Jennie was the first one to wake up. Her hand felt numb, her chest felt heavy and her head dizzy. Amidst that she felt so warm and oddly comfortable.
The sunrays just had to directly hit her head out of everything.
She groaned and slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them annoyed.
Next she took her position in and she was wide awake.
She was squeezed in the inside of something soft and fuzzy, definitely the back pillows of a couch. Her small daughter was covering her right arm and chest with her body. Meanwhile her legs were tangled up with someone else's who had her arms slided between her sides.
Hopefully it's Jisoo.
Hopefully it's Jisoo.
Hopefully it's Jisoo.
Jennie dared to tilt her head slightly and to her big relief it was indeed the raven and not some random person.
Suddenly Jennie's relief was replaced with panic.
It's Jisoo!
She made quick work untangling herself from the elder while lifting her daughter at the same time and placing her head on the armrest.
She took a deep breath once she reached the bathroom, freshed herself up and searched for the first aid kit that was thankfully in a cabinet.
On tiptoes she walked back to the two, remembering how Jisoo's forehead was bleeding when the window was shot. The wound was dry by now and the glass also already fell out, must have not cut deeply. With a warm wet cloth she rinsed the wound, placing a plaster on her forehead.
Afterwards she decided to buy food in the nearest convenience shop and make breakfast. She could obviously order something but she prefers cooking herself. She made sure the room had a kitchen with everything she needed.
Good thing she made Jeongyeon bring her a spare phone, checkbook and black card from her assistant. She made a mental note to herself to return the favour somehow.
Jennie pondered what to buy. Jisu likes honey and fruits, hence Jennie will make a fruit salad for her. What about Jisoo? She once told her she eats instant ramyeon mostly. Jennie shook her head in dismay. That's way too unhealthy.
Jennie grinned mischievously as she picked up coleslaw, red and black beans, radish, kimchi, tofu, soy sauce and eggs. That's what she gets for not eating healthily.
When she had everything she needed, she headed back to the room and placed the bags in the kitchen before she put her hair up in a pony tail and started cooking.
First she sliced the fruits up in tiny pieces, poured a little honey over them and put them in a bowl for her daughter.
For herself she made a simple avocado sandwich since it's her favourite. As for Jisoo she cooked many vegetables and put them next to the rice that was combined with red and black beans.
Being satisfied with her work. She went to the living room. The sight that greeted her warmed her heart. It made her stop and watch a little.
Her daughter was lying on Jisoo's back, making her look like a turtle shell on a sleeping turtle.
How did she get there? And why that positioning? Jennie giggled lighty, bending down to them.
"Rise and shine~" The brunette sing-songed, shaking them awake.
It took a while to wake them up completely and drag them to the table but Jennie always gets her way.
Being the slowpoke Jisoo is, she noticed the bandage on her head after ten minutes and thanked Jennie for tending to her wounds who shook her head and said it goes without saying.
"Happy birthday baby." Jennie pecked Jisu's head as she ate her fruit salad with a spoon. "Eat up so we can go to the amusement park."
"Thanks mommy," The little girl smiled. "Love you."
"Love you too." She returned the smile and signalled for her to eat.
"Yeah happy birthday! Also... that's a lot of vegetables." Jisoo made a face as she looked at her breakfast.
"Yep." Jennie fluttered her eyelashes. "So you can tell it took me long to make it, you better eat it all."
"A-All?" Jisoo repeated being face to face with the devil.
"Yes unless you want to make me sad..." Jennie mumbled with aegyo.
Jisoo inhaled and exhaled, then started stuffing the food in her mouth, needing water to gulp it down every now and then.
The action plastered a victorious smug look on the lawyer's face.
"This room is pretty huge and the bed looks amazing." Jisoo said in awe. "Yet we used the couch." She chuckled.
"Um the other room is just like this one." Jennie explained. "Just so you know, we don't have to do something dumb like sharing a room again." She fidgeted with her fingers nervously. "I made registrations for two rooms. One for you and one for me and Julia."
