17eventeen

Jisoo's POV

I was never the type to put my life on hold for someone else. But with Lisa, it was different. It had always been different.

I go home for a while to shower and buy stuff and the moment I stepped into her shitty little apartment and saw her curled up on that old couch, drenched in sweat, groaning under her breath like she was trying not to let the pain win—I knew I wasn't going anywhere.

Paris could wait.

Jennie's team wasn't exactly thrilled when I told them I had an emergency and wouldn't be flying out with them. But I didn't care. I couldn't just leave Lisa like this. She was a goddamn mess. It had been a few days since her last underground fight, and she was still feeling the aftershocks of every punch, every brutal hit to her ribs, and every kick she had barely blocked.

Lisa, being the absolute dumbass she was, had insisted, "It's not that bad this time, Jisoo."

Yeah. Sure. Not that bad.

Tell that to the way she winced every time she breathed too deep. Or the way she could barely sit up without her body trembling. Or the way she refused to let me check how bad her injuries really were because she didn't want to be "babied."

"Lisa, you need to go to the hospital," I said, my voice sharper than I intended as I set down a steaming bowl of porridge in front of her.

Lisa scoffed, pushing herself up on the couch with visible effort. "And pay for it with what? My good looks?"

"You're literally dying."

"Not yet," she muttered, giving me a weak smirk before grabbing the spoon.

I rolled my eyes, watching as she forced herself to eat. It was slow, every bite looking like it took way too much energy, but at least she was eating. That was progress. The last two days had been hell, with her barely being able to hold anything down.

I sat on the edge of the coffee table, crossing my arms. "You know, if you actually got insurance like a normal person, you wouldn't have to suffer like this every damn time."

Lisa snorted. "Yeah, let me just march into a clinic and tell them, 'Hey, I get the shit beaten out of me for money. Can I get a discount?'"

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling up. "You're not supposed to be doing this anymore."

Lisa let out a long sigh, sinking further into the couch. "You think I don't know that?"

She looked exhausted. Not just physically but mentally. I could see it in her eyes—the way they dimmed slightly, the weight she was carrying alone.

"I don't have a choice, Jisoo," she mumbled. "Not yet."

Silence hung between us. I wanted to argue, to tell her that there had to be another way, that she didn't have to keep risking her life like this. But we'd had this fight too many times before, and it always ended the same way.

So instead, I let out a slow breath, rubbing my temples. "At least let me take care of you until you're better."

Lisa gave me a tired smile, her eyes already half-lidded. "You're already doing too much."

"And you're an idiot," I shot back.

She let out a weak chuckle before closing her eyes. Within minutes, her breathing evened out, and she fell asleep.

I stayed there for a while, just watching her, making sure she wasn't struggling to breathe.

Lisa had no idea how much I worried about her. How much I hated seeing her like this.

And even though I promised myself I wouldn't get involved in her mess, here I was. Sticking around. Taking care of her. Hoping—praying—that one day, she'd finally find a way out of this hell she was living in.

--

Jennie's POV

The moment my flight back to South Korea was confirmed, I was rushing to pack my things, barely paying attention to my managers' hushed conversations in the background. My hands were shaking, my heart pounding in my chest, but I tried to keep my composure.

It wasn't my fault. It wasn't my fault.

That damn video. The one of me and Taehyung walking along the river, holding hands, talking like we had all the time in the world. The way it spread like wildfire across social media, blowing up with ridiculous headlines. My label was in full damage control mode now, and my phone wouldn't stop buzzing with calls and texts.

But I wasn't thinking about the backlash. I wasn't even thinking about my company's endless list of demands on how to "handle the situation."

I was thinking about her.

Lisa.

I unblocked her the moment I got on the plane, not even hesitating. The second I did, all of our past texts came flooding back—our conversations, our teasing, our arguments, and the last message she sent me:

"It's not what you think, princess. Let's talk when you get back, okay? I'm not feeling too well right now."

That was days ago.

And now, no matter how many times I called, how many texts I sent, Lisa wasn't answering.

Was she ignoring me? Was she pissed? Or worse... was she with someone else?

