Forget Me Not | Jensoo

Chapter 19

JISOO

"Jennie?" I shook my head and took my sunglasses off. "How'd… I mean…"

"It was a really great book." She said sincerely and laid it out in front of me. "You're one hell of a writer. I guess you found your calling."

"My calling?" I sat back and tried to get my heart to slow down. "You really read this?"

"I did." Jennie whispered and looked at me before glancing down at the book. "Uh, I uh, really think that it's deep and personal."

"Yea," I breathed and for a minute there, I forgot that we were holding up the line, "um, did you want me to sign?"

"Of course." Her husky voice whispered and she smiled, opening up to a certain page. The waterfall reference. "The last time I checked," she leaned over the table and smiled softly, "there were no jagged rocks."

I swallowed and turned my head around to find Irene and Soojoo in a conversation, not paying attention to me. "Really?"

Jennie nodded and I felt her eyes watch my hand move as I signed her book. "Thank you."

"Jen," I grabbed her wrist and felt myself stand up, "please stick around?"

"I'm only here for you, Jisoo." Jennie smiled at me and nodded towards the ocean. "Come meet me when you're done."

I didn't know what possessed me to ask her to stick around. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that she could always give me. She was Jennie Kim. Despite how excited I was about my book signing, knowing that Jennie was just fifteen feet away really made me want to pack up and be with her.

Two hours later, I was sweaty and my hand was slightly cramped – along with my cheeks because of all the smiling I had to do. It wasn't forced though, I was very thankful people had such a strong response to my book.

"How'd it go?" Irene smiled as I pushed back my chair, standing up to stretch.

"Good." I nodded and she grinned. "Um," I looked back towards the ocean and found Jennie sitting, watching the waves as they crashed, "I think she was the last person I expected to see here."

"Quite the surprise, huh?" Irene smiled softly and placed a friendly hand on my arm.

"Why did you invite her?" I asked, not in a rude way, just really curious.

"Jisoo," she sighed and shook her head very slowly, "I didn't invite Jennie."

"Oh." I frowned, seriously confused.

"Are you upset that she's here?" Irene asked me quietly, raising an eyebrow in question.

I shook my head and looked back at Jennie, who was now dragging her fingers into the sand. "If you didn't invite her…"

"You have your lovely girlfriend to thank."

I whipped my head around to see Soojoo helping someone pick out a design for their board. I frowned and bit my bottom lip. "Why?"

"She loves you." The brunette shrugged and kissed my cheek before telling me she was going to run to the washroom.

I sighed heavily and chewed my bottom lip in thought. My feet seemed to have a mind of their own as they took my away from the shop and towards her.

I quietly sat down beside her and pulled my knees up to my chest, tucking some hair behind my ears. We were quiet for a few minutes, just enjoying the silent company. I blinked and squinted as the sun reflected off the water and into our direction. "Sometimes this is the most peaceful spot for me." I finally spoke, not looking at her.

"This exact spot?" Her voice was smooth and I could tell there was a small smirk in it without even looking at her.

"Well, probably about two feet to the left, yea." I looked at her and we shared another smile. I sighed and began to trace my own etches into the sand.

"I missed you." Jennie whispered after another few minutes of silence. "I miss you." She corrected and I looked at her, but she quickly looked away. "Sometimes I wonder if being here is a mistake."

I nodded slowly and picked up some sand, letting it slide through my fingers.

"Not that being near you, or being here for you is a mistake," Jennie finally looked at me, "I just meant, here."

"I get it." I whispered and took a deep breath. "I miss you too." I confessed in a quiet whisper.

"Look Jisoo," she turned to face me, "I don't know where we are or if there ever will be an 'us' again, friendship or otherwise, but you have to know that I really do love you. It may be a little too heavy to hear right now but with the off chance that I may never see you again, I just need you to know that I love you, Jisoo."

I swallowed and cleared my throat, trying to fight back the emotions stirring through me. My lips all of a sudden went dry and I closed my eyes. "Jennie," I whispered breathlessly and blinked, looking at her.

"I was one selfish bitch back in high school. How dare I choose that prick of a douche bag over you. I will forever live the rest of my life making it up to you." Jennie quickly said and I couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Too much?" She smiled sheepishly.

"Where the hell did that come from?" I dipped my head, trying to control my laughter.

"Ugh," Jennie groaned in embarrassment and covered her face with her hands, "that's the last time I take Irene's advice. I should've just stuck with 'I miss you' and left it there."

I chuckled and shook my head. "Yea," I agreed and then calmed down a bit, "but thank you for saying it anyway."

"Way to clear the tension." Jennie shook her head and rolled her eyes at herself.

"So," I leaned back on my hands, stretching my legs out in front of me, "what was your favourite part of the book?"

Jennie smiled and shrugged. "All of it." She glanced at me and I couldn't help but blush. "You are a really good writer Jisoo."

"I had really good inspiration." I whispered and bit my lip. "I'm sorry I never wrote you back."

"Don't be." Jennie shrugged and picked up a small rock, tossing it into the water. "You had every right."

"I wrote you a book though." I breathed deeply and sat up, wiping my hands free from the sand.

"You didn't have too."

"Please," I rolled my eyes and stood up, wiping off the back of my skirt, "it was everything I wanted you to know."

"I hurt you." Jennie stood up and faced me.

For the first time I was really looking at her. I glanced over every old freckle, every old scar she sported since she was little from the chicken pox, and took in the new freckles, ones I've never really noticed before.

"You did." I nodded and wrung my hands together. "Bad."

"I know." Jennie whispered and ran her own hands through her hair. "God Jisoo, I'm such an ass. I really shouldn't hav-" she sighed deeply as I placed a finger on her lips.

"You're sorry, I know." I nodded and dropped my hand to my side. "This all seems so… surreal."

"Looks like someone's waiting for you." Jennie nodded up towards the shop, where Soojoo stood there looking at us.

"I should go." I immediately felt bad for forgetting about Soojoo being around. Jennie's presence consumed me like no other.

"Hey," her hand caught my wrist and we both smiled at the contact, "will I see you again?"

I thought about it for a moment. I didn't know if it would've been a good idea but the thought of not seeing Jennie again hurt me worse than what I was going through for the past five years. "I'd love that." I smiled before taking her hand and squeezing it briefly.

I walked away from her but that time, it felt different. It felt like I was walking away just so I could walk right back into her life.