Jennie's POV
Lisa notices Hanbin the same time that I do and turns to look at me, then back at Hanbin, tensing immediately. For a second it seems like Lisa might turn us around, but then Hanbin definitely spots us, and I know Lisa won't risk antagonizing him by backing away now. All around us, the party rages, but all I can focus on is Hanbin's mischievous smile, which flat-out gives me the creeps.
As we reach the top of the stairs, Hanbin gives an exaggerated look of surprise and says, "Didn't think I'd see you two here, you know, since you couldn't make it to the docks and all."
"Yeah, we were just coming here—" Lisa begins.
"Oh, I get why you were coming here." Hanbin smiles and pats Lisa on her shoulder. I cringe as his brown eyes move to me. "It's definitely a pleasure to see you again, Jennie," he says coolly.
I glance at Lisa, but she is too focused on Hanbin to notice. "Yeah, you, too," I manage.
"Well, good thing you didn't come to the docks anyway. Cops came and broke up our party, so we moved it here."
Meaning that Hanbin's slimy friends are here somewhere—more people Lisa doesn't like. I wish we had just stayed at my dorm. By the look in Lisa's eyes I can tell she wishes the same.
"That sucks, man," Lisa says and then tries to continue on down the hall.
Hanbin grabs Lisa's arm and says, "You two should come down and have a drink with us."
"She doesn't drink," Lisa huffs, annoyance clear in her voice.
Unfortunately, that annoyance seems to encourage Hanbin even more. "Oh well. You should still come have some fun. I insist," he says.
Lisa looks at me, and my eyes widen as I try to silently say, No! But then she nods at Hanbin. What the hell?
"I'll come down in a minute; let me get her . . . settled in," Lisa mumbles, then pulls me by my wrist to her room before Hanbin can say anything. Unlocking the door to her room, she hurries me inside and quickly closes the door.
"I don't want to go down there," I tell her as she sets my bag down. "You're not."
"And you are?" I ask her.
"Yeah, just for a minute. I won't be long." She rubs the back of her neck with her hand.
"Why didn't you just tell him no?" I ask. For someone who claims she isn't afraid of him, Lisa seems to be very intimidated by Hanbin.
"I already told you, he is hard to say no to," she says. "Does he have something over you or something?"
"What?" Lisa's face flushes. "No . . . he's just a dick. And I don't want any trouble. Especially not around you," she says and steps forward to me. "I won't be down there long, but I know him, and if I don't go have a drink with him he will come back up here—and I don't want him anywhere near you," she says and kisses me on the cheek.
"Okay," I sigh.
"I need you to stay in here, though. I know it's not ideal, with the music bumping downstairs, but I can't really think of a way out at this point."
"Okay," I repeat. I don't want to go down there anyway. I hate these parties, and I definitely don't want to see Nancy if she is here.
"I mean it. Okay?" she demands in a soft voice.
"I said okay. Just don't leave me up here alone for long," I plead.
"I won't. We should go sign that paperwork tomorrow for the apartment. Right after you get done at Vance. I don't want to worry about this kind of shit again."
I don't want to have to deal with these parties and my small dorm anymore. I want to eat my meals in a kitchen instead of a dining hall, and I want the freedom of being an adult. Spending time on campus and living there only reminds me how young we actually are.
"All right, I will be back soon. Lock the door when I go out and don't open it again—I have a key." She swiftly kisses my lips and turns for the door.
"Geez, you act like someone is going to murder me," I joke, to break the tension, not that she returns the laugh before walking out of the room. I roll my eyes but lock the door anyway; the last thing I want to deal with is drunk people wandering in here looking for a place to fool around.
I turn on her television, hoping to drown out some of the noise from downstairs, but my mind keeps wandering to what's going on down there. Why is Lisa so intimidated by Hanbin, and why is Hanbin such a creep? Are they playing their usual immature game of Truth or Dare again? What if Lisa is dared to kiss Nancy? What if she is sitting on her lap like before? I hate the jealousy that I feel toward her—it drives me insane. I know Lisa has slept with and fooled around with many different girls, Wendy included, but Nancy just gets under my skin. Maybe it's because I know she doesn't like me and she tries to shove her fling with Lisa down my throat.
And you caught her straddling her with her tongue down her throat the first time you met her, my subconscious reminds me.
And eventually all these thoughts get to me; I know I should stay put and keep the door locked, but my feet have other plans and before I know it, I am taking the steps two at a time to find Lisa.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs I spot Nancy's hideous pink hair and barely there outfit. Much to my relief, Lisa isn't anywhere to be found.
"Well, well, well," a voice from behind me says. I turn to see Hanbin standing less than a foot away.
"Lisa said you weren't feeling well. She's always lying, that one." He smiles and pulls a lighter out of his pocket. He flicks the top with his thumb, igniting the flame, and brings it to the hem of his jean vest to burn off some of the fringe.
