Somi had stayed with Lisa and Chaeyoung for a while, sitting at the kitchen counter with the two of them, eating an assortment of confectionary and discussing the events of the day in detail. Both Lisa and Chaeyoung had found it therapeutic to revisit everything that had happened again today, Somi providing them with some much needed thoughtful and balanced counsel.
"I'm so happy that you guys managed to work things out," she told them honestly. "I was really worried when you called me Chaeng," Somi continued turning to her friend. "I don't think I've ever heard you so agitated before." Chaeyoung glanced at Lisa who was watching her closely, a small smile on her lips.
"Yeah well, I don't think I've ever felt so agitated before," Chaeyoung admitted reaching her hand along the counter to take hold of Lisa's.
"If Chaeyoung ever does something as illadvised and idiotic as that again," Somi said turning to Lisa feigning seriousness, "then you have my permission to cause her an immense amount of physical harm alright?"
"Hey," Chaeyoung protested, knowing that Somi was only joking. "I know I acted irrationally ok. I guess I just lost my mind for a minute. Can I plead temporary insanity or something?"
"Everyone can see how much you two mean to one another," Somi told her in response. "It would have to have been temporary insanity Chaeng. That's the only logical reason I can think of as to why you would ever question the way Lalisa feels about you, especially because of something that Rachel Murphy said."
"I think we were both at fault," Lisa commented squeezing Chaeyoung's hand reassuringly. "So much has happened in the last couple of days that I think we were just overwhelmed by everything, at least, I know I was." Lisa shared openly. "I had an emotional, knee jerk reaction to what Chaeyoung said and walked away when I should have stayed and listened. Maybe if we'd talked things through properly straightaway then we could have saved each other a few hours of heartbreak."
"I think that you're probably right," Somi acknowledged in understanding, "but, I'm not surprised that you're feeling overwhelmed. You've got so much going on Lalisa that I don't know how you even begin to deal with it. How both of you deal with it." Somi said glancing at Chaeyoung and pausing to take a sip of her drink. "I mean, you're a couple now so it affects you too, right Chaeng?"
"I guess," Chaeyoung conceded, having not really considered it before.
"Somi's right," Lisa admitted in realisation. Chaeyoung played with Lisa's fingers mindlessly out of habit as she continued.
"You put up with a lot of things that most people wouldn't even entertain the idea of getting involved with." Lisa said thoughtfully.
"You make it sound like I'm some sort of saint," Chaeyoung laughed.
"Well let's not be ridiculous," Lisa joked. "I don't think I'd ever call you a saint...I mean, you did just pin me up against the sink and tease me profusely. I definitely don't remember reading about any saints in my religious studies class who'd ever done that." Somi raised her eyebrow slightly and turned to look at the kitchen sink in question.
"I don't think I need to hear about this," she said turning to look back at the others. "How you two decide to reconcile after a fight is something that I do not need to know."
"Oh my God Somi," Chaeyoung said incredulously. "I don't know what you think we were doing before you got here but it was not that. Lalisa was wet so I leant her some clothes..."
"I'm sure she was," Somi interrupted raising her eyebrow suggestively before she turned to study Lisa who was still sat wearing Chaeyoung's hoody.
"Lalisa, would you tell her please?" Chaeyoung pleaded her face blushing copiously at her poor choice of words moments ago. For a moment, Chaeyoung didn't think Lisa was going to say anything but eventually she relented.
"Nothing happened Somi," Lisa told her as Chaeyoung muttered 'thank you' under her breath.
"Shame," Somi said, one side of her face turning up into a wide grin. "You should consider it in future. I'd definitely recommend it."
"Somi!" Chaeyoung said stunned at her friends' boldness despite already knowing that she'd slept with Liam over the summer. "I thought you were supposed to be the religious one in the group?"
"Going to church doesn't make me anymore of a saint than you Chaeng," Somi informed her lightly.
"I know," Chaeyoung replied. "It's just, I'd expect a comment like that from Jennie. Hell, even Jisoo come to think of it. I didn't realise you could be as brash as those two."
