Chapter 121

The house was louder than usual—and that was saying something, considering baby Ruby already ruled it like a tiny, giggling queen.

Lisa leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold in the living room. Her lips twitched upward, eyes glinting with mischief. Across the room, Jennie sat on the couch, equally entertained, though she tried (and failed) to hide it behind her hand.

Because right in the middle of the room?

Their younger sisters were being painfully obvious.

“Unnie! Ruby smiled at me first!” Chiquita beamed, holding the six-month-old baby gently, her entire face glowing like she had just won a lifetime achievement award.

Ahyeon scoffed, sitting right next to her—too close, Lisa noted. “That’s because I made her laugh first. You just got the leftover smile.”

“Excuse me?” Chiquita gasped, clutching Ruby protectively. “Ruby loves me more.”

Ruby, completely unaware of the brewing rivalry, just babbled happily and grabbed a strand of Chiquita’s hair.

Jennie snorted softly. “Oh wow… they’re fighting over a baby now.”

Lisa smirked. “Not just the baby.”

Jennie turned to her slowly, already catching the tone. “You’re seeing it too, right?”

Lisa raised a brow. “Please. I saw it the moment they walked in and pretended they didn’t notice each other.”

As if on cue—

“Ahyeon, you’re holding the bottle wrong,” Chiquita said, leaning closer, her hand brushing Ahyeon’s as she adjusted it.

Ahyeon froze for half a second.

“…I know how to hold a bottle,” she muttered, but didn’t move her hand away.

Lisa bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud.

Jennie wasn’t even trying anymore—she buried her face into a pillow, shoulders shaking.

“Oh my God,” Jennie whispered. “They’re worse than us when we first started.”

Lisa grinned. “Way worse. At least we had some dignity.”

Jennie shot her a look. “You wrote me a love note every day for a month.”

“…Okay, fair.”

They both turned their attention back to the living room, now fully invested.

Chiquita and Ahyeon were now sitting extremely close, both holding Ruby together like it was a group project they refused to let go of.

“You’re too close,” Ahyeon mumbled.

“You’re the one leaning,” Chiquita shot back.

“I’m not—”

“You are—”

“Am not—”

“Then move.”

“…No.”

Silence.

Lisa clapped once, loud and sudden.

Both girls jumped.

“Wow,” Lisa said, walking into the living room with Jennie trailing behind her, both wearing identical teasing smiles. “Didn’t know holding a baby required that much proximity.”

Jennie nodded seriously. “Yeah, it’s almost like you two are glued together.”

“We are not!” Ahyeon protested instantly, scooting a tiny bit away—only for Chiquita to unconsciously follow.

Jennie caught it immediately and nudged Lisa.

Lisa grinned wider. “Ahyeon, sweetheart, if you move any further, Chiquita might fall over trying to stay close to you.”

“I’m not—!” Chiquita started, then froze, realizing she had, in fact, leaned again.

Ruby let out a delighted squeal, clapping her tiny hands like she was enjoying the drama.

“Even Ruby sees it,” Jennie teased, gently taking her from them. “Right, baby? Your aunties are being weird.”

Ruby babbled in agreement—or at least, that’s what everyone decided.

Ahyeon crossed her arms. “We’re not weird.”

Lisa hummed. “Oh? So you don’t get nervous when she’s close?”

Ahyeon immediately looked at Chiquita.

Chiquita immediately looked away.

“…No,” Ahyeon said, voice slightly too stiff.

Jennie leaned closer, whispering loudly, “Her ears are red.”

Lisa gasped dramatically. “Oh my God, they are.”

“Unnie!” Ahyeon whined, completely flustered now.

Chiquita wasn’t any better—she was hiding her face behind her hands.

Lisa crouched down in front of them, smirk softening into something more playful than teasing.

“Relax,” she said. “We’re not making fun of you.”

Jennie nodded, rocking Ruby gently. “We’re just… appreciating the very obvious situation.”

“There is no situation!” Chiquita insisted, though her voice was muffled.

Lisa tilted her head. “So you don’t like her?”

Silence.

Jennie leaned in. “And you don’t like her?”

More silence.

Ruby let out another happy squeal, as if filling in the blanks.

Lisa and Jennie exchanged a look—and then burst out laughing.

“Okay, okay,” Jennie said between giggles. “We’ll stop.”

Lisa stood up, still smiling. “For now.”

Both younger girls groaned.

“This is why we didn’t want to come,” Ahyeon muttered.

“Oh please,” Jennie said. “You came because you missed Ruby.”

Lisa added, “And maybe each other.”

“UNNIE!”

The house filled with laughter—Ruby’s the loudest of all—as Lisa wrapped an arm around Jennie’s shoulders.

“Think they’ll figure it out soon?” Jennie whispered.

Lisa watched as Chiquita and Ahyeon awkwardly avoided eye contact… only to end up sitting close again seconds later.

She smirked.

“Give it a week,” Lisa said. “Max.”

Jennie chuckled, leaning her head on Lisa’s shoulder. “Should we help them along?”

Lisa’s grin turned mischievous again.

“Oh, absolutely.”