03 | "Happy Birthday, Jennie." [5,9k]
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"Think I like you best when you're just with me and no one else
Holding you until you fall asleep
And it's just as good as I knew it would be
Stay with me, I don't want you to leave."
—K. by Cigarettes After Sex
this chapter contains: smut fluff
The pressure in Jennie's belly was growing, each slow, deep thrust from Lalisa pushing her closer to a precipice she had never explored. Her fingers clung to the bodyguard's muscular shoulders, her nails leaving small marks on the skin, while sweet, high-pitched moans escaped her parted lips.
"Like that, like that," Lalisa panted, her voice hoarse and broken, completely stripped of that professional composure that characterized her. "You're going to come, aren't you? I can feel it. You're so tight…"
"I don't know," Jennie whimpered, moving her hips clumsily, seeking more, always more. "I've never… never felt this."
"I'll take you there," Lalisa promised, and she lowered one hand to where their bodies joined, her fingers finding the small, already swollen button of flesh between Jennie's thighs with a precision that spoke of experience, though not with her, never with her. "Trust me."
The contact was like a lightning bolt. Jennie arched her back with a sharp, crystalline cry, her entire body tensing. The orgasm hit her with the force of a train, making her tremble uncontrollably as her pussy contracted around Lalisa's dick, squeezing it with an intensity that made the bodyguard let out a guttural groan.
"Shit," Lalisa panted, burying her face in Jennie's neck as she felt the young woman's internal walls pulsing around her. "You're… you're perfect."
It took Jennie a few seconds to return to reality. Her chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, her eyes were full of tears that weren't from pain but from an emotion so intense she didn't know how to process it. She had never imagined she could feel like this, that her body was capable of producing such a storm of pleasure.
But before Jennie could respond, Lalisa slowly pulled away, pulling out her still-erect dick, covered by the condom. The young woman groaned at the loss, suddenly feeling empty.
Lalisa looked at her with a mixture of desire and wonder. She had never seen Jennie like this, so free, so in control of her own desires. The young woman who always complained about the rules, who always wanted to break them, had finally found her rebellion, and she was determined to squeeze it dry.
"I want more. I need more," Jennie said.
"It's okay," Lalisa replied, sitting up and pulling Jennie with her until they were face to face, the young woman in her lap. "But I do things my way. You just enjoy."
Lalisa laid Jennie face down on the bed, with a pillow under her hips to elevate her pert backside. From behind, the bodyguard could see everything: the curve of her back, the round shape of her buttocks, the moisture glistening between her legs.
"This is my favorite position…" Lalisa murmured as she removed the condom and replaced it with another, then positioning herself behind her, she guided the tip of her dick to the entrance. "It's called doggy style. And it's perfect for going very, very deep."
"Then do it," Jennie panted, gripping the sheets between her fingers. "Go deep."
Lalisa pushed, and this time there was no resistance. Jennie's body had already gotten used to her size, and although it was still a tight fit, the penetration was smoother. Lalisa buried her entire dick to the base in one movement, and they both moaned in unison at the sensation of being completely joined.
"Fuck, Lalisa," Jennie moaned, her sweet, high-pitched cries filling the room. "It feels… it feels so good."
Lalisa began to move, slowly at first, enjoying the sight of her dick disappearing again and again into Jennie's body. Her hands gripped the young woman's hips, pulling her back with each thrust, controlling the rhythm, the depth, the speed.
"I'm going to lose my fucking job," Lalisa repeated like a mantra, though she did nothing to stop. "When your father finds out about this, he's going to fire me. He's going to fire me and then he's going to kill me."
"Then don't let him find out," Jennie panted, moving her hips to meet her thrusts. "It's our secret."
"I'm starting to doubt if I'm really the bad influence," Lalisa accused, but her smile was wide and genuine.
She increased the pace, her hips slapping against Jennie's buttocks with a wet, rhythmic sound that mixed with the young woman's moans. The mattress creaked beneath them, the headboard banged against the wall, and Lalisa knew that if they didn't stop soon, they were going to wake up the whole floor.
"Give me your hand," she suddenly asked, and Jennie reached one arm back without asking why. Lalisa intertwined her fingers with the young woman's, maintaining the contact as she continued to fuck her. "Like this. I want to feel you."
