She Lays Down ★ JENLISA

11 l AMELIORATE

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A M E L I O R A T E

(v.) make something bad or unsatisfactory better.
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"WHAT DO you mean, our daughter needs a bodyguard?" Daemon Kim crossed his big arms over his chest, frowning at the tall woman standing across their living room. They looked so out of place in the room, one big man with a badass white beard and one tall woman with weapons strapped to her thigh. Both equally as intimidating.

"With all due respect, sir," the woman replied. "There was a mass shooting and I don't think those men have been caught. I know you can afford it and I suggest that you take the necessary precautions for your daughter's safety."

Daemon looked at his wife's worried face. He would never hesitate to provide for whatever would keep his daughter safe. He nodded to Jisoo. "What was this Academy you were talking about?"

As Jisoo explained for the third time in the past hour about the institution that provided the best trained bodyguards, Jennie sat in the corner with Lisa by her side, her hands trembling.

The taller blonde noticed and reached over to grasp her hand in hers. "Jennie, I'm so sorry-"

"He was shot," Jennie whispered, her blue orbs welling up. "I was going to break up with him for you and he got shot because of you."

Lisa felt a pang in her chest at her words. When she put them like that, she couldn't help but feel guilty and responsible. This was all her fault. She should have just stayed home. She should have never pushed coming to school. This wouldn't have happened.

Jennie sat there numbly clutching Lisa's hands in her own. She had no idea about the impact of her words on her friend, she was merely realizing out loud. She never blamed Lisa for what happened, but she had already said the words and they meant differently to the blonde.

That was the thing about words. Once they were said, no matter how different you meant or them to be, they could never be unsaid. The choice of words, the choice of how they were placed in semantics are crucial. This particular string of words hit Lisa deep in her heart.

Is everything truly going to be my fault?

But she didn't think or dwell on what she just said. Her mind had reverted back to the note she found in her bag. She knew they meant to kill Lisa, but why send a note to her about it? What did they mean by "don't wait before the heart in the sink becomes hers"? What do they want from her?

She shuddered at the thought of the heart on the sink as Lisa's. She would never be able to live with herself if anything happened to her best friend because of herself.

Meanwhile Jennie's parents were still discussing.

"We can't just hire a bodyguard to follow Jennie around like a puppy. I don't want my daughter deprived of her private life!"

"Cateline, this is for her own good. It's not like she'll have one forever. It's just to keep her safe until this all blows over."

"And what if it never does? Are we all just going to live in solitary confinement? And how trustworthy is this Royal Protection Academy anyway? I've never even heard of it! For all we know, they could kidnap Jennie as well and ask for ransom."

"Mrs. Kim, if I may, the Academy has been protecting royal families for centuries, and are the best at what we do." Jisoo tried to explain.

"But how is it that it's completely unheard of?" Daemon was doubtful.