Guilty As Sin? (JenniexFemreader)

“Oh, great. Look who’s back after all these years.” Lisa scoffed, rolling her eyes before lifting her glass again. The bitterness of the drink clung to her tongue, fueling the bite in her voice. “Who even invited her?”

The words rippled through the group like a small shockwave. Chairs shifted, glances flicked across the room, and for a moment no one breathed. Then, almost as one, their eyes found the figure standing in the distance—the face they hadn’t seen in so long, one that had only ever existed on glowing phone screens and curated social media posts.

A hush settled, heavy and awkward. Memories stirred in each of them—good and bad—and no one knew what to say.

Jennie’s gaze lingered longer than the others. She felt her chest tighten, her pulse stumble. Beneath the table, her fingers curled into her palm. Years of silence, of unspoken questions, unraveled in a single heartbeat. She had told herself this moment would never come. And yet, here she was.

“I invited her.” Jisoo’s sigh broke the silence, laced with both patience and warning. She fixed Lisa with a glare sharp enough to cut through the tension. “And you—shut up. Don’t make her feel unwelcome.”

Lisa arched a brow, but before she could reply, Rosé blurted, “Oh, I thought Jennie—ow!” Her words ended in a sharp yelp as Jisoo’s foot connected with her shin beneath the table. Rosé winced, clutching her leg, but the pointed look Jisoo gave her said enough.

Jennie laughed softly, the sound small but genuine, cutting through the uneasy air. The group’s eyes flicked toward her, waiting, watching. She looked back at them briefly, then let her gaze drift once more to the figure across the room.

“I didn’t think she’d come,” Jennie murmured. Her voice was quieter now, almost tender, as if meant only for herself. “She’s always been busy… far away.” Their eyes met then—hers and the newcomer’s—and the room seemed to fall away. There was something unspoken in the way Jennie looked at her, a mixture of longing, forgiveness, and an ache she hadn’t let herself feel until this moment. “But we’re still friends.”

Lisa gave a dry laugh, shaking her head. “Really? That’s rich.” She leaned back, her drink sloshing as she gestured loosely toward Jennie. “She abandoned us, Jen. Ghosted the group like we never mattered. And she always does it—every time she falls into some relationship, poof, we stop existing. And you still—what? Call her a friend?”

Her words were heavy, and though some part of the group silently agreed, no one dared to speak it aloud.

Jennie’s expression hardened. She stood, chair legs scraping faintly against the floor. “Will you shut up, Lisa? Save it for later.” Her eyes swept over the table, frustration flashing across her face. “I’m going to welcome her back. The rest of you can sit here and stew if that’s what you’d rather do.”

And with that, she walked away, leaving the group tangled in their own unspoken thoughts—resentment, curiosity, and the undeniable sting of being left behind.

The moment Jennie’s feet carried her closer, her heart thundered against her chest, each beat loud enough that she swore the whole room could hear it. She hadn’t seen this woman in years, and yet here she was, only a few steps away. Jennie forced herself to keep her composure. She had to. That was the role she had always played in their group—the cool, intimidating one, the sexy one. And sometimes, when she wanted to, the playful one too.

So she inhaled deeply, gathering every ounce of her practiced poise, before finally closing the last bit of distance. A grin broke across her face, her trademark gummy smile lighting up her features as she threw her arms wide.

“Oh my, Y/N! Is that really you?” Jennie squealed, her voice brimming with joy. Without another thought, she practically bounced forward, launching herself into Y/N’s arms.

The taller woman staggered, startled by the sudden weight against her, but managed to catch Jennie’s smaller frame. And for that brief moment, as Jennie pressed into her embrace, warmth flooded through her. It was the kind of warmth she had been craving for so long, the kind only Y/N had ever given her.

Why did you have to leave me? the thought slipped unbidden into Jennie’s mind, sharp enough to sting.

But before she could cling tighter, before she could lose herself in the comfort she had been starving for, Y/N pulled away.

That smile. Jennie’s heart softened at the sight of Y/N’s welcoming grin. It was good to know she wasn’t awkward, not anymore. That familiar ease—the comforting presence of an old friend—washed over Jennie. Some things, it seemed, never changed.

“Jennie? Is that really you?” Y/N’s voice carried disbelief as she reached for Jennie’s hand, giving it a gentle spin as though showing her off. “Wow, look at you. If you hadn’t spoken, I would’ve thought I was standing in front of a celebrity.” Her teasing tone drew a laugh from Jennie, who tucked her hair neatly over one shoulder, accepting the compliment with playful grace.

“Am I still pretty?” Jennie asked, her eyes sparkling as she punctuated the question with a wink. The satisfaction that bloomed in her chest when she caught the faint flush rising on Y/N’s cheeks was almost too sweet to hide. “Mmm, well?” She giggled, tilting her head. “I’ll take that as a yes!”

