Chapter 6

Jennie wasn’t the jealous type.

At least, that’s what she liked to tell herself.

She sat on the bleachers, chin resting on her palm, watching the women’s basketball team finish practice. The squeak of sneakers against polished wood echoed through the gym, but her eyes were locked on one person only—Lisa.

Lisa, who was laughing too easily.

Lisa, who was being surrounded.

Jennie narrowed her eyes.

A group of girls from another department had wandered in “just to watch,” but they weren’t even pretending anymore. One of them handed Lisa a bottle of water. Another tucked a stray strand of hair behind Lisa’s ear—behind her ear—like they had any right.

Jennie’s jaw tightened.

“She’s popular today,” Rosé hummed beside her, clearly enjoying the show.

Jennie didn’t look away. “She’s always popular.”

“Mm. But today you look like you’re about to start a war.”

“I am not,” Jennie muttered, crossing her arms.

Below them, Lisa wiped her face with her jersey, flashing that bright, effortless smile—the one Jennie knew too well. The one that made people fall without warning.

One of the girls giggled. Giggled.

Jennie’s eye twitched.

“Okay,” Rosé said, nudging her. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“You’re glaring.”

“I’m observing.”

“You’re pouting.”

Jennie snapped her head toward her. “I do not pout.”

Rosé raised a brow. “You’re literally pouting right now.”

Jennie immediately pressed her lips together, trying to fix it, but the damage was done. Rosé burst into laughter.

“Shut up,” Jennie mumbled, cheeks warming.

Down on the court, Lisa finally glanced up—and the moment her eyes found Jennie, everything changed.

Her smile softened.

Her posture relaxed.

It was subtle, but Jennie noticed. She always did.

Lisa said something to the girls, gave a quick polite bow, and jogged toward the bleachers.

Jennie quickly looked away, pretending she hadn’t been watching the entire time.

“Hey,” Lisa said, slightly breathless as she stopped in front of her. “You waited.”

Jennie shrugged. “I had nothing better to do.”

Rosé snorted. “Yeah, she’s been nothing-better-to-do-ing for an hour.”

Jennie shot her a death glare. Rosé just grinned and stood up.

“I’m gonna go find Jisoo. Try not to kill anyone, okay?” she teased before walking off.

Jennie crossed her legs, still refusing to look at Lisa.

Lisa tilted her head. “Are you okay?”

“Of course.”

“You’re not even looking at me.”

“I see you every day.”

Lisa blinked, confused. “That’s… not a bad thing?”

Jennie sighed, finally turning to her—and immediately regretted it. Lisa looked unfairly good, hair slightly messy, skin glowing from practice, eyes soft and concerned.

It made Jennie even more annoyed.

“You looked busy,” Jennie said, voice a little sharper than she intended.

Lisa frowned. “Busy?”

“With your… fans.”

“Oh.” Lisa glanced back at the court, then chuckled softly. “They just came to watch.”

“They weren’t watching basketball.”

Lisa looked back at Jennie—and then it clicked.

“Oh,” she said again, this time slower.

Jennie’s cheeks flushed. “Don’t say it like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you figured something out.”

Lisa’s lips curved into a small smile. “Did I?”

Jennie stood abruptly. “I’m leaving.”

Before she could take a step, Lisa gently caught her wrist.

“Hey,” Lisa said softly. “Wait.”

Jennie didn’t pull away, but she didn’t turn back either.

Lisa stepped closer. “Are you… jealous?”

Jennie scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Lisa squeezed her hand lightly. “Jennie.”

Silence.

“…Maybe,” Jennie admitted under her breath.

Lisa’s smile grew—but it wasn’t teasing. It was warm. Fond.

“Why?” she asked gently.

That made Jennie turn.

“Why?” she repeated, incredulous. “You really have to ask that?”

Lisa shrugged a little. “I want to hear you say it.”

Jennie stared at her for a moment, then huffed.

“Because they like you,” she said. “And they’re obvious about it. And you just… stand there, smiling at them like it’s nothing.”

Lisa blinked. “I smile at everyone.”

“Exactly!”

Lisa tried not to laugh. “That’s the problem?”

“Yes!”

Jennie groaned, running a hand through her hair. “You’re too nice. Too friendly. Too… Lisa.”

“That’s a new complaint.”

Jennie looked away again, quieter now. “I don’t like it.”

Lisa’s expression softened even more.

“Hey,” she murmured, stepping closer until they were just inches apart. “Look at me.”

Jennie hesitated, then did.

Lisa lifted their joined hands slightly. “Do you know why I stopped talking to them?”

Jennie frowned. “Because practice ended?”

Lisa shook her head. “Because you were here.”

Jennie blinked.

“I saw you,” Lisa continued. “And I wanted to come to you.”

Jennie’s heart skipped, but she tried to stay stubborn. “You didn’t have to. They seemed very interested.”

Lisa smiled softly. “I’m not.”

Jennie’s gaze flickered. “Not even a little?”

“Not even a little.”

Lisa took a step closer, closing the remaining distance.

“I only like one person,” she said quietly.

Jennie’s breath hitched. “You’re saying that like it’s obvious.”

“It is.”

Lisa lifted her free hand and gently tucked a strand of Jennie’s hair behind her ear—the same gesture that had annoyed her earlier, but now it felt completely different.

“Because it’s you,” Lisa added.

Jennie felt her cheeks burn.

“…You’re unfair,” she mumbled.

Lisa laughed softly. “Why?”

“Because I come here ready to be mad at you, and then you say things like that.”

“Should I stop?”

Jennie immediately shook her head. “No.”

Lisa grinned.

Jennie tried to keep her composure, but it was slipping fast. “I still don’t like them hovering around you.”

“That’s okay,” Lisa said. “You don’t have to like it.”

Jennie narrowed her eyes. “But?”

“But I’m yours,” Lisa said simply.

Jennie froze.

Lisa squeezed her hand again. “No matter who looks at me. No matter who tries to talk to me. It’s still you.”

Jennie’s expression softened completely now, her earlier frustration melting away.

“…You better be,” she muttered.

Lisa laughed, pulling her into a gentle hug. “I am.”

Jennie hesitated for a second before wrapping her arms around Lisa’s waist, burying her face into her shoulder.

“…I still get jealous,” she admitted quietly.

“That’s okay too,” Lisa murmured into her hair.

“Just don’t give me a reason to be.”

Lisa pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her. “I won’t.”

Jennie studied her face, searching for any hint of teasing—but all she saw was sincerity.

“…Fine,” she said, finally relaxing.

Lisa smiled. “So we’re good?”

Jennie pretended to think about it. “…Maybe.”

Lisa leaned in a little. “Maybe?”

Jennie smirked faintly. “Buy me food, and I’ll forgive you completely.”

Lisa laughed. “Ah, so that’s the condition.”

“Non-negotiable.”

“Alright,” Lisa said, intertwining their fingers. “Let’s go.”

As they walked out of the gym together, Jennie couldn’t help but glance back once more.

The girls were still there.

Still watching Lisa.

But this time, Jennie didn’t feel that tight knot in her chest.

Because Lisa wasn’t looking at them.

She was looking at Jennie.