Chapter Text
Jennie was holding her camera while crossing the streets of Seoul. She was looking for a new spot for her latest portfolio. The woman was working in an old company that prints magazines about the latest trends in the country and ships them worldwide.
She turns her head from left to right, positions her camera and tries various angles and captures the subject. Jennie looks at the captured pictures on her camera, and she wasn't satisfied with her performance.
The Korean tries to aim for a good shot. Her camera was focused on a tall woman wearing a black coat and turtleneck. She fixes the angle to get a better perspective of the subject.
The woman was looking at the displays on a cat store, and Jennie only captured her back. Jennie reviews her shots and she was happy to see the aftermath.
Jennie realized that she was on the other side of the road. The Korean wants to get the name of the woman to invite her to Jennie's studio, so she waits for the light to turn green.
The woman was still looking at the displays when Jennie noticed the light turns green. Jennie was in a hurry and was bumping people who were on her way. Her hazel brown eyes were fixed on the woman's body, and suddenly, she bumps on her co-worker, Rosé.
"Jen? What are you--"
"Wait for me. I need to find someone,"
Jennie runs as she tries to see if the woman was still there. She arrives at the store and her shoulders sagged when she found nothing. Jennie tries to look at different directions, but the woman left her spot before Jennie arrives.
The Korean was panting and leans against the wall. She tries to figure out how she would find the girl on the photo.
"Why are you running earlier?" Rosé asks, handing her a bottle of water.
Jennie accepts it and drinks before answering. "I saw a woman and took a photo of her for my portfolio. I want to know her name and invite her to my studio, but she left before I could even approach her,"
Rosé's eyebrows furrow as she understands Jennie's story. "The light was green, Jen. How did you not--"
"Because I bumped into you!"
The younger scoffs, surprised by Jennie's suddenly accusations. "Not my fault. You were not looking at the people in front of you."
Jennie rolls her eyes in defeat. She looks at the photograph for the second time, but she couldn't recognize it.
Rosé joins her on reviewing her shots. The younger was amazed by her senior's skills and she couldn't stop praising Jennie. The photographer should be bragging by now due to
the constant praising of her junior, but she's in deep thoughts.
"The shot was good, unnie. But the angle makes it difficult to see the woman's face,"
Jennie agrees to Rosé. She nods her head and stands up. Rosé follows her to talk about the woman.
"How are you going to find her?"
Jennie sighs. "I don't know. Let's just wait until I see her again."
"Your portfolio was perfectly suited for our theme,"
The head of the Photography Department praises Jennie's photography skills. She bows her head as a sign of gratitude and humbleness.
"As I look through your works, this one intrigues me the most." The head points the picture she took last night at the busy street of Seoul.
Jennie was confused. She looks at the photo and examines it, but she couldn't find something that can make the photo intriguing.
"Why?"
"The posture of the woman was perfect; the way she stood in front of the shop made me think of someone,"
The Korean thinks hard and deep. Does the head of their department knows the girl?
"Do you, perhaps, know the girl?"
The middle-aged man laughs, "No, I was just thinking too much."
Disappointment was visible on Jennie's face. I thought I could find her.
Jennie bows at her boss and went to the door. She was about to open the door when the man says something.
"I would like to talk to you tomorrow, Ms. Kim."
The woman nods and heads back to her cubicle. She spots Rosé sitting on a chair beside hers.
"I don't have foods at my drawers, Park,"
Jennie sighs as she sits on her chair.
Rosé was doing a surprised face to Jennie, but she notices the tired look on her senior's face. She moves forward and puts Jennie's hair strands at the back of her ear.
"Did he reject your portfolio?"
Jennie immediately shook her head, and that made Rosé think about something.
"Why are you sulking?"
"I'm not sulking," Jennie crosses her arms on the table and leans her forehead on her arms. "The head likes it, he said it was perfect for our theme."
"Then why are you acting like that?"
"He said the woman in front of the store intrigued him,"
Rosé was shocked and squealed. The people at the Photography Department turn their heads at Rosé and gave her a questioning look. Jennie was fast to apologize at them.
The younger earns a slap on her arm from Jennie. Her sharp eyes turn sharper and it was all thanks to her junior.
"Lower your god damn voice, Park Chaeyoung."
Rosé bows lightly at Jennie. Even if they're friends, the younger never fails to give respect on her senior. Jennie lets Rosé call her without formality because it irritates her.
"He said the woman made him think of someone. I thought he knew who the girl was, but he said he was just thinking too much,"
Jennie's narration catches Rosé's attention. She scoots more beside Jennie until there's no more space for them. It suffocates the older, but she chooses to not give any malice on
the action.
