FCK BUDDIES

FUCK BUDDIES 9

The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions for Lisa, all with Jennie at her side. Even when work demanded Jennie's attention, she always found a way to make time for Lisa.

Jennie had become a regular visitor to the Manoban residence, always bearing gifts of fruit and other treats for Lisa's mom.

Lisa had noticed a shift in Jennie, a subtle but undeniable seriousness emerging after their discussion about the arranged marriage. It was as if Jennie was intentionally dropping hints about her feelings, not that Lisa hadn't already picked up on them.

Now, they stood outside the Manoban mansion, hand in hand, looking every bit the devoted couple.

"Want me to pick you up later?" Jennie asked, drawing Lisa closer with a gentle hug around her waist.

"Hmm, I'm taking my own car, remember?" Lisa teased, bumping her hip against Jennie's.

"Right." Jennie's voice was soft.

Lisa leaned in to kiss Jennie's cheek, but Jennie turned her head, capturing Lisa's lips in a deeper, more passionate kiss. It was a familiar addiction, this taste of Lisa.

"Mmh…" Lisa moaned softly as Jennie gently sucked on her lower lip. She pulled away first, breathless, and pecked Jennie's lips. "I gotta go. Chan's probably waiting for me already."

"Okay, be careful. Call me if you need anything, alright?" Jennie's eyes held a genuine concern.

Lisa slid into her car, started the engine, and rolled down the window. "I will, bye!" she called out, waving as she pulled away.

Jennie watched Lisa drive off, a smile playing on her lips. She was happy, a deep, genuine happiness she hadn't expected.

And she admitted it, silently but firmly: love was real. And somehow, impossibly, she'd found it with Lisa.

Lisa found a parking spot with surprising ease. She smoothed down her dress and headed for the elevator, riding it up to the restaurant lobby.

"Park Chanyeol," she told the receptionist.

The receptionist scanned her list. "This way, ma'am."

Another staff member led her to a private room Chanyeol had reserved. The staff opened the door and discreetly left after Lisa thanked her. Inside, Chanyeol was waiting with two other men Lisa vaguely recognized as friends of his—friends with a reputation for trouble.

"Lisa!" Chanyeol grinned, pulling her into a quick hug. The other two men offered shy smiles and mumbled greetings. "Glad you could make it. Have a seat."

As Lisa sat down, there was a knock at the door, announcing the arrival of their lunch order.

"How about we eat first before we get down to business?" Chanyeol suggested, glancing at Lisa. "I'll explain why these two are here then."

"Okay, whatever, Chan." Lisa tried to sound nonchalant, but she was already feeling impatient.

They started eating, but Lisa only picked at her food. She just wanted to get this meeting over with so she could see Jennie.

Lately, all she wanted was to be with Jennie. The thought of their time apart filled her with a strange sense of unease. She was beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, they could actually make a real relationship work. They could ditch the "fuck buddies" label and try for something… more.

The table was cleared after they finished eating, and the door closed, leaving the four of them alone to talk.

"Alright, start talking," Lisa said, cutting to the chase.

Chanyeol nodded and looked at his friends. "You guys remember these two, right?" Lisa nodded, identifying the brunette as Kai and the gray-haired one as Baekhyun. "Okay, good… So, about Rosie…"

"Look, Chan, if you brought me here to defend Rosé, I'm sorry, but I think we're done here," Lisa interrupted, her voice tight.

Chanyeol shook his head quickly. "No, no, I'm not here to defend her. Look, what happened to you was messed up. I'd be furious too. No one deserves that. Just… just listen to what they have to say, okay? Please?"

Lisa remained silent, and Chanyeol took it as a signal to continue. "They're going to explain everything. I'm not asking you to get back together with Jae or even to forgive them. I just want you to hear them out."

Chanyeol gestured for Kai and Baekhyun to begin.

"Uh… um… I… I’m…" Kai stammered, biting his lip and glancing at Baekhyun for help.

"Ugh, fine," Baekhyun jumped in. "Look, Lisa, we're really, truly sorry for what happened to you and Jaehyun. And I'm going to admit that it was all our fault."

Kai took a deep breath, his face etched with guilt. "I… I dared Baek to… to drug Jaehyun and Rosé’s drinks that night at the party… They didn't do anything wrong, Lisa. It's our fault. Please, forgive us!"

Both of them dropped to their knees, clasping their hands in supplication. They knew they had screwed up badly.

Lisa was speechless. Why did she suddenly feel responsible, like she was also to blame? Why hadn't she given Jaehyun and Rosé a chance to explain?

She stood abruptly.

She walked to the door, opened it, and left without a word. Chanyeol signaled to his friends to stay put and let her go.

Lisa hurried to the parking lot and got into her car. As soon as the door was shut, the tears came, hot and fast.

Of course. Now everything made sense. She had loved Jaehyun so deeply, and now that the truth was out, she couldn't help but wonder what he must have gone through when she accused him of cheating, when he'd been innocent all along.

:

Jennie was just a few blocks away, watching Lisa park her car in front of a familiar house. She hadn't meant to follow Lisa; she respected Lisa's privacy. But her body had acted on its own, driven by an irresistible urge to protect.

She watched as Lisa got out of her car and walked to the front door, ringing the bell.

The door opened, revealing Jaehyun. He looked terrible: dark circles under his eyes, disheveled hair, a gauntness to his face.

"Lisa?" Jaehyun seemed unable to believe what he was seeing. Am I dreaming? He slapped his cheek, testing reality. "I-It's real…"

"Jae…" Lisa's voice was barely a whisper.

Tears welled up in Jaehyun's eyes as he pulled Lisa into a tight embrace, burying his face in her shoulder as he sobbed.

A car passed by, and the person behind the wheel couldn't explain the sudden, sharp ache in her chest. Seeing the woman she loved returning to the arms of someone she used to love, the way they clung to each other as if they hadn't seen each other in years… it was too much to bear.

Jennie drove away, tears blurring her vision. She pulled over to the side of the road, unable to risk an accident. She rested her forehead on the steering wheel, feeling utterly drained.

Once again, she was questioning the very existence of love. Everything, she realized, was temporary.

Her phone rang, jolting her from her dark thoughts. She wiped away her tears and answered, hearing the cheerful voice of her cousin on the other end. He was asking if she was free to hang out that night. Just a casual night out, drinking and forgetting everything.

Jennie agreed instantly. It was exactly what she needed. She needed to numb the pain, to clear the chaos in her head. She needed a drink, and she needed it badly.

A/N: Jennie or Jamal? Who do you think deserves Lisa?

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