THURSDAY. 6:30 AM
The golden sliver of early sunlight that streamed through her partly curtained windows woke Jisoo up. There was a particular softness to the ambiance of this morning; the birds were twittering, what little view of the sky she could see promised a bright day, there was a piano music playing somewhere in her apartment, and the warmth of the woman next to her
Jisoo reached out an arm to the other side of the bed and it came back empty. Jennie's usual spot was vacant and it probably have been for a while because the pillow and sheets were cold.
"Babe?" Jisoo grunted and raised her head to look around the bedroom.
"Hi," her girlfriend's beautiful face popped out from the doorway, she was still wearing her pajamas but now topped with an apron. "Good morning, gorgeous."
"Hi," an automatic smile lit up her face as she propped up on her elbows and beckoned Jennie closer. "Why are you up so early?"
"I'm making breakfast," Jennie climbed on the bed and straddled her, wrapping her arms around Jisoo's neck as she gave a quick kiss. The latter regarded the girl on her lap through her still heavy lids.
"But why so early?"
"Don't you know what day it is?" Jennie asked back, an eyebrow up.
"Yesterday was Wednesday so I guess it's Thursday?" Jisoo said, hands resting on her girlfriend's waist. "Unless I slept for 24 hours which is very unlikely..."
"Seriously...?" Jennie's face sobered as she stared at her in disbelief. "You don't really remember the significance of this day?"
Jisoo grinned but still kept up with the charade. "What?"
"Ummm..."
"I can't with you," Jennie rolled her eyes as she moved to get up from the bed. "Wait, wait," Jisoo laughed as she tightened her hold around her waist to prevent her from getting away. "I know what today is, I'm sorry."
"Why do you like messing around so much?" Jennie sighed but didn't protest when Jisoo started kissing her neck.
"You're just so cute, I can't help it."
"I have some plans for tonight so..."
"I have a suggestion," Jisoo whispered as her mouth moved over Jennie's ear. "Why don't we just stay in bed the whole day? We can have some food delivered."
"Tempting," Jennie squished her cheeks with both hands.
you have work and I won't have Irene unnie ranting on me about it like the last four times you skipped work."
Jisoo pouted in reply. "Why don't we make it five? Those were fun."
"Babe..."
"I'm kidding!"
Jennie finally disentangled herself from Jisoo's grasp and got off the bed. "Go shower, I'll have breakfast ready."
"You're not gonna join me?" Jisoo grinned suggestively.
"No," Jennie replied after spending some time considering the idea. It was meant as a joke for Jisoo but if Jennie took it seriously then... well, she ain't gonna complain, that's for sure.
"Oh, and I have a meeting with a client this afternoon so I'll just meet you at the bar after work?" Jennie added as Jisoo started making the bed. "You okay with that?"
"Sure," Jisoo nodded and smiled. "But don't be late."
Jennie was late.
Jisoo sighed as she put her phone down after receiving a text from her girlfriend that she's still on the road.
"Here you go."
A shot glass filled with a clear liquid was pushed towards her, the tiny glass skidding for a bit on the smooth marble surface of the bar and rested to stop an inch away from her hand.
Jisoo eyed Seulgi with something in between curiosity and amusement, then pointed to the shot.
"What's this?"
"On the house," Seulgi grinned and wiggled her eyebrows knowingly.
Jisoo laughed, somehow getting the message the bartender was trying to send telepathically. "I can't get drunk tonight, you know that."
"Oh, come on," Seulgi urged, leaning against the counter. "It's just one shot.
"I don't know..." Jisoo stared at the alcohol hesitantly.
"Think of it as some sort of a gift," Seulgi really wasn't taking no for an answer. "Don't act like I don't know what day it is."
"Fine," Jisoo conceded and downed it, grimacing when the liquid hit the back of her throat and the taste spread over her tongue. She pushed the empty glass back to Seulgi. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Seulgi began making drinks for another costumer but seemed adamant to keep talking to her. "How's life nowadays? Has Jennie moved in with you yet?"
"Define moved in," Jisoo rolled her eyes. "Six days out of seven, she's in my unit. Doesn't help that we're living on the same building."
Seulgi threw her a side glance. "Am I hearing complaints?"
"Not complaining at all," Jisoo said quickly. "It's just- half of my closet are her clothes. We will need a much bigger one if we really have start living together."
"Have you not discussed it yet? To officially live with each other, I mean," there was a strong smell of lime when Seulgi sliced some and Jisoo's mouth watered a bit when it hit her.
"I don't know," she sipped some water. "We're kinda jumping around the subject. I don't know if we're deliberately trying to avoid to have a conversation about it or what."
"You'll get there," Seulgi looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "I think you're still testing the waters - so to speak, but you're both matured women so I don't doubt that everything will work out in the end."
Jisoo raised an eyebrow at her, a small smile on her lips. "When did you get so wise?"
"I'm a bartender," Seulgi shrugged as if it was the most obvious answer. "Being wise is part of the job description."
Jisoo laughed and drank some more water, contemplating whether to get a soda or a non-alcoholic drink while waiting for Jennie.
