"How's Jennie?" Jisoo asked with a worried face.

"She's okay. I'm glad I wasn't too late or else her heart could've stopped beating"

-FLASHBACK-

Jennie's surely freaking mad at me right now. I've been gone for an hour. I can already imagine her dumpling like face with a very long devil's horn. I can't believe someone's bossing me around now. I'm such a pitiful being.

I slowly opened the door when I arrived only to find out that nobody is around. Weird. Jisoo told me that Jennie's waiting for me but there's no trace of a witch here. Woah. She even left her phone open? Ahah! This is my chance to find out what she's possibly hiding.

Let's see...

"What's this?" I was taken aback with what I've read. It was a text message from an unrestricted number. This could be just a spam, right? Jennie won't go there on her own. NO FREAKING WAY! But knowing her, SHE PROBABLY WENT THERE!

I immediately rushed to go to the stock room. Good thing I always wear sneakers at work. This makes me do my tasks comfortably.

"Yah, where are you going?" Chaeng asked when she saw me running towards her direction.

"To the old stock room!" I saw Chaeng ran after me. I hope nothing bad happens to her. Damn that girl! She's making me worry!

-END OF FLASHBACK-

"I told her not to be reckless but she's so hard-headed!" said the teary-eyed Jisoo.

"Chaeng is with her in the private room. I should go and call her parents."

"No. Don't do that. Jennie won't like it."

"Why not? It's her parents."

"Just don't. Her father would be in shock and he might really force Jennie to retire from this industry this time."

She's right. Maybe it is a bad idea to inform her parents. They might be worried sick about Jennie and it could lead to her early retirement.

"O-okay. I'll do as you say."

I woke up with a mild headache. I was in a white room. Where could this place be? This is too fancy to be a hospital. Wait...am I dead?! No way. I'm too young to die. I tried to sit and move my hand but I suddenly felt a sting.

"Easy..that needle might hurt you if you'll swing your hand like that", Chaeng said while munching some crackers.

"How did I get here?"

"Lisa saw you at the old stock room. You were almost out of breath but then she gave you a mouth to-Opps!" Rosé immediately covered her mouth. It's not what I think it is right? NO WAYYY! Damn it! My first kiss! She stole it! How can she! Urghhhh!

"W-what I'm t-trying to s-say is that.." she cleared her throat before she continued speaking "she brought you h-here. This is their hospital. You're safer here."

"Did you just say 'their hospital'?"

"No! I m-mean, her friend's hospital"

"Tell me the truth or else... I'll tell everybody who you really are" I hope this works. Pressuring someone works effectively in movies.

"N-no! I'll tell you what really happened."

Lisa will really despise me now that I've told Jennie about her real identity. I don't know if Jennie is mad either. I just can't read her expression. Arghhhh. This is driving me crazy! I must be out of my mind for giving in to her childish threat. What's done is done. I should stop stressing myself over it. Right. I should think about what should I have for dinner!

"Chaeng? Where's Jennie?"

Oh no. It's Lisa! What should I do? Should I tell her? Maybe not today? Act cool Chaeng. You can do it.

"She went home with Jisoo"

"She didn't even thank me. Such an ungrateful witch. What do I expect?"

I looked at her. There was disappointment in her eyes but there was also an expression of relief. No. I can't take this anymore. I can't keep this for long either. I should tell her now.

"Lisa-yah.." I sobbed. The guilt is killing me inside.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Jennie already knew everything about you"

"It's okay" she hugged me.

"Really? I thought you'll be mad...at me"

"Why would I? I don't plan of hiding anything anyway"

"T-thank you"

"You're cute!" she pinched my wet cheeks.

"Aww!"

"You know what? We should get going. We still have to arrange a lot of things for Jennie's special stage with Nayeon next week."

I don't know why she wants me to stay here. I just looked at Jennie who was rehearsing with Nayeon for their special stage tonight. Listening to her voice is what best defines music. The way she close her eyes while singing makes me realize how stunning she is when she's doing her sort of thing and it's kinda appealing to me.

.

What's this? Why is my heart so noisy? It's beating too loud! Goodness! Maybe I should stop eating oily food.

"Lisa? Lisa?...LISA-YAHHHH!" I was startled when I heard Jennie's irritated call. That's when I realized that they were already at the door, ready to leave while I'm still sitting here, spacing out.

"How cute" I heard Nayeon whispered.

"I'm gonna lock this door in 5, 4-" there she goes again with her despicable temper!

"I'm coming!"

Jennie hugged Nayeon before they parted ways. They must be really good friends. I let my eyes wander around and there I caught Mrs. Irinco staring at Jennie from a distance. What's with that intense stare? Wait...did she just smirked at her?

"Yah!" she poked me "don't tell me you're zoning out again?!" I unconsciously pushed Jennie a little bit hard when I noticed that she was already staring at me and her face is an inch closer to me. She was about to fall on the ground but thanks to my adroit reflexes, I managed to catch her in my arms. She slightly pushed herself away from me then she gave me a deadly glare as she fixes herself.

