Sun and Moon Saga

Chapter 5 2/2

You don’t meet people by accident, or do you?”

"Oh, okay, I promise I won’t disturb anyone,” I reassured her.

“You might, if you continue throwing around lines like you did seconds ago,” she joked.

My cheeks blushed in embarrassment when Miss Junha tugged my arm softly,

“I’m kidding. I hope you find the moon, Lisa. And please, if by chance you do run into her, take my advice, go easy on her with your lines.” She said with a wink and scurried away.

I followed Bora in the room quietly and made my way towards the back, making sure not to disturb her class. I sat and waited for a while, and luckily the ambiance of the room was dark and I was not visible enough to be noticed. The girls were piling in little by little, and I tried to hide even further in the darkness. I couldn't help but survey around the room, as if my eyes had an innate ability to recognize English speakers. How could I possibly determine it now that I hear them all talking in Korean? I sighed frustratedly to myself when a certain girl with feline eyes caught my attention. She walked in discreetly, avoiding the instructor’s glances, and placed herself among a group of girls 10 feet from where I stood. Bora started to speak, and the class formed to do some exercises, and shortly after, the music started. They started to dance to Pitbull and Neyo’s ‘Give Me Everything’ and I stared intensely at the choreography, trying to mentally take it in. Looking around, I can see how a lot of the girls really need dance training since they missed their points and cues and were totally off beat.

The ninja girl with cat eyes who entered quietly, on the other hand, was quite competent. I kept an eye on her the entire time, and she has the most potential out of the whole class if she just loosens up a little. Her form is favorable, and her body complements her execution; she also looks amazing while dancing. The only negative comment I have for her is that she stares at the mirror excessively and appears to be distracted. She has the whole choreography down, but her facial expressions are off. She keeps squinting at the mirror and keeps moving around the room. She started at the front of the room, and now she's slowly heading my way. I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh out loud, wondering what the hell she was doing, when suddenly, as she inched back even more, she tripped on someone’s foot. I instinctively grabbed her just in time to prevent her from hitting the ground. I was taken aback by my reflex because I felt as if I had invaded her personal space, noticing that I had both my hands below her underarms, so I gently pushed her up to regain her balance. Her chubby cheeks blushed in embarrassment and her cat-like eyes smiled as she laughed so cutely. I couldn’t help but laugh along with her, but to make sure she wasn’t hurt our eyes locked and I asked, “Are you okay?”

Waiting for her reply, if she even understood me, as we were familiarizing our eyes with one another, the music suddenly stopped. Bora was making her way towards us and I panicked and disappointedly forced myself to look away from the feline eyes, waiting to be scolded. The instructor was saying something, but nothing I could understand. Did she forget that I didn’t know how to speak Korean? I just stared at her confused and to put me out of my misery, the cat ninja walked over and flashed me a smile and said, “Hi.” I was praying intensely in my head hoping that she could speak English, so I tried my luck and replied, “Hi. Do you speak English?”

“I do. And you obviously don't understand Korean, do you?” she said in the cutest Kiwi accent.

“No. I am new here, and I only know how to say hello.” I confessed, almost melting at the sound of her voice. I couldn’t believe that I found the moon of all places.

As Bora gazed at her, I recalled the policy prohibiting trainees from speaking English. I hope I didn’t get her in any trouble. They spoke, and Bora’s gaze lightened. Cat Ninja explained to me that Bora asked her to translate what she said.

“She said that you need to really pay attention since we are spending too much time with this choreography and want to move on, and you might make us all fall behind if you don't learn it fast enough.” she relayed kindly.

I assured her that I wasn’t going to slow down the class and that I had already memorized the choreography. But they both looked at me like I had two heads on my shoulders. Did I sound cocky saying that? Oh my gosh, the last thing I want is to come off as arrogant. The next thing I knew, I was pulled to the front of the room. There, I stood away from the dark nook where I had previously stood, now in front of a room full of gawking eyes. I couldn't hide my anxiety, despite knowing the entire choreography. I was panting as the music began. I took a fast breath and closed my eyes before the cue. I focused on the routine I had saved in my head. The beat instantly enveloped me, and I danced as if my life depended on it.

