A/N: This chapter is based on the Llama Arts Halloween animation.
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3 months later
"Here is the file of Mr. Ahns case you requested, Attorney Kim." The assistant placed it on her work desk.
Jennie acknowledged her presence nodding slightly before she kept typing on the keyboard. She still needed to summarize the last one she obviously won.
"Coffee." Left Jennie's lips merely and her assistant stormed away since she understood what that meant for her to do.
One of the buttons of the phone blinked red, indicating her that her secretary was calling.
"What's the matter?" Jennie asked grumpily as she took the call.
"Someone is here to meet you, Attorney Kim."
Jennie frowned. "I have no current appointments I'm aware off. Send them away."
"She said it's mandu delivery." Her secretary informed her.
"Send her in." Jennie responded, knowing who it was.
As soon as her smiling face greeted the lawyer she already felt lighter.
"I have one tasty dumpling for the angry dumpling." The raven placed the bag on Jennie's desk and sat on a chair in front of her. "Does that make you a cannibal? Cause I think it does."
Jennie gave her a small smile and kept typing.
"Don't you want to eat?" Jisoo asked patiently.
"Can't. Working." Jennie mumbled while staring at her screen.
So Jisoo stood up, opened the bag, held two chopsticks between her fingers and fed Jennie some dumplings. The lawyer decided to open her mouth as Jisoo annoyingly kept pushing the food against her lips.
Jennie sighed. She loved dumplings. And no, that doesn't make her a cannibal. Jisoo is just being dramatic.
Jennie kept writing while Jisoo kept feeding her a while. Even when there were no dumplings left Jisoo didn't leave and acted like her coach. Wiping the sweat on her forehead away with towels and giving her juice to drink through a straw.
It was only when it was dark that Jennie noticed how much time passed by. Thankfully she was done by now. She only had some files to copy but she already gave her assistant that task.
Jennie leaned against her chair exhausted. Suddenly she winced as she felt cold fingers entering her top and brushing against her shoulder.
"Ah shit, I completely forgot that you were here. Sorry for not talking to you." Jennie said sadly.
"It's okay." Jisoo pressed circular strokes across her shoulder blades.
"No, it's not." Jennie's voice rose a little. "In three months we haven't been on a single date, really the only intimate moment was watching a movie and eating Chinese food at my place but that was also only for a few hours. I'm surprised you aren't tired of me yet. Cause I would-- Ahh..."
Jennie sighed contently. Jisoo knew all the right spots to press and right now she was aiming to calm her down by relaxing her muscles.
"A few hours are enough." Jisoo claimed. "I still don't understand why you keep insisting to work so much since you are rich and don't need it but if it makes you happy, I don't mind."
Jennie shook her head. "It's more like I'm obliged to. It's a family thing, I guess... I'll tell you another day."
Jennie didn't look comfortable talking about it, so Jisoo didn't push it and would wait for her.
"Well, it's late. We should head home." Jisoo suggested.
"Maybe." Jennie stood up and gathered her coat.
"What about Lia?" Jisoo furrowed her eyebrows.
"She is going to head out with Yeji and her mothers."
"Seulgi and Joohyun? You mean for Halloween?" Jisoo had an amused smile on her lips.
Jennie nodded, yes.
"And you allowed her to go? You actually said yes??" Jisoo was in disbelief.
"I'm not that strict." Jennie crossed her arms.
"But overprotective." Jisoo argued. "So she is allowed to eat sweets for once huh..."
"No she is not." Jennie shook her head. "I allowed her to collect it as long as an adult is with her but she can't eat the sweets. At least not more than one a day."
"The cruelty..." Jisoo made a face.
"Shut up, it's not healthy."
...
The two girls were in first grade now. They usually met up in Yeji's house to hang out.
"What do you think of my pumpkin?" Yeji added the last finishing touch to her round pumpkin, holding the cookie cutter against it.
They used cookie cutters instead of pocket knives because Jisu wasn't allowed in a three meter radius with a knife. Seulgi already cut the top part out for them with a serrated knife. Jisu scooped out the pulp and seeds with a metal spoon because it was the least 'dangerous' part. Yeji scraped the inside until it looked decent.
"I think it looks terrific." Jisu tapped a rubber mallet against the cookie cutter as Yeji held it.
Once the cookie cutter was stuck inside they pulled it out before Yeji cut the shape out.
