“Now I know how it feels to be right,
there will be no lonely nights,
Cause love, you’re my guiding light.”
LISA
Lisa, let’s start over.
Lisa, let’s start over.
Lisa, let’s start over.
Lisa, let’s start over.
Here goes my mind again, struggling to process what I’m hearing. Did Jennie really said this in front of all the people here? Or am I just having the greatest and most realistic dream of my life?
“Oh gosh. I never thought that waiting for someone to answer you will be this nerve-wracking!” Jennie exclaimed as she let out a tensed giggle which made the crowd laugh.
“Come on Manobaaaan!”
“Say YES to our Jennie!”
“Manoban’s got tongue-tied y’all!”
“JENLISAAAAAAA!”
“I live for JENLISA!”
“I love you Jennie,” it’s the only words that I found myself saying. The students cheered again. Now louder than ever. Jennie showed her gummy smile then she throw herself to me for a hug.
“As I love you, my lilipoo.”
I wasn’t really planning to let her go yet but then she dragged me to the stage. She took her acoustic guitar and she gave me another mic.
“I…I don’t sing,” I whispered.
“Of course you do. I heard you,” Jennie winked before she faced the crowd.
“Love sometimes means breaking the status quo, and love is not necessarily directed to any gender, right?”
“RIGGGHHHHHT!”
That was the loudest response I’ve ever heard which almost wrecked my eardrums.
“Here’s another song from the newest couple in the area!”
I blushed when I heard Jennie spoke about us as a couple. It’s really tempting me to take her home and ditch this stage as quickly as possible. But before I could think of doing any mischievous things, Jennie started playing her guitar to the tune of Best Part.
The Next Day
I growled as I heard a series of buzzing from my phone. I didn’t bother knowing who’s calling because my eyes are still as heavy as heck.
“Lisa?”
“Hmm?”
“LISAAAA!” It was Jennie and her signature angry tone.
“What?” I asked while yawning.
“Where the hell are you? It’s already past 9 in the morning! You still have a booth to fix!”
Oh right. The Founding Anniversary is celebrated for three days. The second and third day are intended for the fund raising activities of every organization. Some are opening a pop-up coffee shop, some chose to build a temporary stall just to sell snacks, while others are sticking to various kinds of booths like dating booth, marriage booth, kissing booth, prison cell and many more.
“I’m coming,” I responded while rushing myself for a bath. I hurriedly went to the garage and got inside my car but when I went out, it was still dark!
That’s when I noticed that it’s only 2:30 in the morning! I immediately dialed Jennie’s number only to be welcomed by a loud laughter.
“Are you having fun? I have only slept for an hour!” I said while facepalming myself.
“That is your punishment for allowing Irene to kiss you!” she said as she ended the call.
At the University
“Change of plans. We will be resorting to the pay for a hug activity instead of doing the horror booth. The make up artist for our actors turned us down just now,” the president of our dance troupe said when we arrived.
“It’s not a bad idea though. No capital just pure man power. But who’s gonna do it?” Seulgi asked.
“Since you’re interested Seul, you’ll be the first one to sell your warm hugs. I have only chosen four who can save us from not earning anything today. Aside from Seulgi, I think Mina, Irene, and Lisa can do the job. Just post an announcement and we will be seeing people outside lining up. Let’s move!”
I was just about to object but the president walked out from the room first. Jennie will surely kill me if this comes to her knowing.
“You made up? Together?” Joohyun walked up to me.
“Y-yeah, just last night.”
“Good for you then.”
“T-thanks?”
“I was really planning to steal you if Jennie won’t dare to come out from her shell.”
“I think you can’t do that. Someone might get angry.”
“Huh? Who?” I leaned closer to her ear.
“Seulgi. I saw you making out in the dance practice room.”
“Ohmygosh! You did?”
“Yep. You should lock the door before doing something crazy okay?” I said which made Joohyun’s cheeks turn red.
“I can’t believe you caught us!”
“You better go. Someone might die out of jealousy.” I whispered when I saw Seulgi looking at us like an angry cat.
Pay For a Hug
“Are you sure I am seeing this super long line?” I asked Seulgi who just finished her designated time and is just about to leave when I realized that many people lined up just to hug me.
“Yeah. They went crazy when they heard that the amazing Manoban will be up for a hug.”
“They wasted their money just to hug me? Seriously?”
“Yes. Seriously.” Seulgi left me dumbfounded.
An Eternity Later
I badly want to sit down and just rest. I never thought that hugging almost all the population of Anwyll University will be this tiring.
“C-can I get a h-handshake instead?” a cute short girl nervously said.
“You lined up for almost an hour and paid for a hug not for a petty handshake.” I said as I tried to give her a comforting smile and hugged her close. The girl immediately ran away as if she saw a ghost behind me.
“Free hugs huh?” that voice made me want to run away too. I feel like a thief who was caught robbing a bank. I tried my best to put up my sweetest smile as I turn around just to get burn by meeting Jennie’s jaundice eyes.
“How long have you been there?” I asked while scratching my nape.
“Five minutes.”
So she was the reason why people turn right away instead of falling in line to get a hug from me?
“You’re making us go bankrupt. You’re scaring our organization’s customers.”
“Bankrupt your face! You’re banned from hugging anyone from now on.”
“B-but how about our fund raising activity? I still have 20 minutes to-“
“I’ll pay for that freaking 20 minutes!” she said as she kissed me torridly in the open area. She gave me a playful smirk when our lips parted then she strongly held my hand driving me away from the crowded place.
“Where are we going?” I asked when she pulled me somewhere. This girl has really a knack for kidnapping people.
“The director called for us.”
“Ohhh..wait. What?! The director? This school’s director?!”
“Yes. The campus director.”
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