You and Me
2025, March
Jennie’s phone buzzed just as she was wrapping up her meeting at the OA office. She glanced at the notification, her lips curving into a soft smile when she saw the message from her security app. A photo of her gf opening her door.
Lisa just entered her house.
Shaking her head fondly, Jennie quickly opened her messages and typed.
Jennie: What a nice surprise. I’ll be home just after this meeting.
She knew Lisa was exhausted. The girl had been running on fumes, juggling promotions, shoots, and their comeback prep all at once. She should’ve been resting, but of course, Lisa being Lisa, she had driven straight to Jennie’s place instead.
Jennie barely had time to gather her things before her phone vibrated again.
Lisa: I’ll come pick you up.
Jennie frowned.
Jennie: Baby, no. You should be resting.
Lisa: I’m already here, might as well.
Jennie sighed. There was no point in arguing when Lisa had already made up her mind.
Minutes later, when she stepped outside, she spotted Lisa’s car pulling up. The moment the blonde rolled the window down, Jennie could see how exhausted she looked—eyes slightly droopy, fingers gripping the wheel just a little too tightly.
Still, Lisa managed a smile. “Hey, gorgeous.”
Jennie climbed into the car with a pointed look. “You should be in bed.”
Lisa leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. “I’ll sleep better with you.”
Jennie huffed, but she didn’t push Lisa away. Instead, she let her fingers gently trace Lisa’s knuckles as she drove. She knew Lisa was stubborn, but there was something else underneath it—a quiet desperation to be near her, to make up for the time their schedules had stolen from them.
The drive home was quiet, save for the occasional sound of Jennie’s worried sighs. She kept stealing glances at Lisa, her fingers tightening on the wheel every time she noticed the blonde struggling to keep her eyes open.
Lisa noticed, of course. But she let Jennie have her way. She knew her girlfriend needed the reassurance that she was still here, still breathing, still hers.
By the time they pulled into the driveway, Jennie had already unbuckled her seatbelt, rushing to Lisa’s side before the blonde could even think about moving. “Don’t even try to argue,” Jennie warned, her tone firm as she carefully helped Lisa out. “Straight to bed.”
Lisa smirked, even as exhaustion weighed down on her limbs. “You’re bossy today.”
Jennie scoffed but didn’t deny it. “You love it.”
Lisa chuckled, letting Jennie guide her inside, her body practically melting into her girlfriend’s warmth. The moment they stepped into the bedroom, Jennie turned to her, fingers quick to unbutton Lisa’s jacket, pushing it off her shoulders with careful hands. But as soon as Lisa’s face was fully visible under the soft glow of their bedside lamp, Jennie’s teasing demeanor faded.
“Baby,” she whispered, cupping Lisa’s cheeks, her thumbs brushing over the dark circles under her eyes. “You’re burning up.”
Lisa sighed, leaning into her touch. “I’m just tired.”
Jennie didn’t look convinced. Her brows furrowed as she trailed her fingers down Lisa’s arms, feeling the slight tremble in her muscles. “You’ve been running yourself into the ground,” she muttered. “Shooting in Thailand, flying to Paris, then back here for comeback preps—do you even hear yourself?”
Lisa tilted her head, pressing a soft kiss against Jennie’s palm. “I hear you.” Her voice was barely above a murmur. “And I missed you today.”
Jennie’s breath hitched.
Lisa was exhausted—physically drained, barely standing—but she still looked at Jennie like she was the only thing keeping her tethered to the world.
“You were only gone for three days,” Jennie whispered, though her voice had softened.
“Still too long,” Lisa murmured.
Jennie sighed, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.” But even as she said it, her hands were already slipping beneath Lisa’s shirt, fingers tracing warm, soothing patterns over her skin.
Lisa’s shoulders sagged under her touch, a quiet hum escaping her lips as Jennie pressed a lingering kiss against her temple, then lower, down the side of her neck.
Jennie felt the way Lisa shivered against her, the way her breathing hitched, and she knew—Lisa wasn’t just tired. She needed her.
"Are you really okay?
Lisa cupped Jennie’s cheek, tilting her head up. “I am. But I’d be even better if you helped me relax.”
Jennie’s breath faltered, her pupils darkening. Lisa didn’t miss the way her girlfriend’s grip tightened on her waist. Then Jennie’s lips curved into a knowing smile before she pressed soft kisses along Lisa’s jaw, down the curve of her neck. “Let me make it up to you, then.”
Lisa’s response was lost in a gasp as Jennie’s touch turned from gentle to possessive, her lips moving with purpose. Lisa’s breath stuttered, her fingers tangling in Jennie’s hair.