My mind spiraled into a million worst-case scenarios.

She said she wasn't feeling well. What did that mean? Was she sick? Injured?

Or had she already seen the video and decided she was done with me?

I bit my lip, gripping my phone tightly as I stared at the unanswered messages. The plane hadn't even taken off yet, and I was already suffocating from my own thoughts.

Jennie Kim, the IT girl, the global superstar, the woman who always had everything under control—was losing her damn mind over one girl.

But Lisa wasn't just anyone.

And if she had seen that video, if she thought—if she believed—even for a second that I was involved with Taehyung...

I squeezed my eyes shut, exhaling sharply.

No. She had to pick up. She had to answer me.

I needed to talk to her. I needed to explain.

But as the plane finally took off, taking me back to Seoul, the only thing I could do was sit there—stuck with my thoughts, my regrets, and my overwhelming fear that maybe,

I was too late.

The flight felt like a lifetime.

I had tried everything to distract myself—music, movies, even the half-hearted attempt at getting some sleep—but nothing worked. My mind refused to shut up, running in endless loops of anxiety, frustration, and guilt.

Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Lisa's face.

Was she mad? Was she hurt? Or worse... was she done with me?

The thought made my chest tighten, my nails digging into my palm as I sat there in silence.

I checked my phone for the millionth time. Nothing. No reply, no missed calls. Nothing.

I typed out another message.

— Lisa, please answer me.

Delete.

— Lisa, it's not what it looks like. I swear.

Delete.

— Lisa, are you mad at me?

Delete.

I groaned under my breath, pressing my forehead against the window. Why was I acting like this? Why did it matter so much?

Because it was Lisa. Because for the past few weeks, everything had been about her.

And now she was silent.

I tried calling again, biting my lip as I listened to the phone ring and ring—until it cut off.

Voicemail.

I clenched my fists.

"You're the one who blocked her, Jennie." My mind taunted me. "What if she decided to do the same? What if she doesn't want to deal with your shit anymore?"

I shook my head. No. That wasn't Lisa. Lisa had never ignored me, no matter how much I pushed her away.

So why now?

What if... something happened to her?

The thought sent a sharp wave of panic through me. My stomach twisted, and suddenly, breathing felt hard.

Jisoo.

I scrambled to text her instead.

— Jisoo, where's Lisa?

I waited. Nothing.

— Jisoo, if you're with Lisa, tell her to answer me. Please.

Still nothing.

What the hell was going on?

I knew Jisoo had taken a week off from our schedules, but I didn't question it at the time. Now, with Lisa ignoring me and Jisoo not responding, the uneasiness in my gut only grew stronger.

Something wasn't right.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. Maybe Lisa was just mad. Maybe Jisoo was covering for her. Maybe I was overthinking all of this.

But my heart wouldn't stop racing, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly, terribly wrong.

I had to get back. Fast.

-

The second my feet touched the ground in Incheon, I wasn't surprised to see the chaos waiting for me.

A sea of reporters, flashing cameras, and microphones shoved in my direction. The questions came fast, relentless.

"Jennie, are the rumors true?"

"Are you and BTS's V dating?"

"What does this mean for your career?"

That last question hit harder than the rest. But I kept my face blank, my sunglasses shielding my emotions.

Thankfully, OA had already prepared for this. The bodyguards surrounded me instantly, creating a wall between me and the reporters as they ushered me toward the car waiting outside. I ignored the shouting, the desperate attempts for a reaction.

I had bigger problems than the media right now.

The car ride to the company was silent. My phone sat in my lap, screen dark. No messages, no missed calls. I had tried Lisa multiple times mid-flight, hoping she'd at least text me back, but there was nothing.

Not even Jisoo.

I tightened my grip on my phone, exhaling sharply.

Something was wrong. I could feel it.

The moment I arrived at the company, I wasted no time. I walked straight past the staff, ignoring the lingering glances and whispers, and headed straight for CEO Yang's office.

"He's in a meeting," his assistant informed me the second I reached the door.

I clenched my jaw. Of course, he is.

