Expression and Vision (Jenlisa)

CHAPTER 10

The text:
Jennie: "Help me. I’m in trouble. Private room, sugar and cigarettes restaurant."

She hurriedly sent the message.

Kai leaned closer, his voice low.

"I just wanted us to have some privacy, you know? Away from all those prying eyes."

Jennie got angry as she glared and  shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"What the hell are you doing." She pushed him.

"Nothing," he said and sat back.

As the minutes passed, Kai's hand touched Jennie's arm, lingering a little too long. Jennie's heart races. She pulls her arm away subtly, but Kai doesn't take the hint. His hand moves to her thigh under the table.

Jennie's voice echoes.

"Take your hands off of me."

She checked her phone again to see if Lisa saw the message, but Kai grabbed her wrist; his grip was firm.

"Who are you texting? Let’s not be rude now, Jennie." Kai took her phone and put it on the table.

Kai leans in closer, ignoring her plea. Jennie’s breath quickens, panic setting in. She tries to pull her hand away. Kai's grip tightens, and Jennie feels tears prick at the corners of her eyes. Suddenly, her phone rings loudly.

Without reading the name on the name on the screen, she answered.

"I need to take this. It’s... it’s urgent."Jennie said, her voice trembling.

Kai hesitated for a moment before releasing her wrist. Jennie quickly answers the call, her voice barely a whisper.

"Hello," Jennie said on the phone, trying to keep calm.

"Jennie? Which room?" A firm and protective voice answered.

Jennie’s eyes widen as she recognizes the voice, her fear momentarily replaced by relief.

"Jennie tell me your room number"

"8" As she told the number, Kai grabbed her phone and smashed it on the floor.

Tears were rolling down from her eyes as she continued pleading. Kai was now pinning her on the wall. She was facing the wall, and he was kissing her neck.

Moments later, the door smashed open, and Lisa pulled Kai away from Jennie and started to punch him until he became unconscious.

Jennie turned to see Lisa running toward her, concern etched on her face. Without a word, Lisa pulls Jennie into a tight embrace, shielding her from the world.

"You’re safe now. Let’s get out of here." Lisa said softly as if Jennie was glassware and was going to shatter with only one touch.

Jennie nods, tears streaming down her face as she clings to Lisa. Together, they walk away from the restaurant, leaving the nightmare behind.

In the car, the atmosphere was heavy with the remnants of tension. The hum of the engine was the only sound as Lisa drove, her knuckles red against the steering wheel. Jennie sat beside her, staring blankly out the window, the events of the night replaying in her mind like a terrible movie she couldn’t turn off.

Lisa glanced over at Jennie, her heart aching at the sight of her friend’s tear-streaked face. She reached over, gently placing a hand on Jennie’s arm.

“You’re safe now, Jennie,”

Lisa said softly, her voice filled with a tenderness that is beyond friendship.

“He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Jennie’s eyes welled up again, but she quickly wiped the tears away, trying to steady herself.

“Thank you, Lisa,” she whispered, her voice fragile.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Lisa swallowed hard, the urge to confess her feelings bubbling up inside her, threatening to spill over. This was her chance to tell Jennie everything—how she was falling for her, how the thought of anything happening to her had torn Lisa apart. But as she looked at Jennie’s fragile state, she hesitated. Jennie had been through so much tonight. This wasn’t the time.

Instead, Lisa squeezed Jennie’s hand gently and offered a small, reassuring smile.

“Let’s just focus on getting you home and settled, okay? We’ll talk about everything else later.”

Jennie nodded, a faint smile touching her lips as she leaned back in her seat, the weight of the evening slowly starting to lift.