Lisa’s breath hitched as Jennie moved closer, her warmth pressing against her in the dimly lit room. The air between them was thick, charged with everything they had left unsaid, everything they had fought against for too long. Lisa’s hands trembled slightly as she cupped Jennie’s jaw, her thumbs tracing the soft skin beneath her lips.
“Baby,” Jennie whispered, the word slipping past her lips like a prayer.
Lisa groaned, the sound deep and raw. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
Jennie’s hands slid under Lisa’s shirt, her nails grazing over toned skin, setting every nerve in Lisa’s body on fire. The blonde inhaled sharply, her resolve crumbling as Jennie pulled her impossibly closer, their lips hovering just a breath apart.
And then, Jennie kissed her.
It wasn’t soft, wasn’t tentative—it was raw, desperate, full of the moments they had spent apart, of the longing that had eaten away at both of them. Lisa’s fingers tangled in Jennie’s hair as she kissed her back with just as much hunger, their bodies molding together like they had never been apart.
Jennie’s moan vibrated against Lisa’s lips as the blonde lifted her, guiding her backward until Jennie’s back hit the mattress. Lisa hovered over her, her eyes dark with desire.
“Are you sure?” Lisa’s voice was rough, barely holding onto restraint.
"Are you sure you have enough stamina?" Jennie answered then pulled Lisa down, their bodies colliding in a tangle of heat and need.
Lisa was lost in her—every touch, every sound Jennie made as she claimed every inch of her. The way Jennie whispered her name like it was the only thing that mattered, the way she arched into her touch, the way she shuddered under Lisa’s lips trailing down her body.
They had spent too long running years ago, too long pretending that this is not what they live for~each other, but here, now, there was no hiding. No barriers. Just them.
And Lisa never wanted to let go again.
For the next few hours, Jennie made sure Lisa felt nothing but warmth, love, and the kind of care she had been desperately needing.
~~~
2025, March 27
The city hummed around them, neon lights reflecting on the gentle waves of the Han River. The air was crisp, the night calm, but Lisa’s pulse was anything but steady.
Jennie walked beside her, just like she always had—like she belonged right there, like she was meant to be next to Lisa. Her coat draped over her frame, hair tucked behind one ear, the soft glow of streetlights tracing the delicate curve of her face.
She wasn’t hiding.
Lisa wished she could say the same.
She kept her hood low, hands buried deep in her pockets, shoulders stiff even though she wanted nothing more than to relax. But she couldn’t. Not when she could feel the weight of unseen eyes, of what-ifs, of past heartbreaks that still lingered beneath her ribs.
Jennie sighed beside her. Lisa knew she noticed—she always noticed.
Then, warm fingers brushed against her wrist, tentative but sure. Jennie was reaching for her.
Lisa flinched.
Jennie stopped walking.
Lisa felt her stomach drop as she turned, already expecting frustration, disappointment. But Jennie wasn’t angry.
She just looked… sad.
“Lisa,” she murmured, voice quiet, careful.
Lisa swallowed against the tightness in her throat. She hates this. She hates that I’m still like this.
“I’m sorry,” Lisa blurted out, already taking a step back. “Maybe this was a bad idea—”
“I don’t want to hide.”
Lisa stilled.
Jennie took a step forward, closing the space Lisa had tried to create. “Not anymore.”
The words hit Lisa like a wave, crashing into the deepest part of her.
She knew why Jennie said it.
They had been here before—not in this exact place, but in this exact moment.
The push and pull. The hesitation. The fear.
But last time, it had been Jennie who had pulled away. The one who had let go of Lisa’s hand first. The one who had whispered, I have too much to lose when Lisa had been ready to risk everything.
Lisa had been devastated. She had walked away, thinking that maybe she had loved too much, too openly, too recklessly. And Jennie… Jennie had let her.
And now, after everything, after years apart, after the ache of missing and the agony of moving on only to find their way back to each other—Lisa was the one afraid.
Jennie reached for her again, and this time, Lisa didn’t pull away.
She watched as Jennie’s fingers slid into hers, firm, unwavering. “I know you’re scared,” Jennie whispered. “I know you think I’ll let go if people start looking.”
Lisa stared at their joined hands, at the way Jennie held her like she had no intention of ever letting go.
“I won’t,” Jennie promised. “Not this time.”
Lisa exhaled shakily. “What if—”
Jennie smiled, gentle but certain. “What if I don’t care?”
Lisa let out a breath.
Jennie squeezed her hand. “What if I want them to see? What if I want them to know I love you?”
Lisa’s heart stuttered.
She had spent so long fearing this exact moment—fearing that Jennie would never choose her fully. That no matter what, she would always be the one left behind.
But now, Jennie wasn’t running. She was standing in front of her, steady, ready.
Lisa’s chest tightened.
