Chapter 62

Jennie Kim was not cute.

She wasn’t.

Absolutely not.

She was intimidating, fierce, and—if you asked literally anyone in their friend group—terrifying when mad.

Which is exactly why Lalisa Manoban was currently trying (and failing) not to laugh as Jennie stood in the middle of their living room, arms crossed, cheeks puffed, and eyes narrowed into the tiniest glare imaginable.

“You think this is funny?” Jennie snapped.

Lisa bit the inside of her cheek. Hard. “No.”

A pause.

“…You’re smiling.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m—” Lisa’s composure cracked for half a second. “—not.”

Jennie’s glare deepened. Or at least, it tried to.

Because the problem was—no matter how hard Jennie attempted to look like an angry tiger—right now, with her slightly messy hair, oversized sweater slipping off one shoulder, and her lips pushed into a pout?

She looked like a grumpy kitten.

And Lisa had noticed.

Of course she had.

Which made everything ten times worse.

“Say it,” Jennie demanded.

“Say what?”

“What you’re thinking.”

Lisa shook her head immediately. “Nope. I choose life.”

“Lisa.”

“No.”

“Lalisa.”

Lisa groaned softly, dragging a hand down her face. “Baby—”

“Don’t ‘baby’ me.”

That did it.

Lisa let out a small, helpless laugh, stepping closer despite the clear danger. “You’re supposed to be scary right now.”

“I am scary.”

“Mmm…” Lisa tilted her head, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Debatable.”

Jennie scoffed, turning away dramatically. “Unbelievable. I’m literally mad at you and you’re making jokes.”

“I’m not making jokes,” Lisa said, following her. “I’m just… observing.”

Jennie whipped around. “Observing what?”

Lisa hesitated for exactly one second.

She should stop.

She could stop.

But where was the fun in that?

“…that you look like a kitten.”

Silence.

Dangerous, heavy silence.

Jennie blinked once.

“…Excuse me?”

Lisa raised both hands in surrender, though her grin betrayed her completely. “A very cute one.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“A very grumpy kitten,” Lisa added, because apparently she had a death wish.

Jennie stared at her like she was genuinely considering launching a pillow—or worse, something solid—at her head.

“I am not a kitten,” Jennie said slowly.

Lisa nodded, biting her lip again. “Right. My mistake.”

“I’m a tiger.”

“Of course.”

“The tiger.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jennie narrowed her eyes. “You don’t sound convinced.”

“I am!” Lisa insisted quickly. “Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. I’m shaking.”

Jennie took a step forward.

Lisa took one back.

“Oh, now you’re scared?” Jennie challenged.

Lisa hummed. “A little.”

“Good.”

Another step.

Lisa bumped into the couch, cornered now, but she didn’t look the least bit worried.

If anything, she looked amused.

Which only fueled Jennie’s frustration more.

“I can’t believe you,” Jennie muttered. “We were literally fighting.”

“We still are,” Lisa said lightly.

“No, you’re not. I am.”

Lisa tilted her head again, gaze softening just a little. “Yeah. I can see that.”

Jennie huffed, crossing her arms again. “Then take me seriously.”

Lisa tried.

She really, really did.

She straightened, cleared her throat, and put on her most solemn expression. “Okay. I’m taking you seriously.”

Jennie waited.

Two seconds.

Three.

“…Why are your lips twitching?”

“They’re not.”

“They are.”

Lisa’s shoulders shook.

“Lalisa.”

“I’m sorry—” Lisa turned away, laughing under her breath.

Jennie gasped in betrayal. “You’re impossible!”

“I know,” Lisa said, turning back with a soft grin. “But you love me.”

“That’s not the point!”

“It kind of is.”

Jennie groaned, dragging her hands down her face. “You’re so annoying.”

“And you’re so cute.”

“I’m not cute!”

Lisa stepped closer again, gently reaching out to tug at Jennie’s sleeve. “You are.”

Jennie tried to pull away—but not very convincingly.

“I’m literally mad at you,” she reminded.

“I know.”

“So stop smiling like that.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Lisa leaned in slightly, voice dropping into something softer, warmer. “Because you’re pouting.”

Jennie froze.

“…I’m not pouting.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

Lisa lifted a hand, gently pressing her thumb against Jennie’s cheek where it was slightly puffed out. “This says otherwise.”

Jennie’s breath hitched—just a little.

And Lisa noticed that too.

“You do this thing,” Lisa continued, quieter now. “When you’re mad.”

Jennie swallowed. “What thing?”

“You try really hard to look scary…” Lisa smiled softly. “…but you just end up looking like you need a hug.”

Jennie’s expression faltered.

Just for a second.

And that was all Lisa needed.

She wrapped her arms around Jennie’s waist and pulled her in.

Jennie stiffened immediately. “Lisa, I said I’m mad—”

“I know.”

“Then don’t hug me.”

“No.”

Jennie huffed, trying to push her away—but again, not very effectively. “You’re not taking this seriously.”

“I am.”

“You’re not!”

Lisa buried her face into Jennie’s shoulder, voice muffled. “I’m seriously in love with you.”

Jennie froze.

Again.

“…That’s not fair.”

Lisa peeked up at her. “What’s not fair?”

“You can’t just say things like that in the middle of a fight.”

Lisa grinned. “Why not? It’s true.”

Jennie tried to hold onto her anger.

She really did.

But it was slipping.

Fast.

“You’re still annoying,” she muttered.

“I’ll take it.”

“And I’m still mad.”

“Mhm.”

“And you’re still in trouble.”

Lisa nodded. “Okay.”

Jennie narrowed her eyes again, though they were noticeably softer now. “You don’t even care.”

“I do,” Lisa said gently. “I just… like you better like this.”

Jennie blinked. “Like what?”

Lisa smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from Jennie’s face. “All pouty and clingy.”

“I am not clingy!”

Right on cue, Jennie’s hands had somehow ended up gripping Lisa’s shirt.

Lisa raised a brow.

Jennie looked down.

Paused.

“…Shut up.”

Lisa laughed softly and pulled her closer. “Come here, tiger.”

Jennie groaned, hiding her face in Lisa’s shoulder. “Stop calling me that.”

“What? Tiger?”

“…No.”

Lisa’s smile widened. “Kitten?”

Jennie lightly smacked her arm. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“…I don’t.”

Lisa kissed the top of her head. “Exactly.”

A quiet moment settled between them, Jennie still tucked against Lisa, her earlier anger now nothing more than a faint memory.

“…I still win the argument,” Jennie mumbled.

“Of course you do.”

“And I’m still scary.”

Lisa bit back another smile. “Terrifying.”

Jennie nodded against her. “Good.”

A beat.

“…But if you ever call me a kitten in front of the others—”

“I won’t,” Lisa said quickly.

Jennie leaned back slightly, eyeing her. “Promise?”

Lisa held up a hand. “Promise.”

Another pause.

“…Unless you’re being really cute again.”

“Lalisa.”

“I’m kidding!”

Jennie sighed—but there was a smile tugging at her lips now.

“…You’re so lucky I love you.”

Lisa grinned. “I know.”

And honestly?

She’d take a grumpy kitten over a tiger any day.