The music stopped, and all I could hear was clapping and side conversations from the class. I was gazing around in search of the familiar cat eyes and managed to make eye contact. She smiled and appeared to be encouraging me mentally. I ran towards her as she greeted me with a compliment, “You were amazing!” I couldn’t help but blush and reply with a shy, “Thank you.”

“What’s your name?” I finally asked so I could stop referring to her as a ninja cat.

“Jennie.” She replied with the best gummy smile I’ve ever seen.

I made my smile visible when I heard her speak her name, and all I could think about was, You don’t meet people by accident, do you? and mentally, I said, “Hi moon.” and out loud I replied back,

“I’m Lisa.”

CHAPTER 6

“But ‘just friends’ don’t look at each other like that.”

The development of Jennie and Lisa's bond happened almost as quickly as the seasons in Seoul changed. After a year of Lisa's arrival and two years of Jennie's YG experience, both are still at the top of their batch and are excelling in their training. Since their initial bump-in with fate, they have remained friends and have benefited from each other. Jennie, the rule-breaker who claimed she had no interest in getting to know the other trainees, concluded Lisa was quite different. Her initial impression of Lisa as a threat dissolved as they got to know each other more, and she discovered Lisa wasn't like the other trainees who would be sent home shortly. She marveled at Lisa's abilities and sought to soak up some insights. In exchange for Lisa's assistance in honing her dancing, Jennie helped her learn Korean, which has allowed Lisa to become nearly fluent in the language and hold a respectable conversation. They discovered how much they had in common and took solace in one another.

During Lisa's first few months at the company, Jennie shielded her from the bullies who came in. She was by Lisa's side when she cried from the disparaging remarks they made about her and her appearance. Jennie did not tolerate it, and because the trainees were aware of her reputation, they fled with a single stare from her. Even though Jennie occasionally made fun of her, Lisa knew Jennie well enough to know that she was only kidding and didn’t take offense. Jennie would bring her around the city and introduce her to some of her friends outside the company, and Lisa was appreciative of the gesture since she didn’t have friends of her own in the beginning. To show her appreciation, Lisa willingly does everything Jennie asks her to do. At the sound of Jennie's "Lisa-yah!" Lisa developed an automatic reflex to immediately turn her attention to her. Although Jennie initially shielded Lisa, as time went on as Lisa became more accustomed to Seoul and its culture, Lisa began to protect Jennie as well. As the maknae, it is her responsibility to demand that those who have contact with Jennie treat her with respect.

They were inseparable, and other trainees envied them for their friendship. If people didn’t know any better, they would easily assume that the duo were in a romantic relationship. When they look at each other, their eyes speak a different language, and their exchanges are filled with admiration. However, this was not the case. While Lisa did admit that she was a lesbian and had a girlfriend in Thailand, Jennie is, as far as she knows, heterosexual. Lisa was relieved that Jennie accepted the news about her s****l orientation with openness because she had assumed that SoKor disapproved of homosexuality and that Jennie Ruby Jane avoided contact with individuals similar to her. Jennie appreciated her candor and assured her that she was not alone among the trainees in this regard. Additionally, Jennie disclosed to Lisa how trainees would experiment with one another as a result of the hormones that come with living in dorms with only girls. Jennie advised her on who she should avoid in the company, and she assisted her in maintaining her privacy so that others would not use any of her personal business against her to gain an advantage. The company rotates the girls as roommates every three months to help them get to know each other, and the two have yet to room together. They have sent multiple requests to be roommates but YG was adamant about sticking to their rules. Although there are girls willing to exchange rooms with others, they weren’t willing to do so for Jennie or Lisa. This frustrated the two, and the new rotation was approaching.

The pair strolled to the back of the YG building and sat in the picnic area under the shade.

