Chapter 61

The plan, according to Jisoo, was “simple, elegant, and foolproof.”

Rosé disagreed on all three counts—but she was still very much involved.

—

Jennie and Lisa had been best friends for years.

Years.

The kind of years where they knew each other’s coffee orders, passwords (unofficially), favorite hoodies (shared custody), and the exact tone of voice that meant something was wrong but I won’t tell you unless you push.

They also held hands sometimes.

And cuddled.

And kissed each other on the cheek a little too often.

And got jealous in ways that were definitely not best-friend behavior.

But—according to them—they were just “really close.”

Which is why Jisoo had a headache.

“They’re in love,” Jisoo said flatly, watching Jennie fix Lisa’s hair for the third time in ten minutes.

Rosé nodded, sipping her drink. “Painfully.”

“And stupidly.”

“Very.”

Across the café, Lisa laughed at something Jennie said, her entire face lighting up like Jennie had personally invented happiness.

Jennie, meanwhile, was staring at Lisa like she hung the moon.

Jisoo sighed. “We have to intervene.”

Rosé blinked. “Intervene?”

“Yes. Like responsible adults.”

Rosé snorted. “You mean like chaotic masterminds.”

Jisoo smiled slowly. “Exactly.”

—

Step one: isolate the targets.

“Jennie, can you help me pick something for my date tonight?” Jisoo asked sweetly.

Jennie perked up immediately. “Oh! Yes, of course.”

Lisa frowned slightly. “You have a date?”

Rosé jumped in. “Yeah, and I need help too. Lisa, come with me?”

Lisa hesitated, glancing at Jennie.

Jennie glanced back.

There was a pause.

A long pause.

Jisoo internally screamed.

“Go,” Jennie said finally, smiling softly. “Help Rosé.”

Lisa nodded. “Okay… but text me, okay?”

“Obviously.”

“Obviously.”

They stared at each other for another second too long before separating.

Rosé grabbed Lisa’s arm and dragged her away.

Jisoo grabbed Jennie’s.

Step one: complete.

—

Step two: manipulation.

“So,” Rosé said casually as they walked, “there’s this really nice restaurant I’ve been wanting to try.”

Lisa blinked. “With you?”

Rosé coughed. “No—uh—I mean, I can’t go anymore. Something came up.”

Lisa tilted her head. “Then why are you telling me?”

Rosé smiled innocently. “You should go.”

Lisa frowned. “Alone?”

“Or…” Rosé dragged it out. “With Jennie.”

Lisa’s ears turned pink instantly. “Why would I—”

“Because you like her.”

Lisa choked. “I what—?!”

Rosé raised an eyebrow. “Please. You look at her like she invented oxygen.”

Lisa covered her face. “That’s not—”

“It is.”

“…okay maybe a little,” Lisa mumbled.

Rosé grinned. “Good. Then take her out.”

Lisa peeked through her fingers. “What if she doesn’t feel the same?”

Rosé gave her a look. “Lisa. She literally refuses to eat until you sit down.”

“…she does do that.”

“And she pouts when you talk to other girls.”

“…she does do that.”

“And she has your picture as her lock screen.”

Lisa froze.

“…she does WHAT?!”

Rosé blinked. “Oh. You didn’t know that part.”

Lisa was already turning red. “I need to sit down.”

“No you don’t,” Rosé said, pushing her forward. “You need to ask her out.”

—

Meanwhile—

“Jennie,” Jisoo said, handing her a dress. “This would look amazing on you.”

Jennie blinked. “For your date?”

Jisoo shook her head. “For yours.”

Jennie froze. “My… what?”

“Date.”

“I don’t have a date.”

“You will.”

Jennie narrowed her eyes. “Jisoo—”

“Lisa.”

Jennie’s brain short-circuited.

“…Lisa?”

Jisoo nodded. “Yes. Lisa.”

Jennie sat down abruptly. “I need a moment.”

“Take two seconds,” Jisoo said. “Then listen.”

Jennie covered her face. “I can’t date Lisa.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s—she’s Lisa.”

“…and?”

Jennie peeked at her. “She’s important.”

Jisoo softened slightly. “Exactly.”

Jennie swallowed. “What if I ruin it?”

Jisoo smiled gently. “What if you don’t?”

Silence.

“…does she even like me?” Jennie asked quietly.

Jisoo stared at her.

Then burst out laughing.

“Jennie,” she said between laughs, “Lisa would fight a bear for you.”

