Chapter 13.

During the lunch break Rosé went looking for Jennie and it didn't take much time before she found her. There she was, alone as usual, sitting on the green grass with her back against a tree, reading a book.

"Hey." Jennie noticed with slight surprise that the red-haired girl sat just next to her. "Good choice." Rosé pointed to the book. "I remember reading it some time ago and I just loved it. Don't you just love how effortlessly funny it is sometimes?"

"Oh my god, I was just thinking the same thing..." Jennie suddenly relaxed.

"Listen, I wanted to talk to you, tomorrow there's a small party at my place, do you want to come?" Rosé asked.

"Really? Me? But I'm no fun." Jennie replied, not without a hint of sadness in her voice. "I don't even like parties, I don't drink and I hate seeing people drink. So... are you sure you want me there? Oh and I don't approve of drinking games. And I don't dance. And-"

"Would you stop? First of all, I'm sure you're a fun girl in your own way, you're just too hard on yourself. And second, it's not that kind of a party, we're just going to chill out a bit on Saturday evening, I'm going to play some guitar and Jisoo's going to sing. You're going to love her singing, she's really amazing, her voice is just-" Rosé paused and bit her lip. "Oh and my mom will bake some delicious chocolate cookies for us."

Jennie was visibly hesitating and Rosé took it as a good sign. The plan was carefully prepared: she and Jisoo really did their research. They meticulously went through all Jennie's social media. In one picture they saw a guitar lying in the corner or her room so they thought that maybe Jennie was a guitar player too. And in one of her instagram posts from two years ago she mentioned that she loved chocolate cookies.

But even though the invitation sounded irresistible, Jennie wasn't answering, she just looked away with an undecided expression on her face. Rosé remembered that Jennie didn't like crowds so she added encouragingly: "Don't worry, it will just be me and Jisoo and a few of our good friends. Lisa for example." she deliberately mentioned Lisa's name and was now staring intently at Jennie's face, watching for any sort of reaction. And there was one, so brief that anyone not paying attention would've missed it. But Rosé noticed it, Jennie's feelings were revealed for a split second by her cat-like eyes.

"I'm sorry Chae, I can't. Maybe some other time." Jennie felt so bad about refusing the offer that she stood up and fled, her eyes begging Rosé not to be mad at her. Just when she disappeared out of sight, Jisoo appeared next to her red-haired friend.

"And? What did you learn?" she asked curiously.

"Well, I invited her, she was hesitating but I got the impression that maybe she'd agree. But when I mentioned Lisa's name, she quickly refused."

"So Lisa was right, Jennie's doesn't want to see her because she's angry at her?"

"No."

"No?" Jisoo looked quizzically at Rosé. "Park Chaeyoung, tell me right now what you know."

"But it doesn't make any sense. After I said Lisa's name, I looked at her and I saw a flash of something passing through Jennie's face. It wasn't anger, I'm sure. But I don't know what it was, I can't pinpoint it."

"Rosé, focus, it's important. What did you see in her eyes?"

The red-haired girl closed her eyes, her face looked all intense as her brain was desperately trying to comprehend what she saw.

"I think... I think it was regret... but not just it, it was..." she opened her eyes, as it finally dawned on her. "Regret and SHAME."

Jisoo gasped, looking confused. "Are you sure? Why would the thought of Lisa trigger shame in Jennie? What is she ashamed of?"

"I have no idea. But I am sure about what I saw. Okay, it's your turn now, let's proceed with the second part of our plan."

"Yes, sir! Agent Sooya is ready to begin her secret mission. Objective: find out why Jennie avoids Lisa." Jisoo pretended to salute her, winked, then turned and headed away. Rosé chuckled, she loved Jisoo's quirky humor, it never failed to make her laugh.

Jennie was walking through the corridor with her head down, seemingly absent-minded and Jisoo saw her chance. She quickly steered to her right and accidentally bumped into Jennie.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Jennie said automatically.

"No, it's my fault, I'm so clumsy. Wait, it's you!" Jisoo exclaimed in surprise. "I'm sorry again Jen, I'm just so confused today, something keeps bothering me." she said, hoping that Jennie's curiosity would make her ask why.

"What is it?"

"Oh, it's nothing, really. Wait. Actually... maybe you can help." Jisoo's words made Jennie wince a little. She wondered what she just got herself into.

"You see, my friend's birthday is next week and me and Rosé have no idea for a gift for her. We want it to be something meaningful, it's her eighteen birthday and we're quite close."

"Uhm... why would I have a better idea for a present than you if you're good friends?" Jennie's question was what any rational person would ask and Jisoo was prepared for it.

"Oh, it's just that you give the impression that you understand people's feelings. And you know what would make them happy." Jisoo explained and Jennie glanced at her: the compliment was sincere. She blushed a little.

"I don't know about that..." she replied shyly. "Who's your friend?"

"It's Lisa." The brunette suddenly became stiff. Yes, Rosé was right: Jisoo certainly saw shame lingering in Jennie's eyes for a moment. Maybe even a bit of fear.

Jennie knew Lisa's birthday was next week. And she even thought of a perfect gift. But of course, she didn't even think of actually giving it to her. It would be too awkward. "Lisa is still scared of me, she probably wants me to leave her the hell alone." she thought. Yeah, she couldn't buy her the gift, no way. But... she knew that the present would make Lisa happy and wanted her to have it. Even if she wasn't going to be one who gives it to her.

"I actually have an idea." Jennie said softly. "You see, Lisa really adores Leo, her cat. With so much studying, she worries that she doesn't play with it as often as she should. And she'll have even less time after she finishes high school and goes to work or college. So... my idea would be to get her another cat, so that Leo isn't alone, so that it has company to play with."

Jisoo was staring at the brunette with a soft expression and amazed eyes. Her idea seemed so simple yet so thoughtful.

"It's perfect, thank you Jennie." she said quietly, gulping. Damn, why did it make her emotional? She wasn't the kind of girl who was easily moved and yet she clearly felt a lump in her throat.

"But you can't tell Lisa it was my idea. Promise me."

"I promise." Jisoo indulged her, all confused. What was going on? Why didn't Jennie want Lisa to know the idea for the present came from her?

"I'll know if you break this promise." Jennie warned in a sharper tone. She was dead serious about it, her eyes flashed dangerously sending a cold shiver down Jisoo's spine.