“Yah! Lisa-yah! Imagine if we finally become roommates this time.” Jennie said as she opened a bag of chips and stuffed it in her mouth, “I mean, think about it; we went through how many rotations, and the probability is still pretty slim, but I have a feeling this time.”

Lisa attentively listened to Jennie’s wishful thinking, and without having to ask her to, she opened the bottle of water, handing it to Jennie so she could wash down the handful of chips in her mouth.

“Unnie, here we go again with your probability theories.” Lisa quipped.

Jennie took a big chug of water and handed it back. Before Lisa could close the cap, Jennie jabbed her elbow against Lisa's arm, causing the water to spill on Jennie’s pants.

“Lisa-yah! My gosh, you wet my pants. Can you please be careful!? I look like I peed myself!” Jennie scoffed with a pout.

“Oh my, sorry, Unnie. You bumped my arm. It was an accident.” Lisa laughed at her expression as she pulled her sleeve to pat her pants dry and absorb the liquid.

“Ugh, Lisa-yah, you make me feel like you don’t want to room with me. Is that it?”

Her eyes narrowed, waiting for her response.

"Oh, stop; you know that’s not it. You know you’re the only one I actually get along with in the company.”

Her frightening demeanor abruptly changed into that of a small child sulking for a toy.

“Then why aren’t you as hopeful as I am that we could be roommates? Probably because we do spend all our free time together, we’re in practically all the same class, and you’re simply getting tired of my presence,” she said softly as she pouted and linked her arm to Lisa’s. Lisa blushed slightly at the touch of Jennie’s exposed skin from the tank top she was wearing.

Typical Jennie is nearly bipolar. She can be a frightening monster one minute and a needy baby the next. Bipolar bear Jennie can only get away with this behavior with Lisa. Given that Lisa constantly reminds herself of how much Jennie has helped and still helps her, Lisa has a great deal of tolerance and patience for her.

Lisa was developing a crush on Jennie, but she would never tell her because she did not want to jeopardize their friendship, as she was her only true friend. Not to mention, she knew Jennie was straight based on all of the stories Jennie told her about her interactions with boys back in New Zealand. Even though Lisa occasionally thought that Jennie's neediness was a sign of something more, she brushed the thought aside, bottled up her emotions, and decided to keep it to herself. And it’s not that she didn’t want to be roommates with Jennie; it’s just that to her, it feels like it would be torture. She feels a strong attraction to Jennie and worries that she will not be able to restrain her feelings.

“Unnie, it’s not that at all.” Lisa started to explain, “It’s just that if it happens, it happens. Because what’s the point in getting your hopes up only to be disappointed? It's better if we expect nothing and just be surprised at the result, hoping it’s what we want,” said Lisa as she gently patted Jennie on the head.

“Whatever,” Jennie sneered as she unlinked her arm from Lisa’s and crumpled the bag of chips. She stood up in front of Lisa with her hands on her waist, and Lisa looked up with her eyes wide, waiting for Jennie to continue her tantrum. Instead of looking at Lisa, she turned her head towards another pair at the other end and yelled,

“Yah! What are you looking at? Don't you have somewhere to be?!”

Lisa stood up to calm Jennie down while the scolded pair ran back into the building. Still with her hands on her waist, Jennie continued, “Aishhhh, seriously, people don’t know how to mind their own business.”

Unsure about Jennie’s tantrum, Lisa couldn’t help but laugh and whisk her away back inside the building.

Jennie was still in her sulking mood, and Lisa knew to be quiet before the baby had another outburst.

“Are you okay?” Lisa asked regretfully.

Jennie continued to walk without responding to Lisa.

“I think you need to have a proper meal. Maybe it will lighten your mood, Unnie,” Lisa suggested with a soft voice.

And instantly, baby Jennie was present. Linking her arm to Lisa once again, she pouted and replied, “I’m starving, Lisa-yah! Feed me.”

“Yes, that much I figured. Let’s go to the cafeteria.” Lisa guided Jennie as she smiled and shook her head.