All these years, all this time, she had been the one holding on to the past.
Jennie lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss—soft, lingering—to Lisa’s knuckles. “This love,” she whispered, voice thick with emotion. “It’s ours.”
Lisa’s throat burned.
Jennie met her gaze, her eyes glistening. “I know now why I was afraid back then. Because once we did this—once we let the world see—there would be no taking it back.” She inhaled deeply. “But, Lisa… I don’t want to take it back.”
Lisa let out a shaky laugh, blinking up at the sky to stop her eyes from stinging. “I hate that I still care,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “I hate that even now, after everything, I still worry about what happens if people find out.”
Jennie’s fingers tightened around hers. “I know.”
Lisa looked at her then—really looked at her. The woman she had loved for years, the woman who had broken her heart, the woman who had mended it, piece by piece, until it no longer hurt to love her.
Lisa inhaled deeply, the cold air biting at her lungs, and nodded. “But I love you more than I’m afraid.”
Jennie let out a soft, trembling breath, a slow smile breaking across her face.
Lisa chuckled, shaking her head. "Now, tell me what you planned to post on Instagram for my birthday before I have a heart attack."
She was referring to Jennie's earlier playful threat—to share an embarrassing unseen photo of Lisa in her yearly JenLisa birthday post—all because Lisa had stolen Jennie's toast.
Jennie laughed—bright, open, like it belonged to Lisa alone.
Lisa, watching her, feeling everything, knew she had already lost the battle.
Because this time, they weren’t fighting against each other.
They were fighting for each other.
Lisa let out a slow breath and looked at her. Jennie looked back, steady, certain.
“You’re sure?” Lisa asked, even though she already knew the answer.
Jennie’s fingers curled around hers, this time fully, with no hesitation. “I’ve never been more sure.”
Lisa’s chest ached—not with pain, but with something deeper, something softer. She had spent so long fearing that Jennie would never be ready, that she would always be the one waiting.
But Jennie was here. Jennie had already chosen her.
Lisa exhaled, then smiled. “Okay.”
Jennie blinked. “Okay?”
Lisa nodded, her fingers tightening around Jennie’s. “Let’s go eat.”
The restaurant was warm, dimly lit, the kind of place where people didn’t stare for too long. But even if they did, Lisa knew it wouldn’t matter.
They slid into a booth, Jennie kicking off her heels, Lisa stretching her legs. Their hands were still joined, resting between them on the table.
Jennie smirked. “You’re holding my hand like you don’t plan on letting go.”
Lisa smirked back. “I don’t.”
Jennie hummed in approval, lifting their joined hands and pressing a soft kiss to Lisa’s knuckles. Lisa felt the warmth spread through her chest.
The server arrived, eyes widening slightly before composing themselves. They took their orders quickly, leaving them alone again.
Lisa tilted her head, watching Jennie. “You look happy.”
Jennie bit her lip, tilting her head playfully. “That’s because I am.”
Lisa’s heart did a little flip.
Jennie leaned in slightly. “You know… I used to be scared of this. Of us, out in the open.”
Lisa nodded, because she remembered. She remembered the stolen moments, the whispered goodnights, the way Jennie had once pulled away when the world got too close.
“But I hate that I made you feel like you had to be hidden,” Jennie whispered, gaze falling to their hands. “I hate that I hurt you.”
Lisa shook her head. “You were scared. I get it now.” She squeezed Jennie’s fingers. “Because this love? It’s ours. And once we share it, it’s not just ours anymore.”
Jennie swallowed hard, eyes shining. “But I want to share it now. Because I love you, Lisa.”
Lisa smiled, warmth spreading through her veins. “I love you, baby.”
Jennie blush dusting her cheeks.
Lisa grinned. “What? You still blush when I call you ‘baby’?”
Jennie rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, she lifted Lisa’s hand again and kissed her knuckles once more.
Lisa exhaled, relaxed, happy. She glanced around, noticing a few stares, a few murmurs.
And she didn’t care.
Because Jennie was here, holding her hand, choosing her, and for the first time in forever, Lisa wasn’t afraid to be seen.
As their food arrived, Jennie stole a quick glance at her phone, a secretive smile tugging at her lips. Lisa didn’t notice—too caught up in the way Jennie always served her first, making sure her plate had all her favorites.
Lisa smirked. “You act like I’m a queen or something.”
Jennie arched a brow. “You are a queen.” Then, softer, more serious, “And I love taking care of you.”
Lisa’s heart clenched, and she reached out, tucking a loose strand of Jennie’s hair behind her ear. “I’m the luckiest.”
Jennie’s eyes softened. “No, I am.”
The moment stretched between them, warm and unbreakable, until Jennie’s phone buzzed again. Lisa squinted at her. “You’re up to something.”