"And you are not just saying that because you are my best friend?" Yeji asked. Jisu let Yeji choose which shapes to apply.
"No it looks cute." She insisted. Most of the shapes were hearts and flowers.
"It's supposed to look scary!" Yeji frowned. It doesn't look scary, at all.
"Ah my bad. It does look scary." Jisu lied. "I'm sure once we put a tea light inside it'll look very scary."
Yeji gave her a not convinced look but decided to change the topic. "Anyways... let's get dressed up and head out."
...
"You still look stressed. What's up?" Jisoo questioned when they walked the stairs to their apartment up. Even now, avoiding elevators.
"It's the YG situation. I can't tell you much about it but in a few days we will meet in court." Jennie said exasperated.
"So? You are going to win again either way." Jisoo sounded sure. Jennie never loses.
"According to sources of mine, his lawyer is supposed to be a big threat." She stated. "They say he could even be a threat to me."
"Just do your best and even if you lose, it's not like the world is going to end--"
"Oh no Jisoo. Losing was never an option to begin with." Jennie clenched her fists. "I must win."
The raven stared at her feline features that creased into a frown. She didn't like seeing her so upset.
"You know...." Jisoo muttered.
"No way, Jisoo." Jennie declined. She would never ask Jisoo to break the law for her.
"But if you are so adamant on win--"
"I said no."
"And he is also a scumbag, I'm sure--"
"No!" Jennie said with finality. "You won't cyber attack him to help me in this. Understood?"
"I cyber attack people daily." Jisoo noted. She not only did it daily but also very quick.
"They pay you for that, Chu. YG on the other hand could jail you for that."
"Jen, you are good at your thing and I'm good at my thing. I leave absolutely no traces. Just think about it." Jisoo shrugged.
To be honest, Jisoo even wanted to do it. She just needed a reason. There must be a lot of dirt in his mails and the thought of exposing him kind of excited her. There were many people she'd love to expose in such a way but so far she hasn't broken the law.
"I thought about it and no is my answer." Jennie huffed.
Suddenly a cardboard box was thrown out of a door and would have hit Jennie if Jisoo didn't pull her back by her arm.
"Sorry!" A man with very light and spiky hair, almost a white tone rushed out. His arms were skinny and he had a lip piercing.
There were many cardboard boxes and he didn't seem familiar to them. He must be moving in.
Jennie doesn't even remember who lived here prior to the new person. There are a handful neighbours she encountered in this apartment complex. He moved right next to Jennie's right while Jisoo is on her left.
"Moving in? We live next door." Jisoo gave him a polite smile.
"Oh," He grinned. "Just don't think I usually attack my new neighbours like that! Haha. I usually give them pie."
"And I usually eat strawberry pie. Not that I'm insinuating anything." She claimed.
"Sure you are not." He looked at them with an eye smile. "My name is Mino."
"I'm Jisoo and this is Jennie." She introduced herself and the grumpy kitten who kept silent.
Jisoo was way to good at this being friendly thing. Jennie is able to do that thing as well but she doesn't do it to strangers she can't predict. It makes her cringe to just be all smiley for no reason whatsoever.
"Nice to meet you J1 and J2!" He grabbed each of their hands tightly.
Jennie quickly pulled her hand away before she pulled Jisoo's hand roughly away.
Who is J1 and who is J2? Who the hell allowed him to call them that and even touch them?
Jennie would have hissed at him like a rattlesnake if she didn't know Jisoo would scold her for that.
"Ah sorry, she is shy with strangers." Jisoo poked the brunette's side with her elbow.
"It's fine. My friends tell me I shouldn't immediately consider everyone a friend cause that needs growing in some situations." Mino didn't look at all offended but embarrassed. "See you around JJs." He said and walked back in his apartment, closing the door.
"I don't like him." Jennie glared at the door.
"He seems kind." Jisoo interlaced their fingers and moved to Jennie's door.
"That's why I don't like him," Jennie fished the keys out of her pocket. "He is suspicious."
...
"Trick or treat!"
Jisu was dressed up as strawberry jam while Yeji was dressed up as peanut butter.
The reason for that is Jennie was against buying a scary costume for Jisu that contained blood or something creepy. Therefore Yeji got her moms to get her a peanut butter costume, so Jisu doesn't stand out and they actually look normal.
"Awww!" An old woman gushed. "Peanut butter and jelly, that's so cute! Now you only need a sandwich!"