They passed by the lobby on their way to the cafeteria, only to notice a new trainee receiving an orientation. The duo greeted the girl in unison, and the cheerful girl returned the greeting. They did not notice the new trainee trailing behind them as they continued walking in their direction. Lisa grabbed a tray for Jennie, and when she was about to grab another one, her hands collided with the new trainee.

“Oh, sorry,” Lisa cried.

“Sorry too,” replied the newbie.

The quick exchange of apologies caught Jennie’s attention, and she shot the newbie a smile and immediately jabbed Lisa with her elbow, pointing to the food she wanted on her tray. After carefully arranging Jennie's choices onto her tray, Lisa proceeded to arrange some of her own. Lisa looked at the newcomer next to her as she returned the serving spoon and motioned for her to take it. Lisa noticed the strange smile on the new girl's face as she walked to where Jennie had selected to sit. She sat in front of Jennie and started to cut the meat into tiny pieces for her. In between conversations and the occasional feeding from Lisa, Jennie noticed the newcomer watching them while sipping on her straw with a weird expression. Jennie lightly kicked Lisa under the table and signaled for her to look in the newbie’s direction. Lisa obliged and looked.

“She’s kind of creeping me out,” Jennie whispered.

“She looks harmless, Unnie. Just eat and don’t mind her.” Lisa suggested it while chewing her food, offering Jennie a bite as well.

The new girl continued to sip her drink, looking around like a lost child. Other trainees started to pile up in the cafeteria and also noticed the new girl as they threw glances and small talks. As Lisa kept her mind on her food, Jennie couldn’t help but notice how the other trainees kept on staring at the lonely girl and exchanging nasty comments. A group of girls sat behind Jennie, and she could hear them talk about the newbie as she leaned back on her chair, arms crossed, wearing a resting b***h face. Lisa knew what was going through Jennie’s mind since that face she had was all too familiar to her. It was that “I’m about to rip you a new asshole” kind of look. Lisa braced herself and reached over the table, extending her hand to Jennie and tapping the table to signal for her to calm down.

“Jen, look, she doesn’t seem to mind,” pointing to the new girl, who just sat there laughing to herself. Jennie glanced at the giggling weirdo, then stood up and slammed both of her hands on the table while holding her chopsticks, causing the entire room to stare at her in silence. Lisa flinched, and the only noise that came after Jennie’s sudden outburst was the peculiar girl’s burst of laughter. Lisa ended up laughing behind her hand while Jennie made her way towards the table of the laughing hyena, and soon she followed. The two sat in front of her, and the newbie looked on, waiting to hear what Jennie had to say.

“Hi, I’m Jennie, and this is Lisa,” she said with an attitude completely different from seconds ago.

The girl smiled, leaned forward with her elbows on the table and replied,

"Hello!" she said, waving a hand at their faces. “I’m Jisoo,” she said with a jolly tune.

Lisa and Jennie were taken aback by her corky personality and couldn't help but smile.

“Listen, don’t let them get to you. They’re always like that. Talking s**t is their way of showing their insecurities.” Jennie said it with authority.

Jisoo plastered a goofy smile and replied, “Oh, I could care less. I am not here to entertain them, and judging by how much they are laughing, I was successful.”

“But they’re laughing at you, not with you, Jisoo,” Lisa added.

“Like I said, I could care less. I know why I’m here. And it’s definitely not to make friends. Especially if that’s the type of people there are here. No thanks. The funny thing is, when you don’t let people disrespect you, they start calling you difficult,” Jisoo attested.

Both Jennie and Lisa couldn’t help but look at each other and smile at the wisdom of Jisoo.

“You’re absolutely right.” Jennie agreed. “Lisa and I do not get along with the others as well, just so you know. They’re all caddy and not worth the hassle. And your attitude is right up our alley, so I think we will get along well.”

“In that case, thank you, Jennie. Among the people who approached me today, you and your girlfriend are the nicest,” Jisoo commented

"Oh, we’re not...” Lisa and Jennie rebutted at the same time while pointing fingers at one another.