Jisoo forced the tofu to be swallowed down by her throat.
"I guess I didn't make it that far. Or well... I remember you dragging me here." The raven smirked amused.
"What!" Jennie shook her head. "That's not what happened!"
"Are you sure?" She raised her eyebrows. "It's what I remember."
"Shut up before I make you pay for yourself!" She took a spoon to forcefully feed Jisoo coleslaw.
"You are... paying for... me?" She mumbled in between choking the coleslaw down.
She didn't know. They didn't speak about reservations since they rushed to pick Jisu up quickly.
"You don't have to."
"Of course I have to. You are my guest. Now hush." Even though that was the end of the conversation for Jennie, Jisoo couldn't accept it.
"Isn't it expensive? At least let me pay half." She compromised. "I would feel bad."
"Well, you better get used to it cause you are not paying a single won." Jennie said with finalty.
They would have continued arguing if they didn't hear a weird sound that made them look at Jisu.
"You keep playing with that bobblehead." Jennie noted.
"I'm done eating, it's fine right?" Jisu asked innocently.
Jennie nodded in approval. There is no harm in letting her play right?
•••
After they finished breakfast they hurried and followed a number of signs to Lotte World.
They walked through the basement levels of the Lotte Mall and past a fountain. Signs led them to a small atrium decorated with pictures of cartoon characters.
"What's those?" Jisu pointed to two clothed animals.
"It's the park's mascot," Jisoo said knowingly already having been here before. "Lotty and Lorry, a pair of raccoons in love. Lorry, who nurtues dreams is the symbol of adventure together with Lotty, who has a good heart and is full of love."
"Aww," Jisu gushed. "That's cute."
"Just like you, cutie pie." Jennie poked her small nose, making her scrunch it up in response.
"That's me." The little girl skipped forward, waiting for her mother to buy the tickets.
They purchased three Daily Passport Tickets which allow them access to all attractions before they entered the mostly indoor amusement park. There was plenty to do and Jisu wanted to do everything on the small map Jennie had.
The entrance is located one floor beneath the park's main area. A rather circular glass ceiling allows for the park to be lit by natural light for a cheerful atmosphere. After the rainy weather, sunshine followed. Some of the glass panels were opened, allowing a breeze to brush against their skin.
The amusement park is divided in different layers. There are four levels and the underworld.
They started with the Fantasy Forest in level 1.
"U-Um are you really sure we should try this one out Julia?" Jennie asked with a nervous smile. "How about we go to the Kidzone, yea?"
"Why not? This looks fun." Jisoo retorted teasingly. "Right Lia?"
"Right!" She smiled and jumped up to high five Jisoo's waiting hand.
Jennie glared at the raven. The reason she didn't like this place is because of the insects.
They walked around the so called forest with dead beetles being showed off in a glass cabinet on top of flowers at like every corner. At least they couldn't move. Otherwise Jennie would have already ran away.
There were animals minding their own business and eating their food or rushing in their running wheel. Also big fishes in the cave where there was a small waterfall.
"Look at that rabbit eating! Don't his cheeks look like Jennie's?" Jisoo observed.
"No they don't." Jennie rolled her eyes and puffed up her cheeks in annoyance which totally contradicted her statement unbeknownst to her.
"Rebid." Jisoo said in English.
"Rabbit." Jisu corrected her pronunciation.
"Rabbid." She tried again.
"Rabbit." Jennie repeated slowly with a patient gaze.
"Rabbit." Jisoo spoke at last, earning claps from the other two. "Thank you, thank you man." She added playfully.
Next they strolled around the different levels and attractions. They couldn't go on most rides because Jisu was too small, and the elders were relieved for that. They completely forgot about height restriction.
•••
Jisu tried to watch the parade and kept jumping up and down to see a small glimpse but she was too tiny. Even Jennie and Jisoo couldn't see a thing due to all of the back profiles of the crowd facing them.
Jisu turned around to the elders cluelessly.
"I'll lift you. Hop on my shoulders." Jennie suggested.