The gesture, so intimate in the midst of the rawness of the act, made Jennie's eyes fill with tears. She had never been so vulnerable with anyone, never surrendered herself this way. And Lalisa, the stoic bodyguard who always kept her distance, was giving her something she didn't even know she needed.
"Come," Lalisa whispered. "Come again. I want to feel it."
And Jennie obeyed. This orgasm was easier, as if her body had already learned the way, and she moaned Lalisa's name over and over as waves of pleasure shook her.
When Jennie's body finally relaxed, trembling and sweaty, Lalisa gently turned her until she was on her back. Then, with a fluid movement, she positioned herself on top of her, supporting her weight on her forearms. Lalisa took a few seconds to observe Jennie's face. She was so close she could see how her breathing barely parted her lips, the slight blush on her cheeks caused by what they had just done, that mole below her left eyebrow she hadn't noticed until now. She had to hold her breath for a moment, because suddenly a fear haunted her, a feeling in her stomach that blamed her for falling in love with the wrong person.
Because, that was what was happening, right? Lalisa was falling in love with Jennie. With the person she worked for.
"What are you thinking about?" Jennie questioned, in barely a whisper, running the tip of her finger over the bridge of Lalisa's nose.
Lalisa obviously wouldn't tell her the truth, not now, at least.
"I just… about how beautiful you are," she confessed. Saying those words felt so good, but so bad at the same time. "And about how wrong this is."
Jennie understood that this might be disturbing Lalisa; the bodyguard was used to following rules all her life, and fucking the boss's daughter was definitely not following the rules.
"One more," Jennie said suddenly, her gaze dark and intense.
"I want one more round, silly," she laughed, noticing she hadn't been clear.
"Another one?" Lalisa laughed weakly.
"Yes. I never thought I could have more than one, but yes, I want more."
"That might be because you've finally entered the world of sex… the world of good sex," her words dragged as she left a kiss on the tip of Jennie's nose before sitting up and kneeling on the bed. "What do you want to try now?"
Jennie adjusted her own position on the pillows, gestured for Lalisa to come closer, and she immediately obeyed.
"I want your cock… between my tits."
Lalisa loved how those words sounded on Jennie's lips; she felt her dick getting hard already.
Lalisa took Jennie's hands and guided them towards her own breasts. Jennie had beautiful breasts, perfect size and shape. Lalisa moved close enough, and after removing the condom and throwing it on the floor, she placed her dick in the valley of Jennie's breasts, making the girl squeeze them, drawing a low moan from her.
"It's called a titfuck," Lalisa explained, moving her hips to slide her penis between the soft, round flesh of Jennie's breasts.
"Whatever it's called… it's sexy."
"Squeeze," the bodyguard instructed. "Squeeze them against my cock."
Jennie nodded, her mouth slightly open as she looked down at the cock between her breasts. She had never imagined anyone would do that with her, much less Lalisa.
The bodyguard began to move, fucking the space between them with a rhythm that soon became frantic. The sight was intoxicating: her penis appearing and disappearing between the soft flesh, the pink tip almost reaching Jennie's chin with each thrust.
"Open your mouth," Lalisa panted. "If you want, of course. You don't have to…"
Jennie opened her mouth before she finished the sentence, and when the tip of Lalisa's penis brushed her lips on the next move, she took it in her mouth, sucking gently while her breasts continued to squeeze the rest of the shaft.
"Fuck," Lalisa grunted, her hips moving faster. "You're incredible. How is it possible that you're so incredible?"
Jennie's moans were muffled by the tip of the dick in her mouth, but they were still audible, sweet and high-pitched, vibrating around Lalisa's flesh and bringing her closer to the edge. Her hands gripped the young woman's hair, guiding her, but not forcing her.
"I'm going to… I'm going to come," Lalisa panted. "We should stop, or I'll come in your mouth."
Jennie responded by parting her lips from the dick and whispering, "On my chest. I want to see it."
Lalisa needed no further invitation. With a couple of quick movements of her hand, she began to masturbate over Jennie's torso, her eyes fixed on the round, full breasts, on the hardened nipples, on the expectant face of the young woman who looked at her as if she were the most fascinating thing in the world.
