Jennie's POV
"What are you doing here?" I ask Lisa, even though I do not want to hear the answer, especially not in front of Kai.
"What do you think? You snuck out on me while I was asleep—what the hell was that?!" she booms. I hold my breath as her voice echoes off the wall. Kai's face flashes with anger and I know that he's beginning to put the puzzle pieces together.
And I'm torn between trying to explain to Kai what is going on and trying to explain to Lisa why I left.
"Answer me!" Lisa yells and stands in front of my face. I'm surprised when Kai steps between us.
"Don't yell at her," he warns Lisa.
I'm frozen in place while Lisa's face twists in anger. Why is she so mad that I left? She was mocking my inexperience last night, and would have kicked me out this morning probably anyway. I need to say something before this all blows up in my face.
"Lisa . . . please don't do this right now," I beg. If she leaves now, I can try to explain to Kai what is going on.
"Do what, Jennie?" Lisa asks and walks around Kai. I hope Kai keeps his distance. I don't think Lisa will hesitate to take her down. Kai is pretty buff from soccer, especially compared to Lisa's lean body, but I have no doubt that Lisa can hold her own, and most likely win.
What the hell is happening in my life that I have to worry about Kai and Lisa fighting?
"Lisa, please just go and we will talk about this later," I say, trying to defuse things.
But Kai just shakes his head. "Talk about what? What the hell is going on, Jennie?"
Oh God.
"Tell him; go on and tell him," Lisa says.
I can't believe she is doing this. I know how cruel she can be, but this takes it to a whole other level.
"Tell me what, Jennie?" Kai asks, and I can see his stance is an aggressive one, because of Lisa, but it's softening as he wonders about me.
"Nothing, just what you know, that I stayed at Lisa and Jisoo's last night," I lie. I try to match my gray eyes to Lisa's in hopes that she will stop this now, but she looks away immediately.
"Tell him, Jennie, or I will," Lisa growls.
I know it's all lost. I know there's no hiding anything anymore, and I begin to cry. But I want Kai to hear it from me, not the smirking asshole who's brought us to this point. I'm humiliated—not for myself, but for Kai. He doesn't deserve any of this, and I'm ashamed of the way I've treated him and the confessions I'm going to be forced to make in front of Lisa. "Kai . . . I . . . me and Lisa have been . . ." I start.
"Oh my God," Kai stutters, and his eyes begin to water.
How could I do this to him? What the hell was I thinking? Kai is so kind, and Lisa's cruel enough to break Kai's heart in front of her.
Kai's hands go to his forehead and he shakes his head. "How could you, Jennie? After everything we have been through? When did this start?" Tears stream down his face from his brown eyes. I have never felt this terrible—I caused those tears. I look over at Lisa and my hatred for her consumes me so that I shove her instead of answering Kai. Lisa is caught off guard and stumbles backward, but she steadies herself before she falls.
"Kai, I am so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." I rush over to my boyfriend and try to hug him, but he refuses to let me touch him. And he's probably right to. If I'm being honest, I've not been good to Kai for a while. I don't know what the hell I was thinking. I suppose something crazy like Lisa becoming decent and me breaking up with Kai so I could date her—how stupid can I be? Or that I could just stay away from Lisa and Kai would never know about what happened between us? The problem is that I can't stay away from Lisa. I am a moth to her flame, and she never hesitates to burn me. Both were stupid and naïve ideas, but I haven't made one good choice since I've met Lisa
"I don't know what you were thinking, either," Kai says, with a look of regret and hurt in his eyes. "I don't even know you anymore."
And with that, he walks out the door. Out of my life.
"Kai, please! Wait!" I rush after him, but Lisa grabs my arm and tries to pull me back.
"Don't touch me! I can't believe you! This is low, Lisa, even for you." I scream and jerk my arm out of her grasp. I push her again, hard. I have never pushed anyone in my life before today, and I hate her so much.
"If you go after him, I'm done," she says, and my mouth falls open. "Done? Done with what? Fucking with my emotions? I hate you!" But not wanting her to feed off my rage, I slow down and speak more calmly. "You can't end something that never began."
Her hands fall to her sides and her mouth opens but no words come out. "Kai!" I call and rush out the door. I run down the hall and out across the great lawn, finally catching up to him in the parking lot. He starts walking faster.
"Kai, please listen. I am sorry, so sorry. I was drinking. I know that isn't an excuse, but I . . ." I wipe my eyes and his face softens.
"I can't listen to you anymore . . ." he says. His eyes are red. I reach for his hand, but he pulls away.
"Kai, please, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. Please." I can't lose him. I just can't.
Reaching his car, he runs a hand over his perfectly gelled hair, then turns to face me. "I just need some time, Jennie. I don't know what to think right now."
I sigh in defeat, not knowing what to say to that. He just needs time to get over this and we can go back to normal. He just needs time, I tell myself.
"I love you, Jennie," Kai says, then catches me by surprise when he kisses my forehead before climbing into his car and driving away.