Jennie woke up in her soft bed. Judging by the lack of light, it must have already been evening. She took a deep breath.
What was she doing here? She tried to remember.
Right. She was stuck in the elevator with Jisoo. They were freed, she kissed the ground and then it turned black. Hearts, she saw a heart before it turned black.
A blush crept up her cheeks as she thought of what she and Jisoo did-- but hold on. Maybe it was just a dream.
If it was merely a dream, she wouldn't know whether it was a good dream or a nightmare. Both?
"She didn't! Hahaha!"
"She did! You should have seen it!"
Chattering came from the living room. The laughs of two people.
One should be her daughter but who was the other? A robber? Oh no. Has she told her daughter not to speak to criminals? She might have forgotten that.
She threw the blanket away, put on a pair of slippers that lied on the floor and stormed to the living room. The lights and television were turned on as two figures sat on the couch.
Of course they heard her steps.
"Mommy!" Jisu jumped down and ran into her arms. Jennie engulfed her tiny frame in a warm embrace, lifting her up and pressing her close to her body.
"Are you okay now, mommy?" Jisu asked, burying her head in her shoulder. She was as clingy as Jennie. "You fainted."
"Oh... is that so? I feel good, don't worry." Jennie smiled softly.
"I don't want to ruin the moment," A husky voice spoke up. "But I think it's better if you rest a little longer. Also you need to drink."
"Jisoo?" Jennie asked. "What are you doing here?" She couldn't look at the other without rosy cheeks.
"Well, I had a friend check up on you. Apparently you were exhausted. I guess it was the lack of oxygen and water, plus you were pretty stressed... When he left I thought it wouldn't harm to wait until you are awake." She rubbed her nape sheepishly. "I'm going to go now... Don't forget to drink."
"Don't go!" Jisu pulled on Jennie's sweater, motioning her to put her down.
That's when Jennie realised she was still wearing Jisoo's sweater. Her ears heated up.
Jennie was confused but she placed her daughter down who then walked to Jisoo.
"You still wanted to teach me how to balance water bottles on my shoulder." Jisu exclaimed, making Jisoo smile and Jennie narrow her eyes.
"Another time." Jisoo patted her head. "You need to sleep and your mommy needs rest too."
Jisu nodded sadly but she understood. "You are right..."
"Jisu sweetie, please wash up and head to bed." Jennie called, making both of them turn their heads to her.
Ah, seems like they have a little problem there.
"Um, Jisu as in my daughter." Jennie clarified. "...This could become problematic in the future, so when Jisoo is here, our neighbour Jisoo I mean, I will call you Julia." She looked to the little one who nodded.
"Julia?" Jisoo questioned. Although she wanted to talk about the fact that Jennie said future, meaning she was still going to see Jisoo after this.
"My English name." Jisu explained. "Call me Lia for short."
"You have an English name? Cute." Jisoo awed.
"Then is my mommy cute too?" Her small voice asked, a smile on her face.
"Yeah she's super cute." Jisoo confirmed. "Why?"
Jennie almost choked on air.
"She has an English name too--"
"It's time to go to bed!" Jennie clapped her hands and cleared her throat.
"Okay..." Jisu obliged before she gave Jisoo a look. "You need to come over again and play with me." She stated before she went to the bathroom.
Jisoo looked at Jennie with a raised brow. "Tell me your real name miss."
"Forget it." Jennie shook her head.
Silence settled in after that. Jennie had no idea what to say. Or rather they had too many things to say, so she said nothing. She was very embarrassed, thinking about earlier.
"So..." Jisoo spoke up to beat the silence. "She is pretty mature. You did a great job." She complimented her.
"Yeah she is." Jennie said proudly. "I don't think I did much, that's her own doing... I never had much time to give her." Her voice trailed off into silence.
Jennie always did her best but it sure was hard to parent a child alone. On top of that she is a busy lawyer. When she is not working, she speaks to her clients on phone or writes documents.
"Time is important for sure. There really is only one thing that's more important - love, and you have a lot of love to give her," Jisoo patted the couch to tell Jennie to sit next to her. "I assure you she feels that."
The brunette sat down next to her, making sure there was a decent amount of empty space between them.
"..." Jennie smiled. Somehow Jisoo was such a comforting presence to her. She never failed to make her feel better.
While Jennie was busy smiling to herself Jisoo went to the kitchen and filled her a glass of water.
"Here you go." Jisoo placed it in front of her. "Like I said don't forget to drink."
Jennie was snapped out of her trance, blushing. She picked the glass up and gulped the water down.
"I guess I should take my leave now," Jisoo announced. "If you need anything just knock nextdoor."
Jennie thought about it. "I might."
The fact that she considered it was enough to Jisoo.
...
"You just left without talking about it?" Nayeon judged her over the phone. "Are you stupid?"
"I'm Jisoo." The raven deadpanned.
"Stupidsoo." Nayeon hummed.
"What was I supposed to say?" She sighed. "Jennie was still exhausted. There is no need to add on that."
"You do realise you eventually have to talk about it." Nayeon told her. "Or could it be that it was a mere one-night-stand?"
"Not to me." Jisoo declared. "However she isn't interested. She said she is not searching for a relationship."
"Hm," Nayeon frowned. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yup." Jisoo nodded. "I think it's better if I don't mention it. It might make her feel uncomfortable and we just started to be on friendly terms."
"If you think that's the right choice." The sound of Naeyon opening a beer bottle was audible to Jisoo. "You better not regret it though."
"...I won't." She thinks.
...
Jennie was sitting on the edge of Jisu's bed and just finished reading her a bed time story.
She planted a kiss on her forehead and was about to leave when her daughter tugged on the sleeve of her sweater (which she still hasn't taken off by the way).
"Mommy?" The younger nuzzled against her hand. "Are you friends with Jisoo now?"
Jennie felt her heart flush at the mention of her name.
"Maybe... why do you ask?"
Jennie thinks she has been through enough with Jisoo to consider her a friend. Besides she took good care of her and made her feel safe.
However all of those thoughts disappear when she remembers what they did. How could she face Jisoo? Perhaps she should forget it ever happened.
After all what they did is something lovers should do and they can't be lovers because those will only disappoint her.
"Well," Jisu smiled. "I think it would be good for you if you were friends. She is a good person."
Jennie's lips tugged into a small smile. "And you know that because?"
"I know stuff." Jisu shrugged, clearly keeping information from her.
"We will see."
"...I'm just saying I'm a little worried. It's like work is your only friend." Jisu frowned. "You overwork yourself. It's not the first time you fainted. Take a break and play with your friends."
Play with your friends. That sounds funny to Jennie.
"I thought we were friends," Jennie pouted, not wanting to talk about work or the fact that she is overchallenged. It's bad enough that her little girl has taken notice of that.
She needs to do better.
"But I'm your daughter, it doesn't count. You need friends who are not related with you." Jisu spoke to her like she was the mom. Sometimes it was hard to decide who was more of a baby between them.
"Are you going to be happy if I told you I'll be friends with her?" Jennie gave in.
"Very much so," Jisu nodded with half closed eyes. "...Do hang out with her like real friends..." Jisu whispered drowsily.
"Fine..." Jennie sighed dramatically. "Goodnight baby."
"Goodnight mommy." Jisu closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Friends.