"I'm just saying that if you were, you know..." she trailed off leaving the insinuation hanging. "Who cares? It's only natural. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"We're waiting," Chaeyoung said simply in return.
"We are?" Lisa asked her.
"Wait, we're not?" Chaeyoung said startled.
"I don't know," Lisa admitted in response to Chaeyoung's question. "I guess I hadn't really thought about it."
"I think we should wait," Chaeyoung admitted honestly. "I mean, I want you to be sure...I don't want to rush or anything...we've only been together for just over a month..."
"Ok this just got a little more awkward than I'd intended," Somi said, making an apologetic face. "Sorry." Chaeyoung gave Somi a quick look and the smaller girl cleared her throat, standing up from her seat hurriedly.
"You know," Somi said, wiping her hands on her trousers and picking up her jacket from where it hung on the back of her stool, "I should probably go, leave you guys to it." She picked up her umbrella from where it rested against the counter.
"I'll see you both tomorrow..." Somi put her hand out as Chaeyoung made a move to stand up in order to see her to the door. "No don't worry," Somi said as Chaeyoung lowered herself back in to the chair slowly. "I'll see myself out. You two should...talk...or something." She turned and made her way towards the front door, calling a quick goodbye over her shoulder as she disappeared out of sight. Chaeyoung heard her front door open and close a few moments later and turned back to look at Lisa who was watching her intently.
"You know we don't have to talk about this now," Chaeyoung said laughing a little to break the uncomfortable silence which had fallen between them.
"Well it's kind of out there," Lisa said, dropping her gaze to the counter in front of her timidly.
"Ok," Chaeyoung said as Lisa met her gaze again. "So, let's talk about it then."
"I've never...you know," Lisa informed her like it was some big secret. The truth was that Chaeyoung already knew that Lisa was inexperienced. Lisa had already admitted that she'd never been in a relationship before now, that until recently she'd never even kissed anyone but in this case, she and Chaeyoung were in exactly the same place.
"Yeah," Chaeyoung acknowledged. "I know Lili. That's why I think that we should wait."
"You're not a....I mean...you've...you know...?" Lisa asked clumsily.
"No," Chaeyoung admitted. "I've never slept with anyone before either."
"You haven't?" Lisa asked her slightly relieved.
"No," Chaeyoung confirmed. "I've only dated a few people Lili," she shared, "and none of them long enough to want to, you know, take that next step with."
"So it'd be the first time for both of us?" Lisa asked.
"Yes," Chaeyoung said taking Lisa's hand in her own and playing with her fingers again, "but, I'm not ready."
"Me neither," Lisa acknowledged having now given it some consideration. "I like where we are now," she said.
"Me too," Chaeyoung said kissing Lisa on the lips briefly. "We'll figure it out together ok?"
"Ok," Lisa agreed smiling.
"Later," Chaeyoung reiterated.
"Yeah like, in a week or something?" Lisa joked. Chaeyoung laughed and hit Lisa gently on the arm.
"Or something." She replied and leant over to kiss her again.
"You know," Lisa said when they'd parted, her thoughts returning back to their earlier topic of conversation.
"I really hadn't realised how much I was asking you to take on when we started dating," Lisa admitted. "I have a lot of baggage I guess..."
"I don't mind," Chaeyoung interrupted her truthfully. "Everyone has some baggage."
"Yeah but it's a lot for you to deal with," Lisa told her. "My physical disabilities are bad enough on their own yet alone..."
"It's a lot for you to deal with as well," Chaeyoung noted cutting her off.
"Yes, but, I have to contend with them" Lisa replied. "You don't...you choose to..."
"Yes because I want to be with you," Chaeyoung interjected reaching up to cup Lisa's cheek and stroking it gently with the pad of her thumb. "So...stop worrying about it alright?"
"Chaeyoung..." Lisa started to protest but Chaeyoung kissed her quickly to silence her.