"You're really dead this time! Stay right where you are" Jennie said coldly. I took a step back when she took a step closer to me.

"Hey guys! What are you doing here?" Rosé said when she noticed the heavy atmosphere.

"Stay out of this Chaeng" Jennie warned her.

"Don't mind her" I teased.

"Yah! You're really a coward!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Then why are you stepping the hell back?"

"Because you're coming at me!"

"I said don't move!"

"GUYSS-!" Chaeng said with her confused face. How cute.

"Shut up!" Jennie and I said in chorus.

"Stay right where you are Lisaa! I need to beat you up!"

"Do you think I'm scared of you?!"

"Look at you stepping back, you're certainly scared of me"

"Hell, no!"

"Then stop backing off!"

"I'm not backing off! Chaeng, I'm not a coward okay?! In a count of 3, 2 - RUN!"

"You said in a count of 3!" Chaeng said while running beside me. I look back just to see Jennie's annoyed face. I guess it's another win for me. Don't get me wrong, RETREAT ISN'T DEFEAT! Sometimes running away is safer than fighting back especially if you're enemy is a witch named...Jennie Kim.

15 minutes before our performance starts. I can already hear the crowd going wild. I'm really grateful that they came. In just two minutes, the tickets were already sold out. Their support is really overwhelming.

"You changed a lot Jennie" I was startled when Mrs. Irinco appeared out of nowhere. I stayed silent.

"You fired a lot of managers who dared to touch even just a strand of your hair before, but now, I guess you're getting along just...well" she continued.

I know how she hated me so much because she almost lost her position before. It wasn't my fault though but I can't understand why she kept on taking it all out on me when she should be blaming her incompetence.

"When did you start minding my business?" I looked at her, expressionless.

"Since the day that you've become a threat to me"

"Really?" I turned to see my reflection on the mirror "you shouldn't stress yourself too much. No matter what you do, you still can't bring me down."

"Don't be so confident. I already started to move my pawns. For now, why don't you answer your phone?" I looked at my phone that was vibrating. Mrs. Irinco gave me a mysterious smile before she left me alone. My hand moved to answer the call.

"Ms. Jennie?" Nayeon's manager spoke on the other line.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry to say this but Nayeon can't make it tonight"

This can't be happening. Many are expecting to see who my special guest is. I can't afford to disappoint them. It will be a lot of loss if that happens.

"W-what?"

"We got into a little accident. Things are a bit tangled here."

"O-okay. I understand."

I got 5 more minutes left. What should I do? That special stage, it's not gonna happen now. How am I supposed to face the crowd?!

"I heard Nayeon's not coming?"

It's Lisa. I didn't notice that she's already at my back. We started walking towards the stage.

"Yeah. Maybe we should get ready for the fallbacks"

"Says who?"

"Me?"

"Oh no. Tidying things up is going to be a lot of work!"

"You're worried about work when you should worry about me. I'm gonna get a lot of backlash"

"Why would I worry about you when it's not gonna happen?" What's with her? Why is she so positive about this?

"Whatever"

I stood at the lifter. Lisa checked on me one more time. She moved closer to me then she fixed my earpiece. She looked at me in the eyes without any trace of worry. It's as if Nayeon's unexpected absence won't be a big problem to her nor to me.

"Who cares about fallbacks....if I'm willing to fallback with you?" she said with a smile of assurance painted on her face then she stepped down. I can hear my heartbeat going crazy. It was louder than the music coming from my band. It was even louder than the crowd's cheering.

"Curse you Lisa! Who gave you the permission to make me feel this way?" I mumbled.

"I can still hear you" WTF! My mouth slipped. Damn you, Lisa!

The lifter moved up. I was welcomed by an ocean of people who were screaming their hearts out. I suddenly felt bad. This many people are looking forward for the special stage... this many people will head home with disappointment.

(SOLO starts playing)

"Bi chi na nun solo" I was catching my breath when I finished the first song. The crowd screamed even louder than before. The spotlight that was pointed on me slowly fades.

"That was our very own, JENNIE KIMMMM!" the host started.

"WOOOOHHHH!"

"How's everybody feeling tonight, all right?!"

"YESSSSSS!"

"Are you ready for the special stage?!" WHAT?! I told them to cancel it! Sh*t!

"Are you ready to meet the special guest?!"

"YEAAAAAAAAH!"

"Let's witness how this guest put the stage on fire, here is LALISA MANOBAN!" Wait. LISA? Am I hearing things right now? This can't be happening, right?!

(SWALLA starts playing)

It was really Lisa, my manager. How can she perform like that? Who is she to be worthy to be my special guest? The heck?! The way she dance... she's a pro! She's like a dancing machine. Her movements are on point and her swag... I've never seen anyone danced like that before. She's just too good to be true! And the crowd...they like her?! The crowd grew even wilder. There was never a time that they stopped screaming. How can she have this strong stage presence?!

Lalisa Manoban, is this the real you?