Jisoo, in shock, said, “Wait, you two aren’t?” She leaned forward more toward the pair and whispered, “Or you just don’t want the company to know?”

“Oh, we’re not,” they said again in unison, looking away from each other.

Jisoo leaned back and smiled. “You could have fooled me. I haven’t been around you long, and I could see there’s some sort of tension between you two.”

Lisa gulped as Jisoo’s observation left her feeling uneasy.

The three of them got along so well that they spent a considerable amount of time hanging out in the cafeteria. They had a similar sense of humor and, more importantly, the same life values and work ethics. They discovered that Jisoo is the oldest out of the three, and both Jennie and Lisa immediately addressed her as Unnie. The three had talked so freely that Jennie forgot she had to be somewhere.

“Ahh! I nearly forgot; I have to report upstairs for an evaluation. Oh! And while I’m there, I might well see if the new roommate rotation is posted,” Jennie exclaimed.

She got up, waved them goodbye as Lisa stayed, and offered to show Jisoo around. They walked around the company and Jisoo was grateful for Lisa’s time.

“I hope I’m not keeping you; I can go on my own if you have somewhere to be,” Jisoo insisted.

“No, I’m good, Unnie. I have empty blocks on my schedule since I am exempt from the other dance classes.”

“Oh? You’re that good, huh?”

“Not to brag, but... you know,” Lisa teased, jokingly shoving her shoulders against Jisoo.

“You know, your Korean is not bad—pretty good, actually. You’re ‘not girlfriend’ must have taught you well,” Jisoo snickered.

“Stoppp, Jennie-Unnie is not my girlfriend,” Lisa growled slowly.

“That’s what I said; you’re ‘not girlfriend’. You need more Korean lessons, Lisa-yah. I think I will do you a favor and teach you Korean if you teach me some dance moves.”

“You are so weird; you know that, Unnie?”

Jisoo laughed as they continued to walk around the building. They turned at the end of the hallway, only to be greeted by none other than the bipolar bear herself.

“Fancy meeting you here, Jennie-yah!” Jisoo exclaimed.

"Well, hello there to you, Kim Jisoo!” Jennie bellowed with a cheeky smile.

She soon turned her attention to Lisa, and with a narrowed and mischievous smirk, she said, “And hello to you, roommate. Laters!” Jennie winked at Lisa after her announcement.

Lisa had an unsure smile on her face that Jisoo picked up on but remained silent.

“Are you serious?!” Lisa asked with mixed emotions.

“Yup! And you’re right, Lisa-Yah it feels so much better to be surprised!” Jennie gushed with her gummy smile. They hugged in happiness as Jisoo just looked on with a dense smirk.

“That’s cool after all those rotations, huh, Unnie.”

“Well, see you later, then, roommate!” Jennie shrieked while patting down Lisa’s bangs as she went about her business.

Lisa stood watching Jennie disappear down the hallway, and the moment she was nowhere in sight, Jisoo tapped Lisa on the forehead, misplacing her bangs.

“Yo, Unnie! I don’t know you well enough for you to touch my bangs like that,” Lisa sneered.

"Ooooh, Lalisa Manoban, you wish Jennie was not ‘not your girlfriend’,” Jisoo teased.

Lisa jokingly grabs Jisoo by the head, attempting to kiss her while Jisoo resists. “How about I kiss you, Unnie? Will that shut you up?"

Jisoo pushes Lisa away, laughing, and the two play wrestle like idiots in the hallway until Lisa feels her phone vibrate. And they both let go of each other.

“You better check that; your ‘not girlfriend’ might need you to burp her,” Jisoo teased again.

Lisa reached for her phone to check the message and hid the phone from Jisoo’s sight, only to see that it was in fact Jennie texting. Jisoo looked fast enough to see who it was and burst out laughing.

J: Lisa-yah…Do you think you can bring my stuff to our room for me tonight?

L: Sure. Do you have to stay late today?

J: No… Chahee asked me to meet up. Key fobs are in the lobby.

