/LISA/
I tried concentrating, listening and absorbing whatever the woman in burgundy blouse was explaining about. But, I just couldn't.
The mentioned woman, Christie Walls, was explaining her presentation, something about closing the MC's mine in Japan and build one in Africa instead. The idea was overall very good and promising, but I just couldn't get my mind into it at the moment.
My thoughts were somehow stuck on a certain brunette with cat-like, mesmerizing eyes. It's been three days since our confession and the kiss. God, I couldn't even think about her without feeling her soft lips ghosting mine.
We're still texting each other, a bit more frequently this time around. But still, I wasn't satisfied by only receiving texts from her, I wanted to see her. Badly.
"Mrs. Walls, how about the damage that remained done in Japan?"
Mrs. Walls thought for a moment, then smiled as she poured her thoughts onto the meeting room. Checking my wristwatch for the nth time tonight, I sighed slightly.
The other member of MC kept on asking Mrs. Walls concerning her ideas and her opinions about the damages and consequences, prolonging the meeting by doing so. As expected of Mrs. Walls, she calmly answered all the questions.
The meeting was going on for almost two hours and by each minutes passing by, I grew more bored.
Mrs. Walls asked the members if they had anything else to ask for, and when they gave no response, I stood up instead. "Thank you, Mrs. Walls, for the presentation. I very much agreed about opening a branch of MC in Angola, Africa, but we still need the approvement and opinions from our President, Mr. Manoban to take the next steps. Therefore, this meeting is finished and the next meeting will be announced this week. Good night, everyone. Thank you,"
The members stood up from their respective chairs and shook hands with each other. I stood up too, taking everyone's hands offered to me. I slightly nodded at Mrs. Walls before stepping out of the meeting room.
"Hey, do I have another meeting or appointment?" I greeted my personal assistant, Joy. Joy looked up from her computer for a second before focusing back on the schedule.
"No, you're done for today," Joy smiled, I sighed in relief. "Tomorrow, you have a meeting at 8 am with the Kang Company. That's it for tomorrow, though. Nothing else."
"Thank you, Joy. Well, you better go home now. It's almost 10 pm,"
"Uhm, yeah. I'll figure that one out," Joy chuckled softly, her focus was back on the screen of her computer.
"Hm?"
"I'll figure out how to get home, my ride had gone earlier,"
I nodded swiftly. "Where do you live?"
"Not too far from here, about thirty minutes ride,"
"Well, I can give you a ride,"
"No, you don't have to. I mean, pretty sure there's somebody else who's also going in the same direction as me—"
"Are you declining my humble offer?" I asked in a serious tone, but secretly mean it as a playful one.
"No! I just—you're technically my boss and I don't want people to think—"
"Cut the bullshit, I'm driving you home. Come on,"
Joy stared at me. Then she sighed in defeat and tidied up her desk. She turned off her computer, rearranged her files to insert them inside her map, and slung her bag on her shoulder.
We walked side by side towards the elevator. The way Joy hung her head low and avoided other employee's eyes didn't slip from my attention, though. It shouldn't have, but it pissed me off a little.
"You know, you should care less about what they think of you. It's not like we're doing anything wrong. I'm just offering you a ride, " I said as soon as the lift door closed.
"I know," Joy sighed. "I'm sorry, I just don't want to make any scene. It'll be uncomfortable and it's hard to be productive in an environment which is uncomfortable for you."
I stayed silent, deciding that it would be better to keep my mouth shut before I said things that would turn this into a bigger argument.
Stepping out of the building, I gave the staff a tip as he drove my BMW to the front door. Entering the car, I threw my blazer to the back seat, leaving me with a white button up blouse, before stepping on the gas pedal.
—
/THIRD PERSON POV/
Jennie, Chaeyoung, and Jisoo were all focused on their own laptops. They had an upcoming Economic Quiz this week and they really aimed to nail it.
"What the hell does enterprise mean here?" Jisoo asked with an irritated tone.
"It's the process of bringing the factors of land, labor, and capital together to make a profit," Jennie answered without looking up from her laptop, her fingers dancing on top of the keyboard swiftly.
Jisoo nodded, typing on her laptop.