Y/N’s lips curled into a nervous smile as she averted her gaze, letting it wander for a moment before sweeping across the room. Her eyes found the familiar group waiting at the table.

“Y/N!” Jisoo’s voice rang out, full of cheer, as she waved both arms high. “Come here, baby!”

Y/N took the chance to slip past Jennie, though not without offering her a small smile and a subtle tilt of her head, urging her to follow so they could join the others.

Jennie’s smile faltered. For a fleeting second, something hollow pressed into her chest. Was she avoiding me? The feeling wasn’t new—it had lingered even before—but the question gnawed louder now. Why does she keep pulling away?

“It’s been a goddamn decade! Welcome back!” Jisoo’s laughter cut through the silence, her hand already stretching out with a glass of alcohol as if nothing had changed. Rosé chimed in quickly, snatching up a bite of food and holding it to Y/N’s lips in a playful gesture. Y/N laughed, reluctantly accepting, and the table’s energy erupted into warm, chaotic cheer.

Jennie soon slipped into the mix, taking her own drink. She stole glances at Y/N every time the moment allowed, her chest tightening with the familiar ache. God, I missed her so much.

When Rosé shifted closer to Jisoo, Jennie seized the moment, sliding into the empty spot beside Y/N without hesitation. The laughter around them swelled, memories of college spilling out like an untamed flood. Jennie let herself bask in it, the sound of her friends’ voices and Y/N’s laughter weaving a thread of nostalgia she’d almost forgotten.

Lisa, however, stayed silent. She hadn’t looked at Y/N once, her face carefully blank. The others hardly noticed until Rosé, still giggling, nudged her shoulder.

“Hey, remember when you and Y/N nearly made that professor pass out? He was furious ‘cause you two were running down the hallway.” Rosé could barely get the words out between bursts of laughter. Jennie and Jisoo joined in, their shoulders shaking at the memory.

Y/N’s eyes flicked to Lisa. The humor faltered in her chest, replaced by a pang of guilt. She knew Lisa hated her—and the worst part was, Y/N couldn’t even deny she’d given her reason to.

“We were… laughing at his bald head,” Y/N admitted softly, lips twitching into a small smile as the memory played out in her mind. “He was sitting right in front of us at the library, and we tried so hard not to laugh, but—”

“You guys have fun.”

Lisa’s voice cut sharp, abrupt. She stood, snatching her coat from the back of her chair.

“I’m done for today.”

The laughter around the table died instantly, leaving behind a silence that pressed heavier than anything Y/N could remember.

Y/N and the others watched silently as Lisa disappeared through the door, her absence leaving behind a faint heaviness that clung to the table. Rosé, on the other hand—her cheeks already tinged pink from too much wine—cupped her hands around her mouth and booed dramatically in Lisa’s direction.

“Yah! Leave, then!” she slurred, wobbling slightly in her chair. “That’s all you ever do. Leave! But hey, you’ll come back. You always come back. We’re family, aren’t we? So happy we’re having this reunion and Lisa just leav—mfhmfff—”

Her words vanished into incoherent sounds as Jisoo, quick as lightning, shoved a piece of food into Rosé’s mouth. The blonde blinked, then chewed obediently as if the interruption were perfectly natural.

“That’s right, baby. No more dramatic speeches.” Jisoo laughed, watching Rosé munch happily. “Don’t talk about people leaving, just enjoy the night.” She ruffled Rosé’s hair before bouncing to her feet. “Come on, let’s dance. Maybe I’ll even find you someone to hook up with.”

Jisoo tugged Rosé’s arm, pulling her toward the dance floor as Rosé stumbled after her without protest, laughter bubbling between them. Just before disappearing into the crowd, Jisoo cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the table, her eyes flicking knowingly between Y/N and Jennie.

“We’ll be right back, guys!” she called, her voice sing-song, before she and Rosé melted into the pulse of music and flashing lights.

Now, only Jennie and Y/N remained.

A quiet moment lingered between them, the kind that seemed to stretch far longer than it should. Jennie let her gaze wander to Y/N’s profile, watching the curve of her jaw as she reached for her drink. Propping her elbow on the table, Jennie rested her cheek lazily against her hand, eyes never straying from her as she took a slow sip.

“So,” she finally broke the silence, her voice smooth, though her heart was anything but steady, “how are you?” The question had been resting on her tongue since the moment Y/N appeared. “I saw your last post back in… July, I think? Then when I searched for your page again, it was gone. Did you deactivate it?”

Her tone was casual, but the curiosity laced within it made Y/N blink, caught off guard. For a heartbeat, she looked almost startled before letting out a small laugh.

“Wait—were you stalking me?” she teased, her words light, though they carried a nervous edge, as if trying to ease the weight of something unspoken between them.