"That means he knew who the girl was, but he wasn't that sure about it because he couldn't see the face,"
The junior's answer made Jennie think about more the girl. She sighs loudly; she was so tired of thinking about the woman. She should focus more on her portfolio. Jennie remembers something.
"Did he say something like he needs to talk to you?"
"Who?"
"Boss,"
Jennie saw how Rosé's face turns into a series one. She's looking up on the ceiling while her eyebrows were furrowed.
The junior shook her head. "Nothing. Why?"
"Never mind. Go back to your cubicle and do your job, the supervisor might see you."
The day ends and Jennie was still thinking about the girl. She changes to her Michael Jackson hoodie and brings her camera.
Jennie was eager to know who the woman was. She walks on the familiar street of Seoul as she wanders around, still looking for the trace of the girl.
The nightlife of Seoul was aesthetically beautiful; the lights coming from different stores illuminate the streets. She positions her camera in front of her eye and captures the scene
with her best angle.
People crossing the street was a good thing to add on her portfolio, so she takes a picture of them as they cross the street. She perfectly captures the people walking in harmony.
Jennie reviews her shots intently, and she was shocked when she saw a familiar body facing the other side. The woman was looking at her right, while Jennie captured her from her left. It looks like the girl was looking for someone when Jennie captured her.
The Korean was disappointed at herself for capturing a person who was not looking at her side. She cursed herself.
Stupid person who couldn't look at my camera and stupid camera for not taking shots of person looking at it.
Jennie sighs as she looks around the city. There was a sea of people in front of her and it was impossible to catch a glimpse of the woman in a short period of time.
Luck wasn't on my side tonight. Again.
Jennie arrives at the office the same time Rosé does. They rode the elevator together, and Jennie was surprised to receive an awkward silence from her friend.
The senior wants to break it but chose not to, she wasn't in the mood for some reason.
She walks to her cubicle and drops all her things on the table. Jennie opens her laptop to edit the last page of her portfolio, but someone called her name.
Jennie looks up to whoever it was, and found a woman walking to her.
"Mr. Wang wants to talk to you at his office."
The Korean immediately closes her laptop and makes herself presentable. She walks with her head high, and the people surround her were in awe.
Jennie smirks on her thought, of course she couldn't do it in front of her co-workers. She doesn't want to stain her reputation as a good-looking and humble photographer.
She knocks three times before opening the door. Jennie peaks inside first before letting herself inside. The head smiles at her and Jennie responds with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Ms. Kim."
"Good morning, Sir,"
The old man gestures Jennie to sit down and Jennie obliged. Jennie straightens her posture as she waits for the man to speak.
"I have a proposal for you," Jennie was taken aback for a milliseconds. She laughs when she recovers from the shock, but she was still projecting a confused look on her face. "Our
company was invited to the 58th Asia Gallery Exhibit, and I listed your name as our representative."
The Korean's mouth was wide open. Those information were not able to sink inside her brain, but she understands everything.
"But that's not a proposal--"
"I know. Because that's an order, Ms. Kim,"
Jennie stares at her boss, still wondering why she's chosen to be their company's representative for the exhibit. The thought of it made her feel like she's flying.
"I chose you because your recent portfolios were worth for the exhibit. The Board of Directors were impressed with your works and would like to see how far you'll go."
The statement made Jennie cry. She couldn't believe her dreams would come true, and it's all thanks to the company.
When Jennie was 11 years old, she always wonder what would she become when she turns 23. Now, she knew the answer to her question. She remembers how her father teaches her to hold the camera properly.
Jennie remembers the first photo she took; it was her mother. She smiles as she reminisce the good old days. Her tears were starting to form, luckily, she was fast to get rid of it.
The Korean smiles widely at her boss before answering. "I'd love to go to the exhibit. May I know where it will be held?"
Mr. Wang smiles sweetly at the Korean.
"In Thailand."
Jackson picks up his ringing phone without looking at the caller's ID. He was done talking to her employee, Kim Jennie.
"Uncle?"
Jackson was shocked when he recognize the voice.
"Lisa?"
"Yes, Uncle. Where are you?"
"At the office--"
"Send me the address, please. I'll be there in a minute."
Jackson's eyes widen when she heard her niece.
"What?! O-okay, okay!"
Lisa ends the call. Jackson sighs and leans on her swivel chair.
"That woman. Since when did she arrive here?"
Jennie was typing something on her laptop when she feels like she needs something to drink. She stands up and wanders around the office, looking for Rosé.
She walks into a room with a water dispenser and gets herself a drink. Jennie was fiddling on her phone while she walks out of the room. She texted Rosé to meet her at the
ground floor and have lunch with her.
The Korean was walking to Rosé's cubicle without looking at her way when she bumped into someone. Probably a new one since she hasn't seen the woman in the office.