"When will he be free?" I asked, forcing my voice to remain calm.

"He said not now."

Not now.

I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. As if my entire world wasn't falling apart, as if my name wasn't being dragged through every news outlet and social media platform possible.

But fine. If he didn't want to talk, I wouldn't waste my time waiting.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked out of the building, heading straight for my car.

I needed to go home.

To clear my head.

To figure out what the hell I was going to do next.

The drive to my penthouse was just as quiet as the one to the company, but my thoughts were anything but. I kept replaying everything in my head—the video, the flight, Lisa's silence.

Was she even home?

Or was she with someone else?

The idea made my stomach churn, but I pushed it down. I had no right to be jealous. None.

Yet, as I reached my penthouse, stepping into the empty, cold space, I realized something.

Lisa wasn't the only one who had been quiet.

Jisoo was too.

And that, more than anything, sent a sinking feeling straight to my chest.

The moment I stepped inside my penthouse, I felt the weight of everything crash down on me. The long flight, the flashing cameras, the suffocating silence from Lisa—it was too much.

I dropped my bag carelessly by the entrance, my heels clicking against the cold floor as I walked toward my bedroom. The lights were dim, the air eerily quiet. No messages. No calls. No warmth.

I didn't even bother changing. I just collapsed onto my bed, face-first into the pillows, inhaling the faint scent of my perfume lingering on the sheets.

My body ached, my head pounded, and my mind raced. But the exhaustion was stronger than my thoughts.

I tried to fight it at first—tried to reach for my phone one last time, hoping, praying, that Lisa would text back. But the moment my fingers grazed the screen, my eyelids grew too heavy.

And before I knew it, sleep pulled me under, drowning me in the quiet, empty darkness.

--

The sound of my phone vibrating against the nightstand jolted me awake. My body felt heavy, my head still clouded with exhaustion, but the persistent buzzing forced me to move.

I reached for my phone, squinting against the bright screen.

Allison [7:12 AM]:

CEO Yang wants to see you at 9 AM. Don't be late.

I sighed, rubbing my temples as I sat up. It wasn't surprising. After the video of me and Taehyung spread like wildfire, I knew this was coming. Still, I wasn't ready to deal with it—not when my mind was already preoccupied with something, someone, else.

I checked my notifications, hoping for anything from her. Still nothing.

A pang of frustration and worry twisted in my chest. It had been too long since I'd last heard from her. Did she see the video? Was she mad? Or... was she with someone else?

I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside. Right now, I had to focus.

With a groan, I forced myself out of bed. If CEO Yang wanted to talk, it wasn't going to be a friendly chat.

-

As my car pulled up to the OA Entertainment building, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever conversation was about to happen. I barely had time to process everything—between the video going viral, Lisa's radio silence, and my own exhaustion from the Paris trip, my mind was already running on fumes.

The moment I stepped inside the building, Allison was already waiting for me. "They're in the meeting room," she said, her tone unreadable.

I frowned. They?

With a nod, I headed down the hall toward the executive meeting room, my heels clicking against the marble floors. Pushing the door open, I was met with an unexpected sight—CEO Yang, sitting at the head of the table, and across from him, Taehyung... alongside CEO Bang from HYBE.

I froze for a second, my mind catching up with what I was seeing. What the hell is going on?

"Ah, Jennie, you're here. Sit down," CEO Yang gestured toward an empty seat. His expression was calm but calculated.

Slowly, I walked toward the chair, my eyes flickering to Taehyung, who gave me a small nod as if he had been expecting me. My confusion deepened.

"We're here to discuss the next course of action regarding the rumors," CEO Bang started, folding his hands on the table. "As you know, the public perception of your relationship has already gained traction. Regardless of the truth, people believe there's something between you two."

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed. "So? We just deny it. It's not that deep."

CEO Yang exchanged a glance with CEO Bang before speaking. "Actually, we've decided that confirming the dating rumor would be the better move."

I blinked, then let out a disbelieving chuckle. "You've decided? Without asking me first?"

