Two girls. One mission. Zero dignity.

While Jennie was enjoying one of the few quiet afternoons she'd had all week, finally catching up on her reading, her bedroom door flew open without the slightest warning.

"JENNIE!"

She jumped so hard her book nearly flew off the bed.

"Jin! Have you ever heard of knocking?"

"We don't have time for manners."

Jennie blinked, completely caught off guard.

"...What?"

Youn Jin stormed into the room like a hurricane, a towel slung over one shoulder, her hair tied up in the messiest bun imaginable, and wearing a determined expression Jennie knew all too well.

Whenever Youn Jin looked like that...

...it meant she had come up with another completely ridiculous idea.

"Enough."

"Enough of what?"

"Our love lives."

Jennie slowly closed her book.

"Our love lives?"

"Exactly. We're only young once. Life's way too short to spend it fantasizing about things that are probably never going to happen. A Prince Charming... or the mysterious owner of a nightclub nobody has ever seen suddenly showing up to ask us to marry him..."

She paused dramatically before adding, clearly amused.

"Although I still think that's a much better theory than admitting Joshua actually works there."

Jennie let out a quiet laugh.

"You're still hung up on that?"

"It was an example."

"A terrible example."

"Today, we're going to meet someone."

"...Someone?"

"People, Jennie. We're going to meet people. Give life a chance."

Jennie rested her chin on one hand.

"Jin... you're always saying half the people who hang out at Joshua's club are walking red flags."

Youn Jin fell silent for a few seconds.

**"..."

"..."

"We think Joshua's a decent guy."**

Jennie raised an eyebrow.

"Fair enough."

"So statistically, there has to be at least one more."

Jennie couldn't hold back her laughter.

Unfortunately...

That actually made perfect sense in Youn Jin's mind.

And, as ridiculous as it sounded...

...she might actually have a point.

The truth was, they simply didn't know many people outside their own circle. Joshua and Sunset hosted practically every major event in town, and whether they liked it or not, they were the best-connected people around. If you wanted to meet someone new, chances were you'd meet them at one of their parties.

Officially, that night's gathering had no special occasion. It was simply another pool party, another excuse to get everyone together. Unofficially, however, everyone knew the real reason. Marcela was back home, and Joshua seemed determined to make one thing perfectly clear to anyone paying attention: he was a committed man again. After spending nearly a year throwing himself into work, he looked like someone trying to convince the entire town—and maybe even himself—that he could finally breathe again.

The only problem was that, compared to Sarah, Laura, and even Sunset, Jennie and Youn Jin still felt like two teenage girls trying to figure out how the world worked.

Youn Jin crossed her arms and looked her friend up and down.

"Today, we're dressing like grown women."

Jennie glanced down at her outfit.

"I am a grown woman."

"You know exactly what I mean."

"Yeah, I do."

"No sneakers."

Jennie immediately looked down at her feet.

"What do you have against my sneakers?"

"They're way too comfortable."

"That's literally the entire point of sneakers."

"Exactly."

Youn Jin walked over to the closet, now fully committed to her mission.

"And none of that oversized shirt you keep wearing."

"It's comfortable too."

"I know."

"Then what's the problem?"

"The problem is that tonight you're going to make at least a tiny effort to look like you're actually interested in meeting someone."

Jennie let out a laugh.

"Jin..."

"Hm?"

"You're treating me like a Golden Retriever on its way to the groomer's."

Youn Jin paused for a second, looked at her, and broke into a satisfied smile.

"Exactly."

She grabbed a clean towel and headed for the door.

"I'm going to take a shower. When I get back, we're picking outfits, doing our makeup, fixing our hair... everything."

Before leaving, she pointed a finger at Jennie.

"And don't even think about putting those sneakers back on."

The door clicked shut.

Jennie looked at the open book lying on her bed, then down at her sneakers, and let out a long sigh.

She had a strange feeling that the night ahead held all kinds of possibilities.

Finding a boyfriend...

...probably wasn't one of them.

Compared to Sarah, Laura, and even Sunset, Jennie and Youn Jin—despite being around the same age—still felt like two kids trying to figure out how the world worked. Every now and then, that thought got to Jennie.