"It's not too much for me," Chaeyoung told her plainly, "because we'll deal with things together, both of us. Besides my mom always said a problem shared is a problem halved...or something like that." Lisa smiled, relaxing slightly at Chaeyoung's words.
"I lov..." Lisa began but Chaeyoung kissed her again, preventing her from finishing her thought. Lisa pulled her face back quickly a look of confusion on her features.
"Don't say it," Chaeyoung told her knowingly.
"Why not?" Lisa asked her puzzled.
"Because," Chaeyoung answered. "You're still not a hundred percent sure yet Lili," she acknowledged, "and that's fine."
"I know but I think that I..." Lisa started again.
"Yeah, but I don't want you to say it until you're sure," Chaeyoung said honestly. "It'll be worth the wait, trust me." Chaeyoung winked as she finished and Lisa smiled happily.
"I like you...a lot," Lisa settled for instead, granting Chaeyoung's request. "Even more than I like Ed Sheeran." Chaeyoung smiled brightly at Lisa's words and kissed her, this time deepening it vehemently, her tongue probing Lisa's mouth hungrily until they needed to separate to catch their breaths.
"I love you," Chaeyoung told her easily, a face eating grin spreading across her features. "Remind me of that from time to time when I'm being a total asshole."
"I will," Lisa promised, "but only if you promise to call me out for being overly emotional..."
"At least you have a valid reason for it," Chaeyoung laughed referring to the fact that Lisa's head injury meant she suffered from emotional lability.
"Still," Lisa laughed. "Remind me of that from time to time as well."
"Deal," Chaeyoung agreed and she took Lisa's hand as she stood, pulling her girlfriend up from her seat and leading her into the lounge.
"What are you doing?" Lisa asked Chaeyoung as she gently pushed Lisa down onto the sofa.
"Well," Chaeyoung said, "we've got the house to ourselves so, I figured we could crash out on the sofa and watch old episodes of 'Friends'," she finished. "That is, if you want to?"
"Sure," Lisa said cheerfully, settling herself on the sofa and tucking her feet up underneath her as Chaeyoung found the season one box set and put the first disc into the DVD player. She picked up the remote control as she made her way over to the sofa and flopped down beside Lisa, lifting her feet up on to the coffee table in front of her as Lisa cuddled into her side. Chaeyoung placed an arm around Lisa's shoulder pulling her girlfriend closer in to her before switching on the TV and starting the DVD.
As the now famous credits rolled and The Rembrandts song played, Chaeyoung kissed Lisa gently on the top of the head. They'd stayed that way until Chaeyoung's family had returned towards Lisa's curfew when Chaeyoung had driven her girlfriend home, walking her to the door as she normally did and kissing her one final kiss goodnight before heading back to her own house to sleep, her body already eager to see Lisa again.
The next day, Chaeyoung, Somi and Jisoo were sat together in home room. Lisa was sat at the front of the class having a discussion with Miss Bae regarding some upcoming coursework which she had to submit for her US history class which she was kindly looking over for her.
"So Chaelisa are still going strong?" Jisoo asked after Chaeyoung had filled her in on everything that had happened yesterday afternoon.
"Yes," Chaeyoung informed her gladly. "We're still going strong Jisoo. It was just a little blip, that's all."
"Good," Jisoo commented, glancing at Somi beside her momentarily, "because I really don't want to have to kick your ass Chaeyoung but if you hurt Lisa then I will."
"I believe you," Chaeyoung told Jisoo lifting up her hands protectively in front of her.
"Jennie was kind of pissed that you didn't call her last night to update her on the whole Rachel thing," Jisoo informed her.
"I know but I caught up with her this morning." Chaeyoung said in response. "I just completely forgot that I was meant to call her. Lili and I started watching 'Friends,' then the next thing I knew my parents were home and it was almost her curfew."
"What are you going to do about Rachel?" Somi asked Chaeyoung seriously. "Are you going to tell Miss Bae about her?"
"What exactly would I tell her?" Chaeyoung asked. "She hasn't actually done anything, not really. What happened yesterday was down to my actions and she's being nice to Lili." Chaeyoung paused for a moment. "Too nice...but, still, I can't really complain about that. She'll think I'm mental."
