want today to come faster than it should have. The blonde was absolutely thrilled and also nervous to be going on a date with Jisoo. A real date at a restaurant with people around them and food and waiters and that show they were supposed to go to beforehand. Oh, it was so agonizing waiting for four o'clock to come, and now that it was less than an hour away, Jennie was a bundled mess of frazzled nerves.
She dumped her messenger bag for school out onto her mattress to start filling the thing up with a change of clothes, pajamas, a fresh pair of undergarments, a few toiletries, and her CDs as well as an extra pair of flats in case the boots were a little too much. Checking around the room for anything that she might have missed, Jennie shucked her shoes and pants off as well as her shirt in order to try on that damn dress. She still had enough time to snap a few photos and such for her friends and possibly see if it were to be suitable enough for the restaurant.
She hadn't noticed that the top bit of the dress was a halter top, with its one strap around her neck and the plunging neckline, but upon trying it on, she felt mortified. Jennie had ever worn something so revealing before. The ruffled skirt of the dress was short to her, cutting off at mid-thigh. The entirety of her upper back was exposed, which made the blonde feel uncomfortable. It was no wonder why she didn't find such attire appealing, and when she saw it on other girls- more specifically Lisa- she always wondered how they could do it. Don't they feel... exposed?
Whatever it may be, she wasn't sure if she would be comfortable enough to wear this out in public. Of course, she could always bring it with her and hope that Jisoo would think it to be suitable after trying it on- if they were to stop at the hotel first. Or else, she'd just wear her pantsuit, which she quickly grabbed out of the closet to dress into after peeling the dress off.
With a sigh, Jennie quickly shoved the dress into her bag and zipped it up. Did she have everything?
Clothes? Check. Undies? Check. Back-up shoes? Check. Sleepwear? Check. Dress? Check. Hairbrush? Check. Toothbrush? Check. CDs? Check. Hanbin's address?
She rummaged through the smaller compartment of her bag and came across the piece of paper that she had stuck in there earlier.
Check.
"I think that's everything..." she mumbled to herself as she found her new red leather jacket and donned it. "And still half an hour to spare. Great."
Jennie sighed and plopped heavily onto her bed, grabbing her cellphone from the end table. Maybe she should see what Jisoo's up to? Perhaps she was ready to leave and might want to head out on the road early? With a shrug, she figured it wouldn't hurt to try.
Hey, Jisoo, are you about ready? I'm all done packing and stuff, so, I guess if you want to come early, you can.
"Jennie, your father and I have something for you." Minjee's voice startled the blonde, causing her to jump with a surprised "holy shit."
"When the hell did you get in here?"
"Not too long ago?" The brunette chuckled, completely ignoring Jennie's use of profanity. "Now, dear, since you're going to Boston and I'm sure you'll need food and drinks and gas and... and if you see anything you like and you want to buy it, you ca-"
"What your mother is trying to say is that we're going to give you money for your trip in case you need it. You don't have to worry about giving us back the change. Keep it as your birthday gift." Daejung interrupted, stepping forward to hand Jennie an envelope. It looked rather thick.
God, how much was in there?
"Thank you, but it seems like a lot... I really don't want to take it from you."
"Don't worry about it, kiddo. They're mostly one dollar bills."
"Oh, thanks..." Jennie quirked a brow. "But, really, you didn't have to-"
"It's a birthday gift from us to you, dear. Just take it and make you father happy."
"Then I'm going to use it to get you guys something, because I really can't..." Jennie sighed and received the envelope of money from Daejung before stuffing it into the side of her bag.
"Don't sweat it, Jen. We love you and this is for you. Not us. Spend it on yourself."
"You know I can't-"
"Jennie," Minjee used her stern voice, which meant she was serious and there was to be no further argument.
"Alright... Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it." Jennie smiled, standing up from her bed to throw her arms around the two. "I love you and I appreciate everything you guys do for me, even though I may not show it all the time."
"We know, honey."
"We love you, too."
They both had watery smiles as they hugged their foster daughter back with tight embraces.
"Now, you go have fun, okay? Don't get into any trouble." Daejung tucked a strand of hair behind Jennie's ear.
"Yes, and if you are in trouble, don't hesitate to call." Minjee reminded. "And call even if you're not. We wouldn't mind hearing from you..."
"Guys, I'll only be gone for one day." Jennie chuckled. "Don't worry about it, okay? I'll call you when we get there so you make sure we arrived safely."
"Good, yes, do that." Both nodded at the pixie-haired woman's voice.
"I will," the blonde smiled and pulled her phone from the pocket of her leather jacket it when it had buzzed. It was a message from Jisoo.
I'm outside. So whenever you're ready.
"Oh, he's here." Jennie stuffed the device back into her pocket and slung her backpack over her shoulder, looking at her two sullen foster parents. "I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright, Jennie. I love you and have a safe trip." Minjee was the first to pull her into a tight embrace before exiting the room with what appeared to be tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, hon. And have fun, but not too much fun." Daejung quirked a brow in her direction and it hit Jennie like a brick when she realized what he was referring to with that twinkle in his eye.