The orgasm hit her like a punch. With a hoarse, guttural moan, Lalisa came, and jets of hot semen fell onto Jennie's breasts, onto her collarbone, even a little on her chin. The image was obscene and beautiful at the same time, and Jennie watched, fascinated, touching the white liquid with her fingertips and bringing it to her lips.
"You taste salty," she commented, as if she were sampling wine.
Lalisa collapsed beside her, panting, her body covered in sweat and her bangs plastered to her forehead.
"You're the hottest thing I've ever seen in my life," she said, her voice still trembling from the orgasm. "And also the most dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Jennie propped herself up on an elbow, unconcerned about the semen still dripping down her chest.
"Because you make me want things I shouldn't want," Lalisa looked at her, and there was a brutal honesty in her eyes. "You make me want to risk my job, my reputation, everything. And that's dangerous."
Lalisa didn't answer. Instead, she got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, returning a few seconds later with a damp towel with which she gently cleaned Jennie's chest and face. The gesture was so tender after so much rawness that Jennie felt her heart would burst from her chest.
When she finished, Lalisa sat beside her, scanning her body with her eyes. Her eyes stopped at her hardened nipples, the curve of her waist, her trimmed and wet pubic hair, her trembling thighs. Then, with a gentleness that contrasted with the strength she had shown before, she took Jennie's face in her hands and kissed her.
"You're beautiful," she whispered against her lips. "And not just on the outside."
"Lalisa…" Jennie felt her voice tremble. "What does this mean? What are we now?"
"Let's not ask ourselves those questions right now, okay?" Lalisa replied, kissing her again. Though truthfully, Lalisa didn't know; she had no idea what would happen now. "We're still us. We're… two people in a hotel room who should be sleeping. Tomorrow we can worry about everything else."
"And tomorrow?" Jennie insisted.
Lalisa hugged her, drawing her into her warm, sweaty body. "Sleep. I promise we'll keep talking tomorrow."
Jennie wanted to protest, wanted to keep asking, wanted to make sure this wasn't a dream she would wake up from alone in her suite. But exhaustion overcame her, and the warmth of Lalisa's body was too comforting to resist. Her eyes closed on their own, and her breathing became slower, deeper.
Lalisa watched her sleep for a long time, gently stroking her hair, her face, her shoulders. She knew that the next day things would be complicated, that they would have to face consequences, that Jennie would probably regret it or maybe not, that she herself would feel guilty for having crossed that line.
But at that moment, with the young woman asleep in her arms, she couldn't regret it. Not when the sensation of her lips still burned on hers, when the memory of her sweet, high-pitched moans still echoed in her ears, when the image of her body trembling with pleasure was burned into her memory.
Outside, the city continued to shine, oblivious to what had happened in that small hotel room. And somewhere in the city, Jennie's father slept peacefully, unaware that his daughter had found the rebellion she so longed for, and that his trusted bodyguard had been an accomplice.
But all that would be tomorrow's problem. For now, there was only the calm after the storm, the intertwined bodies on the rumpled bed, and the promise that nothing would ever be the same between them again.
And when Jennie woke up in the middle of the night, startled by a dream she didn't remember, the first sensation she had was that of strong arms around her, and the certainty that, for the first time in a long time, she wasn't alone.
"Are you okay?" Lalisa asked, her voice rough with sleep.
"Yes," Jennie replied, and it was true. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a dream."
Lalisa tightened the hug, and Jennie felt her smile against her hair.
"It's not a dream. And if it were, it would be the best dream of my life."
Jennie turned in her arms until she was facing her, their naked bodies pressing together in the gloom filtered by the hotel curtains. She could see the shine in Lalisa's eyes, the curve of her lips, the beat of her heart at the base of her neck.
Dawn came too soon, filtering through the curtains like a silent witness to the night they had shared. Jennie was the first to wake, and for a few seconds, she didn't remember where she was. The smell of sex and sweat permeated the sheets, her body was sore but in a way that didn't bother her, and when she turned her head, she saw Lalisa sleeping beside her, her face relaxed for the first time since she had known her.