"You are," Jisoo replied laughing slightly in amusement.
"Lili is going to stay away from her as much as possible and I'm going to ignore her." Chaeyoung informed them.
"Or kill her," Jisoo noted. "It's fiftyfifty at the moment," Chaeyoung admitted, "just, don't tell Lili that. She'll kill me and she's surprisingly strong for someone so weak."
"Have you seen Rachel at all today?" Somi asked.
"Not yet," Chaeyoung told her. "Hopefully it will stay that way as well. I can't guarantee that I won't punch her in the face if I see her."
"That makes two of us," Jisoo concurred before asking, "So, whose house are we going to tonight?"
"I've been thinking about that," Somi said in response.
"What do you mean?" Jisoo asked her. "Well," Somi started glancing at Chaeyoung on her left. "Just that Lisa said she'd had so much happening over the last couple of days that she's been feeling a little overwhelmed..."
"Yeah," Jisoo said still not grasping the point Somi was trying to make.
"So," Somi began to clarify. "Perhaps we should do something different, you know...fun. It might help her to take her mind off everything for a bit."
"Movie nights are fun," Jisoo protested.
"They are," Somi agreed, "but maybe we could do something else for a change. We always spend Wednesday's at someone's house. "Why don't we go somewhere instead?"
"Where did you have in mind?" Chaeyoung asked intrigued by the suggestion.
"I don't know," Somi commented. "I was hoping you'd think of somewhere. What kind of places does Lalisa enjoy going?" Chaeyoung and Jisoo exchanged a look.
"She likes the beach," Chaeyoung said, "so maybe we could go down there but that wouldn't be all that different to hanging out at someone's house."
"What about bowling?" Somi offered.
"She can't bowl," Jisoo answered. "Since the accident?" Somi asked.
"No," Jisoo laughed. "She has always had crappy aim."
"What about the arcade?" Chaeyoung suggested. "We could head down there and then out for something to eat?"
"Maybe," Jisoo said thoughtfully.
"Why don't we check with Jennie at lunch and see if she's got any suggestions?" Chaeyoung said.
"Suggestions for what?" Lisa asked as she descended into her seat beside Chaeyoung, having picked up the tail end of the conversation.
"For tonight," Jisoo told Lisa as she settled into her chair, placing her notebook and pen on the table in front of her.
"I thought we were going to Jennie's house tonight?" Lisa asked.
"Ok, how is it that you can remember that fact and I can't?" Jisoo asked playfully. "Your memory is awful." Chaeyoung narrowed her eyes at Jisoo's words and she quickly added, "I mean that in the most inoffensive way possible of course." Lisa shrugged, not disputing that her memory was bad. It had been ever since the accident in June.
"So what are we suggesting?" Lisa asked moving on. "Movies?"
"No," Somi said. "We thought perhaps it would be nice to do something different for a change. To have some fun."
"Like what?" Lisa asked.
"We don't know," Somi admitted. "We thought it might be a nice distraction from everything you've got going on with the police though. I know you said yesterday that you were feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all."
"Aww Somi," Lisa practically cooed.
"So what do you think Lisa?" Jisoo asked. "Any ideas?"
"Well," Lisa said thoughtfully. "We could do some of the things that I'd planned for my date with Chaeyoung. They all sound like they'd be fun."
"You want us to go on a group date with you and Chaeyoung?" Jisoo laughed. "You practically do every Wednesday anyway," Lisa commented and Somi chuckled at the realisation.
"Yeah ok," Jisoo said. "Can we talk about this a minute?" she asked. "How is it fair that you can bring a date to girls' night and I can't?" Chaeyoung and Lisa exchanged amused looks.
"My date," Chaeyoung said wrapping her arm around Lisa for effect "is a girl."
"That's not fair though," Jisoo protested.
"I don't make up the rules," Chaeyoung replied shrugging slightly. "You can always get yourself a girlfriend if you want to bring a date to girls' night Jisoo. I might know a crazy bitch if you're interested." Jisoo made a face.