It never got to Youn Jin.

And because of that, she never let Jennie dwell on it either.

As they finished getting ready, Laura noticed the unusual amount of activity coming from their room and gave the door a light knock before stepping inside.

"Hey, girls... you ready?"

The moment she peeked in, her eyes traveled from head to toe between the two of them.

"Wow..."

She smiled, genuinely impressed.

"You both look gorgeous."

Jennie and Youn Jin exchanged a quick glance, clearly pleased by the compliment.

Leaning casually against the doorframe, Laura smiled.

"Waiting for someone tonight?"

Unlike the two of them, she was already dressed to welcome the guests. She wore one of her signature sequined dresses, the tiny sparkles catching the light with every movement, paired with a pair of high heels Jennie would never understand wearing inside your own house.

Jennie glanced discreetly at her own feet.

Without a doubt...

...this was the worst part of the plan.

But she'd promised Youn Jin.

"Something like that," Jin replied, holding back a laugh. "We're waiting for someone. The only problem is... we have absolutely no idea who."

Laura burst out laughing.

Jennie simply shook her head.

"I honestly don't know why I keep going along with her crazy ideas."

"Because they always turn into great stories afterward," Laura replied with a grin.

"Unfortunately... she does have a pretty solid track record."

Laura laughed again before remembering why she'd come upstairs in the first place.

"Oh... don't forget to wear your swimsuits under your clothes. It's supposed to be really hot today, and knowing Joshua, somebody's going to shove half the party into the pool before sunset."

She paused for a moment.

"People should start showing up around three. I think they invited... what, fifty people?"

Laura closed her eyes for a brief second and let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Lord, have mercy on this kitchen when it's all over."

All three of them laughed.

Before leaving, Laura pointed at them like a mother reminding her daughters of something important.

"Oh—and lock your bedroom door."

Jennie frowned.

"Do you really think someone would come in here?"

Laura raised an eyebrow.

"It's a party hosted by Joshua."

A knowing smile spread across her face.

"I wouldn't rule out anything."

Meanwhile, tucked safely inside the pocket of Joshua's swim trunks, the two new wedding bands had been there since that morning, feeling far heavier than a few grams of gold ever should.

He still didn't know if he'd have the courage to give them to Marcela... or how she'd react.

Maybe she'd refuse.

Maybe she'd cry.

Maybe she'd simply tell him it was too late.

Even so, he had to try.

After almost a year apart, all Joshua wanted was to believe there was still room for a new beginning.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, Youn Jin and Jennie had decided to tackle the night's real problem.

Their shyness.

Long before the first guest even walked through the front gate, the two of them were already halfway through their second round of drinks.

"It's strategy," Youn Jin declared, raising her glass. "After the third one, I become an excellent conversationalist."

Jennie laughed.

"After the third one, you'll start having conversations with lamp posts."

"Exactly. I'm just hoping today's conversation partner is a little better-looking."

Jennie simply shook her head before clinking her glass against Youn Jin's.

Youn Jin smiled, completely convinced she had come up with the perfect plan.

And, judging by the track record of her ideas...

...it was almost guaranteed to go horribly wrong.

Up until that moment, no one knew Joshua had bought new wedding bands.

Not even Scott.

They had been sitting in the pocket of his swim trunks since that morning, feeling far heavier than a few grams of gold ever should.

He still didn't know whether he'd have the courage to give them to Marcela, let alone how she'd react.

Maybe she'd refuse.

Maybe she'd cry.

Maybe she'd simply tell him it was too late.

Even so, he had to try.

After nearly a year apart, all Joshua wanted was to believe there was still room for a fresh start.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, Youn Jin and Jennie had decided to tackle the night's real problem.

Their shyness.

Long before the first guest even walked through the front gate, the two of them were already halfway through their second round of drinks.

"It's strategy," Youn Jin declared, raising her glass. "After the third one, I become an excellent conversationalist."

Jennie laughed.

"After the third one, you'll start talking to lamp posts."

"Exactly. I'm just hoping today's conversation partner is a little better-looking."

Jennie simply shook her head before clinking her glass against her friend's.

Youn Jin smiled, utterly convinced she had come up with the perfect plan.