The bodyguard had lost all her professional rigidity. Her mouth was slightly open, her hair tousled on the pillow, and one of her hands rested on Jennie's stomach as if even in sleep she needed to make sure she was still there. The tattoos contrasted with her fair skin: the rose pierced by a bullet on her arm, the date on her ribs, the phrase on her lower belly, all visible in the soft morning light.
Jennie felt a surge of something she dared not name. Love? Obsession? Just gratitude? She didn't know. But she knew she didn't regret it. That even though her father would probably kill her if he found out, even though Lalisa might lose her job, despite all the consequences that were sure to come, she couldn't feel guilty about something that had made her feel so alive for the first time.
"Staring is rude," Lalisa suddenly murmured, without opening her eyes, her voice rough with sleep.
"How did you know I was looking?" asked Jennie.
"Being a bodyguard gives you a sixth sense," she replied, smiling.
"Are you always alert, even when sleeping?"
Lalisa opened her eyes then, and Jennie got lost in her dark gaze.
"With you, yes. It's my job," she replied, and then corrected herself shortly after. "You are my job."
"Well, the relationship between us is no longer merely professional," Jennie slid her hand over Lalisa's, intertwining their fingers. "Or is it?"
Lalisa was silent for a moment, and Jennie saw how her face changed, how the professional mask began to slide back into place. But then, something happened. The bodyguard looked at her, truly looked at her, and her defenses fell completely.
"No," she admitted in a low voice. "It's not just work anymore. And that scares me."
"Me too," Jennie confessed. "But I don't regret it. I can't regret something that made me feel this way."
"What way?" asked Lalisa, her fingers squeezing Jennie's.
"Alive," the young woman replied. "Free. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was doing something because I wanted to do it. Not because my father expected it, not because it was right or proper. Just because I decided to."
Lalisa watched her in silence, and then, slowly, a smile formed on her lips. It wasn't the professional smile she offered at events, nor the shy smile that sometimes escaped her. It was a genuine, warm smile that lit up her entire face.
"I liked it too," she said. "And you shouldn't worry. Whatever happens, I'll handle the consequences."
"There won't be any consequences because no one will ever find out," Jennie assured.
"No one will find out…" Lalisa repeated, as if trying to convince herself of those words. "But if your father or anyone does find out, I'll face it, I'll take responsibility, okay?"
Jennie didn't answer; she remained silent, thinking about the future, which didn't seem so terrifying right now. Her whole life was already planned; she would be the heiress to her father's legacy, and for now, her only duty was to learn from him. But there was also this, this connection with the last person she ever imagined, this possibility of something more with a beautiful woman who cared about her, who might come to love her.
"Well," Lalisa spoke suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts. Lalisa sat up, stretching her arms and checking the clock on the nightstand. "It's time."
"Time for what?" asked Jennie.
"Today are the preparations for your birthday party," she reminded her. "You have to approve or reject the ideas from the Party Planners your father hired."
Lalisa stood up; the sheet covering her fell to the floor, revealing her firm buttocks and pale back. Jennie couldn't take her eyes off those hypnotic buttocks; her gaze traveled up her back to her shoulders; Lalisa raised her arms to stretch once more, and the muscles of her shoulder blades put on quite a show. Lalisa continued talking as she took her sweet time stretching her sore muscles.
“…I take you to your suite, you shower, you get dressed, and we go down for breakfast,” Lalisa listed.
"I don't want to have breakfast here! Hotel food is always horrible," Jennie complained as she sat on the mattress; the sheet fell to her waist, leaving her tits exposed. Lalisa let out a laugh that confused Jennie. "What?"
"And you say you're not a spoiled brat," she teased, turning around to face Jennie. Lalisa swallowed, her gaze fixing on the full breasts for a moment before returning to Jennie's eyes.
"Why don't we stop for a coffee and then I'll treat you to breakfast at a nice restaurant, huh?" Jennie stood up as Lalisa spoke; her naked body looked even more perfect in the daylight. Lalisa held her breath when Jennie stopped right in front of her.
"I don't think that's appropriate," Lalisa hesitated, speaking in barely a whisper.
"You just fucked me all night and now you're worried about going to breakfast being inappropriate?" Jennie took a step closer to Lalisa.