"I'll pass," she responded, laughing lightly at Chaeyoung's suggestion.
"Doesn't Ezra work after school on Wednesdays?" Somi asked Jisoo uncertainly.
"Well, yeah," Jisoo admitted.
"So he wouldn't ever be able to come anyway would he?" Somi told her laughing. "Plus, Daniel has football practice and Liam has band practice. That's why we chose Wednesday evenings to meet up in the first place."
"Ok," Jisoo said defeated. "Maybe you're right..."
"Maybe?" Chaeyoung asked.
"Ok so you're right," Jisoo conceded, "but you know, no one ever told me about the perks of being a lesbian before. Perhaps I would have reconsidered it if I'd had all the information available to me beforehand. I didn't know you'd get to hang out with your friends and go on a date all at the same time."
"Jisoo," Chaeyoung said in disbelief. "You get to do that on a Friday night after Daniels football games when we all go out and get food. It's not a lesbian thing."
"Would you stop being so smart," Jisoo said playfully realising she was right.
"You're such an idiot," Lisa said laughing at her friend.
"The nerve," Jisoo said feigning hurt. "After everything I do for you Pokpak."
"You mean like annoy the hell out of me?" Lisa teased.
"The irritation comes with a side of pizza," Jisoo told her seriously. "It could come with a salad. Think about that."
"Oh, I am." Lisa replied chuckling lightly and Chaeyoung studied her face as the features lit up brightly.
"Seriously though Lalisa," Somi said, "I thought you were going to take Chaeyoung out to do those things, you know, just the two of you. Do you really want us tagging along?"
"I don't mind," Chaeyoung said in response to Somi's fears.
"It'll be fun. Plus, Lili will be there and that's the main thing." Lisa smiled at Chaeyoung's words and picked up her hand, rubbing the back of it with her thumb soothingly.
"Eww..." Jisoo joked. "Count me out if this is a preview of what's to come later."
"Ok," Somi said, "So we're going to do this then?"
"Sounds like it," Lisa replied nodding excitedly.
"So what are we doing?" Jisoo asked and Chaeyoung looked at Lisa expectantly.
"Well that would be telling," Lisa avoided the question.
"You're not going to tell us?" Chaeyoung asked confused. "How am I supposed to know where to go?"
"I'll tell you at the time," Lisa told her.
"How will the others know where to meet us?" Chaeyoung asked.
"Me and Jennie helped plan it remember," Somi said.
"So you and Jendeuk know but I can't?" Chaeyoung asked laughing. "How is that fair? It's my date you're kind of hijacking."
"It would have been a surprise anyway," Lisa said leaning forward and resting her head on Chaeyoung's shoulder as she linked their arms together. "Besides you only have to wait a few hours and then you'll know, won't you?"
"Why can't I know?" Jisoo asked her.
"You do," Lisa said making a disbelieving face.
"I do?" Jisoo asked.
"Jesus Jisoo," Lisa said laughing. "Are you serious?"
"I don't understand what's going on?" Jisoo asked earnestly.
"Wait," Lisa said lifting her head up off Chaeyoung's shoulder and narrowing her eyes questioningly. "Did you wake up as me for the day?" She paused for a moment as if considering something. "Am I you?"
"Lili," Chaeyoung said laughing.
"No I mean it," Lisa continued playacting. "Let me just try something....hoi, hoi... testing, testing...hashtag the nerve...hashtag moded..." Lisa laughed at herself, a loud throaty chuckle escaping her lips. "That was vela."
"Wow, that was like looking in a mirror," Jisoo commented in amusement. "So...hold up, ok...I'm going to need you to tie my shoelaces for me...yep, look...it's come undone. Help a girl out would you?"
"Jisoo!" Somi said stunned at her words.
"I was joking," Jisoo said waving her hand dismissively.
"That wasn't actually that funny," Somi told her, Jisoo's humour hitting a little too close to the mark. Jisoo and Lisa exchanged a pointed look.