"Shouldn't I lift her instead since I'm taller." Jisoo pondered.
"You are not taller than me, Jisoo." Jennie snorted, attempting to avoid taking offense.
"I totally am."
"I highly doubt it."
"So I really don't want to interrupt this important argument but," Jisu jumped in her spot in excitement. "Can someone lift me now, please, adults? I don't want to miss the parade."
"Okay... You may lift her." Jennie shrugged.
Perhaps letting Jisoo do the strength demanding tasks doesn't sound bad, after all.
•••
There was no height restriction for the balloon ride in level four. Jisu was excited for it while both Jennie and Jisoo were skeptical. They forced themselves to lift their feet into that hot air balloon.
Jennie was sitting down in fear while Jisoo was frozen and Jisu tried to jump and look down.
"Yah! Sit!" Jennie scolded horrified. "You are going to fall out!"
"But I can't see the view! Someone lift me...!" She pleaded.
Jisoo and Jennie gave each other a look.
"You!" They blurted out at the same time.
"You were so eager to do it earlier." Jennie frowned. "Remember? You are taller than me, aren't you? Go ahead." She challenged her.
"The circumstances were different." Jisoo argued. "My feet touched the ground, now we are in the air."
"It's okay I'll just climb up."
Both of them were instantly on their feet to hold her little hip and stop her from doing something reckless.
In the end they both held her together on shaky legs.
•••
They were making their way to Magic Island where there are special attractions.
"It's too crowded we should hold hands." Jisoo suggested. "Come on little one."
"She is right. Come on mommy." Jisu tugged on the lawyer's sleeve.
"She was talking to you, little one." Jennie ruffled her hair.
"Actually," Jisoo started – judging by her grin with clear intentions to tease the brunette.
"Kim Jisoo." Jennie warned fed up with her antics.
"Just kidding." She flashed her a smile and grabbed Jisu's right hand that was less than half the size of hers while Jennie held the left.
They arrived at Magic Island and went for the Geneva Cruise Lines first. Thirty people were on the boat. The three squeezed into the back. Jisu occasionally let her hand glide in the water as they drove.
They slowly floated over the calm waters of Seokchon Lake.
"Welcome to the Geneva Cruise Lines!" The captain spoke cheerfully. "Allow me to make you slowly float over the calm waters of Seokchon Lake. You can see the beautiful scenery of the lake, and romance will unfold together with the scenery."
Jennie furrowed her eyebrows. What was he on?
"I can see plenty of couples here as well as families, that's sweet." He smiled. "You should all hold hands with the person on your left, so no one feels alone."
Jennie sighed. They paid for a ride, not for a matchmaker. Her daughter grabbed her right hand. Yet her left hand was awkwardly lingering next to Jisoo's right. Should she? Or should she not?
She pressed gently against the side of her hand, waiting for Jisoo to grab it. She wouldn't do it first. Jisoo seemed to get the clue as she shifted her hand and interlaced their fingers, sending tingles all over Jennie's palm. Hopefully it wasn't sweaty.
To Jennie's dismay Jisoo also held the hand on her left. It was a woman with fair skin and long black hair. That woman was leaning onto Jisoo's side. What is she getting so intimate for with a stranger? Does she have no shame?
Jennie retracted her hand and turned her face away from the traitor.
Jisoo winced as Jennie harshly pulled her hand away. She turned her face to Jennie who wouldn't talk to her nor spare her a glance. Jisoo didn't want to make a scene and perhaps make Jennie throw her off the ship (she can't swim), so she waited for them to reach land before she spoke to her.
Meanwhile Jennie was starting to feel sick. The hot air balloon ride and a ship ride triggered her motion sickness. She could need a break but she doesn't want to let her daughter down, thus she just swallowed thickly.
"Are you mad at me?" Jisoo asked as they moved to their next stop.
"Why would I be mad at you?" Jennie crossed her arms.
"You tell me." Jisoo urged.
"You tell me." Jennie demanded. She could be so stubborn.