"Ew, dad, no. I won't be doing that with him, or any dude we might find." Jennie wrinkled her nose and returned the hug when he had chuckled and embraced her as well.
"Good. Now, go, I don't think you want to keep him waiting."
"Nope! I'll see you Sunday. Love you goodbye." She grinned and hopped down the stairs from her bedroom with Daejung behind her.
Soon, she felt the bitter air of freedom hit her face as she stepped out of the apartment building, a large smile on her pale, pink lips. The first thing wrong, she noticed, was that Jisoo's lack of appearance. She, nor her black Mercedes, were nowhere to be found.
"Goddammit," she muttered, starting to head down the sidewalk. Jisoo must have parked away from eyesight so her parents wouldn't see her. It was a rather smart choice, Jennie thought, but a really cold one as well. It was still chilly as fuck outside, but at least her boots and new jacket kept her rather warm, although the wind was still a bother.
It wasn't long before she reached the awaiting Benz and its owner just a block down with its beautifully running engine that assured Jennie it would be warm inside. She jogged the last few steps to the passenger's door and quickly got in with a shiver.
"It's cold out there," she commented, shoving her messenger bag between her feet on the floor. "I hate winter. And cold. So. Fucking. Much."
"Language." Jisoo's husky voice sounded from beside her and it was like a choir of angels in Jennie's ears. She had went all goddamn day without hearing that angelic voice and, boy, it was so nice to hear it now. Although, the twisting and constant swirl of metaphorical butterflies in her stomach had returned.
"God, I've missed you." Jennie found herself saying, a sheepish smile on her face when she turned her attention to the brunette next to her. And, holy fuck, her breath was lost. That woman was literally breathtaking with that stunning smirk on her crimson lips and those smokey eyes sparkling with mischief.
"It has only been one day?"
"Which is too long." Jennie giggled a little too giddily.
"I certainly do hope you won't get tired of me after spending so much time in my presence." There was a light tint to her cheeks, which would have been mistaken for blush if Jennie hadn't been staring at the teacher's face for the past five minutes. She was blushing.
"I won't, I can promise you that. I'll never get tired of you." She replied honestly, leaning forward to place a tender kiss on the older woman's cheek. "But we should get going so we aren't late, and, uh... Do you think we'd have enough time to stop at the hotel first?"
"Why is that?" Jisoo's voice had taken a much lighter tone as she pulled away from the curb and headed for the street out of town.
"Well, you see... Lisa got me this dress and I wasn't sure if I should wear it or not. And, anyways, I couldn't wear it out of the house without my foster parents having a fit." Jennie shrugged and quickly put her seat belt on, earning a satisfied smile from the brunette next to her.
"I see. I suppose we would have enough time for you to do that. I have to check into the hotel firstly, anyhow, before our reservation expires." Jisoo chuckled at Jennie's expression, which probably reflected how much she wanted to hit herself. Goddammit. She didn't think about that. Somehow, she thought they automatically already had the hotel room. What the hell was she thinking?
"We might be late for the show, but that shouldn't matter too much, I hope."
"Not really, I guess." Jennie shrugged. "But I hope that wouldn't cost too much or anything, and for being late, I mean... would that be worth it? Hanbin said it cost a shitload of money to get in."
"Everything will be fine, Jennie. We should only be, at max, ten minutes late. Since we are leaving early, we should have enough time to get whatever is needed to be done at the hotel." The brunette shrugged nonchalantly.
"If you're sure. I mean, I got money and stuff."
"Don't worry about it. It's your birthday. Let me spoil you."
Jennie's only response was a sheepish nod and a blooming blush on her cheeks. Holy shit, Jisoo was one that loved to spoil others, wasn't she? The blonde was in for one hell of a ride with her, for she rarely liked receiving things- especially in mass quantities- without being modest about it. It would be just like how she had with Daejung and that wad of cash he gave her.
"So you say you talked to Hanbin?" Jisoo asked suddenly after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah. I asked him if it was alright that I used him as a cover." Jennie shrugged, biting her lip. She should probably tell Jisoo that she had told him about them. She might have already expected it, but, still.
"Does he know about us?" And there it was, along with a hint of worry in her tone.
Shit.
"Y-yeah..." Jennie mumbled, running her fingers through her hair. "But I made him promise not to tell anyone, and Hanbin's a good guy. He wouldn't do that, unlike Lisa, so that's why he's the only one that knows now. But..."
"There's a but?" Now her tone was incredulous and her chocolate orbs wide with fear. "What is it?"
"He wants us to visit him before we leave tomorrow." Jennie suppressed a giggle from Jisoo's sudden relaxing form, because she knew that she, too, would be terrified out of her wits if there were a 'but' as well in something as serious as this.
"He does?"