I decide to keep Lisa's lie going. "I wasn't, but I'm feeling a bit better now."
"So quickly?" He laughs, obviously amused.
The room feels much smaller now and the party crowd seems larger. I nod and survey the room, desperate to find Lisa.
"Come, I want you to meet some of my friends," Hanbin says. His voice never fails to send a shiver down my spine.
"Um . . . I think I sh-should find Lisa," I stutter.
"Aww, come on. Lisa is over there with them anyway," he says and moves to put his arm over my shoulder.
I take a step aside to pretend that I didn't notice his gesture. I consider going back upstairs so Lisa doesn't know I came down in the first place, but I get the feeling Hanbin will follow me or tell Lisa. Most likely both.
"Okay," I say, giving in. I follow Hanbin through the crowd, and he leads me outside to the backyard. It's dark but for a few porch lights. I start to feel nervous about following Hanbin out into the dark yard until my eyes meet Lisa's. Her widen with surprise, then anger, and she moves to stand up but then sits back down.
"Look who I found wandering around all by herself," Hanbin says and gestures to me.
"I see that," Lisa mumbles. She is pissed.
I stand in front of the small circle of unrecognizable faces sitting around what looks like a fire pit made from large rocks, not that there's any fire going. There are some girls there, but mostly it's pretty tough-looking guys. "Come here," Lisa says and scoots over so there is room for me on the rock that she is sitting on.
I take a seat and Lisa gives me a look that says if all these people weren't around she would be absolutely screaming at me. Hanbin leans over and says something into the ear of a guy with a ripped-up white shirt and black hair.
"Why aren't you in my room?" Lisa says quietly but forcefully.
"I . . . I don't know. I thought maybe Nancy . . ." I begin to say but realize how stupid it sounds.
"You're not serious," she says with a hint of exasperation and runs her hand over her hair. The attention is put back on us when the black-haired guy hands me a bottle of vodka. "She doesn't drink," Lisa says and grabs it out of my hands.
"Damn, Manoban, she can speak for herself," another guy says. He has a nice smile and doesn't seem as creepy as Hanbin or the guy with the black hair.
Lisa laughs lightly, though I can tell it's a fake laugh. "Mind your own business, Mino," Lisa says in a light tone.
"So who's up for a game?" Hanbin asks and I look at Lisa.
"Please tell me you guys don't play Truth or Dare at parties too. Honestly, what is up with playing games, anyway?" I groan. "Ooh, I like her. Nice and feisty," Mino says and I laugh.
"Who says there is anything wrong with playing a few games now and then?" Hanbin slurs and Lisa tenses next to me.
"No, actually we were thinking of strip poker," another guy says. "Oh, no way," I tell them.
"What about suck and blow?" Hanbin says and I cringe and blush. I am not sure what that is, but it doesn't sound like something I want to play with this group.
"Never heard of it. But no, thanks," I say. I see Lisa smile out of the corner of my eye.
"It's a fun game, more fun when you have had a drink or two," a male voice says from somewhere.
I think about grabbing the bottle from Lisa and taking a drink, but I have to get up early and I don't want to have a hangover.
"We don't have enough girls to play suck and blow, anyway," Mino says.
"I can get some," Hanbin says and disappears into the house before anyone can protest.
"Go back upstairs, please," Lisa says quietly so only I can hear. "If you come with me," I respond.
"Okay, let's go."
But as we stand up, a groan goes up from the circle. "Where you going, Manoban?" one of the guys asks.
"Upstairs," she answers.
"Come on, we haven't seen you in months. Hang out for a little while longer."
Lisa looks at me and I shrug. "All right, fine," Lisa says and guides me back to the large stone. "I'll be right back. Stay here this time. I mean it," she tells me and I roll my eyes, finding it pretty ironic that she's leaving me alone with what is supposedly the worst group of people here.
"Where are you going?" I ask her before she walks away.
"To get a drink. You may need one, too." She smiles and goes inside.
I stare at the sky and the fire pit alternately to avoid any awkward conversation. It doesn't work.
"So how long have you and Lisa known each other?" Mino asks and takes a swig of liquor.
"A few months," I answer politely. Something about Mino is comforting; my senses aren't on high alert with him like they are with Hanbin.
"Oh, so not long, then?" he says.
"Um, yeah, I guess. Not long. How long have you known her?" I ask, realizing I might as well use this opportunity to get as much information about Lisa as possible.
"Since last year."
"Where did you meet her?" I try to sound casual. "Party. Well, a lot of parties." He laughs.
"Oh, you're her friend, then?"
"Nosey little thing, aren't you?" the guy with the black hair chimes in. "Sure am," I reply and he laughs. They aren't so bad, not as bad as Lisa made them out to be. Where is she, anyway?
A few moments later Lisa appears with Hanbin and three girls behind them. What the hell? Hanbin and Lisa seem to be in conversation and Hanbin pats Lisa on the back and they both laugh.