They were studying the case of study of Sustainability and Water from Nestle. Chaeyoung and Jisoo sat next to each other with Jennie across them. They had been inside the cafe from 11 am until now, at 3 pm. The three of them knew they wouldn't be studying if they gathered on one of their houses, they would either be sleeping or watching movies.
"Guys, I gotta be honest. I'm starving," Chaeyoung said all in a sudden.
"Me too," Jennie chimed in, her fingers stopped their previous action. Then both of them stared at Jisoo who was still typing rapidly on her laptop.
"Uh-huh, don't look at me like that. You know I'm always available for food," Jisoo said when she realized the two of her friends were waiting for her response.
"Alright, what do you want?" Jennie asked, preparing to get up and order.
"The Beef Fettucini here is amazing, I'll take one," Chaeyoung replied immediately.
"Make it two," Jisoo added.
"Me too. Drink?"
"Lemontea for me," Chaeyoung said when Jennie got up from her seat.
"Matcha latte," Jisoo said, not looking up from her laptop.
Jennie nodded and without asking any more questions, she walked towards the cashier to make an order.
Meanwhile, both Chaeyoung and Jisoo were still occupied with their homework, a 'ticket' that they had to submit in order to take the quiz.
Then, Jennie's phone lit up as the familiar ding was heard. Chaeyoung's eyes instantly went to the white device—she couldn't keep her focus towards the homework, her mind already wandered towards the juicy taste of fettucini.
Chaeyoung's eyes widen at the ID of the sender.
"Lisa?" she whispered absentmindedly, which attracted Jisoo's attention.
"What? Where?" Jisoo asked, her eyes searching around the room.
"No, it's from Lisa," Chaeyoung murmured, pointing towards the device. Jisoo's eyes immediately went to the device's screen and the same as Chaeyoung before, her eyes widen.
Today, 3.17 PM
hey, i was wondering if you're free tonight?
Received
Chaeyoung and Jisoo automatically stared at each other after they finished reading the text message.
What the fuck, Chaeyoung thought to herself.
"What the fuck indeed," Jisoo murmured as if she had just read Chaeyoung's mind.
When the two were still stunned by what they had seen, Jennie came and sat on her seat with a plastic number stand on her hand. Chaeyoung and Jisoo pretended to be occupied on their laptops, but still watching Jennie from the corner of their eyes.
They noticed how Jennie's face lit up and how her hands quickly swooped the device from the table. They noticed how Jennie bit her lip to prevent a smile from forming.
Is there something Jennie's hiding?
The thought lingered on the two girls' head, yet they didn't voice it out loud.
Chaeyoung, however, felt different. Her eyebrows were instantly furrowed, her lips formed in a thin line. Did Jennie and Lisa seriously have a thing right now? When did this even start? Why hadn't Jennie told her? Why hadn't Lisa, her sister, told her?
Chaeyoung wouldn't admit it to herself, but she felt jealous.
Jealous, because her sister was going to spend all her attention towards the brunette sitting across her from now on. Because her sister was going to spoil Jennie from now on. Because she couldn't be Lisa's top priority now that Jennie comes into the frame.
Jealous, because her title of being Lisa's baby would soon be snatched by Jennie. And she didn't know whether she's ready or not to face it.
She knew she shouldn't have felt like this, remembering it was she who encouraged Lisa to get to know Jennie from the very start... but she just couldn't help it. The fact that Lisa who usually tells her everything didn't even bother to update her about this just hurt her more.
"What's that smile for?"
Both Jennie and Chaeyoung's head snapped towards Jisoo who had asked the question. The oldest had a smug smile on her face.
"Nothing," Jennie blushed slightly, bit her lip and locked her device.
"Bullshit. That's your whipped smile, Jendeuk,"
"Yeah, who are you texting?" Chaeyoung joined, her tone was a bit more sharp than usual, unintentionally.
"Jeez, chill guys," Jennie stared at her friends and let out a sigh. "It's Lisa..."
Chaeyoung's heart throbbed weirdly at Jennie's confession. A part of her was glad that Jennie decided to be honest, but the other half was irritated as to why Jennie hadn't been from the start.
"Really? What did she say that got you all smiling like a love-struck puppy?" Jisoo played dumb, but Jennie didn't notice.
