Idols | LisRene (Revised Version)

LISA

"If you're not going to talk about what's bothering you, how am I supposed to help?" Jisoo's voice is sharp, laced with frustration.

"You have a problem, Lisa. No matter how much you deny it, it's written all over your face."

She pauses, eyes narrowing. "Is this about Jennie dating Kai again?"

I let out a sigh.

"This isn't about them. Goddamnit, will you just talk?!" Jisoo throws her hands in the air. "Am I talking to a wall? Earth to Lisa?"

And here we go again—stuck in the dorm while Jisoo nags about something I barely understand. What is she even talking about? Did Dalgom pee in her room again?

"Lalisa Manoban! Are you even listening to me?" She snaps her fingers in front of my face, jolting me back to reality.

Oh god. I thought I was just dreaming that Jisoo was talking to me. But nope. This is real. And my mind? Completely blank.

Where's Chaeng when I need her?

"Lisa!" Jisoo yells, even though we're literally face-to-face. She looks like she's about to murder me. "I've been talking for ten minutes, and you just zoned out again. For the hundredth time, what is your problem?!"

She's furious.

"I—I—I..."

Jisoo rolls her eyes. "I—I—I..." she mocks. "Spit it out. And don't even think about saying what I know you're going to say, because I'm not accepting it."

"I'm okay."

"Okay, my ass. Talk."

"I don't have a problem."

"Yeah? Because your face is telling me otherwise. Talk."

"Jisoo—"

"Talk."

"Kim Jisoo!"

Jisoo's patience snaps. "Lalisa!" Her glare sharpens, but her voice softens. "Look, Lisa. You have a problem, and it shows. Chaeyoung noticed. Jennie noticed. You've been acting weird lately. Is this about the world tour? The one Mr. Yang announced?"

I shake my head quickly. "No! Of course not! I'm excited about it. A world tour, unnie. Plus guesting in America? Who wouldn't want that?"

Jisoo studies me, scanning my face like she's searching for cracks in my lie. She sees right through me. My attempt to change the subject doesn't work.

She circles back to the same question.

"Lisa, what's wrong?"

And just like that, my mind drifts again.

Joohyun.

She's always in my head. Always.

When I told the taxi driver to keep driving, to take us anywhere, it felt like one of the happiest moments of my life.

Holding her in my arms—it was different.

So different from stepping onto a stage with thousands of fans cheering my name.

She feels different.

The way she makes me feel is completely different. It's something I can only experience when we're together—when she's close to me, holding my hand, her head resting on my shoulder, her warmth against my chest.

Joohyun makes me feel things I can't even begin to explain.

And the kiss. That simple, soft peck on my lips. That's the problem. It's still so fresh in my mind. On my lips. I can still feel the tenderness of her kiss, the way her lips brushed against mine, and how it lit up everything inside me. How it made the world feel like it was falling apart and I was powerless to stop it.