"Go take a shower, Jennie. We're short on time today," Lalisa had to change the subject. "And remember you have dinner with your father and the Korean investors tonight."
"Yeah, yeah. How could I forget," Jennie picked up her clothes from the night before and put them on; her bare feet and shoes in her hands, she walked to the door. "Lalisa…"
"I really enjoyed tonight, thank you."
"You don't have to say thank you, Jennie."
"Yes, I do. You were the best first time a girl could wish for." And Jennie left the room, walked down the hallway to her own room, leaving behind a happy Lalisa, but enormously uneasy about what the future might bring.
The day passed like all the others: Monotonous, boring, heavy. Lalisa took Jennie to all her commitments.
9:00 a.m. Planning her birthday party.
2:30 p.m. Back to the hotel for Jennie's private Math lesson.
5:15 p.m. Singing lessons.
7:40 p.m. Dinner with her father and the investors.
When Mr. Kim saw his daughter in that beautiful light blue dress he had chosen for her, his face lit up with joy. Although the dress was tight on her ribs and itched, Jennie felt happy seeing her father happy.
Jennie's birthday party day had arrived. She had chosen the theme, the decorations, the cake flavor, the music that would play. As well as the dress code: white clothing and a flower crown that everyone had to wear. Guests ranged from family, childhood friends, and businessmen her father had invited. Even though it was a family party, Mr. Kim couldn't miss the opportunity to close business deals at every event he had access to.
The hall was enormous, beautifully decorated with colorful flowers, elegant fabrics on the ceiling, candles on the centerpieces, lights and music that inspired dancing, delicious and expensive dishes, and an overflowing gift table, all from expensive, well-known brands, with a clear preference for Chanel, the birthday girl's favorite.
Jennie wore an off-white lace dress, a fitted corset adorned with floral patterns, opening into a wide princess skirt that fell in soft layers to the floor. Over her shoulders, she wore a semi-transparent tulle that enveloped her arms like a cloud. In her hair, she wore a crown of wildflowers intertwined in yellow, white, lilac, and light blue tones; each crown was hand-woven, a detail Jennie loved. Her makeup was subtle; she had never liked wearing much makeup.
Jennie was dancing with some friends on the central dance floor when her gaze fell on a silhouette with its back to her. In the distance, chatting with a group of men in suits, she had trouble distinguishing her, but when the woman with long black hair turned around, Jennie could finally see her face. It was Lalisa, wearing an impeccable white suit that seemed to absorb the soft light of the hall. The elegantly cut jacket fell naturally over her shoulders, perfectly matching a white button-up shirt buttoned to the neck and a matching tie, creating a refined image. The dress pants completed the outfit with discreet sophistication. The formality of the attire contrasted with the delicate crown of wildflowers resting on her head. Lalisa had followed the dress code, unlike her father and some other businessmen at the party, who, despite wearing white or cream-colored garments, ignored the number one rule of the party: wearing a flower crown.
With her hands in her pockets and a calm, almost distant expression, Lalisa chatted with the other men. Jennie felt a pang in her chest seeing Lalisa. White suited her very well, well, just like the rest of the damn colors.
Jennie thought about approaching, giving her a smile, a hug, telling her how beautiful she looked, but she knew it wouldn't be the best decision right now. She lost sight of her for the rest of the event; despite her attempts to discreetly search for her with her eyes while dancing, eating, laughing with her friends, she couldn't find her.
The cake arrived, an infinite five-story tower, completely covered in a smooth white glaze, and as the only color contrast, small red strawberries decorating each level, providing delicate points of color that stood out against the pure white of the cake.
The guests closest to the birthday girl formed a circle around the main table, surrounding Jennie, who had to step onto a wooden platform to be seen just behind the enormous cake. The rest of the guests watched from a considerable distance.
The quiet melody of the happy birthday song began, the lights dimmed, and the hall was illuminated only by the candles strategically placed throughout the venue. There were exactly 20 golden-colored candles on the top layer of the cake, illuminating Jennie's serene and joyful face.
Lalisa belonged to the group watching from afar; the woman was tall enough to see Jennie well over the heads of the other guests. She hummed the melody softly while her hands remained in her pants pockets.