Jennie giggled, standing up and holding out a hand. “Come with me.”
Lisa raised an eyebrow but took her hand without hesitation. “Where are we going?”
Jennie only squeezed her fingers. “You’ll see.”
Lisa expected to be led outside, but instead, Jennie guided her through a hallway toward a private dining room at the back of the restaurant. She hesitated before pushing the door open, and Lisa barely had a second to react before—
“SURPRISE!”
Lisa blinked as the room lit up with cheers. Jisoo grinned wildly, holding a party popper. Chaeyoung clapped excitedly, and Lisa’s parents stood there, smiling warmly. The sight of them nearly knocked the air from her lungs.
Lisa turned to Jennie, stunned. “You… You planned this?”
Jennie bit her lip, nervous now. “I know you didn’t want anything big, but I wanted you to feel loved. Really loved. With the people who love you most.”
Lisa’s throat tightened.
She hadn’t even realized how much she needed this. How much she missed the warmth of family, the easy presence of her friends.
Her mother was already stepping forward, wrapping Lisa in a tight hug. “Happy birthday, my love.”
Lisa closed her eyes, breathing in the comfort of home.
When she pulled back, Jisoo was next, pulling her into a dramatic, exaggerated hug. “You’re old now.”
Lisa laughed, smacking her arm. “Shut up, unnie. You're 30!”
Chaeyoung beamed. “We got you cake. And presents.”
Lisa chuckled, overwhelmed but happy. “You guys are the best.”
Then, she turned to Jennie.
The gorgeous brunette was watching her with so much tenderness it made Lisa’s chest ache.
Lisa stepped closer, cupping Jennie’s cheek, her voice quiet amidst the chatter. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
Jennie leaned into her touch. “But I wanted to. Because you deserve it. You deserve to be loved out loud, Lisa.”
Lisa felt it then—the depth of Jennie’s love, the quiet, unwavering devotion. The kind of love that was soft, gentle, and endless.
Lisa swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled Jennie in, pressing their foreheads together. “I love you.”
Jennie smiled, eyes shining. “I love you more.”
Surrounded by the people who mattered most, Lisa had never felt so loved.
Lisa let out a breath, her fingers tightening against Jennie’s waist. "You really went all out for me, huh?"
Jennie smiled, rubbing slow circles against Lisa’s back. "Of course, hon. I’d do anything for you."
Lisa’s heart swelled, but before she could respond, Jisoo clapped her hands. "Alright, lovebirds, save the mushy stuff for later. We’re here to celebrate!"
Everyone laughed, and Lisa was gently pulled into another round of hugs. Her dad gave her a proud squeeze on the shoulder, and her mom couldn’t stop touching her face, as if trying to memorize every detail. Lisa basked in the warmth of it all.
Then, Jennie took her hand and led her to the seat at the center, where a beautifully decorated birthday cake sat, candles already lit. The cake had delicate pastel frosting, little edible pearls, and a small topper that read Lalisa, our star.
Lisa blinked, touched beyond words.
Chaeyoung nudged her playfully. "Make a wish, Lili."
Lisa glanced around the room. At her parents, who had flown all this way. At Jisoo and Chaeyoung, who had been by her side for years. And at Jennie, who was watching her with so much love, it felt like Lisa’s heart might burst.
She didn’t need a wish. She already had everything she wanted.
But still, she closed her eyes, took a breath, and silently wished for this—to always have these people, this love, this warmth.
Then, she blew out the candles, and the room erupted in cheers.
Jennie leaned in, whispering against Lisa’s ear, "Did you wish for me?"
Lisa smirked, turning her head so their noses brushed. "I don’t need to. You’re already mine."
Jennie’s breath hitched, but before she could respond, Jisoo groaned. "Ugh. We’re eating cake. Stop making me nauseous."
Chaeyoung giggled, cutting the first slice and handing it to Lisa. "Here. Before Jennie steals your attention again."
Lisa took the cake, but instead of eating it, she grabbed a small bit of frosting with her finger and smudged it onto Jennie’s nose.
Jennie gasped, eyes wide. "Oh, you did not just—"
Lisa grinned. "I did."
Jennie narrowed her eyes before swiftly dipping her finger into the cake and pressing it against Lisa’s cheek.
Gasps filled the room.
Jisoo looked delighted. "Oh, it’s war now."
Lisa wiped the frosting from her face, shaking her head at Jennie. "You just started something you can’t win, baby."
Jennie crossed her arms, smug. "Try me, hon."
Lisa leaned in, gaze smoldering. "Oh, I will."
And just like that, the night was filled with laughter, teasing, and so much love that Lisa knew—without a doubt—this was the best birthday she had ever had.
So far. =)