Lisa's hands are full with two red cups. I'm just relieved that Nancy isn't among the group of girls trailing them. She sits back down on the rock with me and gives me a playful little look. At least she seems to be more relaxed than she was before she walked away.
"Here," she says and hands me one of the cups.
I stare at it for a second before grabbing it from her. One drink won't hurt. I recognize the taste instantly; the night that Rosé and I kissed we had been drinking these. Lisa stares at me and I lick my lips to collect the taste of the drink.
"Now we have enough girls," Hanbin says and gestures to the newcomers.
I look over to them and fight the instinct to judge. They are scantily clad in skirts, and their shirts are identical except the colors. The one in the pink shirt smiles at me, so I decide that I like her the best.
"You aren't playing," Lisa says in my ear. I want to tell her that I will do whatever the hell I please, but she leans into me and puts her arm around my waist. I look up at her, obviously surprised, but she just smiles.
"I love you," she whispers. Her lips are cold against my ear and I shiver.
"Okay, so everyone knows how this works," Hanbin says loudly. "We all need to get in a smaller circle. But first, let's really get the party going." He smirks and pulls something out of his pocket. His lighter appears again and lights the small white object.
"It's pot," Lisa tells me quietly. I figured that it was, even if I haven't actually seen marijuana before.
I nod and watch as Hanbin brings the joint to his lips and lets out a large puff of smoke before holding it out in front of Lisa. Lisa shakes her head and declines. Mino grabs it and inhales deeply, coughing loudly.
"Jennie?" Mino says and holds it out.
"No. No, thanks," I say and lean farther into Lisa.
"All right, then, let's play," one of the girls says and pulls something from her purse as everyone moves from their rocks and forms a smaller circle on the grass.
"Come on, Lisa!" Hanbin groans, but Lisa shakes her head. "I'm good, man," she says.
"We need one more girl then, unless you want to take the chance of having June's tongue down your throat." Mino laughs. June must be the guy with the black hair. A quiet redhead with a lot of facial hair takes a hit from the joint and passes it back to Hanbin. I finish the last sip of my drink and reach for Lisa's. She lifts a brow at me but lets me take it.
"I'll grab Nancy. God knows she'll be down," the girl in the pink shirt says.
When I hear her name, my hatred for Nancy takes over my common sense and I blurt out, "I'll play."
"Really?" Hanbin questions.
"Is she allowed?" June asks with a smirk and looks at Lisa.
"I can do what I please, thank you," I say and give him an innocent smile despite my bitchy tone.
I know better than to look at Lisa; she already told me not to play, but I just couldn't keep my big mouth shut. I down the rest of her drink, then take a seat next to the girl in the pink shirt.
"You have to sit in between two guys," the girl tells me. "Oh, okay," I say and get up.
"I'm playing, too," Lisa grumbles and sits down. I sit next to her instinctively, but still avoid eye contact. Hanbin sits on my other side.
"I think Lisa should sit over here to make things more interesting," June says, and the redhead nods in agreement.
Lisa rolls her eyes and moves across from me. I don't get the point of this seating arrangement—why does it matter who sits by whom? When June moves to sit next to me, I begin to feel nervous. Sitting between him and Hanbin is more than uncomfortable.
"Can we start?" the girl in green whines. She is sitting between Lisa and the redhead. Hanbin grabs what looks like a piece of paper from one of the girls and puts it to his mouth.
What?
"Ready?" he asks me.
"I don't know how to play," I confess and hear one of the girls snicker. "You put your mouth on the other side of the paper and suck in; the point is to not let the paper fall. If it falls, you kiss," he explains.
Oh no. I look over at Lisa, but she is focused on Hanbin.
"Start this way so she can see," the girl on the other side of Hanbin says.
I don't like this game at all. I hope it somehow ends before it's my turn. Or Lisa's. Besides, they seem a little old to be playing these ridiculous games. What is it with college kids wanting to kiss random people every chance they get? I watch as the paper is passed between Hanbin's and the girl's mouth; it doesn't drop. I hold my breath as Lisa retrieves the paper from the one girl, then passes it to the other. If she kisses one of them . . . I let out my breath when it doesn't fall. The paper falls between the redhead and the girl in the yellow shirt and their lips meet. Her mouth opens and they kiss with tongue, making me look away and cringe. I want to get up and leave the circle, but my body stays still. I am next.
Oh God, I am next. I gulp as June turns to me with the paper on his lips. I'm still not entirely sure what I am supposed to do, so I just close my eyes and go to put my mouth on the other side and suck in. I feel hot air through the paper as June blows onto it, but I can tell it's too hard and there's no way the paper won't fall. Right as I feel the paper hit my leg, I feel June's hot breath as his mouth moves closer to mine. The second his lips brush mine he is pulled away.
I open my eyes, but by the time my mind can catch up to what is happening, Lisa is on top of June and has her hands latched around the guy's neck.