"Hey," a tall and well-dressed guy slid to the seat next to her, he then motioned to Seulgi and ordered a drink.
"Hi," not wanting to be impolite, Jisoo smiled back.
"Are you a regular?" the guy asked, already getting comfortable at the bar. "I'm here almost every week this month and I haven't seen you once."
"I'm acquainted with the owner but I don't drink here often," Jisoo answered, then glance down on her phone, getting a little impatient for Jennie to arrive.
"Cool," the guy nodded slowly. "So, can I buy you a drink? What does pretty women drink these days?"
Oh.
Jisoo was struck by dรฉjร vu when it became apparent what the guy was trying to do. Was it a cosmic joke that Jennie had a guy hitting on her when they first met and on their 100th day it was Jisoo who was getting hit on at the same bar?
"Uh, no, thank you," she replied, offering him a tight smile. "I'm actually waiting for someone."
The guy's expression changed slightly. "You have a boyfriend?"
"A girlfriend," a voice said behind them, sounding just a bit indignant. "She has a girlfriend."
Jisoo's negative vibes dissipated instantly and her face broke into a genuine smile which Jennie immediately returned. She opened her arms and the newcomer zoomed in to her like a magnet to an iron.
"You're late," she whispered when the editor reached her. "I don't like it when you make me wait."
"Sorry," Jennie's arms circled around her waist, not giving a single damn about the guy's half-amused half-curious reaction next to them. "Can I make it up to you later?"
"Hmmmm," Jisoo warmly murmured to Jennie's mouth when the latter leaned in for a kiss. "Do you have plans on how to do that exactly?"
"Oh baby," Jennie giggled on her lips. "I have several..."
Interesting.
"Um, guys..." Seulgi tried to get their attention from behind the bar. "Can you just- um, okay, there's the tongue, right. Hey lovebirds, do you need a room? We have vip rooms at the back."
Jisoo laughed and pulled away from Jennie before Seulgi shooed them out.
In all fairness to the guy who was talking to Jisoo, he took the hint and grabbed his drink then stood up, leaving the couple.
"I've missed you," Jennie slowly ran her palms down Jisoo's bare arms, her gaze hot and lingering.
"We were together literally twelve hours ago."
"And that's twelve hours without you..."
Jisoo cocked her head, grinning playfully. "Possessive, aren't we?"
"I'm allowed to," Jennie leaned in again but Jisoo laid a finger on
her lower lip, a cautioning look in her eyes.
"Everyone's staring, babe..."
"Can't blame them, you're so cute it hurts."
"I think they're more interested in where your hand is going rather than how I look tonight," Jisoo gestured for her to take a seat and motioned to Seulgi. "Let's get you some water, I think you need it."
"Unnie?"
Both turned their heads in unison to the source of the very surprised sounding voice that managed to go over the club's din.
"Suzy?" Jennie mouth hung open when she saw her younger sister clothed in a shapely black mini dress with a clutch in hand, looking quite ready to party that night but not at all prepared to see Jennie with Jisoo. "What- how? Why are you here?"
"Sorry," Jennie's arms circled around her waist, not giving a single damn about the guy's half-amused half-curious reaction next to them. "Can I make it up to you later?"
"Hmmmm," Jisoo warmly murmured to Jennie's mouth when the latter leaned in for a kiss. "Do you have plans on how to do that exactly?"
"Oh baby," Jennie giggled on her lips. "I have several..."
Interesting.
"Um, guys..." Seulgi tried to get their attention from behind the bar. "Can you just- um, okay, there's the tongue, right. Hey lovebirds, do you need a room? We have vip rooms at the back."
Jisoo laughed and pulled away from Jennie before Seulgi shooed them out.
In all fairness to the guy who was talking to Jisoo, he took the hint and grabbed his drink then stood up, leaving the couple.
"I've missed you," Jennie slowly ran her palms down Jisoo's bare arms, her gaze hot and lingering.
"We were together literally twelve hours ago."
"And that's twelve hours without you..."
Jisoo cocked her head, grinning playfully. "Possessive, aren't we?"
"I'm allowed to," Jennie leaned in again but Jisoo laid a finger on her lower lip, a cautioning look in her eyes.
"Everyone's staring, babe..."
"Can't blame them, you're so cute it hurts."
"I think they're more interested in where your hand is going rather than how I look tonight," Jisoo gestured for her to take a seat and motioned to Seulgi. "Let's get you some water, I think you need it."
"Unnie?"
Both turned their heads in unison to the source of the very surprised sounding voice that managed to go over the club's din.
"Suzy?" Jennie mouth hung open when she saw her younger sister clothed in a shapely black mini dress with a clutch in hand, looking quite ready to party that night but not at all prepared to see Jennie with Jisoo. "What- how? Why are you here?"
But Suzy was just staring at Jennie's hand on Jisoo's thigh and the super obvious flirtatious air between them which really doesn't have any hetero explanation for.
"A-are you two-?" Suzy stuttered, still seemingly in disbelief at the sight. "Is this for real? Oh my god!"
