Beyond Friendship: Hidden bonds

The Unexpected Proposal

Jennie’s POV

It’s been two months since Lisa and I became close, and I’m honestly proud of the progress she’s made. Though she’s still quiet, she’s opened up a lot and even made a few friends in her class. I introduced her to my own little group too—Seulgi, Tzuyu, Mina, and Nayeon. All law students except for Seulgi, who’s in the business department with Lisa. Everyone seemed to take her right away, and she’s practically one of us now.

At lunch, I was waiting for her as usual. I had texted her right before the break, but she hadn’t replied. Now, everyone else was here, but Lisa was nowhere to be seen.

“Earth to Jennie,” Tzuyu said, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “Why do you look so worried, and who are you calling so desperately?”

I held up my phone, still staring at the screen. “Lisa. I texted her before lunch, but she didn’t reply, and now she’s not here. I’m just… a little worried, that’s all.”

Tzuyu raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on her face. “Jennie, Lisa isn’t a child. She doesn’t need you to babysit her, you know?”

“It’s not about that,” I muttered, feeling a bit defensive. “It’s just… unlike her to be this late without saying anything.”

“Oh, come on, Jennie. It’s not that big a deal. Maybe she’s with someone,” Nayeon added, rolling her eyes playfully. “You’re really acting like a worried mom.”

I shot her a glare, but before I could say anything, Tzuyu chimed in again. “Actually, Seulgi’s missing too, if you haven’t noticed. Maybe they’re together?”

My eyes widened, realizing she was right. Where were they? What were they doing?

Nayeon laughed, nudging me with her elbow. “Relax, Jennie. Seulgi’s probably keeping an eye on your ‘precious Lily.’” She said it with an exaggerated wink, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“It doesn’t matter, bunny,” Tzuyu teased, grinning. “Jennie obviously wants to take care of her Lily herself.”

I shot her a death glare, not in the mood for jokes. I was genuinely worried, and they weren’t helping.

“Alright, alright, leave Jennie alone,” Mina finally intervened, chuckling softly. “Our orders are ready. Let’s eat before she drives herself crazy.”

When Nayeon and Tzuyu brought the food, everyone started eating, but I just picked at my cold coffee, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong.

A few minutes later, I saw Seulgi and Lisa finally walking toward us. Seulgi had this mischievous grin on her face, and Lisa looked like she’d rather be anywhere else. The moment they sat down, I turned to Lisa, about to ask where she’d been, but Nayeon beat me to it.

“Why are you guys late?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Seulgi smirked, looking pointedly at Lisa. “Oh, we got delayed because a romantic incident happened.”

Lisa shot her a warning glare, and my curiosity spiked. “Romantic? What do you mean?”

Seulgi shrugged innocently, still smirking. “Let’s just say… someone got a little extra attention today.”

“Seulgi,” Lisa muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed.

“What? It’s true!” Seulgi replied, raising her hands defensively. “We would have been on time, but Lisa here was a bit occupied when a girl confessed her undying love for her.”

My heart sank, and my grip tightened on my coffee cup. I glanced at Lisa, who looked uncomfortable. She crossed her arms, her cheeks slightly flushed. “I didn’t ask for it, alright? And I didn’t enjoy it either,” she muttered.

Nayeon chuckled, nudging her playfully. “Ooh, someone’s becoming popular! How’d she look, Lisa? Come on, details!”

The group laughed, chiming in with more teasing comments. Even Mina got in on it, though she was usually the quietest. Lisa was busy trying to defend herself, and the more she denied it, the more they teased her. She kept glancing at me as if looking for backup, but I stayed silent, forcing a smile.

I could feel something stirring inside me—something I didn’t want to acknowledge. This weird, unwelcome feeling. Lisa hadn’t responded to my texts because she’d been… busy with someone else.

I kept replaying Seulgi’s words in my head. She’d been occupied with some girl, and even though she denied it, the thought kept gnawing at me. I pushed my food around on my plate, losing any appetite I’d had.

Lisa must have noticed my silence because she kept glancing at me between the laughter and teasing. At one point, she reached over and lightly touched my hand. “Jennie? You okay?”

I looked up, meeting her eyes briefly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… not that hungry.”

She frowned, clearly unconvinced, but before she could say anything else, Nayeon cut in with another joke, pulling her attention away. I felt a strange pang as I watched her laugh with everyone else.

---

After Classes

After the last class, I found myself walking with Lisa to her condo. I had offered her a ride, trying to keep things normal despite the uneasy feeling in my chest. When we arrived, I pulled up to the curb, expecting her to hop out like usual. But she didn’t. She stayed in her seat, looking at me with a mix of concern and confusion.

“Nini?” she said softly. “Are you upset with me?”

I forced a smile, avoiding her gaze. “No. Why would I be?”

She looked at me for a moment, her brows furrowing. “You’ve been acting strange since lunch. You barely talked to me, and you didn’t really eat either. If I did something, please tell me.”

I took a deep breath, not wanting to let my emotions show. “You didn’t do anything, Lisa. I’m just tired.”

She didn’t look convinced. “Jennie… you’re just answering my questions, but you’re not really talking to me. I know you, and I can tell when something’s wrong.”

I let out a small sigh, clenching the steering wheel. “It’s nothing, Lisa. Really. You should go inside and get some rest. I… I need to head back home.”

She hesitated, clearly hurt, but she nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Tomorrow,” I said, giving her a brief smile.

She lingered for a moment, her eyes searching mine as if hoping I’d say something else. But I didn’t. Finally, she opened the door and got out, glancing back at me one last time before heading into the building.

---

The Drive Home

As I drove home, I couldn’t shake the nagging thoughts swirling in my mind. I kept picturing Lisa, smiling and laughing with that girl, even though she’d denied it. It was ridiculous. I knew that. Lisa was my friend. We were close, yes, but that’s all it was. So why did the thought of someone else getting close to her bother me so much?

When I got back to my room, I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of my feelings. I remembered the smile on Lisa’s face when she’d looked at me, the way she’d asked if I was okay, and the worry in her eyes. It hurt, knowing I’d brushed her off, knowing she probably had no idea why I was acting this way.

But what could I say? I didn’t even know what I was feeling. All I knew was that seeing her with someone else—even if it was just a brief moment—had sparked something inside me.

I shook my head, burying my face in my hands. I couldn’t afford to think like this. Lisa was just my friend. But the more I tried to convince myself, the less certain I felt.
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To be continued ~~