"Oh God," Jisoo said, "I really am you....when the hell did that happen?"
"This is definitely some freaky Friday voodoo," Lisa noted in pretend alarm. "Did you have Chinese last night? You didn't have a fortune cookie did you?"
"I did," Jisoo mocked. "I did, I admit it. That must be it." She shook her head and laughed slightly.
"This is awful," Lisa said seriously.
"I'm going to fall on my ass multiple times today and I didn't even wear my knee pads or anything," Jisoo said. Lisa raised her eyebrow in amusement.
"I don't wear knee pads." She commented.
"Well, maybe you should." Jisoo suggested.
"What are we going to do?" Lisa asked.
"Well, for one thing," Chaeyoung said removing her arm from around Lisa's shoulder and reaching over to take Jisoo's hand.
"It looks like I'm going to be paying for Jisoo's dinner tonight."
"Hey," Lisa protested, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout.
"Isn't that right babe?" Chaeyoung asked laughing at the look on Jisoo's face as she started to stroke the back of her hand.
"Aww...thanks babe," Jisoo said fluttering her eyelids at Chaeyoung.
"Yeah, no," Chaeyoung said lifting her hand to put it back around Lisa's shoulders. "I can't...I think I'd rather date Lalisa's body..."
"You're so superficial," Lisa said to Chaeyoung in jest as she reached up her hand to link fingers with Chaeyoung's where her hand was draped around her neck.
"Not to mention rude," Jisoo said. Somi burst out laughing. "I don't know what just happened," she said watching the show, thoroughly entertained.
"Me neither," Chaeyoung agreed as the bell rang signalling the end of the period. "Can I walk you to health class?" Chaeyoung asked Lisa as she stood up from her chair. She kept her arm around Lisa's neck as she too ascended with her bag.
"I don't know," Lisa said. "Won't your girlfriend get jealous?" she asked looking at Jisoo who was smiling at the continued charade.
"That's ok. She can make it up to me later." Jisoo raised her eyebrow suggestively at Chaeyoung as they all turned to leave the class.
"Ok so...firstly....eww....and secondly...we're done with this yes?" Chaeyoung asked. "It's getting a little weird."
"Oh don't be like that babe," Jisoo teased, leaning over Chaeyoung's shoulder as they excited the class and made their way into the hallway.
"Seriously this is getting weird," Chaeyoung said as Somi waved a quick goodbye and left to go in the opposite direction.
"You know that's how I like it," Jisoo said, dropping her voice so that it sounded as seductive as she could make it. Lisa made a face, raising one eyebrow at Jisoo who, on seeing it stood up quickly. "Yeah ok, it just got weird." She acknowledged and waved goodbye to head towards her next class. Outside of Lisa's health class Chaeyoung removed her arm from around her girlfriends' neck and Lisa turned to face her. Lisa reached up to hold the front of Chaeyoung's sweater in her hands, playing with the material slightly before lifting her gaze and biting her lip in that way which Chaeyoung both hated and loved at the same time.
"I'll see you at lunch then," Lisa said stepping closer to Chaeyoung, her gaze dropping to the floor momentarily before she looked up and added as seductively as she could muster, "babe." Chaeyoung smiled, the word sounding much better when it was said in Lisa's raspy tone. She kissed Lisa on the lips. "I'm looking forward to our 'date,'" she said.
"You should be," Lisa replied playfully. "I'll be there."
"Minus Jisoo's mannerisms?" Chaeyoung asked.
"I can't make any promises but there's a very good chance she'll be gone by then," Lisa answered, trying to keep a straight face. Lisa stood up on her tiptoes slightly, pulling Chaeyoung's face towards her own by placing a hand on the back of her neck to connect their lips.
"Mmmm..." Chaeyoung moaned. "Who knew Jisoo was such a good kisser?" Chaeyoung asked jokingly and Lisa slapped her on the backside playfully before turning around and disappearinginto class. Chaeyoung watched her go before making her way to her own class, already mentally counting down the seconds until her and Lisa would be reunited again.