"l- um," Jennie looked like she was just splashed with a bucket of cold water, she glanced at Jisoo, begging for a rescue.
"Uh, hi Suzy!" Jisoo forced herself to appear cheerful and unassuming while subtly taking away Jennie's hand from her body. "I thought you're in Oxford?"
"I came home for a few days, I'm meeting with my friends later,"
Suzy still looked confused but a sliver of suspicion was slowly creeping in her eyes.
"Come on," she led her to the bar and let her sit down. "Do you want a drink?"
Suzy raised a hand to be given a minute, her forehead creased as if she was gathering her thoughts, then she looked at Jennie. "First things first, tell me the truth, are you two dating?"
Jennie looked guilty as hell but she decided that there's really no sense in hiding it from her sister anymore. "Yeaaahhhhh..."
Suzy's face went through at least five different emotions before she settled on something between confused and intrigued. "Since when?"
"It's our 100th day," Jisoo replied timidly.
"100 days..." Suzy exhaled slowly while mentally counting the days backwards. "So, during grandpa's birthday, you already knew each other?"
"Yup," Jennie nodded but still wary of her reaction.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Suzy looked slightly betrayed. "Don't get me wrong, I'm elated inside. I'm super super happy that you're dating because I've been shipping you for so long but I wish you could've told me sooner. I was this close to play as a matchmaker but I thought you were seeing someone else so I didn't really push it."
"I'm sorry," Jennie took her hand and squeezed it gently. "I wanted to tell you but the situation was kind of complicated that time, and there was a lot happening, I wasn't in the right headspace."
"Yeah, we weren't sure during that time if we'd even end up together," Jisoo added. "Thankfully, we did."
"I get it, don't worry I'm not mad just surprised," Suzy smiled, patting Jennie's hand. "But what about Irene unnie? Does she know?"
"Erm," Jisoo cringed, and then laughed in embarrassment. "She kinda walked in on us at the penthouse."
"Oooohh," Suzy's eyes widened when she realized what Jisoo meant. "Oh no, spare me the details, don't tell me anything about that until I get a drink. But I can't believe that Irene unnie and I exchange gossip every week and she didn't even give me a clue."
Jennie chuckled and called Seulgi to order something for Suzy. "She knows how to keep a secret."
"This is still kind of overwhelming but hey, you mentioned it's your 100th day, right?" Suzy reminded them, eagerly waiting to start the party. "Congratulations!"
"Yes, and actually..." Jennie suddenly looked nervous, she slowly turned to Jisoo. "I have something to tell you."
Uh-oh.
Jisoo's eyes were full of concern, she could feel her heartbeat ramped up a bit. "What is it?"
"I lied to you about having a meeting with a client," Jennie reached for her handbag and took out something from inside it. "I was in a different place."
"Oh my god, unnie," Suzy covered her mouth with a hand, eyes wide. "Are you gonna propose?"
Even Seulgi looked expectant from behind the counter, seeing the scene unfold like a tv drama.
Free entertainment, y'all.
"Um, no..." Jennie said, revealing a set of keys in her hand. "Not yet, at least."
"Oh sorry, I got excited and all," Suzy chuckled, blushing a bit from embarrassment.
"What's this?" Jisoo asked, eyeing the keys.
"I was with a real estate agent this afternoon, looking at houses," Jennie explained, looking down on the keys. "And we found this beautiful house, not very far from here. It has a yard, a tree in the yard, and a back garden, and these cute picket fences, and uh-" she bit her lower lip anxiously. "I was thinking, you know, if you want, we could move to this house. But really, no pressure, you don't have to-"
"Yes," Jisoo interrupted.
Jennie lifted her face to lock eyes with her. "What?"
"Yes, I want to move in with you to this house," Jisoo said, grinning. "I can't wait, really. I'm sure it's gonna be amazing."
Jennie exhaled in relief and kissed Jisoo. "I love you."
"This is so exciting!" Suzy squealed from the side and then she fanned herself with both hands. "Oh my god, I'm getting emotional."
Jisoo gently wiped away a stray print of lipstick on the corner of Jennie's lips. "Happy 100th day, love."
"Maybe you should start planning the housewarming party," Seulgi commented after Jisoo and Jennie just spent a couple of minutes just staring in to each other's eyes. "It's gonna be chaotic with all your friends there."
"Ugh," Jisoo tilted her head back to the ceiling and Jennie laughed. "I can already imagine the mess."
"By the way, you're invited," Jennie told the bartender and then glanced at her sister. "How about you? Can you make it?"
"I'll ditch my finals if I have to," Suzy casually sipped from her long forgotten drink. "Dad will throw a fit."
"Anyways," Jennie turned her attention back to Jisoo. "We'll check
the house tomorrow and we need to start shopping for furniture."
"We will need a bigger closet," Jisoo gave her a suggestive wink. Jennie grinned back, intertwining their hands. "I like the way your mind works."
"Just my mind?" Jisoo teased.
Seulgi rolled her eyes and made a shooing motion. "Just get a room, you guys."