Jennie chuckled, shaking her head lightly. “You can call it stalking,” she admitted, her lips curving into a small smile. “Or maybe I was just… looking out for you. Can’t blame me for that.”

She raised her glass again, taking another sip, then lowered it slowly, her eyes locking onto Y/N’s. Her voice softened, dipped almost into a whisper, her gaze piercing in a way that made the air between them feel heavy.

“It was the only way I could hear from you,” Jennie said, “and the only way I could see how you were doing.”

“I…” Y/N broke eye contact, her gaze falling to the glass in her hand. The nervous energy she thought she had buried returned the moment Jennie’s eyes lingered too long. It was the same nervousness she had tried so hard to avoid all evening. She drew in a deep breath, steadying herself, and swirled the liquid in her glass as though it held the courage she needed.

“Well… do you want to hear the bad part?” she asked, forcing a casual lilt into her tone, as if this were nothing more than light conversation.

Jennie arched a brow, lips tugging into a small smile. “Oh, man. Here I was hoping I’d get to hear the best part.” She gave a quick laugh, then leaned closer, her voice gentler. “Kidding. Just tell me. Did something happen?” She shifted her body toward Y/N, signaling with every inch that her full attention was hers alone. “What happened in London?”

The mention of the city made Y/N inhale sharply. She kept her eyes fixed anywhere but on Jennie—the table, her glass, the blurred lights of the bar. Anything to drown out the thunder of her heartbeat and the faint, intoxicating scent of Jennie’s perfume wrapping itself around her. She pushed the thoughts aside, burying them where they belonged.

Clearing her throat, she finally spoke. “Well, to make it short… Han and I broke up.” Her voice was even, though the words landed heavy in the air. “She met someone else. A pretty good-looking guy. Richer than me. Stable. Handsome. Confident. Family-oriented too.” Y/N’s lips curled into something between a smile and a grimace as she lifted her drink for another sip.

“And… they got married. Just like that.”

“Damn…” Jennie’s eyes widened, a sigh slipping past her lips in disbelief. “That bitch…” The words carried quiet annoyance, almost a growl, and when she glanced back at Y/N, the woman was laughing softly.

“Hey, it’s just one side of the story.” Y/N narrowed her eyes with a crooked smile, trying to pass it off as a joke. “Aren’t you going to ask what I did to make her cheat on me?” But even as the words left her mouth, regret sank in. She wished she could take them back. She was glad Jennie didn't push it and ask more questions about it.

Jennie huffed, folding her arms across her chest, her posture firm as though ready to defend her. “Well, did you do something to her?” Her tone was sharp, but the softness in her eyes betrayed her. “I know you. You’ve always been the loyal, faithful one. That’s why you disappear on us whenever you’re in a relationship.” She leaned in slightly, her voice gentling. “And I’m not saying that to make you feel guilty.”

Y/N let her head tilt back, staring up at the ceiling lights before shaking it with a weary laugh. “About that… I really am sorry for ghosting you guys.” Her gaze shifted to the colorful party lights above them, her expression shadowed by guilt. “I was just… being careful. Han was jealous. I didn’t want her to think I was cheating on her. She was always so sensitive. But you all knew that already.” Her voice wavered, quieter now. “And I know it’s not enough of an excuse to leave you, to vanish, and then come back like nothing happened.”

The weight of her guilt seemed to press down on her shoulders, heavy and suffocating. Jennie’s heart clenched at the sight. Without hesitation, she reached out, her hand sliding gently over Y/N’s. Her thumb brushed slowly against her skin, the soft caress pulling Y/N’s gaze back to her.

And when their eyes met, Y/N saw it—the rare, tender smile Jennie offered, one she didn’t show often. It was warm, grounding, and disarming all at once.

“Y/N… just breathe, okay?” Jennie murmured, her voice steady, her touch firm yet gentle.

“Still, I am sorry.” Y/N finally let herself acknowledge Jennie’s touch, her fingers curling back around the smaller hand in a gentle squeeze. “I still need to say sorry to you.”

“It’s okay,” Jennie murmured.

“And I need to apologize to Jisoo.”

“You can do that tomorrow. They’re still partying.”

“Rosé and Lisa too… oh, gosh, Lisa…” Y/N sighed, guilt pricking at her again. “I need to apologize to all of you.”

Jennie crossed her arms with a playful hum. “Mmm, you can do that tomorrow. They’re busy right now.” Her lips curved into a giggle, and she punctuated it with a wink. “It’s just you and me. You’re stuck with me, so stop worrying for now.”

She grabbed her glass and tipped it back, deliberately emptying the last of her drink. When she lowered it again, her expression had shifted, softened but edged with something more vulnerable.

“But I have to tell you this now.” Jennie leaned in, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. A faint blush dusted her cheeks as the words slipped out. “If you’re going to leave me again… I mean, us…” She caught herself, but it was too late. She pressed on anyway. “I’m going to hate you forever.”