"It makes sense," CEO Bang continued as if I hadn't spoken. "Taehyung is about to release his album, and you're preparing for yours. The added media attention would boost both of your names."

I narrowed my eyes. "I don't need media attention to sell my album."

"No, but it helps," CEO Yang countered. "It's a temporary setup. You don't actually have to date, just let the rumor run its course. Appear together in public a few times, keep things ambiguous, and then we announce a 'breakup' after a few months. Simple."

I clenched my jaw. "No."

Taehyung, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke. "I'm fine with it."

I whipped my head toward him. "What?"

He shrugged. "It's not a big deal to me, Jennie. I understand why they want to do it, and I don't mind playing along. It benefits both of us in the end."

I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. "You don't mind? That's great for you, but I do. I don't want to fake a relationship for some PR stunt."

CEO Yang exhaled, already looking annoyed. "Look, Jennie, this is the best way to control the narrative. If we deny it now, people will dig deeper, and the speculation will never end. But if we confirm it and play along, we can control when and how it ends."

I opened my mouth to argue, but CEO Yang leaned forward. "Majority wins."

I froze.

Just like that, it was decided.

I turned to Taehyung, my voice cold. "You really don't have a problem with this?"

He gave me a small, apologetic smile. "I trust their judgment."

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair, feeling trapped. I couldn't believe this. In just a few minutes, my life had been thrown into a scripted mess I never agreed to.

And worst of all, Lisa...

My heart sank. If Lisa had seen the rumors before, how would she react when they actually confirmed them?

Would she even care?

Would she even believe me if I said it wasn't real?

Would she finally give up on me?

I gripped the arms of my chair, trying to keep my expression neutral, but my insides were burning with frustration.

"Until the official statement is released, you both will stay here in the building," CEO Yang said, his tone cold and final. He turned to his assistant. "Get PR to prepare the announcement. We'll release it in two hours."

My stomach twisted. "You're really deciding this for me?" I asked, my voice sharp.

CEO Yang barely glanced at me. "It's already been decided, Jennie. Your job now is to cooperate."

My jaw clenched. I wanted to argue, to scream, but I knew it would be useless. The decision had already been made. My opinion didn't matter.

Across from me, Taehyung sat back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He had barely spoken since we entered the meeting room, but now, sensing my anger, he finally opened his mouth.

"You should relax," he said, low enough so only I could hear.

I turned to him sharply, my eyes blazing. "Relax?" I scoffed. "My personal life is being turned into a marketing stunt, and you want me to relax?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Jennie, I get it. But this isn't as bad as you think. It's temporary, and it benefits both of us."

I shook my head. "Benefits?" I let out a bitter laugh. "For who? You? Your album? CEO Yang and CEO Bang, who only see us as products? Because it sure as hell doesn't benefit me."

"You think I don't know that?" Taehyung's voice dropped slightly, his calm demeanor faltering. "I didn't ask for this either, Jennie. But sometimes, in this industry, we don't get a choice."

I turned away from him, gripping my phone tightly in my lap. I didn't want to hear that. I didn't want to accept that.

I glanced at CEO Yang, who was already discussing statement drafts with PR. The way they were all casually talking about my life as if I wasn't sitting right there made my blood boil.

"We're going with something simple," one of the PR staff announced. "Something vague enough that people can interpret it how they want. That way, if we need to change the narrative later, we have room to do so."

I exhaled sharply. "So, you're basically just lying to everyone?"

CEO Yang shot me a look. "We're managing the situation."

I clenched my fists under the table. I was suffocating in this room, surrounded by people making decisions for me. But the worst part?

Lisa.

She still hadn't responded.

I pulled my phone out again, my fingers hesitating over our last conversation.

Nothing.

No texts. No calls. Just silence.

The thought made my stomach turn. Did she see the rumors? Did she even care?

Taehyung must have noticed my frustration because he leaned in slightly. "If you're this upset about it, why don't you call them?"

I snapped my head toward him. "What?"

He nodded toward my phone. "Whoever it is you're so worried about. Just call them."

I swallowed hard. "It's not that simple."

"Why not?"

