Chapter 64

Jennie knew something was wrong the moment Lisa didn’t greet her at the school gate.

Normally, her Lili would already be there—leaning against the wall, hands tucked into her oversized hoodie, smiling that soft, sunshine smile the second she spotted Jennie. Sometimes she’d even bounce a little on her heels like an excited puppy.

But today?

Lisa was nowhere to be seen.

Jennie frowned, adjusting her bag as she walked through the hallway. The chatter of students buzzed around her, lockers slamming, laughter echoing—but her focus was sharp, searching.

Then she heard it.

A voice—mocking, loud, and just a little too familiar.

“Wow, look who’s here. The clingy girlfriend’s shadow.”

Jennie’s steps stopped.

Her head turned slowly toward the open classroom door.

Inside, three girls stood around Lisa.

Lisa… who was sitting quietly at her desk, shoulders slightly hunched, fingers gripping the edge of her notebook. Her eyes were down, lips pressed together in that way Jennie hated—the way she did when she was trying not to react.

Jennie’s chest tightened.

Another girl scoffed. “Seriously, do you do anything without Jennie? Or are you just her little pet?”

A small laugh.

Lisa didn’t respond.

That was it.

Jennie pushed the door open.

The sound echoed louder than it should have. Every head in the room turned.

And Jennie Kim—usually composed, calm, effortlessly cool—walked in with a storm written all over her face.

“Say that again.”

Her voice wasn’t loud.

But it didn’t need to be.

The girls froze.

Jennie stepped closer, her eyes locked on them, sharp and unyielding. “I didn’t quite catch what you said to her.”

One of them tried to recover, flipping her hair. “We were just joking—”

“Does she look like she’s laughing?”

Silence.

Jennie’s gaze flickered to Lisa for just a second—and that was enough to make her anger spike even higher.

Lisa wouldn’t even look at her.

Her Lili.

The girl who laughed at everything, who made dumb jokes, who clung to Jennie like she was her entire world—

Was sitting there small and quiet.

Because of them.

Jennie inhaled slowly, then turned back.

“You think you’re funny?” she said, voice colder now. “Picking on someone who won’t fight back?”

The third girl muttered, “We didn’t mean—”

“I don’t care what you meant.”

Jennie stepped closer.

Not aggressive.

Not loud.

Just… intense.

“You don’t get to say things like that to her. Ever.”

The room was dead silent.

Even the background chatter from the hallway seemed to fade.

“Because if you do?” Jennie tilted her head slightly, her expression calm—but her eyes burning. “You’ll have a problem with me.”

No yelling.

No threats.

Just a promise.

And somehow… that made it worse.

The girls exchanged looks.

One of them scoffed weakly. “Whatever.”

They grabbed their things and left, brushing past Jennie like nothing happened.

Jennie didn’t even glance at them.

The moment they were gone, her entire demeanor changed.

Her shoulders dropped.

Her jaw unclenched.

And she turned—slowly, gently—toward Lisa.

“…Lili?”

Lisa finally looked up.

And Jennie’s heart cracked.

Her eyes were a little glassy, her smile small and shaky. “Hey, Jendeuk…”

Jennie was at her side in seconds.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered, crouching beside her desk.

Lisa shrugged, looking away again. “It’s nothing… they’re just—”

“It’s not nothing.”

Jennie’s voice softened, but it was firm.

She reached up, gently cupping Lisa’s cheek, guiding her to look back at her. “If it makes you feel like this, it’s not nothing.”

Lisa blinked, her composure slipping just a little. “I didn’t want you to get mad…”

Jennie huffed softly. “Too late.”

That earned a tiny laugh.

There it was.

Jennie leaned closer, resting her forehead lightly against Lisa’s. “You don’t have to deal with things alone, you know.”

“I know…”

“Say it again.”

Lisa smiled faintly. “I don’t have to deal with things alone.”

“Good.”

Jennie pressed a quick kiss to her forehead—soft, protective, like sealing a promise.

Then she stood up, grabbing Lisa’s bag.

“Come on.”

Lisa blinked. “Where are we going?”

Jennie slung both their bags over her shoulder like it was nothing. “Somewhere better than this classroom.”

“Jennie—class—”

“I don’t care.”

Lisa laughed again, a real one this time, as Jennie grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

“Let’s just say,” Jennie added, glancing back with a small smirk, “your very angry girlfriend is kidnapping you for emotional recovery purposes.”

Lisa squeezed her hand.

“…I like that.”

Jennie softened instantly at that.

And as they walked out together—hand in hand, Lisa just a little closer than usual—Jennie made a quiet promise to herself.

No one.

No one—

Gets to make her Lili feel small again. 💛