Chapter 17

The entire campus knew Jennie Kim.

Student council president. Untouchable. Elegant. The kind of girl who walked through hallways like she owned every tile beneath her heels. Teachers trusted her, students admired her, and—unfortunately for her peace of mind—half the school was in love with her.

Including Kim Jongin.

Kai, the basketball captain, didn’t even try to be subtle about it. He leaned against her locker almost every morning, spinning a ball on his finger with a grin that had probably broken a hundred hearts already.

“President Jennie,” he greeted one day, flashing that confident smile. “Got time after school? I’ll treat you to coffee.”

Jennie didn’t even look up from the papers she was organizing. “No.”

Kai chuckled, unfazed. “You always say that.”

“And I’ll keep saying it.”

From a distance, Kim Jisoo snorted while Rosé Park shook her head.

“Poor guy,” Rosé whispered.

Jisoo crossed her arms. “He’s persistent. I’ll give him that. But Jennie? She’s impossible.”

They both watched as Jennie finally closed her folder and walked away, leaving Kai standing there—still smiling, still trying.

“See?” Jisoo said. “No one stands a chance.”

Rosé hummed. “Yeah… Jennie dating someone? That’s the real impossible thing.”

—

They were wrong.

Very, very wrong.

Because at that exact moment, Jennie wasn’t thinking about Kai.

She was thinking about the quiet girl sitting at the back of the library.

Lisa Manoban.

Lisa, who always wore oversized hoodies and had her nose buried in books thicker than most people’s patience. Lisa, who barely spoke unless spoken to. Lisa, who avoided crowds like they were contagious.

Lisa, who had been Jennie’s girlfriend for almost a year.

Jennie’s lips curved slightly as she turned the corner, heading toward the library like it was the only place that mattered.

Because it was.

—

No one knew how it started.

Not Jisoo. Not Rosé. Definitely not Kai.

Because if they did, they would’ve never believed it.

It started two months before Jennie ever said a word to Lisa.

Two months of watching.

Not in a creepy way—Jennie would deny that immediately—but… okay, maybe a little creepy.

She noticed Lisa by accident at first. A quiet presence in the library while Jennie was there for student council work.

Lisa didn’t look up when people passed by. Didn’t join conversations. Didn’t laugh loudly like everyone else.

But she had this… calmness.

A quiet world of her own.

Jennie found herself coming back the next day. And the next. Sitting at a distance, pretending to work while her eyes kept drifting to the same corner.

She learned Lisa’s habits without ever speaking to her.

What time she arrived.

What books she liked.

How she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was focused.

How she softly smiled when she read something she liked.

Jennie didn’t understand it at first.

Why her heart beat faster.

Why she felt… drawn.

But by the second month, she knew.

She was completely, hopelessly interested.

—

The first time Jennie spoke to Lisa, it was… not as smooth as people would expect from her.

Lisa had been reaching for a book on a high shelf.

Jennie, standing nearby, grabbed it first.

Lisa blinked, startled, her wide eyes meeting Jennie’s.

“Here,” Jennie said, holding it out.

“…Thanks,” Lisa replied softly.

And that was it.

No grand speech. No confident flirting.

Just a quiet exchange.

But Jennie walked out of the library that day feeling like she had just won something.

—

Fast forward.

Almost a year later.

And Jennie Kim—the most admired girl in school—was currently sitting on the library floor, her head resting on Lisa’s shoulder.

“Lili…” she mumbled.

Lisa glanced down from her book. “You’re supposed to be in a meeting.”

“I finished early.”

“You didn’t.”

Jennie pouted. “Okay, I didn’t. But I missed you.”

Lisa sighed, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. “You saw me this morning.”

“That was hours ago.”

“You’re dramatic.”

“And you love me.”

“…Yeah,” Lisa admitted quietly.

Jennie beamed, tightening her hold around Lisa’s arm like a clingy cat.

If anyone saw them right now, the entire school would collapse from shock.

—

And collapse it did.

Because later that day, everything came crashing down—in the best way possible.

Jisoo and Rosé had dragged Jennie to the cafeteria, determined to interrogate her about Kai.

“He asked you out again,” Rosé said, sipping her drink. “You’re really not even considering it?”

“No.”

Jisoo leaned forward. “Then who are you waiting for? Don’t tell me you’re secretly dating someone.”

Jennie paused.

Smiled.

And casually said, “I am.”

Silence.

Rosé blinked. “Wait—what?”

Jisoo’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

“WHO?” they both yelled at the same time.

Jennie simply pointed.

Across the cafeteria.

Where Lisa sat alone, quietly eating, completely unaware of the storm about to hit her.

Jisoo squinted. “…The nerd?”

Rosé gasped. “THE nerd?!”

Jennie stood up. “My girlfriend, actually.”

Before they could react, she walked straight across the cafeteria.

Every head turned.

Because Jennie Kim walking toward someone? That was already rare.

Jennie Kim smiling like that?

Impossible.

She stopped in front of Lisa.

Lisa looked up, confused. “Jennie? What—”

Jennie didn’t let her finish.

She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on Lisa’s cheek.

The cafeteria exploded.

Gasps. Shouts. Utter chaos.

Lisa froze, face turning bright red. “J-Jennie—!”

Jennie just grinned, completely unbothered. “Hi, baby.”

From across the room, Jisoo clutched Rosé’s arm. “I think I’m hallucinating.”

Rosé nodded slowly. “Yeah… same…”

Kai, standing nearby, dropped his basketball.

“…What?”

—

Later that day, Jisoo and Rosé cornered Jennie.

“Almost a YEAR?!” Jisoo shrieked.

“You didn’t tell us?!” Rosé added.

Jennie shrugged. “It didn’t come up.”

“IT DIDN’T COME UP?!” they both echoed.

Rosé pointed accusingly. “You rejected half the school—including Kai—for HER?!”

Jennie didn’t even hesitate.

“Yes.”

Jisoo narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

Jennie smiled softly, glancing toward the library.

“Because she’s Lisa.”

And that was all the explanation she needed.

—

Back in the library, Lisa sat quietly, trying to focus on her book.

Failing miserably.

Because Jennie had her arms wrapped around her from behind again.

“You caused a scene,” Lisa murmured.

“You loved it.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

Lisa sighed. “…Maybe a little.”

Jennie giggled, pressing her face into Lisa’s shoulder. “Good. Because I’m not hiding you anymore.”

Lisa’s fingers gently intertwined with Jennie’s.

“…Okay.”

Jennie smiled—soft, genuine, completely in love.

Because the truth was…

The powerful student council president everyone admired?

She had fallen first.

She had chased.

She had watched, waited, and completely given her heart—

To the quiet girl in the corner who never asked for attention.

And she would do it all over again.