She poured her bucket of sweets in their bags because she loved it that much. They were looking beyond adorable.
"Thanks mam." Jisu scratched the back of her neck with red cheeks.
"Yeah thanks..." Yeji said quietly.
They walked down the dark street. It was a little creepy due to all the pumpkins and decoration. At least it wasn't too dark and plenty people in costumes were present.
Seulgi snapped pics of the two from behind whenever they weren't looking.
"Don't they look so cute?" She whispered to Joohyun.
"Very." She responded, looking at the two who were skipping around while holding hands. "Makes me miss those times."
"We could dress up and go on a party too. Like old times."
"They can't look after themselves." Joohyun gave her a disapproving look.
"When I was little I also went with my friends. It was like an adventure." She reminisced.
"Jisu is not allowed to go without someone to look out for her." Joohyun shook her head.
"Yeji!" Seulgi called and the girl turned around. "Look after Jisu okay? Protect her with your life!"
"Understood!" Yeji saluted and squeezed the other's hand who looked puzzled.
"Seulgi..." Joohyun warned.
"It's fine. Don't worry." She bent down to hand Yeji her phone. "I taught you how to call your mommy remember?"
"I remember."
"If something happens, call. We will let you two stroll around by yourselves."
The two had excited smiles on their faces.
"BUT," Seulgi said strictly, catching them off guard. "You will stay on this street where our home is. We will be back in an hour."
"Two hours?" Yeji gave her puppy eyes.
Seulgi turned to Joohyun for approval who was still skeptical.
"Fine." She sighed. "How could I say no when you look so cute?" She reached to give Yeji a hug.
...
"Want to watch a horror movie?"
"Only if you want me to pass out." Jennie rolled her eyes.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Must be kids." Jisoo smiled mischievously. "Want to scare them?"
"Like you could scare them. You look way too angelic." Jennie snorted.
"I didn't know you think of me that way." She gave her a teasing grin. "Either way I could totally scare them more than you could."
"Oh please Jisoo. I'm the scary one!" She felt challenged.
"You are the most harmless person ever. Like you are literally a baby dumpling."
"Bet I could scare more people than you could." Jennie mocked.
"It's on Attorney Kim." Jisoo accepted the challenge. "I will go back to my apartment, you stay here. The one who scares more people in one hour wins."
"What about a prize?" Jennie exclaimed. "There should be a prize for the winner."
"Okay. Let's say the winner can choose what they want from the loser?"
"Deal."
...
Jisu stumbled because a little girl, dressed up as a vampire ran into her. She would have fallen down if Yeji didn't hold her hand and pulled onto her.
"You okay?" Jisu asked the girl and helped her to stand up, she looked a little younger than her and familiar.
She nodded in embarrassment.
Then two other girls came running to them.
"I told you not to run by yourself!" She was scolded.
"Yeah, you should listen." The other one agreed and turned to Yeji and Jisu. "Sorry if she caused you trouble-- wait, it's you two." She smiled.
As soon as Jisu's eyes drove to the girl who didn't have a costume she remembered the others as well. Ryujin and her two friends. If she remembers correctly Chaeryeong is the robot and the vampire is Yuna.
"Hi." Jisu greeted, looking at Ryujin who just nodded.
"We are going." She signalled Yuna and Chaeryeong to follow her.
"Wait!" Jisu called. "Want to accompany us?" She offered.
Yeji's eyes grew wide and she sent Jisu a questioning look who shrugged.
Chaeryeong and Yuna seemed delighted. But Ryujin kept a blank face.
Jisu took a look at their bags, they were a little smaller than hers and their costumes were also clearly self made.
"Can we?" Yuna tugged on Ryujin's jacket. "The more, the merrier."
"I don't really care. You are pretty persistent." She was referring to Jisu. "Why do you even want to hang out with us? Shouldn't you ignore us like everyone else?"
"I don't think I should. We can be friends." Jisu walked closer to them while holding Yeji's hand.
"Ryujin is just playing hard to get." Chaeryeong giggled, earning a smack on her head from her. "Aw!" She rubbed the spot in pain. "You see.." The assault didn't stop her from exposing her friend further. "She is bad at making friends but she is a good friend. Very gentle when she isn't busy hitting you."
Jisu chuckled and shared a look with Yeji who by now warmed up to the idea of going around with them.