“…she would,” Jennie admitted.

“She already glares at anyone who gets too close to you.”

“…she does do that.”

“And she literally lights up when you enter a room.”

Jennie’s cheeks turned pink.

“…okay, but what if she doesn’t mean it like that?”

Jisoo grabbed her shoulders. “Kim Jennie. She’s in love with you.”

Jennie froze.

“…oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.”

Jennie stared into space for a moment.

Then—

“…okay.”

Jisoo blinked. “Okay?”

Jennie nodded, determination settling in. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

Jisoo grinned. “That’s my girl.”

—

Step three: execution.

The restaurant was warm, softly lit, and just romantic enough to make both Lisa and Jennie internally panic.

They arrived at the same time.

Of course they did.

“Oh,” Lisa said, stopping short. “Jennie?”

Jennie blinked. “Lisa?”

They both looked around.

“…where’s Jisoo?” Jennie asked.

“…where’s Rosé?” Lisa replied.

They paused.

Then slowly looked back at each other.

Realization hit at the same time.

“…they set us up,” Lisa said.

“…they set us up,” Jennie echoed.

Silence.

A waiter walked by. “Table for two?”

They both froze.

“…I mean,” Lisa said nervously, scratching the back of her neck, “we’re already here…”

Jennie laughed softly. “Yeah… we are.”

Another pause.

“…do you want to…?” Lisa gestured awkwardly.

Jennie nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

—

Dinner started off awkward.

Very awkward.

“So,” Lisa said, gripping her glass, “nice place.”

Jennie nodded. “Yeah. Very… place.”

They both cringed.

“…we’re bad at this,” Lisa muttered.

Jennie laughed, the tension easing slightly. “Yeah, we are.”

Silence again.

But softer this time.

Lisa took a deep breath. “Jennie?”

“Yeah?”

“I… um…” Lisa hesitated, then forced it out. “Do you think… this could be a date?”

Jennie’s heart jumped.

“…do you want it to be?” she asked gently.

Lisa nodded immediately. “Yeah. I do.”

Jennie smiled.

“Then it is.”

Lisa blinked. “Really?”

Jennie nodded. “Really.”

Lisa’s entire face lit up.

And just like that—the awkwardness melted.

—

They talked.

And laughed.

And shared food like they always did—but now it felt different.

Warmer.

Closer.

More.

At some point, Lisa reached across the table without thinking.

And Jennie didn’t hesitate to take her hand.

They both froze for a second.

Then—

Neither of them let go.

—

After dinner, they walked outside together.

The night was quiet.

Soft.

Lisa glanced at Jennie. “Can I ask you something?”

Jennie smiled. “You already are.”

Lisa laughed nervously. “Right. Okay. Um…”

She took a breath.

“I like you.”

Jennie’s heart skipped.

“…I really like you,” Lisa added, softer this time.

Jennie stepped closer.

“I know,” she said.

Lisa blinked. “You do?”

Jennie nodded. “Because I like you too.”

Lisa froze.

“…you do?”

Jennie smiled, eyes warm. “I really do.”

Lisa let out a shaky laugh. “Wow. We really are stupid.”

Jennie laughed. “Very.”

They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other.

Then Lisa asked quietly—

“Can I kiss you?”

Jennie didn’t even hesitate.

“Yes.”

—

Back across the street, hidden behind a very obvious plant—

Jisoo and Rosé watched like proud parents.

“There it is,” Rosé whispered as Lisa leaned in.

Jisoo grinned. “Finally.”

Lisa kissed Jennie softly.

Gentle.

Careful.

Like she’d been waiting forever.

Jennie smiled into it.

Like she had too.

Rosé wiped a fake tear. “Love wins.”

Jisoo nodded. “After extreme intervention.”

They high-fived.

—

And across the street—

Lisa pulled back slightly, still holding Jennie’s hand.

“Best date ever,” she said.

Jennie smiled. “Yeah.”

Then she squeezed Lisa’s hand.

“Even if it was a setup.”

Lisa laughed. “We should thank them.”

Jennie smirked. “Eventually.”

Lisa tilted her head. “Why not now?”

Jennie stepped closer, eyes soft.

“Because I’m not done with you yet.”

Lisa turned red instantly.

“…oh.”

Jennie laughed.

And pulled her in for another kiss.

—

Somewhere nearby, Jisoo whispered—

“Worth it.”

And Rosé nodded.

“Absolutely.”