Feelings

Chapter 17

Henry and Jennie was done discussing about the song they’re going to perform at the field. Jennie bid her goodbye to him and gathered her things before going. As she was walking, she caught something at the corner of her eyes. She turned to her side and she saw Lisa was hugging Tzuyu. Jennie felt her heart ached and confused at the same time. Lisa just told her that Tzuyu was a horrible person and she ruined her, and now she’s hugging the person she despise.

But Jennie also thought, maybe they finally made up. It’s the most possible thing that could happen. But the only thing that she didn’t know was if she would feel happy for them that they finally made up or be envious, hoping that it would be her that Lisa was hugging. She sighed at the thought, walking away from the two without being noticed. Because of what she saw, she suddenly didn’t want to stay the night at their dorm.

She checked her phone to check the time only to see two missed calls from Jisoo. Jennie thought maybe they were waiting for her. She already knew what would happen if the two saw her, they would probably ask questions about what she and Lisa talked about earlier. Jennie actually wished that that day didn’t exist and just vanish because it was a bad day to her and she just didn’t want to talk about everything about what happened that day because she felt bad. And so Jennie sent a text to Jisoo instead, saying that they didn't have to wait for her. Just to be sure that Jisoo and Rosé were gone to their home, she wasted her time at the parking lot; just standing and thinking until she heard someone called her name.

“Jennie?” Jennie turned her head to where the voice was coming from and she smiled when she saw Henry. “Are you waiting for someone here?” He asked as he was walking closer to her.

“No, I’m just killing my time here.” Jennie answered.

“Ah, okay.” Henry smiled. “Do you want me to take you home? Where do you live?”

“Um Henry? This might be too much of me to ask but can I stay over at your house?” Jennie shyly asked.

“Why? Something wrong?” Henry grew concerned.

“Nothing, I just don’t feel like going back to our dorm is all.” Jennie lightheartedly chuckled. “But it’s okay if you don’t want to, I mean you don’t have to. I understand, you might be busy with your stuff and I don’t want to—”

“Well now you’re making me feel bad if I don’t take you with me now.” Henry chuckled. “Now that you just said you don’t want to stay in your dorm and you probably don’t have somewhere to stay.”

“No, really, you don’t have to oblige yourself.” Jennie said, suddenly feeling ashamed.

“I was just joking. Come on, you are very welcome in our house.” Henry warmly smiled and Jennie narrowed her eyes at him, making him laugh. “What? I won’t be doing anything ‘bad’ to you, I promise. I’ll have the guest room prepared for you. And maybe after we have our dinner we can practice the song together, sounds cool?”

“Okay, just so you know I have no interest in you.” Jennie lightheartedly said as she chuckled.

“Ow.” Henry faked to be hurt as he rubbed his chest but laughed afterwards. “Just kidding, you don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Twice? When did I tell you the first time?” Jennie asked, puzzled.

“The song you’re writing.” He nonchalantly said. “Come on now, let’s hit the road before it gets dark.”

Jennie didn’t expect Henry to have a car because they were now in his car. It was just a short drive from their school to Henry’s house. Jennie gawked at Henry’s house and thought he was rich. Henry opened the door for Jennie and entered the house, she was even more amazed when she took a quick look at the features.

“Mom, I’m home!” Henry announced his presence and seconds later, a woman in her 40’s arrived and welcomed Henry with a warm hug. She looked at Jennie and the latter shyly smiled and bowed her head politely.

“And who might this girl be?” His mother asked.

“This is Jennie, she’s my partner in our presentation this coming College Day.” Henry introduced and Jennie extended her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ma’am.” Jennie politely said and the woman gladly took and shook her hand.

“Oh please, just call me Mrs. Lau.” Henry’s mom smiled. “Have you two eaten already?”

“No, not yet.” Henry answered.

“Dinner is ready in a few.” Henry’s mom said and then she turned to Jennie. “Make yourself comfortable while I prepare our dinner okay?”

“Alright, thank you.” Jennie slightly bowed her head and the woman left them.

“Come, I’ll show you to your room. Or maybe you want me to give you a small tour?” Henry said.

“No need to tour me, I’m just here to stay the night so.” Jennie shrugged.

“Okay, let’s go.” Henry started walking and Jennie followed him behind.

Meanwhile, Lisa was shocked that Jennie was not in their dorm yet. She thought maybe she was practicing for the College Day so she waited for her to come back, but after hours of waiting, Jennie hadn’t back yet and that got Lisa worried. She thought of texting her but she forgot that she hasn’t get her number yet and she felt dumb for not getting her number despite always being with her most of the time. She didn’t have Jisoo’s number as well and only Rosé was her last shot. They weren’t still on good terms and so she swallowed her pride and went out of her room to go to Rosé’s. She took a sharp breath and knock on the door and Somi opened the door and rolled her eyes at her.

“You’re not going to sleep here, are you?” Somi annoyingly asked.

“No, but is Chaeng there? I need to talk to her, it’s urgent.” Lisa pleaded.

Somi turned her head inside and shouted, “Chaeyoung, Lisa’s looking for you!”

“Tell her I’m not here!” Rosé shouted back and Somi turned back to Lisa.