L: Ok, have fun and be safe, Unnie. Room #407

“So, what is it this time that baby J wants?” Jisoo is not letting up.

“Just a favor, to bring her stuff to our new room.” Lisa blandly responded.

“I might as well do it now; I’m sure the rooms are vacant already while I’m free.” Lisa decided.

“Well, I’m headed that way too, so if you don’t mind, we can go together,” Jisoo offered.

Lisa and Jisoo walked together to the dormitories. To retrieve their key fobs, they made a stop by the lobby. They showed their IDs, and in exchange, they got their new key fobs. They exchanged room numbers and discovered that they were in the same suite but in different rooms. They appeared quite thrilled, and given how well she got along with the two, Jisoo appeared relieved.

“Who’s your roommate, Unnie? I might know her and give you a heads up.” Lisa asked.

Jisoo looked at her email with the room details and saw it was a girl named Miyeon Cho. Lisa saw as they read the mail together.

“Oh, Miyeon! She’s cool. You won’t have issues with her.” Lisa assured.

“Nice! Is she cute?” Jisoo jokes.

Lisa just looked at her, not sure if she was joking or not, and just laughed it off.

“Well, wanna give me a hand with mine and Jennie-Unnie’s stuff?”

“Yeah, I can unpack later. Let’s go.”

Jisoo accompanied Lisa down the hall to retrieve their belongings. They were able to make one trip thanks to the extra hand. Jisoo excused herself to return to her room and begin unpacking once all of their luggage was in the room.

“Let’s have dinner together, Unnie; my treat to welcome you,” Lisa kindly proposed.

“Sure, how can I say no to a free meal?” Jisoo replied, laughing.

In the process of unpacking, Lisa managed to get Jennie's and her bedsheets on. Even though she knew Jennie would not mind, she did not want to unpack any of her possessions. Lisa would not do anything unless Jennie specifically instructed her to. She decided to text, letting her know that all their stuff was already in the new room.

L: Hey..Unnie..all your stuff is here in the new room already.

J: Oh thanks, Lisa-yah. I won’t be out too long. I still have to fix my bed.

L: Already took care of that. We laundered our sheets together, and they were in the bag, so I just put yours on as well.

J:Wow! Wife material 😜 thank u 😘

L: Be safe Unnie!

Lisa smiled as she read Jennie's last text message. She has been suppressing her feelings for a long time, and she is not sure how she will keep them hidden now that they’re roommates. She lay on the bed, contemplating her current situation, when Jisoo's voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Yo, I came to collect my free meal, monkey!” Jisoo joked.

Lisa stood up and pulled out her phone to place a fried chicken order, the greatest similarity between the two. Lisa settled the bill, and the two of them sat down in the shared dining area between their rooms, which belonged to the suite's four occupants. They relished the notion of having their own space and not being grouped in with trainees they did not get along with. In addition to eating well, they conversed about their individual experiences. They clicked, and there were never any uncomfortable times between them. Even though Jisoo was older than Lisa, there are moments when it seems like they are using the same brain cell.

“So, Lisa…” Jisoo started.

“Hmm..” Lisa hummed in response.

“I don’t get you, Lisa-yah. Rumor has it that in this company, there are a lot of trainees and idols who are in same s*x relationships. Why are you so afraid to ask Jennie out? It’s clear that there’s something between you two, and neither of you wants to admit it.”

Lisa was nearly choking on her chicken. “Whhat?! What are you talking about, Unnie?”

“Come on, Lisa, I’m crazy, but I’m not stupid. You can tell me.” Jisoo insisted as she casually took a bite of her chicken.

Lisa wiped her mouth and then her hands with a napkin upon replying, “ Jennie-Unnie and I are just friends. I get it—like how people think we’re more, but seriously, we’re just friends.”

Jisoo not convinced as she stared at her, constricting her eyes.

“But ‘just friends’ don’t look at each other like that.”

For the first time since their friendship began, Lisa felt uncomfortable because of Jisoo's suggestive remark.