Room 97

Chapter 16

“No, Jennie stop.” Jisoo said as she was being dragged by Jennie. The latter turned her head to her and stopped.

“Why?” Jennie asked.

“I don’t think Lisa is ready to talk to anyone just yet.” Jisoo said.

“Come on, trust me. She needs a new friend and I think it would help her build trust to someone.” Jennie said and began dragging Jisoo again.

“Ugh, you owe me McDonald’s, Jennie.” Jisoo said and Jennie just laughed.

Once they arrived at Lisa’s door, Jennie unlocked it and she turned to Jisoo first before opening it. Jisoo had her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised questioningly.

“This will go perfectly fine.” Jennie assured and Jisoo sighed.

“I won’t really be surprised if something bad will happen.” Jisoo deadpanned.

“Just look friendly, okay?” Jennie said and she opened the door.

“I don’t look friendly to you?!” Jisoo almost yelled as she feigned offended and Jennie just laughed.

“Lisa—” Jennie called and she was caught off guard by Lisa’s quick kiss.

“Good morning.” Lisa giggly said and her eyes widened when she saw Jisoo behind Jennie who had the same expression as her.

“Did not see that coming.” Jisoo said under her breath.

“I’m sorry.” Lisa quietly said to Jennie as she lowered her head in embarrassment.

“It’s fine. She knows.” Jennie whispered as she smiled and she stepped in.

“What?!” Lisa lifted her head as she almost yelled.

“Don’t worry, she won’t tell. Our secret is safe with her.” Jennie assured as she squeezed Lisa’s hand. She turned her head to Jisoo and signaled her to come in. Jisoo hesitantly walked inside and gave Lisa an awkward smile.

“H-hi. I’m Jisoo.” Jisoo said to Lisa and Jennie gave her a look, signaling her to held her hand out for a handshake. Jisoo sighed and she held out her hand to Lisa.

“Lisa.” Lisa said and she took Jisoo’s hand and the latter almost withdrew her hand when their hands brushed.

“Nice...to meet you.” Jisoo said as she slowly shook Lisa’s hand.

“Likewise.” Lisa awkwardly said and let go of Jisoo’s hand then she turned to Jennie. “Can I have a word with you?” She asked and Jennie looked at Jisoo and the latter just shrugged.

“Okay, what do you want to talk about?” Jennie asked and Lisa dragged her at the corner away from Jisoo to have a private talk.

“Why did you bring her here?” Lisa asked, her eyebrows knitted together.

“I thought it would be a great idea to have a new friend who you could trust.” Jennie said. “Unless you had something with her before...”

“No, it’s not that.” Lisa sighed. “I just don’t feel comfortable with this. I haven’t talked to anyone.”

“It’s going to be alright. Just think of this as a part of a therapy, alright?” Jennie hopefully said.

“I guess I don’t have a choice then.” Lisa said under her breath and they went back to Jisoo who was scanning the room while she waited for them. Jisoo turned to them when she noticed they were walking back towards her and gave them an awkward smile.

“Welcome back, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you two talked about since this room is pretty small for a private talk.” Jisoo sarcastically said and Jennie chuckled.

“Anyway, the reason why I really brought you here is so that you could talk to her while I do my rounds. I’ll be back soon.” Jennie said to Jisoo and she turned to Lisa who gave her a worried look. “Just be yourself around her. She doesn’t bite.” Jennie joked and took a deep breath in. “So, I’ll leave the two of you for now. And Jisoo, if you leave Lisa here after I left, then no McDonald’s for you.”

“Fine.” Jisoo sighed. “Don’t worry about me. I got this.” Jisoo dismissively said.

“Alright. That settles it.” Jennie smiled. “See you all later.” Jennie walked out of Lisa’s room, leaving Jisoo and Lisa alone.

When Jennie closed the door, Jisoo nervously gulped as she stole a glance at Lisa who still had a worried expression painted on her face.

“S-shall we sit?” Jisoo started and Lisa sat on her bed while she sat on the chair. “Okay, this is so awkward.” Jisoo honestly said as she started fidgeting.

“So, you know about me? About...Jennie and...me?” Lisa slowly asked and Jisoo looked at her, surprised that Lisa talked to her.

“Yeah. But don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about...this whole situation.” Jisoo said as she heaved a sigh.

“You’re scared of me, aren’t you?” Lisa asked.

“Can I be honest with you?” Jisoo asked.

“S-sure.” Lisa hesitantly said and Jisoo took a deep breath before speaking up.

“I was mad at you when they said you killed Chaeyoung. I really didn’t expect that to happen. I mean, I thought seeing her happy when she’s with you was good for her. I cared for her.” Jisoo mumbled her last sentence. “You don’t know how much her eyes sparkle whenever she speaks your name. I’ve never seen her like that before. I was jealous of you, I mean what did she even see in you? I'm much better than you!” Jisoo raised her voice and her eyes began to filled with tears, she sighed and shook her head. “But now I understand from what Jennie had told me about your past. And I guess I can never blame you for that. If only I had the guts to tell Chaeyoung how I felt for her before, then I wouldn’t have this regret left in my heart.” She paused and she halfheartedly chuckled. “I guess that’s just how fate and life works. We don’t really get everything we want, some things are meant to left unsaid, the people we like never likes us back, and some beginnings are meant to end earlier.”