And considering the success rate of her previous plans...

...it was almost certain to end in disaster.

When Youn Jin disappeared toward the bathroom for the third time that afternoon, Jennie decided to wait by the poolside bar.

Or, at least, that had been the plan.

In reality, she was simply leaning against the counter, holding the same drink she'd been nursing for several minutes while trying to convince herself that the ground wasn't actually moving.

By then, the party had completely taken over the house. Loud music, bursts of laughter, people jumping into the pool for absolutely no reason, while others danced as if no one else existed. After a few drinks to "calm her nerves," Jennie could barely tell who was who anymore. From where she stood, everyone around the pool had blurred into colorful shapes drifting back and forth.

That was when Matthew showed up.

A friend of Sunset's, he'd only stopped by the bar to grab another drink when he noticed the petite redhead concentrating with remarkable determination as she tried to drop an ice cube back into her glass.

She missed.

The ice cube landed on the counter.

Jennie stared at it for several long seconds.

Then shrugged.

Matthew couldn't help but smile.

"Everything okay over here?"

Jennie slowly looked up at him.

"Yep."

She paused.

"Absolutely."

The moment the words left her mouth, she swayed sideways and had to grab the counter to keep herself upright.

Matthew instinctively caught her by the arm.

"I think you've had a little more to drink than you meant to."

Jennie frowned, looking genuinely offended.

"I'm... not drunk."

She pointed at him with complete seriousness.

"You're the one who's... doubled."

Matthew laughed.

"Yeah... I think that confirms my theory."

Without giving it another thought, Jennie stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him.

Matthew froze.

She was unbelievably tiny compared to him.

"You smell nice..."

she mumbled, still hugging him.

Matthew looked around as if silently asking someone to rescue him.

Apparently, no one had noticed.

Well...

Almost no one.

A few feet away, Sunset and Laura were watching the whole thing unfold, thoroughly entertained.

Jennie tilted her head back to look at him.

"You're handsome."

Matthew smiled, a little embarrassed.

"Thank you."

"I think I should kiss you."

She had already started leaning in when Matthew gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Why not?"

"Because you're drunk."

Jennie pouted so dramatically that Laura had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

"But... just one little kiss..."

Matthew chuckled and shook his head.

"Tomorrow you probably won't even remember this."

Jennie seemed to consider that very carefully.

A second later, her eyes filled with tears.

"...Are you rejecting me?"

Matthew's eyes went wide.

"No! Of course not!"

"Then just one little kiss..."

Sunset, barely holding back her laughter, looked over at Laura.

Laura shrugged.

"She'll remember every second of this tomorrow."

Sunset laughed.

"Go on... she's adorable."

Matthew looked back at Jennie, who was still staring up at him with the saddest puppy-dog eyes imaginable.

He sighed.

"...Okay."

Gently cupping her face, he gave her a quick, soft kiss.

The second he pulled away, Jennie's smile lit up her entire face, like a child who had just gotten exactly what they'd wished for.

"I knew you were nice."

Matthew laughed.

"I really hope I still think that tomorrow."

...

On the other side of the house, Youn Jin finally walked out of the bathroom.

She was still fixing a few loose strands of hair when her eyes landed on Jennie.

Kissing a complete stranger.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

Blink.

Another blink.

She looked again.

"No way..."

Her best friend had been on her own for five minutes.

Five.

And she'd already found someone.

Youn Jin crossed her arms.

"Traitor."

Well...

It was officially every woman for herself now.

That was when she noticed him.

Standing on the opposite side of the pool.

Tall.

Tattooed arms.

An open shirt.

The unmistakable look of someone who probably kept therapists in business.

Youn Jin smiled to herself.

"Perfect..."

She took a deep breath.

Worked up the courage to walk across the pool and introduce herself.

The only problem...

...was that she'd spent so long staring at him that he noticed.

The moment their eyes met, Youn Jin froze.

He raised an eyebrow.

A crooked smile spread across his face.

And before she could pretend she'd been looking at literally anything else...

...he started walking straight toward her.

"Hey."

Youn Jin swallowed hard.

Suddenly...

...her perfect plan felt a whole lot scarier than it had five minutes earlier. 

 

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