Chapter X
2326 Words
JENNIE'S POV
While I was performing on stage I could see the hungry eyes of Ms. Lee's visitors, they eyed every move I do. They are mesmerized by my steps. I was dancing gracefully tonight, I want to finish this number so that I could go home early.
I danced to the pole and sway my hips seductively when I saw a girl sitting far from me, it was the pair of eyes that I've been wanted to see, it was Lisa's. But tonight I am not dancing for her but for those guests that I don't even know.
Lisa is watching me attentively, I made sure that I am not going to give her a glance tonight but I can see her from my peripheral vision.
While I was dancing on stage I saw Lisa now accompanied by a girl that I saw before, they were talking until the girl kissed Lisa. Such a b***h, I rolled my eyes to that sight. Lisa pushed the other girl that caused the girl to fall to the floor. Serves you right! I continued to dance and taking a glance at where Lisa is.
But the last thing I knew I was dragged off by a man. I screamed out of scared. Ms. Lee the manager of the bar trying to convince the man to set me free but he was out of control he is dragging me off and telling me to go with him.
The guards and bouncers of the bar were stunned. I hate them for letting this guy touch me!
When suddenly, there's this girl who aggressively punches the man's face. Lisa? The man recovered from the punch that Lisa threw at him. He also punched Lisa's face. I wanted to shout but there's no voice coming out. Lisa was strong like her face was made of steel. Why Lisa? Why are you doing this for me? She then kicked the guy's balls then held my hand and we ran.
We ran to the parking lot where her car was parked. I was still crying. I saw Lisa's mouth has a blood. I wanted to say sorry but I can't think right, right now. I might blow up my cover if I did something idiotic but I feel bad for her.
She told me to get in her car, I refused it but she insisted.
"I will not hurt you. I'll drop you off to your house don't worry I am not a bad person, Selena. I am not going to do anything bad at you." She said I feel safe with Lisa tonight. That's why I get inside her car
"You are not talking, are you okay?" I just nod at her. I don't even know how to thank her at all.
She saves me.
"Where do you want me to drop you off?" She asked me.
"Just drop me here," I said. Thank God my voice is cracked because I was crying or else she will surely recognize me.
"Not here. Look at what you are wearing. You might bump into some imbecile down there." She said and I just look at her. Am I seeing the soft and concerned Lisa?
The real Lisa that Chaeyoung has been telling to us? Why does she need to be this good to me when all I did was to doubt her?
"Don't look at me like that." She said disturbing me from my thoughts.
She stops the car and went to the back of her car. "Here. Wear this. If you really don't want me to drop you to your house at least wear some decent clothes. " and then she handed me her clothes. I remember that I was just wearing lingerie. She was right. If I walk like this people would be drooling at me.
I looked at the clothes not believing her kindness towards me "I did not use these yet don't worry you can have it." She said and then I started to wear her clothes.
The blood in her mouth is now dry. I can't believe that I am the reason why is she hurt tonight. It was all my fault.
Lisa did not even bother to tell me to take off my mask. Is she really this good? I am now confused.
She drives all the way and I said she could drop me at the near convenience store. When we are already at the convenience store I step out of her car. Her pants have money on it. She said she never used this. Maybe she put it here? Ugh Lisa. Why are you so good to me? You don't even know me.
After Lisa drop me off at the front of the convenience store where streets away from my apartment I waited for her to drive away until her car fades away from the view.
I walked alone on the street still sobbing and my mask is already wet because of my tears. This is the first time I experience such harassment like that. Thank God Lisa was there to save me. Her mouth got a bruise because he was punched by that man but she was strong enough to endure the pain. She did that for me.
I was finally at the front of my apartment. I rang the bell and after seconds Jisoo opened the door. She has a big smile on her face but it quickly faded when she saw me in my state.
"Wh-what happened Jennie??" she said worriedly looking side by side to see if anyone saw me.
We get inside of our apartment.
I told her everything; she was so mad and dialed her aunt's number.
"Auntie! Why did you let someone touch my friend!" She yelled at the phone. "Yes, it won't happen again because Jennie will never be going to dance to your bar ever again!" She exclaimed and hanged up the phone. Jisoo is scary when she's mad. Her aunt is calling her back but she just ignores it.
She hugged me "Sorry Jennie, I should be there to help you. But did you know who saves you? Did you even ask her name?" I did not tell her yet that it was Lisa because she stormed out really fast.
"It was Lisa, unnie." I said. Jisoo was shocked.
"L-Lisa? How come? Did she know that Selena is you? Damn what will happen now??" Jisoo was nervously asking me.
"Ani .. I never take off my mask and she never asked me," I said briefly.
Jisoo looks at the clock it is already 7:26 PM, "We will discuss this thing later Jennie, you need to fix yourself up they are going to be here in any minute. Just act normal okay?" She said and then wipe the tears on my face. "Apply makeup to your wrist. The man who gripped your wrist was strong, it marks you." She sighs "I'm going to deal with that man after this." She said in a threatening voice.