"I guess because I held someone's hand but really that's only what the captain told us to do, you know. You shouldn't have to get mad for that." Jisoo shrugged. "I was just playing along."
Jennie scowled. "You will not hold my hand while holding the hand of some slu--"
"Shhh...!" Jisoo silenced her with her index finger.
Jisu stared curiously at them. "Is something wrong...?"
"No of course not sweetie." Jennie smiled at her and dragged her ahead to wherever she wanted to go. Jisoo walked behind them when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Jennie kept walking and didn't even notice Jisoo's absence.
"Mommy," Jisu squeezed her hand. "Let's wait."
"Wait for wh--" Jennie trailed off the moment she looked back only to see Jisoo talking to that woman. She was giving her a small piece of paper. That had to be her number.
She gritted her teeth when Jisoo sprinted back to them. "Sorry for the wait."
"You don't seem sorry." Jennie huffed.
Jisoo opened her mouth but closed it again because the little one was staring oddly at them again.
"Where are we heading next?" She asked instead and ignored Jennie's remark who appeared to get even more upset over that.
"The haunted house." Jisu cheered.
Jennie's eyes popped wide.
"WHAT!?"
"The haunted house!" Jisu repeated with a smile, assuming her mother was as excited as her and pointed ahead. "Look, I wanna go in there!"
"R-Really?" Jennie questioned as her palms began to sweat.
"Really really!" The girl skipped in the direction of the haunted house. "Come on!"
"Well, then." Jisoo gave Jennie's shoulder one light pat and walked after the little girl while Jennie was standing there frozen before her legs decided to finally function again. She felt so sick and now she is also going to get a heart attack?
•••
"Who reaches the end first wins!" Jisu screamed and ran ahead the dark room.
"Wait!" Jennie called but the little girl was already gone in a flash. She wasn't scared in the least unlike the lawyer.
Jisoo took a look at Jennie and walked in the direction Jisu went.
Then she felt a pressure on her right hand. She turned around to see Jennie lightly holding the side of her hand with her index finger and thumb while her head hung low.
Jisoo's eyes softened immediately. "Are you okay?"
Jennie didn't respond, making Jisoo squeeze her hand. "You can walk behind me if you want."
Jennie nodded and trailed in her shadow but not letting go of her hand.
Suddenly a bloody person with a white painted face screamed at them from their left.
"Noooo!" Jennie screamed back and wrapped her arms around Jisoo's shoulder, burying her head in the crook of her neck.
She pushed Jisoo to walk quicker, then someone came from behind and touched her shoulder. She was dumb enough to glance at them and saw a man dancing with a chainsaw.
"Ahhhh!" She cried out. The first tear drop reached her eyelids.
"Hey, hey it's okay. You don't need to be scared, I'm here." Jisoo spun her around and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Those are just some dudes in costumes. They won't actually harm you."
"B-But..." Jennie sniffed. A jumpscare went off in front of them, interrupting her. She bent down on her knees and cried.
Jisoo had no idea what to do. Jennie seemed genuinely scared for her life. Like really scared. She was actually crying.
"Hey..." She said one more time weakly. She cupped her cheeks and saw her tear stained face. The sight broke her heart. How could she cheer the dumpling up?
"The exit is not far. When we reach it, it's going to be bright again. Lia is probably waiting impatiently already. Let's go?"
Jennie kept sobbing. Jisoo's words didn't seem to get through to her, she just wanted to get out of there. Her face turned pale.
Jisoo wiped her tears away with her thumb. Though they kept coming. Jisoo started rubbing her back soothingly and eventually Jennie managed to stand up, letting Jisoo guide her.
Just when she thought she was finally able to breathe again, they walked through the darkest room so far. There was only one blinking red light. All of sudden the creepiest woman yelled out of a window that they didn't know was next to them.
Yeah, that was it. Jennie couldn't take it anymore. Jisoo quickly checked up on Jennie who was unusually quiet only for Jennie to end up puking. Puking right at Jisoo. Thereafter Jennie fainted without a care in the world.
Jisoo's prediction came true after all. She expected one of them to pass out and the other having to carry them. Although not under these conditions.
