The day was just equivalent to a day-old half-eaten box of lasagna. Unremarkable, but not unremarkable enough to go into the trash.

Jennie tugged at the ends of her worn-out blue cardigan, as she was on her way to the spa she worked at. As a child, she would often dream of being draped in Chanel. But she had to confront the bitter reality, where she wasn't even able to afford something adequately warm.

Min Yoongi was the only person who had the key to unlock the cage to her heart. When he left, he took the keys with him, not even sparing a thought to her caged heart, and leaving it locked forever.

In all these years that she has spent locked up, she had built stronger walls around her heart, so that no one else can ever break in and plunder of the little that's left.

She has disguised her warm self as a girl with a cold and emotionless persona. She knew that Lisa was back. But Lisa never bothered to inform her. Jennie couldn't really blame her. Lisa probably took her indifference as a sign to give her some legroom. Jennie, on the other hand, started to wonder if she really needed it. But her hypocritical self failed to provide for resoluteness.

Every time the bottled up emotions were a bit too overwhelming, she would occasionally send a concise text to Jisoo, who was more than happy to send her warm and assuring replies, and came over whenever Jennie needed her.

Her co-workers must often be under the impression of being nonchalant about everything around her, but Jennie knew that it was far from the dreadful actuality. In all honesty, she was terrified. Even the spa-owner thinks that Jennie wouldn't care if she ever fired her, but

Jennie prayed hard to whatever God was up there to keep her job safe every day.

She stalled for a second outside the spa door, before pushing her way in. The confines of the spa, which was resplendent with the chatting employees and customers was abruptly consumed by a cold and stern ambience as Jennie made her way behind the counter. While the other employees were certainly not wimps, they cannot help but wince at Jennie's demeanor which screamed solemnity.

While the other employees went back to task, she was greeted by a pretty smiling face who was making her way towards her.

"Good morning Jen!" the person said merrily.

"Mornin' Irene" Jennie mumbled as she indolently ran her fingers over the register.

"How has your day been so far?" Irene continued with courteous intents of making a small-talk, as she stacked a few lotions on the wooden grid of shelves.

"It's alright." Jennie said coldly, dismissing all hopes for a conversation. She just wanted to keep to herself for some time.

Irene is the only person at work who is amicable to Jennie, and though she'll never admit it out loud, Jennie has always been appreciative of her company. It was good to know that someone cares. Even though their conversations were merely bound to formal pleasantries, it was enough for Jennie to know that she has someone to ask her about her day.

As for Irene, she wasn't normally a very sociable person. It was unusual for her to approach others first. She had built a wall of books around her, and never felt the necessity to have any company. She was introverted, and a milder version of the 'Ice Princess' Jennie portrayed herself to be.

Irene remembers the day she saw Jennie first walk into the spa, throwing fits and tantrums over the slightest of mistakes, snapping at every unfortunate employee who dares to cross paths with her. These attributes contributed to Jennie, making her the 'lease favorite' among the employees and the spa owner. Irene abhorred people who mindlessly bossed everyone around. But she couldn't bring herself to feel the same way for Jennie.

Irene believed that Jennie did not bully others for her own amusement. She did it out of frustration. What could possibly be so wrong about her life that she had to take the pent-up pressure out on others? Why was her attitude so inconsistent, that one moment, she had to be an obsessive perfectionist, and in the other, she just stared blankly into space?

But that wasn't the most striking feature of her personality. Whenever she seemed aloof, her face was painted with an expression that might be inexplicable to others. But Irene knew that expression all too well. She had been seeing that expression every time she looked into the mirror. She seemed heart-broken, just like Irene herself used to be, and maybe still is.

The heart-broken Irene had no one by her side, no one to comfort her, to smile at her, and tell that it will be okay. Even her parents had abandoned her for being homosexual. Irene would never wish the same upon someone else. That was why she supported Jennie through thick and thin. Or at least that's what she told herself. But a part of her knew that maybe, just maybe, she was actually starting to fall for Jennie.

But Irene would never acknowledge it.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Jennie was thoroughly engrossed in making a note of the lotions and bath scrubs they were currently running out of. She looked up from the memo when she felt her phone vibrate in the pockets of her uniform. The caller was none other than Rosé. Jennie rejected the call without much debating.

She was about to deposit her phone back to its assigned pocket when a text message from Rosé popped into her screen. Curious, Jennie clicked on the text. And those three words alone shook all the tough walls Jennie had built around her heart.

Rosé:

HE is back.

ฅʕ•̫͡•ʔฅฅʕ•̫͡•ʔฅ

A/N: Yes, I low-key ship Jenrene, and I shall not be judged for that (T_T)