Jennie
I glance at the mirror and grimace at my reflection. I've been crying all day and my eyes are puffy and red. The makeup I was wearing has turned into a horrible mess. I guess the way I look accurately reflects how I'm feeling. I sigh and try my best to clean up my face.
The sound of the front door closing snaps me out of my thoughts. Dad's home. Shit. I'll need to tell him about Lisa too. I wasn't this nervous when I told him about Taehyung, and to be honest, he didn't seem to mind me dating so much. It'll probably be okay, but I'm nervous nonetheless.
My heart is beating loudly as I walk to the living room. Dad looks up when I walk in and freezes.
"What happened?" he asks, his tone concerned. "Did you cry? Who made you cry?"
I bite down on my lip and tip my head toward the sofa. "Dad, have a seat," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. "There's something I need to tell you."
His eyes widen, and he sits down on the sofa anxiously. "You're worrying me, Jennie. What happened? Why have you been crying?"
I shake my head and smile at him. "It's nothing serious, I promise."
"Are you pregnant?"
I freeze and stare at my dad with wide eyes. "What the hell, dad? No. No. Oh my god. No."
I run a hand through my hair and shake my head. "Nothing like that, gosh. I… I'm dating someone."
Dad looks at me through narrowed eyes. "You're dating a boy? He made you cry?"
I bury my face in my hands and shake my head. "This is coming out all wrong."
I groan and stare up at the ceiling before looking at my dad. "No, Dad. It's Rosé that made me cry. We had an argument… because I'm dating Lisa."
Dad stares at me speechlessly. "Lisa Manoban?"
I nod. It's not like we know another Lisa.
"You're dating Lisa?"
I nod again.
"No," Dad says.
I frown at him, tensing. "What?" I ask, confused by his intense response. Dad pauses as though he isn't even sure why he doesn't like the idea of Lisa and me dating.
"You two… haven't you been friends for years? You two grew up together. Why would you date Lisa? Besides, you only just started college. You shouldn't be dating anyone. You should be focusing on school."
I inhale deeply, feeling truly worn out. Rosé's words are still grating on me, and Dad's response on top of it has me feeling like crying all over again.
"I don't get it, Dad. You didn't say much when I dated Taehyung. Yet when it's Lisa you suddenly don't approve?"
Dad runs a hand through his hair and sighs. "It's not that. It's just that Lisa and you… I always thought you were as close as siblings. I've been trusting her to take care of you in LA, and now you're suddenly dating?"
Dad shakes his head and sighs again. "It was bound to happen, I guess. But you're only eighteen, honey. I don't know. I'm just surprised."
I nod, unsure how to reply to that. I inhale deeply and glance out the window, my eyes landing on the treehouse.
"Well, we're dating. I thought you should know."
Dad nods and tugs on his tie. I shake my head and smile at him. "I'm going for a walk, okay? I need some fresh air."
Dad nods eagerly, as though he can't wait to get out of this conversation, and the edges of my lips tip up in a reluctant smile. I'm trying my best not to take his response personally. I guess it's odd for him that I'm dating Lisa, when he's seen us grow up together. When we were younger, we were notorious for our feud, so I shouldn't be surprised that most people can't imagine us ending up together. I guess my Dad is just one of those. He'll come around, though. There's no one Lisa can't win over.
I'm absentminded as I walk through the yard. I wasn't even planning on going to the treehouse, but that's where I end up nonetheless. In the place where it all started. This is where I met Lisa and where we eventually both lost our virginity. It's where she asked me to be hers, all those years ago.
I place my palm against the handrail by the stairs and let my hand trail over it as I walk up . I go inside, expecting the treehouse to be empty, but instead I find Lisa sitting on the floor. She looks up at me with a knowing smile and pats the pillow beside her.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
Lisa grins and pulls me over, positioning me in her lap. She wraps her arms around me and kisses my temple. "I had a feeling you'd end up here tonight, and I could do with some solitude myself."
She lies down and I reposition myself so that I'm a bit more comfortable, draping my leg over her and resting my head on her chest. We both lie there in silence for a few minutes, both of us lost in our own thoughts.
"I told my dad that I'm dating you. He was… surprised."
Lisa tenses and buries a hand in my hair. "You should've told me. I can't believe I didn't think of it. I should've been with you when you told him."
I shake my head and press a kiss to her neck. "It's okay."
Lisa runs her hand over my back soothingly and I snuggle in closer. She turns so we're both on our side and cups my cheek. She looks into my eyes, looking more vulnerable than I've ever seen her look before.
"I love you, Jennie. Promise me we'll get through this together. No matter what Rosé or anyone else throws at us, promise me we're in this together."
I smile and press a quick kiss to her lips. "I love you too, Lisa. I promise. I promise we're in this together. I'm fully aware that things won't be easy for a while, but when have things ever been easy for us? I'm not willing to give up. I let you go once, and I won't do it again. I love you too much. You're my better half, Lisa. It sounds lame as hell, but I don't think I'll ever feel complete again without you."
Lisa exhales in relief and kisses me so sweetly that my heart skips a beat. "Thank God," she whispers. I look into her eyes and smile. So long as we've got each other, we'll be just fine.