And while everyone was very busy singing happy birthday to Jennie, Mr. Kim approached Lalisa from behind, standing to her left without looking at her.
"Manobal." The sudden calling of her surname caught her by surprise, but she didn't let it show.
"Mr. Kim," Lalisa replied.
"You know, I received a call from the Cheonsu Grand Hotel a few days ago," he began. "You ordered condoms to the room."
Lalisa could feel her heart sinking to the floor, her blood running cold, her stomach clenching. For a moment, she stopped breathing. He knew. Mr. Kim, her boss, knew she was a degenerate, that instead of caring for and protecting the most precious thing entrusted to her, she was fucking his daughter. She wanted to find the right words, but none existed; nothing came out of her mouth. What would happen now? Would the man sue her and make sure she spent the rest of her life in prison, or would he hire a private assassin to slit her throat for touching even a hair on his pure daughter's head? The worst-case scenario, that, that is what would happen to Lalisa Manobal.
"I have no problem with you having an active sex life, Manobal. Just try to be a little more discreet, and… not bring people to your room while my daughter sleeps just a few doors away." The man gave her a look, not threatening, nor pleased, but an empty, indecipherable look.
They made eye contact for a few seconds. Lalisa felt extreme shame, but also a complete sense of relief seeing that the man actually didn't know what had really happened that night.
"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again, I promise."
"I believe you," he pronounced firmly; he meant every word he was saying. "You are my best asset; don't make me regret entrusting my daughter's safety into your hands." Having said that, he withdrew, joining the group of people cheering and applauding as Jennie cut the enormous cake.
Lalisa stood still, her breath held, her jaw tense. Almost a week ago, she had sex with Jennie; almost a week ago, she took the virginity of her boss's daughter, in a hotel room he had paid for her. Lalisa felt like shit, the worst scum on the planet, the worst kind of person. She herself had tarnished her image, her honor, her professionalism. There was no way to restore it. Although maybe, just maybe, resigning… is an option.
The idea spun in her head for a good while, and when she seemed to have made up her mind, as if by the force of the universe, her gaze crossed with Jennie's, who was sticking her fingers into the cake to then taste it while waiters distributed cake to all the guests. Jennie, finally seeing Lalisa standing at the back of the crowd, gave her a genuine smile. Lalisa thought it was the most beautiful smile anyone had ever given her, and any idea of resigning vanished from her head.
Jennie whispered something to one of the waiters serving cake; the boy turned his head and looked at Lalisa in the distance. Lalisa was confused, but then everything made sense when the same waiter approached her and handed her a plate with cake.
"Miss Kim hopes you enjoy it," he told her, then withdrew.
Lalisa took the slice and returned her gaze to Jennie's; she smiled at her once more and then looked away.
Around 6:45 p.m., the sky turned the most romantic shade of gold, with pinkish and yellow hints; the photography and video team covering the event called Jennie for a photo session in the enormous backyard of the event hall. Jennie spent the next 50 minutes taking photos alone, with her friends, her father, and people she didn't really know or remember knowing.
At the end of this, when Jennie re-entered the hall, she noticed the lights had remained dim and the candles were the only thing illuminating the place. The music was now slow, romantic ballads, soft melodies. She didn't have much energy left in her body, and this new calm, slow environment was almost lulling her to sleep.
She decided to step away for a moment, alone and trying not to be seen; she climbed some stairs to the second floor. The hall was a kind of abandoned castle that had been maintained to be rented for events, so the decorations, the furniture, the wooden floors, and the wallpaper gave the whole place a desolate yet romantic vibe.
Jennie found a room with a balcony and peeked out to take a look; the cool night air bathed her face, and the party music reached there like a distant echo.
From below, the mansion's garden sparkled under hundreds of golden lights. Some guests laughed, cameras continued capturing moments. Everything was elegant, perfect.
Jennie rested her forearms on the railing and watched the city stretching out before her. Thousands of lights illuminated the night, as if the stars had fallen onto the streets.
"So here you were" Jennie didn't need to turn around to recognize the voice.
"Were you looking for me?" she asked with a smile.
"Right. Your job," she let out a soft laugh.
