Chapter 71

The summer heat in Thailand wrapped around them the moment Jennie stepped out of the airport, thick and golden, clinging to her skin like it had been waiting just for her.

Lisa stretched beside her, inhaling deeply. “Home,” she sighed, a soft smile already forming.

Jennie adjusted her sunglasses, hiding the tiny, very suspicious smirk tugging at her lips.

“Oh, I can’t wait,” she murmured.

Lisa glanced at her. “…why do I feel like that wasn’t about the weather?”

Jennie just smiled sweetly. “You’re imagining things, Lili.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes.

That was never a good sign.

—

The Manoban house was lively—bright laughter, the clinking of dishes, the comforting chaos of family filling every corner.

Lisa melted into it instantly.

Her mom pulled her into a tight hug, fussing over her hair, her weight, her everything, while Jennie stood beside them, smiling politely—too politely.

Because Jennie Kim was plotting.

And she was patient.

Very patient.

“Jennie, come, come,” Lisa’s mother called warmly, pulling her into the kitchen. “You help me, yes?”

Jennie nodded, slipping in easily. “Of course, Mama.”

Lisa blinked. “…since when do you volunteer for kitchen duty?”

Jennie glanced back at her over her shoulder, smile dangerously calm.

“Since today.”

Lisa felt it.

That chill.

“Oh no.”

—

It started innocently.

Too innocently.

“Lisa was a very cute child,” her mom said fondly while chopping vegetables.

Jennie hummed, leaning casually against the counter. “Really?”

Lisa, who had been hovering nearby, froze.

That tone.

That tone.

“Oh, yes,” her mom continued, smiling. “Always sleeping, always hugging something.”

Jennie tilted her head. “Hugging something?”

Lisa immediately stepped in. “Okay! I think Jennie doesn’t need to hear all this—”

“Oh! Wait,” her mom said suddenly, as if remembering something important. “I have pictures.”

Lisa’s soul left her body.

“No.”

Jennie’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Oh?”

Lisa grabbed her mom’s arm. “No pictures.”

Her mom laughed, brushing her off easily. “Why not? Jennie should see.”

“She doesn’t need to see—”

Too late.

The words had already unlocked something in Jennie.

Because this—

This was her moment.

Her revenge.

“Oh, I’d love to see,” Jennie said sweetly.

Lisa turned to her slowly.

“Don’t.”

Jennie blinked innocently. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

Jennie smiled wider.

“Too late.”

—

A few minutes later, they were sitting on the floor of Lisa’s childhood bedroom.

The fan hummed softly overhead, stirring the warm air, but Lisa felt cold.

Very cold.

Because in front of them—

Was an album.

Lisa crossed her arms. “I’m warning you.”

Jennie flipped it open.

“I’ve heard that before.”

—

The first few pages weren’t bad.

Baby Lisa in tiny dresses, Lisa learning to walk, Lisa making silly faces.

Jennie smiled, genuinely soft at first.

“You were adorable,” she admitted.

Lisa relaxed a little. “See? Not so bad.”

Jennie hummed.

Flipped the page.

Paused.

Lisa immediately tensed again.

“…what?”

Jennie didn’t answer.

Slowly—

very slowly—

She lifted the photo out.

“Oh.”

Lisa leaned over.

And then—

“NO.”

Jennie burst out laughing.

The loud, uncontrollable kind that made her shoulders shake.

Lisa lunged. “Give it—!”

But Jennie was faster this time, twisting away, holding the photo high.

“Oh my God,” she wheezed. “Oh my GOD—”

Lisa covered her face. “I hate this.”

Jennie turned the photo toward the light, examining it like it was a masterpiece.

And honestly?

It kind of was.

A five-year-old Lisa, fast asleep on a small bed, hair messy and sticking out in every direction. One thumb was tucked securely in her mouth, cheeks slightly squished against the pillow.

And in her arms—

A well-loved duck plushie, clutched tightly like it was her entire world.

Jennie lost it all over again.

“You were sucking your thumb?!” she laughed.

“I WAS FIVE!”

“And the duck—” Jennie gasped, pointing. “You were hugging it like it was alive!”

“It was alive to me!”

Jennie wiped a tear from her eye, still laughing. “Oh my God, this is gold.”

Lisa reached for it again. “Give it back!”

Jennie stepped away, holding it behind her back now. “Nope.”

Lisa groaned. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

Jennie tilted her head. “Does this feel familiar to you?”

Lisa paused.

“…oh.”

Oh.

Right.

The baby picture.

The gummy smile.

The bear onesie.

Lisa slowly lowered her hand.

Jennie smirked.

“Revenge,” she said simply.

Lisa exhaled, shaking her head. “You’re evil.”

“And you started it.”

“…fair.”

Jennie looked at the photo again, her laughter softening this time.

“…you were really cute,” she admitted quietly.

Lisa peeked at her through her fingers. “Yeah?”

Jennie nodded, smiling to herself now.

“Still are.”

Lisa blinked.

That—

That wasn’t part of the teasing.

Jennie sat down on the bed, still holding the picture, her thumb brushing lightly over the edge.

“You look so… soft here,” she murmured. “Like nothing could hurt you.”

Lisa watched her, something warm blooming in her chest.

“That duck,” Jennie added with a small laugh. “You really loved it, huh?”

Lisa smiled sheepishly. “Yeah… I brought it everywhere.”

Jennie looked up at her.

“I can tell.”

There was a pause.

A quiet one.

And then—

Jennie slipped the photo into her bag.

Lisa’s eyes widened. “Hey—”

Jennie looked at her calmly. “I’m keeping this.”

“That’s stealing.”

Jennie raised a brow. “Didn’t you say something like that before?”

Lisa opened her mouth.

Closed it.

“…okay, I deserve that.”

Jennie grinned.

Lisa sat beside her, nudging her shoulder lightly. “At least take a better one of me.”

Jennie shook her head. “Nope. This one’s perfect.”

Lisa groaned. “I look ridiculous.”

Jennie leaned closer, resting her head briefly against Lisa’s shoulder.

“You look like someone I would’ve fallen in love with anyway.”

Lisa went still.

“…really?”

Jennie nodded softly.

“Yeah.”

Lisa smiled, slow and soft, her hand finding Jennie’s.

“Well,” she murmured, squeezing it gently, “I guess we’re even now.”

Jennie smirked.

“Not yet.”

Lisa blinked. “What do you mean—”

Jennie turned to her, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I still have to show this to Jisoo and Rosé.”

Lisa gasped. “YOU WOULDN’T.”

Jennie just smiled.

“Oh, I absolutely would.”

Lisa tackled her onto the bed immediately.

“JENNIE—!”

Their laughter filled the room, loud and bright, echoing against the walls that had once held a little girl with a duck plushie—

And now held a woman completely, hopelessly in love.

And somewhere in Jennie’s bag—

That little piece of Lisa’s past stayed safe.

Just like Lisa had kept hers.

Because some things—

Were simply too precious not to keep.