shake the dust // JENLISA

Chapter 17

This time they went to Chaerin together in Lisa's car. Lisa had the day off, so she would drop Jennie off at work and then head back home. After their passionate kiss, things between them had become a lot easier. It started to feel a lot more like the beginning, when they'd first fallen in love.

Lisa had made breakfast and woke Jennie with it, and they'd sat together in the kitchen and spoke while they ate. They actually listened to each other and enjoyed their company. When they remembered that they needed to see Chaerin for step 5, since a few weeks had passed since Lisa had moved back in, they easily decided to travel together. They told themselves that it saved them petrol, but really, they just wanted more time together.

They hadn't had another incident like the shower one, since they fell into an easy routine. If Chaerin sent over ingredients, usually Lisa cooked so that when Jennie got home, which was usually late, there was food. In the rare instances that Jennie came home earlier, they cooked together, and it usually ended with them laughing and the kitchen a mess. But all of those instances only helped to draw them closer, which was obviously the point.

"Ladies first," Lisa said with a grin, opening the door to Chaerin's room.

Jennie rolled her eyes but dipped inside first, Lisa following. Chaerin watched them curiously as they sat down. Lisa saw her eyes linger at the space between them, which was almost non-existent. Before, they'd sat at the complete opposite ends of the couch. Now they were sitting with their knees touching.

"You're both in a good mood I see." Chaerin smiled at them. The thick notebook was on her lap. Open. She lazily tapped a pen against an open page. "Anything interesting happen?" She lifted her brow.

Lisa stared at her. By the sparkle in Chaerin's eye, Lisa knew that she knew. There was no way that she didn't. "You know what happened," Lisa told her with a bit of sass.

"Oh?"

"Things have been going well," Jennie interjected, smiling. "Somehow, Lisa moving in again has helped."

Chaerin clearly smothered a smirk. "No sex, I hope?" They both flushed, but Chaerin grinned cheekily and they exhaled. "I never said no kissing. That was smart of you to pick up. I'm very happy that the two of you were able to share that sort of intimacy again. For some couples, sex and physical affection are vital to long, healthy and happy relationships. To lose that when you crave it, is to lose the core of what makes you content. I assume the two of you require that sort of relationship, right?" They both nodded.

"Fantastic. Congrats on getting closer again," Chaerin continued. "Now, for step 5, I need something of you"

Lisa and Jennie shared a glance. "What is it?" Lisa asked.

"I need you to get a gift for each other."

"A gift?" Jennie asked.

"Yes," Chaerin affirmed. "Any gift, but it needs to have meaning. Size, type and cost are of no bother. Whatever you get will be at my cost as well. Do you think you could handle this?"

Lisa looked at Jennie. She realized that she hadn't bought something for Jennie in a long while, but she wasn't too worried. How difficult could it be? Compared to the rest of the steps, this was easy. And it would at least take them a step closer to finishing this program.

"Yeah, of course," Lisa answered confidently.

"Jennie?"

"Yes," Jennie agreed, nodding.

"Lovely. Such cooperation. I love it. Oh, you have today only to find and get something. Tomorrow morning I want another session, where you will present the gifts to each other."