Her glass of water was accidentally poured on the woman's shirt, making a part of her body exposed without taking off her cloth. She looks up and saw a piercing gaze from the
tall girl.
Jennie bows deeply and says sorry repeatedly. She searches for her handkerchief and hands it to the girl. The latter accepts it, still mad at the Korean.
Minutes later, Jennie decides to look at the woman in front of her. She meets the cold dark eyes of the girl. It sends chills to her spine and it made her feel bad.
"Where's Mr. Wang's office?"
Jennie flinches at the tone of her voice. The tone of it was colder than her eyes.
The Korean immediately shows her the way to her boss' office. The woman walks out after knowing where the office was without even thanking Jennie.
Jennie scoffs after she realized how arrogant the girl was.
"She's pretty, but her attitude isn't." Jennie says to herself.
Before she completely forgot her agenda, Jennie continues to walk to Rosé's spot.
"Rosie Posie," Jennie calls her friend with a sweet tone.
She could see Rosé doing something, and she couldn't help but disturb the girl from working and invite her to grab a lunch with her.
The younger pretends to be busy and ignores the older. Rosé wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone because she needs to finish her assignment, but she can spare time to eat lunch.
Rosé was playing hard to get with Jennie, and the latter wasn't having fun. She keeps on calling Rosé's name for how many times, but she's still ignored by her junior.
"That's it. I'm going to eat lunch alone. Bye."
Jennie walks away and grabs her things. That made Rosé laugh out loud and it irritates Jennie. She glares sharply at her junior and it shuts Rosé's mouth.
The younger shuts down her laptop before gathering her things. She approaches Jennie who was comfortably leaning on other's cubicle.
"I saw what happened to you earlier,"
Rosé wouldn't let go of that scene, Jennie knows it. She could hear how Rosé was stopping herself to laugh, and Jennie was pissed.
"Don't want to remember that."
"The girl was stunning, aren't you going to introduce yourself properly and apologize?"
The older groans at Rosé's suggestion. It made her more frustrated with the happenings that day.
"Stop talking nonsense and walk,"
The two of them were greeted by the crews when they arrived at the convenience store near their company. They respond with a soft smile.
Jennie went to the beverages, while Rosé went to the meal section. The older was struggling to reach the top of the refrigerator where the soda placed. She thought about calling
someone to help her out, but she becomes stiff when she felt someone's body against hers.
She saw how the woman reaches her arm to get the soda at the top of the refrigerator. Jennie thought it was for her, so she reaches out her hand to accept the soda. The familiar girl stares at her with confusion and turns her back to Jennie.
At that moment, Jennie remembers the girl in the photograph. The woman's body resembles the one in the picture but she could be wrong. She must be tired from work.
When she realized what happened, she follows the woman and yells at her.
"Give it back to me!"
Lisa turns around.
"Give what?"
"That soda!"
The tall girl's eyebrows furrows and looks at the soda. "But I got it first,"
"You saw me reaching for it. Are you dumb or what?"
Lisa didn't like the girl's choice of words. She went to the counter and puts out a bill.
"Call me dumb again and I will show you how much I hate to be called by that, shortie."
Jennie was shocked when Lisa whispers on her ear, making their bodies almost touching. She stands there like a statue; she doesn't even know if she's still breathing.
Lisa hands her the soda and left the store. She stares at it while trying to figure out how it happens. Minutes ago, they bumped to each other. Now, they're fighting over a freaking soda.
The Korean saw Lisa getting inside her car and drove away, then she heard Rosé clearing her throat. Jennie turns around and saw the annoying wide grin of Park Chaeyoung.
"Did she kiss you?"
The older was shocked by her junior's question, she approaches the latter and slaps her arms many times. Rosé could see the redness of her senior's face.
"Idiot! Why am I going to let her?"
"Woah-- Easy there! Ouch!"
Rosé defends herself from Jennie's slaps. She doesn't know if she's going to laugh or not. Jennie stops from slapping her junior's arm and scoffs as she remembers the scene.
Jennie groans and slams the table inside the convenience store. Her day was pretty bad because of that encounter.
Jennie wakes up with a headache. She blindly searches for her phone while she's lying on her chest.
She answers the phone call without looking at it. Jennie didn't utter a word and waits for the other person to talk.
"Ms. Kim?"
The Korean was familiarizing the voice; she didn't say anything and lets the person to speak.
"This is Mr. Wang. I want you to know that you can bring a company to Thailand. Also, I have someone to help you while you're in the country."
The drowsiness left Jennie's body when she heard her boss' announcement. She didn't see it coming; she was really, really shocked.
"M-may I know who?"
"My niece. Her name is Lisa."