“You heard her, she’s not here.” Somi was about to close the door but Lisa slammed her hand against the door.

“Chaeng, I need to talk to you. Jennie’s not back yet, I need your help.” Lisa pleadingly shouted and seconds later, Rosé hesitantly showed herself, glaring at Lisa.

“I’ll handle this.” Rosé told Somi as she walked out and closed the door behind her. “What do you want me to do?” Rosé coldly said as she crossed her arms.

“First off, I’d like to apologize for the way I acted earlier. What happened today was just too much for me and it all got in my head.” Lisa sighed as she looked at Rosé who raised an eyebrow at her. “And secondly, I did what you told me. I had a talk with Tzuyu and it turned out well, we're good now.” She half smiled, and when Rosé didn’t change her expression, Lisa halfheartedly chuckled as she nudged her best friend lightly. “Come on, I now you can’t be mad at me for too long.”

“Oh god.” Rosé relaxed her body and sighed, she looked at Lisa with a soft gaze. “You’re right, I can’t.” Rosé softly smiled.

“I’m sorry for getting mad.”

“Me too.” Rosé brought Lisa into a tight and warm hug and pulled away afterwards. “Anyway, you were saying?”

“Right, Jennie hasn’t come back yet and I don’t have her number so I can’t call her. I bet Jisoo has hers so can you please ask her where is Jennie is for me?” Lisa pleaded and Rosé chuckled. “What?”

“Nothing, I just remembered that you told me you don’t want to have a roommate after the ‘Tzuyu incident’ but now you seemed worried about Jennie.”

“It’s because she’s my roommate and I feel responsible for her for unknown reasons.” Lisa tried to sound as casual as possible but Rosé can just read her well.

“What? You care for her that’s why you’re worried she’s not back yet?” Rosé pretended she didn’t hear Lisa clearly and laughed afterwards.

“Cut it off, I just need to know so that I won’t be startled when someone would come in in the middle of the night.” Lisa dismissively said.

“You can never lie to me Manoban.” Rosé smirked. “But she actually texted Jisoo that we didn’t have to wait for her and she also she she’d be fine.”

“She didn’t told you were she is?”

“No, it was just a short message.” Rosé said and she pulled her phone out of her pocket and texted Jisoo. “Message sent. In the meantime, we wait for her reply.”

***

Jennie was having dinner with Henry and his mom. She didn’t feel left out because his mom would always ask her if she needs anything and would ask things about her or how she met Henry. While in the middle of their meal, Jennie’s phone rang so she excused herself for a moment to answer the call.

“Jisoo, what’s up?” Jennie said.

“Uh, the ceiling?” Jisoo said and Jennie shook her head as she chuckled. “Where are you?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Because everyone is worried about you. You could’ve told us where you’re staying at least.”

“I’m fine okay. I’m actually in the middle of eating and I need to go back.”

“Lisa’s worried about you.” Jisoo blurted out and Jennie could see her wiggling her eyebrows teasingly and she just laughed it off.

“Yeah right.” She sarcastically said. “I’ll see you whenever okay? You all don’t have to worry because I’m perfectly fine and I’m enjoying a delicious meal right now.”

“But where exactly are you?”

“I’m at Henry’s, we have to practice the song we’re going to perform that’s why I’m here.” Jennie half lied.

“Really? Should I tell Lisa that you’re there? Maybe I shouldn’t, she might get jealous.” Jisoo joked.

“She doesn’t have to, I mean she has Tzuyu right?” Jennie said and there was seconds of silence between them. Jennie had to admit that she felt a little bit of bitterness as Tzuyu’s name rolled out of her tongue.

“Or maybe you’re the one that’s jealous?” Jisoo teasingly said.

“I’m not, you i***t. I’m fine okay. I have to go now.” Jennie just laughed off the truth that Jisoo had said and hung up, returning to the table and continued eating.

***

“I think it’s my fault why Jennie’s not here.” Lisa said, sitting on the bench at the rooftop with Rosé. “I snapped at her earlier and I didn’t mean it.” She sighed.

“You don’t have to blame yourself, she probably has her reasons why she’s not here besides the thought that it’s your fault.” Rosé said. “Anyway, did Tzuyu tell you why she had to leave before?”

“She did, her father was in a military and had to transfer school because he got relocated. And she said she rejected me before so that she wouldn't miss me as much.”

“Now finally the puzzle is complete.” Rosé lightheartedly chuckled.

“What shocked me was she told me she did and still likes me.” Lisa smiled and Rosé looked at her, eyes a bit widened.

“And you said...?”

“We remained as friends.”

“So Jennie has your heart now, I see.” Rosé jokingly said.

“Whatever floats your boat.” Lisa sarcastically said. And as if on cue, Rosé finally received a reply from Jisoo and Lisa almost took Rosé’s phone for her to read the reply herself. “What did she say?” Lisa eagerly asked.

“At Henry’s...house?” Rosé answered and she slowly looked at Lisa whose eyebrows were now knitted together. “Okay, before you suspect anything, they are partners for College Day and Henry seems to be a good guy so don’t act like you’re being territorial or anything.”

“I’m not being territorial, why would I be in the first place?” Lisa scoffed.

“Sure, whatever floats your boat.” Rosé mockingly said as she laughed.