Lalisa positioned herself beside her, leaving a respectful distance between them. She had been watching over the party for hours, monitoring every move, every guest, and every possible problem.
For the first time between them, neither said anything. The wind gently stirred Jennie's hair.
"You know?" she murmured. "I always imagined turning twenty would feel different."
"I don't know. More exciting, I guess. More… important." Silence settled between them again. Jennie felt the cold night air make the skin on her neck, arms, and ankles prickle. Even though there were many people downstairs waiting for her, wanting to spend time with her, somehow Jennie preferred it here. Here with Lalisa, alone, with no one else. "What about you?"
"How do you celebrate your birthday?"
Lalisa didn't say anything at first; she stood observing the ground a few floors below, saw a couple of men smoking a cigarette and chatting, saw several children running and jumping on the grass, saw the police guards watching the entrance. Then she returned to reality.
Jennie thought it was a lie. Who doesn't celebrate their birthday? "Not even when you were a child?"
"In the orphanage… we didn't have much money," Lalisa began. "The caregiver used to make a cake. A small one. Always burnt on the edges and raw inside."
"That sounds nice," said Jennie, unable to hide a grimace of sadness, though not very noticeable.
It was strange. Downstairs, there were hundreds of people trying to impress her. Businessmen, family friends… Yet, the conversation that interested her most all night was this one.
"I think I would trade this whole party for one of those cakes."
"No, you wouldn't," Lalisa let out a small laugh.
"Yes, I would," she assured with conviction.
"You have fireworks, millions of expensive gifts, and half of Seoul downstairs."
Their gazes met. For a moment, the noise of the party seemed to fade away. Jennie felt her heart skip a little. Then, from below, an explosion of applause was heard. The fireworks show was starting. Lalisa was the first to look away to watch.
Lights of different colors, shapes, and flashes illuminated the night sky. It was a beautiful night; the stars were visible, the moon brighter than ever.
"You should go back and watch the show with the others; I'm sure your father is looking for you. Besides, all this is for you," advised the woman with long, smooth black hair that waved in the wind. Jennie looked at her, truly looked at her. Lalisa Manobal was beautiful.
"Yeah…" Neither of them moved for several seconds. "Or I could stay. We could stay."
Lalisa watched her, and although she knew it was best for them both to go down and join the others at the party, something told her to stay. They simply remained there, watching the illuminated sky, as if neither wanted to be the first to break that moment.
Then, from the dance floor, Jennie could recognize the song that was playing. Soft. Melancholic. Barely audible.
'K.' by Cigarettes After Sex.
"Your song," Lalisa mentioned in barely a whisper, still not looking at her.
"I know," Jennie smiled, but then raised an eyebrow and looked at the woman beside her. "How do you know?"
"You listen to it all the time."
"That was a very stalkerish comment for a bodyguard," she joked.
"It's literally my job to watch you," Lalisa defended herself, and Jennie burst out laughing. For a few seconds, they stood listening to the muffled music from downstairs. Then Lalisa extended a hand.
Jennie seemed hesitant at first, but no one was watching; they were alone, and it was her favorite song. The fireworks lit up the room again. Jennie looked down at the outstretched hand and took it. Lalisa immediately smiled, took her hand, and pulled her closer. The distance disappeared. Lalisa's hand found her waist with a caution that made Jennie's heart race, and the other gently held her hand.
They began to move slowly, to the rhythm of a song they could barely hear. Fireworks exploded behind them, reflecting in the window glass and bathing them in light every few seconds. Jennie rested her head on Lalisa's shoulder, felt her tense for just an instant, then relax. As if she had finally stopped fighting it.
"Do you know what I liked most about this party?" Jennie asked softly.
"No, again." Jennie lifted her head and looked her directly in the eyes. "Having escaped it to come up here with you."
For a second, Lalisa stood looking at her, so close she could distinguish every detail of her face, so close that any movement would have been dangerous. Outside, a shower of golden lights exploded over the city.
But inside this room, neither of them seemed to notice. Because for the first time since they both decided to cross that line that divided them into rich girl and just a bodyguard, for the first time, they both knew there was no turning back, and that what they had started hadn't been just a one-night thing.