“Hey—” Y/N started, startled by the quiet weight in her voice.

“I mean it,” Jennie cut in, her gaze holding firm, her tone carrying both warning and plea.

Y/N slowly nodded, though her mind caught on the way Jennie was looking at her. There was something lingering in Jennie’s gaze—something that made her chest tighten—but she brushed it off. It’s just my imagination. Jennie’s a close friend. It’s natural for her to show that kind of emotion. After all, it wasn’t right of me to leave a friend like that.

“Okay. I promise.” Y/N shifted in her seat, turning her body toward Jennie to give her assurance.

Jennie wasn’t convinced so easily. She leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing as she gave Y/N a skeptical look. “How would I believe that? How do I know it’s true?”

“Because…” Y/N took in a steadying breath, her tone quiet but firm. “I’m not planning to enter another relationship again. I’m going to focus on myself. No love. Just me, myself, and I.” She let out a small laugh as if to lighten the weight of her words, before adding, “And you—you’re going to help me not fall in love so easily.”

Jennie froze for a fraction of a second. Her lips curled into a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes the way it usually did. “Right,” she said softly, almost too softly, before forcing a playful lilt back into her tone. “Guess I’ll be your bodyguard against heartbreak, huh?” She raised her glass as if to make it a joke, but her gaze lingered on Y/N longer than it should have—caught somewhere between amusement and something unspoken.

“Yes. You know what happens when I get into a relationship.” Y/N sighed, almost laughing at herself. “I hate it too sometimes. I need to work on that. So, I’m not going to enter a new one until I fix the problem. You’re going to help me, right?” She looked at Jennie with hopeful eyes.

Jennie wasn’t sure if Y/N was joking or being dead serious, so she gave her an amused look.

“Yah!” Jennie said, reaching over to pinch her shoulder just like she used to back in the day. “You’re too old for me to babysit you! You know how to control your own feelings. I don’t wanna get blamed in the end. I’m just here to give you advice—and maybe a few other things—but that’s it!”

Y/N laughed, rubbing the spot where Jennie had pinched her. “You never changed. Still so easy to annoy.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, but the corner of her lips tugged upward, betraying the fondness she tried to mask.

“How about you?” Y/N asked, turning the tables with a serious tone. “Still no boyfriend? If you say no, I won’t believe it.”

“Nope.” Jennie replied with a sassy tilt in her voice. “No one’s been attractive enough to catch my attention—or my love.” She swirled her drink absentmindedly, suddenly not interested in finishing it.

“What? Why? You’re lying.” Y/N teased, leaning closer as if to catch her off guard.

Jennie only shook her head, proud of her answer.

“I don’t fall that easily—”

“Hey!” Y/N cut in with a playful warning, laughing.

Jennie lifted her hands in surrender, laughing too. “I’m not attacking you! I’m just saying—it’s me. I don’t fall so easily. I really don’t know why.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, shrugging lightly.

“Mmm, maybe you just need a little help. I can fix that.” Y/N smirked confidently, earning a soft chuckle from Jennie.

“Ah, no, I’m good.” Jennie giggled.

“Wow, ouch. You don’t trust me?” Y/N pushed, unable to stop smiling at Jennie’s laughter. It felt so good to see her like this again.

“I do… just not in this department.” Jennie shook her head, amused. “No offense.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Y/N sighed dramatically, though her eyes lingered on Jennie’s glowing smile. “I guess it makes sense, coming from someone who fails at relationships.”

Jennie gave her a look but said nothing. Silence briefly settled between them until their gazes drifted toward Jisoo and Rosé on the dance floor, now laughing and dancing with two strangers.

Y/N and Jennie caught each other’s eyes again and broke into laughter.

“Wanna get out of here?” Jennie asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the party noise.

Y/N chuckled. “Are we seriously going to leave those two behind?” At first, she thought Jennie was joking—until she saw the look in her eyes.

“Yes,” Jennie whispered, so soft Y/N had to lean closer to catch it. Her eyes flickered downward, brushing past Y/N’s lips before returning to her gaze. “I don’t have my car, though. Can you drive us somewhere quiet?”

Y/N hesitated only for a beat before nodding. “Yes… but only if I get to ask you a few questions.”

Jennie tilted her head with a mock-serious expression. “Mmm, knowing you, it’ll be a ton of them. What’s the first one?”

Y/N didn’t even need to think. “Are you afraid of falling in love?”

Jennie froze, her smile softening as the weight of the question sank in. She didn’t answer right away, only looked at Y/N with a complicated expression. Then, instead of responding, she stood, grabbed her bag, and gave a small smile.

“Let’s go. Maybe I’ll tell you on the way.”

The two of them walked out together, leaving the noisy bar behind as the night air wrapped around them.

But as they slipped into the car and the quiet settled in, the question still hung heavily between them.