"Yeah. He gave me his address and a specific 'Both. Of. You.' to me. So, yeah, both of us have to go visit him." Jennie chuckled this time, lighthearted and joyful. "I hadn't seen him in a while and he's, like, happy that we're together, I guess. He freaked the fuck out of me when I told him. He called and screamed in my ear. At first, I thought he was going to give me the cold shoulder, but, nope..."
"Nope?" Jisoo's brows crinkled together. "What do you mean by that?"
"He was pretty cool about it after getting over the fact that you're my teacher. We talked for a bit, and I didn't divulge much, but he knows that you make me super happy and so he's pretty happy about that." The blonde played with a lock of her hair.
"I make you super happy, hm?" The brunette gave her a warm, tender smile.
"Yes you do. I hadn't felt like this since... Well, ever, actually and I feel that you need to know that."
"Interesting..." Jisoo whispered mostly to herself because she just could not believe that she could make someone happy. For most of her life, she just made people's life a living hell, or so her mother had told her, so she stayed away from everyone, before forced to believe that she was nothing but a nuisance. It was nothing but a pleasant surprise to her when Jennie hadn't pushed her away like most others in her life. It was a strange concept for Jisoo to grasp, but she was sure as hell trying because letting go didn't seem like it would leave a pleasant feeling in her gut.
They sat in silence for the better part of thirty minutes with Jisoo's eyes straight ahead on the road and Jennie's on the scenery surrounding them, a sated smile on her lips. It was quiet, serene even, with nothing but the road and no traffic to share it with. The world outside was painted white with crystal flakes and decorated with thick woods of green and brown. It seemed so calm, and not at all the harsh cold that it really was. Perhaps it was because she wasn't out there, but in the car instead?
The warmth of the car feigned the temperature outside, but Jennie was glad that she wasn't out there. She was thankful to be in the Mercedes where the scenery was much more enjoyable without the bitter wind. She could actually enjoy winter for once without the fear of freezing something off, even if that weren't exactly logical. Everything looked absolutely breathtaking and if it weren't for the sun reflecting off the blanket of snow, she would stare at it forevermore. The little ice crystals really could catch the sun's rays and make beauty turn into eye watering pain.
Jennie let her eyes drift away from the painted scene and take a moment to look over the other beauty that shouldn't cause her any current physical pain. The blonde pressed her lips tightly together as wide, eyes took the time to appreciate God's masterpiece that lay before them. Kim Jisoo was nothing but pure perfection and even the most gorgeous, spring day could not hold a candle to her.
"Take a picture it'll last longer." The brunette's voice shook Jennie from her thoughts.
"Sorry," she relocated her eyes, catching bits of Jisoo's pea coat and what appeared to be a strange print in greyscale.
What was she wearing?
Jisoo chuckled, a soft melody floating through the otherwise silent vehicle. Jennie smiled. My perfect Jichu, were the words to echo through the blonde's head and she let them reverberate until the brunette's laughter had tapered off. Then all was quiet again except for the rhythmic hum of the engine.
"We're missing something," the older woman tilted her head in Jennie's direction, the corners of her mouth quirked. "It's silent, isn't it? Why don't you see what is on the radio?"
"I brought music." Jennie blurted, her eyes now staring at the complicated looking stereo. It didn't seem to have a CD player, but it did have a built-in tape player.
"Unless you brought tapes with you I do not think it is possible to listen to anything else besides the radio."
"I have one of those converter things." The blonde bent down to rummage through the messenger bag on the floor between her feet. It had taken her a few moments to remember where she exactly stuck it, but she eventually found the tape she had been looking for and held it up. "See?"
Jisoo arched an eyebrow at the object, then gestured towards the front console. "Whatever that thing does, have at it."
"They have that little end to 'em just like headphones, that's how they work. So you can pretty much stick it into any media device." The blonde shrugged, sticking the tape end of the converter before pulling her phone out and hooking the other end up to it. "And it works with phones, too."
"I might have to get one of those. It would make some use of the tape player." Jisoo drew her gaze to the road once again as they finally neared the highway.
"They sell them at most stores, so I'm pretty sure you can find one." Jennie shrugged and tapped her foot to the beat of the music.
"I'll be sure to check into that." The brunette nodded. "I have good news, Jennie, as well."
"What is it?"
"We only have a little over three and a half hours left on our trip."
"Sounds like we're making good time." The blonde couldn't help but to chuckle at the feigned excitement in the brunette teacher's voice. Jisoo joined in and both shared a good laugh before finally quieting down to listen to the upbeat tune floating through the car speakers.
The two of them alternated between listening to the music in companionable silence and having idle conversation for the rest of the trip. It wasn't until Jisoo had mentioned that the final city they were passing through was Boston itself, which had Jennie's interest almost immediately. The lights of the city were intriguing as they contrasted against the darkness of the night. The blonde was awe-struck, barely paying any attention to what Jisoo had been saying to her, but she had been able to catch the tail end of it.