For some reason, the five of them felt comfortable only standing together, like it was right. This was how it's supposed to be. An odd feeling really.
"Let's go then." Yeji spoke for the first time in front of them, even though quietly. "We get picked up in two hours, I want our bags full till then."
Chaeryeong and Yuna walked ahead happily.
"How about that big house?"
They all turned to the direction Yuna pointed at. It was a small hut that looked pretty scary since the lights weren't on.
Yeji squeezed Jisu's hand because she knew she was going to tell them they can't go there since Seulgi told them not to leave the street.
"Looks good." Yeji said and pulled Jisu with her. Unlike Jisu she wasn't all about doing whatever she gets told to do. She wanted some fun.
...
"Booo!" Jennie wore a white blanket with two holes for her eyes and reached her arms up while she was attempting to scare the little kids at her door.
"HAHAHAHA!" They laughed. "You are funny miss!"
"I'm not funny, I'm a ghost." She swatted the blanket around slightly.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Hey stop laughing!" The 'ghost' pouted. "Boooooo!" She used a flashlight inside the blanket to make herself glow.
It only increased the laughter.
...
Yeji knocked on the door but no one responded. Then she spotted the bucket next to it and peeked inside, thinking there was candy but there wasn't.
"Too bad." Chaeryeong sighed. "I--" A knock on the window cut her off.
They looked at the window but there was no one.
"Come inside..." A deep voice called. "Come inside, so I can give you candy..."
Ryujin quickly positioned herself in front of the girls. "We will wait outside."
"Isn't it cold? Come inside for candy."
"Thanks but we are going." Ryujin turned around and motioned for the girls to leave. No one enters a strange house on her watch.
They followed her and skipped to the neighbouring houses only to get far away from that creepy house.
"I feel bad for not going in, wasn't that rude?" Yuna was disappointed. She really wanted to see the inside.
Yeji and Jisu were walking with clasped hands behind Yuna and Chaeryeong who were forced by Ryujin to do the same as she led their way.
"I don't know. It could have been a dangerous person." Yeji argued.
Before they knew it they were already far away from the street they were supposed to stay at and many trees surrounded them. It also got darker, there were few people here.
"Are you guys allowed to walk here alone?" Jisu asked.
"Yeah." Chaeryeong nodded. "We walk around here every year. There are less people, so the residents usually have more candy to give."
That sounded logical and also like they knew their way around here. That relieved Jisu a bit.
Suddenly Yeji stopped walking and stood still. They all looked at her.
"What's up?" Jisu raised her eyebrows. "Do you have to pee again? Just go to a bush--"
Yeji shook her head.
"....I heard something from the trees."
"Like what?" Ryujin gave her a sharp look.
"Like steps... as if someone was following us." Her hands already felt cold. She squeezed Jisu's hand tighter and was pretty much snuggling into her side now.
"It could have been a bird or another animal." Jisu assumed and put her arm around Yeji's waist to make her keep walking.
So they kept walking and now Chaeryeong's ears perked up as well.
"I heard it too...." She whispered.
They stopped walking and the sound stopped too.
"We are being followed--" Before Yuna could panic Ryujin shushed her and looked into the direction of the sound.
"If you want to fight, come out coward!!" She yelled.
"Are you crazy!?" Yeji trembled.
The sound of footsteps was heard again.
The adrenaline rushed to their heads.
"Run!" Jisu screamed and went for it as fast as she could while holding Yeji's hand. Automatically the group followed her.
Ryujin was standing there with clenched fists.
"Come on Ryujin, don't be stupid!" Jisu turned around and waved her over.
The angered girl took a deep breath and exhaled before she ran after them.
They still heard footsteps behind them, big ones. It couldn't have been theirs. At least five twigs were crushed at a time. It must have been multiple people.
"Faster you two!" Yeji called Yuna and Chaeryeong out.
Ryujin already managed to catch up with them and went in between the youngest girls to drag them to Yeji and Jisu's speed level.
Their eyes and mouths were wide. Good thing no fly was around to enter their mouths.
"To the left!" Ryujin yelled. "Go to the backyard on the left!"
Without questioning her they rushed to that direction. Somehow Ryujin had a key to the backdoor and they quickly entered, then she locked the door and turned the lights of the kitchen were they were in on.
"We should call for help...." Chaeryeong said with teary eyes, being hugged by Yuna.
