Chapter 87

NINI’S RANDOM QUESTION (MINI SERIES)

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Two days later, Lisa was beginning to develop what she privately called question anticipation anxiety.

Nothing dramatic.

Just a slight pause in her soul whenever Jennie entered a room.

She was sitting on the couch again-this time actually relaxing, phone in hand, scrolling through absolutely nothing important. The apartment was quiet, soft, safe.

Jennie walked in.

Lisa didn’t look up immediately.

“…No,” Lisa said preemptively.

Jennie stopped. “You didn’t even hear me.”

Lisa slowly lowered her phone. “I heard the tone. That’s worse.”

Jennie tilted her head. Calm. Gentle. Suspiciously calm again.

“Can I check your phone, Lili?”

Silence.

Lisa stared at her.

Not shocked.

Not confused.

Just… tired in a very specific emotional way.

“…Okay,” Lisa said slowly, “this is new.”

Jennie stepped closer and sat beside her, hands neatly folded in her lap like she was about to conduct a very polite audit.

Lisa narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

Jennie blinked. “Why what?”

“Why do you want to check my phone?”

Jennie answered immediately. “I’m curious.”

Lisa leaned back into the couch. “That is the most dangerous answer you’ve ever given me.”

Jennie frowned slightly. “It’s just a phone.”

Lisa pointed at it. “No. That is a portal to chaos. That is where I store memes, bad decisions, and emotional damage in group chats.”

Jennie didn’t move. Just waited.

Lisa sighed deeply. “Are you suspicious of me again?”

Jennie shook her head. “No.”

Lisa squinted. “Are you about to become suspicious of me?”

Jennie thought for a moment. “Maybe.”

Lisa groaned softly and threw her head back. “Oh my god.”

Jennie added, very casually, “I just want to see what makes you smile.”

That stopped Lisa.

Her expression softened instantly.

“…Oh,” she said more quietly.

Jennie looked at her. “Is that okay?”

Lisa glanced at her phone, then back at Jennie. The teasing drained out of her face.

“Baby,” Lisa said gently, “you don’t have to check my phone to know that.”

Jennie blinked. “I don’t?”

Lisa shook her head. “No. You’re the main reason I smile at it in the first place.”

Jennie went still.

That simple sentence seemed to reset something in her expression.

But then-because it was Jennie-she still asked softly, “So I can check it or not?”

Lisa exhaled a laugh through her nose. “You are persistent, I’ll give you that.”

She unlocked her phone and handed it over.

“Fine. But I’m warning you,” Lisa said. “If you find capybara memes again, do not judge me. That’s emotional survival content.”

Jennie accepted the phone carefully, like it was something important.

She started scrolling.

Lisa watched her.

At first, Jennie’s face was neutral. Focused. Calm.

Then slightly curious.

Then-

A tiny pause.

Lisa narrowed her eyes. “What?”

Jennie kept scrolling. “You have a lot of photos of me.”

Lisa blinked once. “That is my girlfriend. That is allowed.”

Jennie continued scrolling.

More photos.

More casual moments. Blurry ones. Sleepy ones. Ones Jennie didn’t even remember being taken.

Jennie went quiet.

Lisa shifted a little. “Okay, now I’m getting nervous. What are you finding?”

Jennie didn’t answer immediately.

Then she handed the phone back.

Lisa hesitated. “That’s it?”

Jennie nodded.

Lisa looked at her. “No accusations? No dramatic plot twist? No sudden identity crisis?”

Jennie shook her head.

Then, very softly, she said, “You really like me.”

Lisa stared at her for a second.

Then leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on her knee.

“No,” Lisa said gently.

Jennie looked up immediately, slightly confused.

Lisa smiled faintly. “I don’t just like you.”

She tapped Jennie’s phone lightly with one finger.

“I keep you everywhere.”

Jennie went still.

The room felt quieter somehow, even though nothing had changed.

Lisa leaned back again, casual now. “Also, if you ever wanted to check my phone again, just ask. You don’t need a whole emotional investigation arc every time.”

Jennie’s lips twitched.

“…I don’t do that.”

Lisa raised an eyebrow. “You asked if I would eat you as a dumpling.”

Jennie paused.

“…That was one time.”

Lisa immediately: “That was three food-based identity crises ago.”

Jennie finally let out a small laugh, shaking her head.

Then she scooted closer, resting lightly against Lisa’s shoulder.

“Okay,” she said softly.

Lisa relaxed, wrapping an arm around her automatically.

“Good,” Lisa murmured. “Because next time you try to interrogate me, I’m checking your brain for Wi-Fi signal. I think something is loading too many weird questions.”

Jennie smiled against her shoulder.

“No promises,” she said.

Lisa sighed-but she was smiling too.

“Yeah,” she muttered. “I figured.”