"I'm not a love-struck puppy," Jennie frowned but blushed lightly. "She's asking me whether I'm free tonight or not."
"Jennie..." Chaeyoung stared at the brunette. "You got a hell of explaining to do."
—
/THIRD PERSON POV/
Chaeyoung stared at her magazine. She was supposed to read the page which contained an interview of a top model, but she just couldn't. She was sitting on the gray couch on their living room, a black, oversized AC/DC shirt, and white shorts hugged her body loosely.
It was almost eleven pm, and she should've been asleep by now. Yet there she was, with her eyes constantly peering over the magazine to the big, wooden door. She was expecting a certain blonde to open it and came through, she had been waiting for the last one hour.
As if the thought of her sister materialized her, the wooden door creaked open annoyingly as a tall figure slipped inside. Lisa was still in her work outfit, except that she wasn't wearing the gray blazer but held it on her hand instead.
Lisa had her top two buttons of her white blouse opened to reveal her signature 'L' and Aries symbol necklace, not to mention showing off her imperative pair of collarbones.
The older sibling put her car key on the table near the entrance door and made her way towards her bedroom. Walking onto the living room in order to reach her bedroom, Lisa noticed Chaeyoung.
"Hey, why are you awake?" Lisa murmured, changing her direction to make her way towards her little sister.
Chaeyoung eyed Lisa, her gut wanted to punch her for not telling her such an important update of her life, but her heart thawed at the sight of her sister.
Lisa looked so tired, her eyes were heavy and her face pale, her voice lowered down about an octave, and Chaeyoung's conscience went against her ego right away. She stood up and took Lisa's blazer and went to hang it on the hook beside the wide, flat screen TV.
"I'm waiting for you," Chaeyoung murmured after the blazer was hung perfectly on the hook.
"What for?" Lisa asked, giving up to the gravitation and fell down to the comfy couch immediately.
Chaeyoung turned around, stared at Lisa while standing unmovingly in front of her. Lisa raised her eyebrows, waiting for Chaeyoung's answer.
"Where have you been?" Chaeyoung asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"MC's office? Where else?"
"No," Chaeyoung replied impatiently. "Sooyoung told me you're out of the office since the afternoon."
Lisa was taken aback at Chaeyoung's answer. First, she hadn't expected Chaeyoung to know about her doing in the office. Second, she didn't know that Chaeyoung had Joy's contact; let alone the fact that Chaeyoung had asked her assistant about her.
"Okay... I didn't have any more appointments so I went somewhere," Lisa stated.
"By your own?"
Lisa's eyebrows rose at Chaeyoung's question. Did Chaeyoung know that she went out with Jennie, or?
"No," Lisa answered. "Why are you asking?"
"Because if I'm not, you won't even bother telling me anything, will you?" Chaeyoung scoffed.
"What?"
"Jennie told me everything today,"
Lisa then understood what all this was about. Nevertheless, she frowned a little. Jennie didn't mention telling Chaeyoung anything when they were together earlier today.
"Good, then,"
"Are you serious?"
"Huh?"
By the time, Chaeyoung was pissed and choleric.
"You owe me a hell of explanation, Lalisa. Am I even still your sister?"
"Yes, you are and will always be," Lisa stood up and walked towards her boiling sister, a smug and amused smile appeared on her lips. "But you're acting like a jealous girlfriend right now, I need you to stop."
"Shut up," Chaeyoung rolled her eyes.
Lisa laughed, her laugh sounded full despite her exhaustion. "Seriously, Chaeng, I was going to tell you when we're official so I don't have to do it twice. But my cover is blown so I don't think I'm left with any choice,"
Lisa smiled softly at the shorter sibling, her hand went to Chaeyoung's hair to pat it lightly. Lisa was well aware Chaeyoung loved the gesture a lot, so she thought maybe Chaeng would forgive her if she did so.
However, she was wrong.
"No, Lalisa, I'm still pissed," Chaeyoung dodged Lisa's hand and stared at the taller girl with an angry pair of eyes. "You will tell me everything tomorrow. It's an order and not a request."