I just nod at Jisoo and I followed what she told me to do. When I was in the bathroom I look at Lisa's clothes that I hanged. I should keep that somewhere so they could not see it. Especially Lisa.
I heard the doorbell rang. They are already here. I should keep my face straight and makeup with Lisa not because Jisoo asked me but this time, I want to be good to her. She saves me from that man without even thinking about what would happen to her. She almost risked her life for someone she thought she doesn't know. I have guilt in my heart right now.
From now on, I will be nice to her. I will stop performing to that bar just to get her attention to punish her. Maybe she is really a good person. She doesn't deserve to be punished at all.
I saw Lisa and her mouth got a bruise but it is cleaned now. She smiled at me and I smiled back at her.
"You did not stray looking to our place?" Jisoo asked them while preparing foods on the table.
"Ani .. Lisa already knew the place after I told her where to go." Rosé answered Jisoo, Jisoo looked at me this time.
"Ah I drop off someone near here a while ago that's why." Lisa finally talked.
"You drop someone near here? That's why you came to my house late and your mouth with bruise!?" Rosé exclaimed. I gulped at it. "Were you in trouble Lisa?" Rosé added sternly looking at Lisa.
"Ah-anii.." Lisa shakes her head, "Remember Selena? From the bar? I dropped her off near here at your place Jichu. But I don't really know if her home is really here." She pouted.
"Okay, then why did you have a bruise Lalisa?" Chae asked curiously.
Lisa told us everything. Jisoo and I nodded at her. She told us every detailed happened from the bar. I was there that's why I know that she's telling the whole story.
"My only regret was not asking her to take off her mask." She then said.
"Why did you not ask her?" Jisoo asked curiously. I kick her foot but she's ignoring me.
"I don't know, maybe I don't want to see her at that state? She was crying. She looks really scared and I don't want her to scare away. What happened at the bar was pretty intense. The bouncers did not even lay a finger on that man. How dare them." I saw the disgust on Lisa's face. My heart suddenly pound.
Her eyes are really worried. She's really concerned. I bit my lip "Let's eat!" then I finally cut off.
Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa smile at me and we started eating.
---
We started our project, we have two projects the other one is to create a brief poem and we have to deliver it with all the emotions in front of the class and the other one which I think is the easiest is to learn something from your partner... but Lisa is my partner this time.
"So where do you want to start Lis?" I asked her politely since Jisoo and Rosé are already discussing their plans for the project.
"Jennie, you don't have to be nice to me. I mean, I get it you hate me but you don't have to act nice at all just because of what happened earlier." Did I just blow my cover? Does she know that Selena and I are the same person?
"Wh-what are you talking about Lisa?" I asked her nervously.
Lisa smiled at me. "At the school?" she said and looks down. Oh, I thought it was about earlier at the bar. Damn Jennie.
"Oh. About that Lisa, I'm sorry for being mean. I did not really mean to offend you. I was wrong. C-can we be friends?" I said the last word almost in a whisper.
"You want what?" her face lit up.
"Friends?" I said.
"Hahaha, Jennie, stop making me laugh I know you hate me that much but don't worry I'll do my best behavior for you to not be pissed at me. I just want to end this project already so that you don't have to act nice at all." Lisa said while laughing. What the f**k. Am I too late to fix things now?
"Jen, seriously. You don't have to." Lisa said and pick up her paper and pen.
"I am serious Lisa. I am really sorry for what happened and I know it was my fault." I gave her my most sincere face.
I saw Lisa blushing. And prevent my gaze "Ah – ah if you really want to be friends with me let's start with the project where you need to learn something from your partner. Right?" She said while smiling at me.
"Sure thing!" I said happily.
---
"I'm from Thailand! My birthday is on March 27, 1997, I am currently 21 now and before I was 20 and soon to be 22! They also call me Pranpriya and that chipmunk is my one and only best friend." Lisa said. I was surprised by her, she's unstoppable omg.
I laughed at her sentence; we agreed to start from basic things about us that is why we are starting with small details.
"It is your turn now Jen," she said
"Oh! Hahaha Okay hmm let's start with my name, my full name is Kim Jennie, I used to live in New Zealand for five years. My birthday is on January 16, 1996, I am one year ahead of you! And that chicken face is my best friend I don't even know why I am friends with her" I said, Jisoo throw the pillow at me and I laughed at her while Lisa is listening and putting my information in her sheet.
"Where are your parents?" She asked me curiously.
"They are in New Zealand, they are working there," I said and smile.
"How about you?" I asked her back
"My parents are here at Korea that's why I am also here. They have business everywhere and they are busy growing their business." She answered me and her voice a bit sad.
"Oh don't look at me like that" Lisa said when she recognizes that I am giving her the apologetic look. "Don't pity me, Jen. I have a good life and it is all because of them." Then she laughs at me.
I changed the topic immediately because I sense that she doesn't want to push it through.
"So what are your hobbies?" I asked her.
"I love to dance, not bragging out but I am kind of good at it." She said proudly.
"We'll see about that Manoban," I said.
"Jennie why did you transfer to our school?" she asked me and Jisoo looks at us.
Her question caught me off guard.
- Writer