"Because..." I hesitated. Because I'm scared.

He didn't push further, just watched me for a moment before leaning back. "Then, I guess you have to wait and see what happens."

Wait? I had been waiting. I had been waiting for Lisa to reach out. To say something. To show that she still—

"Jennie."

I jolted as CEO Yang's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"We need you to be more cooperative. I don't want to hear another word of protest about this, understood?"

I swallowed down my frustration. "Understood," I muttered, my voice flat.

"Good." He turned to PR. "Let's finalize the statement."

I barely heard the rest of the conversation. My mind was elsewhere, stuck on a person who refused to answer me.

And in two hours, the world would believe I was dating someone else.

-

The moment the statement was released, my phone wouldn't stop buzzing. My notifications were flooded—messages from friends, industry colleagues, and people I hadn't spoken to in years, all suddenly interested in my supposed "relationship" with Taehyung. Social media was on fire, the hashtags trending worldwide:

#JennieTaehyungConfirmed

#PowerCouple

#VisualsForDays

It was suffocating.

I sat stiffly on the couch in my penthouse, my laptop open to the news articles dissecting every detail of our Paris outing. Photos of us walking by the river, holding hands, smiling at each other. A perfect illusion.

But the only thing I cared about was Lisa.

I had already tried calling her three times since the statement dropped, but each call went straight to voicemail. No texts. No missed calls. Just...nothing.

Then, finally—three hours later—my phone lit up with a message from her.

Lisa: Rule number two: If either of us gets into a relationship, this deal ends immediately. Simple as that.

My stomach dropped.

No.

I stared at the message, rereading it over and over again. My fingers trembled as I tried to call her.

Blocked.

I felt my chest tighten. A lump formed in my throat.

She blocked me.

I tried again.

Call failed.

No. No, no, no.

I switched to texting.

Jennie: Lisa, wait. It's not what you think.

Jennie: Pick up the phone. Please.

Jennie: Lisa, talk to me.

Jennie: You're overreacting, okay? Just let me explain.

Each message failed to deliver.

I felt like my entire body was shutting down. The air in the room felt heavier, my hands ice-cold as I gripped my phone, staring at the unread messages that would never be seen.

She really... cut me off.

Lisa, the same person who always pushed my buttons, who never backed down, who never stopped chasing me no matter how many times I rejected her.

She was gone.

Just like that.

I pressed a hand to my forehead, trying to process the mess I had just created. I never expected her to take it this seriously. She must have seen the news. The pictures. The statement.

And she believed it.

Of course, she did. What else would she think?

I had spent days avoiding her, overthinking her silence, assuming the worst about her. And now, when it was her turn to assume the worst about me, she didn't hesitate.

She didn't fight for me.

She just... left.

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling up inside me. How could she do this? How could she walk away so easily?

But deep down, I knew the answer.

Because we weren't real.

Because we were just a deal.

Because I had told her from the beginning that this was nothing.

And now? She was treating it like nothing.

I stared blankly at my phone, my fingers gripping it so tightly my knuckles turned white. The screen was dark now—no new messages, no calls, nothing.

Lisa was gone.

A hollow laugh escaped my lips as I let my head fall back against the couch. I could feel my heartbeat in my ears, the weight in my chest growing heavier with every second. My vision blurred as hot tears welled up, slipping past my lashes before I could stop them.

I wiped them away, but they wouldn't stop.

Not even a month.

That was all it took for this whole thing to fall apart.

Not even a month before I ruined it.

I bit my lip, shaking my head as I let out another shaky laugh. It was ridiculous. Pathetic, really. I had spent all this time convincing myself that Lisa didn't matter. That this deal was just a transaction. That she was just a distraction—something temporary.

But now that she was actually gone...

It hurt.

More than I ever expected.

I let out a bitter scoff, running a hand through my hair. How did it even come to this? I was the one who made the rules. The one who should've been unaffected.

But here I was.

Crying over her.

Over a stupid deal that didn't even last a damn month.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady my breathing. But my mind wouldn't stop replaying it.

Lisa's text.