"I have a phone." Yeji remembered, biting her bottom lip. "My mom said I should call her if something happens."
"You all stay here." Ryujin said and walked to the living room.
"I'm going to follow her." Jisu gave Yeji one last squeeze. "Tell your moms where we are and to pick us up. It's okay. We should be safe here."
Yeji embraced her best friends arm before she let her go.
...
Jennie had no luck scaring people. Maybe she needs to change her strategy. Perhaps a bigger blanket? OR she could draw blood on it! A bloody ghost, that should scare them, she smirked.
But first of all she had to watch her competition.
She opened the door slightly to look at Jisoo's door. Kids were there, suddenly they screamed and ran away without taking candy.
What!?
How did Jisoo do that?!
Jennie took her coat and went outside.
Maybe she could find some kids who would be willing to pretend to be afraid of her in exchange for money or cars.
...
Jisu walked to the living room and saw Ryujin peek through the curtains of the window. There was a clear view of the street. She must be looking out for someone who followed them.
She didn't turn the lights in the living room on. Jisu walked on tiptoes towards her who already noticed her nevertheless.
"There is no one." She stated. "You can tell the others to come."
Jisu immediately told them to come to the living room before they turned the lights on and sat on the couch to calm down.
"Whose place is this?" Jisu had a quizzical look.
"It belonged to my grandfather and technically belongs to me now but I'm not legally allowed to live on my own." Ryujin explained. That's why she knew this area well.
All of sudden the backyard gate slammed. There were bangs and knocks.
Ryujin rushed to turn the lights off and pointed to the kitchen for everyone to go there.
They were all shaking, they felt cold and their chests constricted. Ryujin picked up a spoon from the drawer because she found no knife. She pointed it to the door like she could use it as a weapon somehow.
They faced the backdoor and waited for someone to come in but no one entered.
Then there was a knock on the front door and they all screamed as loud as they could when the doorknob was shaken.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
"It's locked calm down!" Ryujin interrupted their yelling. "Yeji open the door, I will throw the spoon against their eyes."
"M-Me?!" She pointed at herself.
"I'll do it!" Yuna said determined.
"You are too slow." Ryujin shook her head.
"Let's build traps, you know like in Home Alone!" Chaeryeong suggested.
"No time. Now Yeji." Ryujin ordered.
Yeji was on her way to the door with shaky feet as there was another knock on the door and she flinched.
Jisu knew she was too scared to move, and Yeji also knew that Jisu would take her spot in a heartbeat. She knew it, so she clenched her fists and recalled that she is the one who was supposed to protect her, not the other way around.
That's why she dared to signal Jisu she was fine and ran to the door herself. She would have opened the door and Ryujin would have thrown the spoon if a familiar voice didn't cut them off.
"Yeji? Jisu? Anyone in there?"
Ryujin lowered her arm.
"Mom...?" Yeji had tears in her eyes. She opened the door and practically jumped into Seulgi's arms.
"Thank goodness...." Chaeryeong slumped to the ground while Yuna inhaled deeply.
Jisu looked at Ryujin to give her a reassuring smile. Underneath Ryujin's fearless demeanor she could tell the girl was nervous herself. She simply didn't want to scare the others and felt the need to protect them.
"Yeji..." Seulgi warned.
Yeji quickly jumped out of her arms and ran to hide behind Jisu.
She was in trouble.
...
Jennie had to learn that kids were not interested in Porsches and villas. Candy seemed more fascinating to them. She walked back and knocked on Jisoo's door to let her know she was giving up.
"You won.... but how did you scare them like that!?" She frowned. "I could hear it to my room."
"When they asked for candy, I offered them math exams instead." She chuckled.
Jennie's eyes grew wide. That would have scared her too.
"So what do you want as your prize?" Jennie cocked a brow. Jisoo was unpredictable.
Jisoo smiled and held her hand out, handing the cat a strawberry flavored candy in a heart shape.
"Go on a date with me."
...
Back in the creepy house that invited the kids in, five men were gathered.
"We lost them."
"Really? A few kids were faster than you? Don't make me laugh." Seungri didn't look impressed.
"They knew their way around better. They took shortcuts."
"What a pity. That was the perfect opportunity to get rid of them in the dark forest and no one would have known." Seungri rubbed his temples. "Did you track the bobblehead down?"
"Yes but she didn't have it with her. It was located at their apartment."
"At least we know where they live now."