Lisa would've thrown her head back in a laugh if Chaeyoung didn't look this serious right now. To see Chaeyoung who was usually chill being so pissed off is strange, but Lisa found it cute. Chaeyoung looked like an angry chipmunk to Lisa's eyes, but the former didn't need to know that.
The younger sibling was honestly fuming already, and Lisa was so, so tired to argue.
"Okay, okay, save it for tomorrow," Lisa said, walking past Chaeyoung towards her bedroom. "I'm off to bed. Goodnight, Chaeyoungie."
The next morning, Chaeyoung and Lisa were walking through the woods of the Manoban Estate. Chaeyoung enjoyed Lisa's choice of place internally, but she was still stubborn to keep the pissed off attitude on her.
"So, where do you want me to start?" Lisa asked, kicking a fallen, rotten mango out of the path.
"The very start,"
"Okay. Well, since you're always annoying me to get to know Jennie, I thought it wouldn't be such a bad idea too. I asked for her number and we texted ever since, but not really that frequently," Lisa started.
"Remember when you ditched me to the family party?" Lisa glanced at Chaeyoung, the younger girl nodded. "I asked Jennie to accompany me instead."
"You're unbelievable—"
"Hush, I'm not finished," Lisa cut off Chaeyoung immediately. "And later that night, we danced. I know it sounds cliche, but at that moment I realized I liked her a lot. After the dance, we went to the rooftop... you know I hate loud noises, right?"
Chaeyoung nodded, her eyes fixed on Lisa.
"We talked about the dance, and she asked whether I would ask another person to dance with me if it wasn't her. I answered no, and she asked why? I told her right away that I like her,"
"It just slipped out automatically, I wasn't even planning to do so. And then, she told me she felt the same... and we kissed,"
Chaeyoung couldn't help but jumped herself on Lisa, making the older girl stumbled back a few steps. "Finally! Oh my god, I'm so happy!" Chaeyoung laughed heartily, her arms wrapped on Lisa's neck as she hung there like a koala.
"Chaeyoung... you're a little heavy," Lisa chuckled as she suffered on Chaeyoung's grip.
"I don't care, I'm excited,"
"Jeez, I thought you will never make a move on her except for eye-undressing her—"
"Hey, I never do that!"
"Okay, my bad. But you know what I mean,"
Lisa scoffed, but the smile couldn't leave her face.
Chaeyoung felt happy and her previous attitude flew with the wind right away. She had waited for this moment to come, for Lisa to finally be honest with herself about her feelings. She was happy, both for her sister and her friend.
"I'm honestly happy for you," Chaeyoung muttered.
"We're not even official, yet," Lisa chuckled.
"When are you planning to be?"
"I don't know... should I ask her just casually or with a cheesy dinner?"
"Concerning Jennie... she doesn't care about the place or situation, as long as it's you, she won't mind. You're usually full of ideas, why do you ask me?"
"That's the problem, Chae. I have too many ideas here," Lisa sighed, pointing at her head.
"Just pick one that's the most compatible for both of you, your feelings is all that matters to her,"
Lisa mentally scolded herself as to why hadn't she told Chaeyoung sooner. Chaeyoung gave the most rational and acceptable advice ever, it's like the girl had effortlessly opened the door when Lisa was still busy searching for the key.
"Thanks, chipmunk," Lisa said when an idea flashed through her mind.
"Anytime," Chaeyoung replied joyously, scooting closer to her older sister to link their arms together.
Lisa noticed Chaeyoung's change of behavior, and she couldn't help but smile. The way Chaeyoung was genuinely happy and supportive of her made her love the younger girl a lot more—she seriously didn't deserve this chipmunk.
Lisa waved her free hand to move the tree branch that's on her way, and it instantly moved upwards to join the other branches. The lake glimmered brightly under the bright sunlight, the water silently calling Lisa to join them.
Lisa smirked at the placid surface, then looked at Chaeyoung whose head was resting on her shoulder.
"Hey, Chaeng, are you up for some fun?"
—
A/N:
first of all, i apologize for the delayed update,, i had a shitty writer's block and i didn't bring my laptop with me.
second of all, don't worry bcs the next chapter is already on the process.
last but not least... THANK YOU FOR 3K READS I DONT DESERVE U ALL >:( I LOVE U !!!