Rule number two: If either of us gets into a relationship, this deal ends immediately. Simple as that.

It was like she hadn't even hesitated. Like she had been waiting for an excuse to leave. Like I wasn't worth fighting for.

I felt my throat tighten, a bitter mix of emotions clawing at my chest—anger, sadness, frustration.

How could she just cut me off like that?

I wanted to scream at her. Shake her. Tell her to grow up and let me explain. But what was there to explain? The whole world thought I was dating Taehyung now. Lisa saw the news just like everyone else. And instead of asking me—instead of believing in me—she just walked away.

She blocked me.

Like I was nothing.

A humorless chuckle slipped out of me again, the sound broken and exhausted.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

I wasn't supposed to care.

But now, sitting alone in my penthouse with silent tears rolling down my face, I realized—

Lisa had been the one distracting me all along.

Wiping the last of my tears, I took a deep breath and stood up. My hands clenched into fists as I made up my mind.

Lisa wasn't going to slip away just like that.

Not without hearing me out.

Not without a fight.

I grabbed my coat and phone, barely glancing at my reflection in the mirror as I rushed out of my penthouse. My heart was racing—partially from anger, partially from fear. What if she refuses to see me? What if she's with someone else? What if I'm too late?

I shook my head. No. Stop it. Focus.

I drove myself.

I didn't even think twice. I grabbed my car keys and sped through the Seoul streets like a madwoman.

Lisa had blocked me. She wasn't answering. But I knew where she lived.

And I wasn't leaving until I saw her.

By the time I reached her rundown apartment building, my hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles had turned white. My heart pounded as I stepped out of the car, the cold night air biting against my skin. I didn't care.

I ran up the stairs, taking two steps at a time, my breath uneven. When I reached her door, I knocked.

No answer.

I knocked again, harder. "Lisa."

Still nothing.

Frustration built inside me, and I was about to pound on the door again when it suddenly swung open—

But it wasn't Lisa.

It was Jisoo.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jisoo blinked at me, looking just as surprised. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Something ugly twisted in my chest. Jisoo was here. At Lisa's apartment. Opening her door. Oh my God.

My vision went red.

I clenched my fists. "Are you—" My voice came out sharp, accusing. "Are you one of Lisa's girls?"

Jisoo stared at me for half a second—then made a gagging noise so dramatic that I actually took a step back.

"Ew, Jennie. Gross." Jisoo pretended to puke, doubling over. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

I blinked, thrown off. "Then why are you here?"

Jisoo straightened, rolling her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out of her head. "Lisa is my best friend. More like my sister. Even if she had a dick, I still wouldn't touch her."

That made me shut up real quick.

I swallowed, my face burning. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh." Jisoo huffed, stepping aside. "Now, do you wanna keep throwing jealous tantrums, or do you actually wanna see her?"

My stomach dropped.

Lisa.

I nodded quickly, stepping inside without another word.

Jisoo closed the door behind me as I looked around. The place was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of something warm—probably soup. My eyes darted toward Lisa's bedroom door, which was slightly ajar.

I turned to Jisoo. "She's here?"

Jisoo nodded, her face serious now. "She's been sick. High fever. It's been days."

I felt my throat tighten.

I didn't say anything as I walked past her, straight to Lisa's room. I pushed the door open slowly, my chest tightening at what I saw.

Lisa was curled up on her bed, half-buried under a blanket, her forehead damp with sweat. Her breathing was uneven, her usually vibrant skin pale under the dim light.

I had never seen her like this.

I stepped closer, my heart hammering.

"Lisa..." My voice was barely a whisper.

She stirred slightly but didn't wake up.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and sat down beside her, brushing her damp hair away from her forehead. She was burning up.

Guilt hit me like a truck.

She had been sick this whole time, and I—

I had blocked her.

I had ignored her.

And now, she was here—alone, suffering.

I clenched my jaw, my fingers tightening around the blanket as I pulled it up over her properly.

Lisa had taken care of me in ways I couldn't even begin to understand.

Now it was my turn.

---

This shit is painful to write. I have so much vision... It's distracting me lol

What's next?