Chapter 105

Jennie knew something was wrong the moment she woke up.

It wasn’t the sunlight streaming through the curtains. It wasn’t the quiet hum of the air conditioner. It wasn’t even the faint smell of coffee lingering in the air.

It was the absence.

Her eyes blinked open slowly, still heavy with sleep, and her lips instinctively curved into a soft smile as she turned her head toward Lisa’s side of the bed.

Empty.

“Mm…” she mumbled, stretching slightly. “Baby already left…”

That wasn’t unusual. Lisa often had early mornings, especially when deadlines piled up. But still—Jennie didn’t mind. Not really.

Because no matter how early Lisa had to leave, she always—

Jennie froze.

Her hand slowly rose to her cheek.

…nothing.

No lingering warmth. No faint press of soft lips. No whispered “I love you” against her skin.

Nothing.

Jennie sat up.

“No.”

Her brows furrowed, fingers pressing against her cheek like she could somehow summon the missing kiss.

“No, no, no…”

This was wrong.

This was very wrong.

For years—years—Lisa had never missed it. Not once. Not when she was sick, not when she was late, not even when she was half-asleep and practically a zombie. The cheek kiss was sacred. A ritual. A non-negotiable start to Jennie’s day.

And today?

Gone.

Jennie’s brain immediately spiraled.

Did I do something?

She replayed yesterday in her head at lightning speed.

They had dinner together. Laughed. Watched a show. Lisa cuddled her. They went to bed normally.

Nothing was wrong.

Right?

Jennie grabbed her phone.

No missed calls.

No messages.

Her heart sank.

“She didn’t even text…”

Now it was getting worse.

Jennie stood up, pacing around the room with her blanket still wrapped around her shoulders like a distressed burrito.

“Okay, okay… maybe she was just in a rush.”

But Lisa never forgot.

“Unless… she’s mad at me.”

Jennie gasped softly, eyes widening.

“Is she mad at me?!”

Meanwhile—

Across the city, Lisa was peacefully working.

Or… she was.

She was typing away on her laptop, glasses slightly slipping down her nose, completely focused—until her fingers suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

Her expression slowly changed.

“…Wait.”

Her eyes widened.

Her hands lifted from the keyboard like she’d just touched something dangerous.

“…No.”

Her heart dropped.

“No, no, no—”

Lisa stood up so fast her chair nearly toppled over.

“I DIDN’T KISS HER.”

The entire office turned to look at her.

Lisa didn’t care.

“I didn’t kiss Jennie this morning.”

Her voice came out in a horrified whisper, like she had just committed the worst crime imaginable.

Her hands flew to her head.

“How did I forget?!”

Her mind replayed the morning—waking up late, rushing to get dressed, grabbing her bag, slipping on her shoes—

—and leaving.

No kiss.

No cheek kiss.

No ritual.

Lisa felt physically ill.

“Oh my god she’s gonna think I don’t love her anymore.”

Without another word, she grabbed her bag.

“I need to go.”

“Lisa, where—”

“I FORGOT MY WIFE’S KISS,” she blurted, already halfway out the door.

“…Okay?” her coworker muttered, confused.

Lisa didn’t explain further.

She was already sprinting.

—

Back at home, Jennie was lying face-down on the couch, dramatically hugging a pillow.

“This is it,” she muttered. “This is how it ends.”

Her phone sat beside her, screen on, waiting.

Still no message.

Jennie sniffed.

“I knew it… I knew I was getting too comfortable…”

Just as she was about to spiral deeper—

DING DONG.

Jennie froze.

“…Huh?”

She slowly lifted her head.

DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG.

“Okay, that’s aggressive.”

Jennie stood up, dragging her blanket with her as she shuffled to the door.

When she opened it—

Lisa stood there.

Slightly out of breath. Hair a mess. Eyes wide with urgency.

Jennie blinked.

“…Lisa?”

Lisa didn’t say anything.

She stepped forward immediately, cupping Jennie’s face gently in her hands—

—and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her cheek.

One.

Then the other.

Then another for good measure.

Jennie completely froze.

Lisa pulled back just slightly, forehead resting against Jennie’s.

“I forgot,” she whispered, breathless. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—I was rushing and I—”

Jennie stared at her.

“…You came back.”

“Of course I did,” Lisa said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I can’t let you start your day without it.”

Jennie’s eyes softened.

“…I thought you were mad at me.”

Lisa blinked.

“What?”

“You didn’t kiss me… you didn’t text…” Jennie mumbled, suddenly shy. “I thought maybe I did something wrong.”

Lisa’s expression melted instantly.

“Hey… no,” she said gently, thumbs brushing Jennie’s cheeks. “Never. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Jennie pouted slightly.

“You forgot the most important part of my day.”

Lisa leaned in again, kissing her cheek softly.

“I know,” she murmured. “That’s why I came back.”

Another kiss.

“And I’ll make it up to you.”

Another.

“And I’ll never forget again.”

Jennie’s lips slowly curved into a smile.

“…You better not.”

Lisa smiled back, softer this time.

“I won’t.”

Jennie leaned into her touch, finally relaxing.

“…You’re late for work, you know.”

Lisa sighed.

“Yeah.”

Neither of them moved.

“…Are you going back?”

Lisa glanced at her watch.

Then back at Jennie.

Then she kissed her cheek again.

“…In a minute.”

Jennie giggled, wrapping her arms around Lisa’s waist.

“Take your time.”

And just like that—

Everything felt right again.