•••
Jisoo carried Jennie back to the hotel and told Jisu repeatedly that her mother was fine. She made a mental note to herself to not ever let Jennie go to a haunted house again.
"It's so weird that she puked." Jisu commented. "Usually she has her motion sickness patches against that."
Jisoo's hair was still damp from taking the longest shower ever.
"She has motion sickness patches?" Jisoo asked.
Jisu nodded. "She has them in her purse and carries them around always."
She asked Jisoo to tag along when she could have simply used those patches?
•••
When Jennie woke up her head was throbbing. She managed to regain her strength and dignity and apologised to Jisoo.
"I feel extremely bad." Her head hung low.
"Don't." Jisoo smiled. "It's okay. I mean it's not, but I took like five showers so I think it's okay now. I don't smell, do I?" She grimaced.
Jennie giggled softly. "You smell like lavender, don't worry."
The brunette didn't even realise it was that late already until she saw the clock on the wall. What she really regrets now is not baking a birthday cake. She wanted to do it after Lotte World but she slept the whole time.
As if Jisoo could read her thoughts she brought a cake from the kitchen and lit up the candles.
"We waited for you." She said merely.
Jennie was puzzled.
"I bought it while you were sleeping." Jisoo explained. "What's a birthday without a birthday cake right?"
"Can I blow them out?" Jisu asked eagerly.
"We need to sing first..!" Jisoo put a hand up to stop her. She looked at Jennie and started humming with her husky voice.
Jennie smiled and joined to harmonize softly with her. The rest of the evening was pleasant and warm.
Jisu never wanted fancy presents from Jennie. She could buy her anything she wanted but she treasures days like this short trip the most. She can't wait to tell Yeji all about it.
•••
Later at night Jennie made sure Jisu was asleep before she tiptoed out of their hotel room. She closed the door very slowly.
"And where do you think you are going?" A voice in the hall, next to the door questioned.
Jennie's heart dropped to her stomach in fright. She had to bite her lip in order not to scream.
"I thought it was odd that you reserved three rooms and yes I saw the third key you hid in your pocket." Jisoo made Jennie turn around by grabbing her wrist and spinning her.
"You are bleeding..." She noted and placed her thumb on plump lips, pressing lightly down on her bottom lip to stop her from chewing it further.
"I didn't mean to scare you... Sorry, that was very careless of me since you get scared easily." Jisoo stated sincerely apologetic. "I mean you can still talk right? I didn't traumatise you that much I hope."
Jennie shook her head with a pout. "I don't get scared easily... You just caught me off guard."
"Right, that must have been it." Jisoo smiled. "So where are you going?" She repeated.
Jennie sighed. "I reserved another room to work. I have a lot to catch up on, you know. Now leave me in peace."
Jennie's eyes were brimming with unshed tears she blinked away. Yep, that little injury she did to her lips, paired with the heart attack made her eyes water.
Jisoo frowned and immediately pressed their foreheads together before she opened her mouth and her pink muscle peeked out. Jennie was confused until she felt it on her bottom lip. She was licking the blood away.
"What are you doing!?" She punched the other's stomach.
Jennie's face was burning in embarrassment. At the same time desire pooled in the lower part of her body. The ache below was intense enough for her to think of Jisoo's lips on there to make it go away-- That wasn't good. But her lips were totally her weakness.
"Easing the pain, you baby." She grinned cheekily, rubbing her stomach in pain.
There was somewhere else she needed her to ease the pain. Obviously she didn't say that.
Yet Jisoo must have gotten the message somehow.
"Your eyes are so expressive." Jisoo said a little sheepishly. "You can't look at me like that, you know. I can't hold myself back if you do.."
Jennie swallowed dryly.
"Don't hold back." It came out like a tranquil whisper.
"Are you sure?"
She wasn't. This was not supposed to happen again, or was it? Either way she couldn't stop herself from nodding eagerly.
Jisoo didn't wait any longer and connected their lips like one more second away from the other half could be fatal to both of them.