“I...I’m sorry.” That was all Lisa could say. She didn’t expect someone was just as hurt as her. She didn’t expect Jisoo had to carry her regrets everyday as her. Jisoo met her eyes with her sad ones and gave her a sad smile.

“Lisa, if you think you’re unfortunate, you’re not. You’re lucky that you have Jennie. You’re both lucky to have each other. The reason I’m keeping this all a secret is because I have faith and trust in both of you. Give Jennie the love Chaeyoung never got to feel now that she’s gone. Will you do that for me?” Jisoo hopefully asked and Lisa didn’t realize a tear had already escaped from her eye.

“Of course.” Lisa said as she felt each words that Jisoo had said to her. “I will.” Lisa began to sob as Chaeyoung invaded her mind. She would be lying if she said she didn’t miss her, she miss her a lot. And with that being said, it made her confused. She didn’t want Jennie to get the wrong idea that Lisa was just using her to forget Chaeyoung and not actually love her for who she is.

Love.

Did she really love Jennie or she loved Jennie because she reminded her of Chaeyoung? Had Lisa really moved on or still living in the past?

“Can I hug you?” Jisoo asked and Lisa just nodded as she wiped her tears, she badly needed a hug. “I hope you can trust me because I’m trusting you with Jennie.”

Little did the two know, Jennie was listening to them outside behind the door. Perhaps she lied about doing rounds. But Jennie was surprised about Jisoo’s revelation but she was happy about what she had said about her and Lisa. And perhaps she shed a tear from what she heard from Jisoo. It was sweet and unexpected.

Jennie waited a little longer before going back to Lisa’s room. She entered when she began hearing giggles and chuckles from Jisoo and Lisa which was a good sign for her.

“So, I hope nothing bad happened while I was gone.” Jennie said despite hearing everything earlier.

“Didn’t I say I got this before you left?” Jisoo countered sarcastically and Jennie laughed and rolled her eyes, how could Jisoo recover that fast?

“I was really kind of hoping some action would happen while I was gone.” Jennie joked and Lisa just chuckled quietly.

“You’re so mean, you want something bad to happen to me?” Jisoo feigned offended as she brought her hand to her chest dramatically.

“Let’s go, I'll get you your McDonald’s.” Jennie said and Jisoo stood up.

“Wow, why didn’t you tell me you're rich?” Jisoo teased.

“I’m not, I’ll just get you a sundae.”

“Well, it’s better than nothing.” Jisoo shrugged and Jennie turned her head to Lisa.

“I’ll get you a cheeseburger when I get back.„ Jennie smiled at Lisa and the latter just half smiled. “See you later.” Jennie said and left the room with Jisoo. And when the two was out of sight, Lisa heaved a sigh as her smile faded.

***

“So, what did the two of you talk about?” Jennie asked while they were eating their sundaes at the back of the asylum where no one could see them loitering.

“Nothing really. I just crack a joke to make the atmosphere a little light.” Jisoo dismissively said.

“Really? Do you solemnly swear that you're telling the truth?”

“Why would I even lie?”

“Because I was listening the whole time behind the door.” Jisoo widened her eyes as she looked at Jennie.

“What?! You lied about doing rounds?!” Jisoo shockingly said. “You’re such an eavesdropper, I need your schedule so I’m safe from you.” Jisoo shook her head as she shove her last spoon of sundae in her mouth.

“But what you said back there was really touching and sweet. Thanks for that.” Jennie said as she smiled.

“Just pretend you didn’t hear it from me. It’s making me cringe.” Jisoo shook her head and Jennie just laughed as she nudged her lightly.

After the two had their secret break, Jennie went to Lisa’s room with a cheeseburger she promised Lisa. She’d be lying if she said she wasn't expecting Lisa would surprise her with a sweet kiss again. And yes, she got disappointed. Lisa didn’t greet her with a kiss or even a smile when she opened the door, she was still sitting on the bed and her eyes on the floor, probably in deep thought.

“Lisa?” Jennie called and Lisa turned her head to her, giving her a small smile. “Here’s you cheeseburger.” Jennie gave Lisa the plastic bag and the latter sighed as she put the plastic bag beside her. Jennie furrowed her eyebrows and sat across Lisa. “Are you okay?” Jennie asked and Lisa sighed again, she looked at Jennie with sadness in her eyes. As Jennie saw that, she knew something was wrong.

“Jennie?”

“Yes?” Jennie said as her heart was slowly sinking in her stomach even though Lisa hadn’t even said anything yet.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do this with you.”