Jennie

I'm nervous when I walk into Lisa's office building the next morning, Mino by my side. I regret saying yes when he asked me for a tour of the office. I'm worried Lisa won't like it.

The security guard stops me and asks me for my employee card, but I forgot to bring my wallet, so I don't have any form of identification with me either.

I'm about to walk back out when Jaehyun walks up to me. "Nini!" he says, smiling.

Mino grins and leans into me. "Nini? Really?"

I elbow him and roll my eyes as he laughs at my childhood nickname. Jaehyun offers Mino his hand, and I see the exact moment that Mino realizes who Jaehyun is. He blanches, and his smile stiffens. "You're the Chief Technical Officer of Manoban Reed," he says, looking just a little flustered.

Jaehyun grins and nod. "Yeah, I'm Jaehyun Reed, the CTO — but you can just call me Jaehyun. You must be Mino. Jennie has told me all about you," he says, glancing at me. I look away guiltily. I haven't told him a thing about Mino, but I probably should have.

"Only good things, I hope?" Mino says, smiling.

Thankfully, Jaehyun smiles and nods. "Of course. Sometimes I can't get her to shut up about you. I'm so glad you're finally here. Now I won't have to hear her complain about how much she misses you."

Jaehyun turns to me and wraps his arm around my shoulders. "Did you forget your access card, Nini?" he asks, ushering us in. What is with him? I never once said that I miss Mino. I'm pretty sure that Jaehyun and I haven't spoken about him at all.

Jaehyun walks us to his office, and I freeze when I spot Lisa in the hallway. Last night is still fresh in my mind, and my heart starts to race. The things she said to me… the way she held me, and the intensity she showed me last night. I inhale shakily and try to ground myself. She was just drunk. That's all. At least, that's what I desperately need to make myself believe. It can't be more than that.

Lisa pauses when she sees Mino and me, and she glances at Jaehyun. "Jennie, Mino," she says, nodding at us politely. I can't spot a single trace of embarrassment or awkwardness in her, and suddenly I wonder if I read too much into what happened last night.

She looks at Mino and smiles at him. "I've been meaning to invite you to come see my office," she says. "Would you like a tour?"

Her offer surprises me, and I look up at her with wide eyes. Just last night she told me she didn't even want Mino saying my name, but today she's offering him a tour of her office?

"I'd love a tour," Mino says, and I sigh as Lisa leads us deeper into the building. "I badgered Jennie into offering me one, but having you as my tour guide would be even better."

I spot the brief flash of irritation on Lisa's face, but thankfully, Mino misses it. He's is enraptured by what Lisa tells him about the origins of the company, and truth be told, so am I.

I remember sitting on the floor in the small apartment that Jaehyun and Lisa shared. Everything Lisa has achieved was merely a concept back then. It's astounding how much she has accomplished in just under a decade. I wish I'd been there every step of the way. I wish I could've supported her throughout this journey. For a brief second, I can't help but wonder what those years would have looked like for us.

Lisa and Mino pause by a large glass wall that overlooks a lab. Mino looks through the glass in awe, and I take a better look. "This is the stem cell research you're doing, isn't it?" he mutters, clearly impressed.

Lisa nods and smiles, but her smile is pained. "Yes, but the research isn't moving quick enough."

Mino frowns. "What do you mean, not quick enough? Your team found a way to create organoids in almost no time at all. Your team is literally creating mini organs. It's groundbreaking."

Lisa nods and sighs. "Yes, but I need full-sized organs. This isn't good enough."

Mino stares at Lisa, his brows furrowed. "Come to think of it, you probably started this research around the same time that Jennie's father received his diagnosis."

I look at Lisa with wide eyes. "You did this for dad?"

Lisa bites down on her lip and shakes her head. "Not quite. Him falling ill is what gave me the idea. I just figured that there must be a way to help people like him, so I funded the team that was closest to reaching a break-through."

So, yes. She did do this for Dad. I inhale deeply, my heart twisting painfully. I try my best to blink back my tears. I've done my very best to remain strong since I got here. I've tried my hardest not to cry, even when I've had to see that lost and hopeless expression on Dad's face when he's forced to his machine every day, but this… this guts me.

Lisa looks at me as though she knows exactly what I'm feeling, and she smiles tightly. I bite down on my lip as hard as I can, trying my best to keep my tears at bay, and the expression on Lisa's face mirrors how I feel. She looks heartbroken.

Thankfully, Mino requests to speak to one of Lisa's researchers, and I lean back against the wall, needing a moment.

"You okay?" Lisa murmurs, her voice soft. I nod at her and try my best to smile. Lisa runs a hand through her hair and inhales deeply.

I look up at her in surprise and try my best to smile. I was intent on keeping her at a distance after what she said to me last night, and the way she touched me. A shiver runs down my spine at the mere memory of her pressed against me, my legs wrapped around her.

I told myself I should be mad at her for her behavior, but how can I stay mad at someone that tells me she loves me, and then shows it by doing everything in her power to save my father's life — to the extent of funding groundbreaking research.

"You were out of line last night," I murmur.

Lisa sighs and pulls a hand through her hair, her eyes on mine. "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. I meant every word," she says. Lisa looks away and bites down on her lip. "I won't let it happen again, though. Mino seems like a great guy, and I won't mess with your happiness. I guess I just need a distraction or some shit."

I freeze and look up at her. "Don't," I say without thinking. "Don't find a distraction."

Lisa looks surprised, a smile tugging at her lips. "Tell me you'll be mine, and I won't ever stray," she says, her eyes blazing.

I bite down on my lip and look away. "I can't," I whisper. "You know I can't."

If Lisa wants to call Layla tonight then there isn't a thing I can do about it, because I just have no rights to her. I stare down at my feet as devastation devours me. If she truly feels the way she told me she did, then there's no way she'll last. Not with Mino here. She won't just sit there and watch me be with Mino. She'll go looking for a distraction. It might not be Layla, but there'll be someone. And that someone won't be me.