Chapter 54

The problem with dating Jennie Kim was that she had ideas.

And the problem with being Lalisa Manobal’s girlfriend… was that Lisa loved her enough to fall victim to every single one of them.

—

“Sit still.”

“No.”

“Lili.”

“I said no—hey—HEY—don’t bring the scissors near me!”

Lisa tried to lean back, but Jennie had already trapped her between her legs on the couch, knees caging her in like an immovable prison. One hand held Lisa’s chin firmly in place, the other twirled a pair of dangerously shiny scissors.

“Just a little trim,” Jennie said sweetly, tilting her head. “Your bangs are getting in your eyes.”

“They’re supposed to!” Lisa whined, attempting to squirm away. “It’s called style, babe. Fashion. You wouldn’t understand.”

Jennie narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“…I take it back. You understand. You over understand. Please don’t cut my hair.”

Too late.

Snip.

Lisa froze.

Her soul? Gone.

Her trust? Shattered.

Her bangs?

…still there. Barely touched.

Lisa blinked slowly, eyes crossing as she tried to look at the tiny fallen strand on Jennie’s fingers.

“You—” she gasped. “You actually did it.”

Jennie grinned, entirely too pleased with herself. “See? You’re still alive.”

Lisa’s lips parted in betrayal. “I told you no.”

“And I told you to sit still.”

“You’re abusing your power as my girlfriend.”

Jennie leaned closer, voice dropping into that dangerously soft tone Lisa never won against. “Oh? And what are you going to do about it?”

Lisa opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

“…nothing,” she mumbled.

Because the truth was painfully simple:

Lisa was absolutely, hopelessly, ridiculously under her girlfriend.

Jennie smiled like she knew it too.

—

“Okay, but seriously—don’t move.”

“I am not moving!”

“You just moved.”

“That was breathing!”

Jennie huffed. “Well stop breathing aggressively.”

“I can’t believe this is how I die,” Lisa muttered. “Killed by my own girlfriend over bangs.”

“You’re so dramatic.”

“And you’re so controlling!”

“And you love it.”

“…I do,” Lisa admitted instantly, then gasped at herself. “Wait—no—this is manipulation!”

Snip.

Another tiny piece fell.

Lisa whimpered.

Jennie softened a little, brushing Lisa’s fringe gently between her fingers. “Relax, Lili. I’m making you prettier.”

“I’m already pretty.”

“You are,” Jennie agreed easily, then smirked. “I’m making you Jennie-approved pretty.”

“That sounds terrifying.”

“It should be.”

Lisa tried to glare, but it melted the second Jennie tucked a strand behind her ear, fingers lingering just a little too long against her cheek.

“You trust me, right?” Jennie murmured.

Lisa sighed, shoulders dropping.

“…yeah.”

That was the real problem.

No matter how much she complained, how much she squirmed, how much she pretended to resist—

She trusted Jennie with everything.

Even her beloved bangs.

—

Minutes passed with soft snips, tiny adjustments, and Lisa dramatically flinching every three seconds.

“Stop reacting like I’m cutting your arm off,” Jennie said.

“You’re cutting something more important.”

Jennie raised a brow. “Your dignity?”

“My image.”

“Oh please. You’d still look good bald.”

Lisa gasped. “Don’t even joke about that!”

Jennie laughed, bright and fond, and leaned forward to press a quick kiss to Lisa’s temple.

“Done.”

Lisa blinked.

“…that’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Lisa scrambled off the couch and ran to the nearest mirror, bracing herself like she was about to witness a crime scene.

Silence.

More silence.

Jennie crossed her arms behind her, watching.

“Well?” she asked.

Lisa leaned closer to the mirror.

Tilted her head.

Pushed her bangs slightly.

Then slightly again.

Then—

“…oh.”

Jennie smiled softly. “Oh?”

Lisa turned slowly, eyes wide—not in horror, but something softer.

“They’re… actually good.”

“Obviously.”

“No, like—really good.”

“I said—”

“You didn’t butcher me.”

Jennie scoffed. “The bar is in hell.”

Lisa rushed back toward her, hands immediately grabbing Jennie’s face. “Babe.”

“What?”

“You’re kinda amazing.”

“I know.”

Lisa beamed, eyes crinkling, and pressed a loud kiss to Jennie’s lips.

“Thank you for not ruining my life.”

“You’re welcome for improving it.”

Lisa laughed, wrapping her arms around Jennie’s waist and burying her face in her shoulder.

“…I still hate that I couldn’t fight back.”

Jennie hummed, stroking her hair—her newly trimmed hair—with quiet satisfaction.

“You could’ve.”

Lisa pulled back, deadpan. “No I couldn’t.”

“…fair.”

Because when it came to Jennie—

Lisa never really stood a chance.

And honestly?

She didn’t want to.