Chapter 3

A Rose Full of Thorns (Part 1 of 3)

 

           

Friday morning Assembly— after the announcement of the Election winners and after classes were dismissed.

 

The new elected and re-elected members of the Rose Council agreed to meet up at the Rose Mansion before proceeding home.

 

“Congratulations~~!!”, Yuri spoke as she patted everyone, stopping to pay the most attention to their newest Rose.

 

“I knew you’d make us proud!”, Sunny remarked.

 

“We knew you’d win!”, Hyoyeon and her en bouton Min said in chorus.

 

The rest of the current and re-elected Rose Council members were congratulating her one by one, some giving her a few hugs here and there.

 

“Yo Baechu! I knew you’d make it. Welcome to the Rose Council, officially.”, Chorong spoke after giving Irene a hug.

 

“Congratulations Hyun! First meeting’s on Monday next week.”, Seohyun joined.

 

“Geez Hyunnie, give Irene a break. She just got nominated.”, Yoona teased Seohyun only to get a poke on her hip.

 

“Congratulations Irene. We always knew you could do it. Finally, 3 decades of generations, this academy has finally a complete Rose Council.”, Gyuri congratulated her.

 

“Yeah. Especially that inspiring speech unnie. You we’re so cool.”, Amber added to which she gained a pat on the head and a smile from Irene.

 

“I would really like to thank that person who nominated you. If I knew her I would, but I don’t so I’ll just have to pray for them whoever they are.”, Sooyoung remarked making all of them laughed.

 

”Congratulations Irene.”, Tiffany and Jessica greeted her with a hug before they proceeded to go to their respective classes

 

“Congratulations dongsaeng.”, Taeyeon finally approach after letting everyone congratulate Irene first. The two naturally gave each other a hug making the rest smile.

 

 

“Speaking of dongsaengs. I know it’s not any of my business but we really need more members for the council, especially for the up and coming Freshman Concert at the end of this month. That only gives us a week to settle everything and fix the venue which will be held on our (school) field.  I hope you understand that this would be my last year and even though I know that I’ll be leaving this council in good hands; the last thing that I would want is to leave a half empty house. In all my years in the Rose Council, this might be the smallest population yet, with only 13 members—having only 3 en boutons.”, Gyuri finished with a deep breath.

 

 

[A/N: See Chapter 1 for reference in the current Rose Council Members]

 

 

“It’s not that I’m pressuring you guys to find your own petite seours, but the last thing that I would want is for you guys to regret the wasted years in spending time with your possible seours. That goes the same for you too my Sooyoungie. It’s about time you find yourself a seour. Especially you-- Taeyeon and Jessica. Do you guys have anyone in mind already?”

 

 

Taeyeon and Irene made eye contact, but quickly turned away from each other before the rest noticed.

 

“How ‘bout our young ones? Yoona? You know Seohyun’s already Tiffany’s petite seour already so you can’t have her anymore.”, Gyuri teased which made the rest laughed.

 

“I know unnie! And besides, I’ve never been interested in taking Seohyun as my seour!”, Yoona quickly replied, realizing too late what she had said. This made her face go entirely red as well as Seohyun who was seated quietly beside her.

 

“Oh really? So what makes you interested in Seohyun??”, Yuri teased.

 

“Yeah. Are you interested in perhaps making Seohyun your girlf-”, Yoona jumped to cover Sooyoung’s mouth before she was able to continue.

 

 

“I already asked someone unnies, but she rejected me.”, Chorong interrupted making everyone turn to her.

 

“Who?? We’ll teach her a lesson!”, Hyoyeon half-joked.

 

 “Y-yeah! Who is she to reject such honor! She’s lucky you even asked her.”, Sooyoung joined in after removing Yoona’s hand from .

 

“Her name is Jung Eun-ji, but she said she wasn’t interested in having a grand seour. Maybe she just doesn’t like me.”, Chorong said monotonously as she leaned beside her grand seour Sunny.

 

“Amber and Min?”, Gyuri asked the youngest of the bunch. Min nodded her head side ways to answer quickly. Amber followed as well, “I..” but not before making eye-contact with her grand seour Yuri who looked like who was giving her a signal to not say anything.

 

Gyuri can only let out another sigh. She looked beside her toward their newest Rose.

 

“Irene? Anyone you have in mind?”

 

“I… No one yet.”, Irene answered.

 

 

 

“Okay then.”, Gyuri startled everyone when she suddenly stood up. “I’m giving all of you an assignment. Since we already have the complete line-up for the concert, the only thing major we need to work on would be the stage and the technical set ups. As the members of the Rose Council, we have the privilege to be excused from the rest of the classes next Friday since the concert won’t be starting until 3PM. But I don’t want us to cram and get tired so I also asked the council members to be excused on Thursday but our Head Master only approved the remaining classes after lunch. Seeing as we won’t be able to finish everything by ourselves, those WITHOUT a petite seour yet need to bring someone along to help us. This is not limited to one student, you guys can bring as many as you want with the promise of declaring one of them as your petite seour by the time of the concert. ”

 

This made everyone surprised, especially Taeyeon and Irene.

 

“If you guys don’t follow the assignment, I swear I’m finally gonna tell all our unnie’s that we lack the man-power. Hyori-unnie and our other unnies have been bugging me that they’ll expect this concert to be epic since we’re the ones pioneering this. Plus, they wanna meet the ‘new members’ of the council as well—meaning your en boutons and en bouton petites.”

 

The usual tradition in welcoming the freshman was just a play done by the Rose Council members. From classic to modern plays such as Hamlet, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to Legally Blonde and to High School Musical. But given that they lack the “cast” due to their insufficient members, this year’s Rose Council led by Gyuri as planned to just organize a concert. The line-up of the concert goes from their academy’s own performing clubs (choir, band, dance, and theater), freshman representatives from each class section, student bands, indie bands, performance from the Rose Council, and a guest band/performer.

 

 

After their meeting from the Rose Mansion ended the members who lived in the dormitory—Taeyeon, Tiffany, Sunny, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Amber, and Min said their goodbyes to those going back to their homes. Irene didn’t notice she was already left walking alone as Yoona and Seohyun’s house were on the other direction. But as she was drowned in her own thoughts she was startled yet again by the ever withstanding Kang Seulgi already waiting for her by the gates.

 

She reacted by gently punching Seulgi on her shoulder. “Yah! Why do you always surprise me!”

 

“I wanted to congratulate you.”, Seulgi gave out a pout.

 

Irene couldn’t help but smile. “Yah. I didn’t see you during the announcement of the winners. Where were you?” Irene ended by unconsciously giving a pout towards Seulgi. This made the younger one bite her lips with how the older one is acting so unremarkably cute for her liking.

 

“Uh, well you see.. I got sent to the.. clinic? I.. I wasn’t feeling well so.. I’m really sorry.”, Seulgi lied through her breath since she was actually sent to detention. Although she was able to enter the dorms two days ago, she was caught by the CCTV and was called by Mr. Yoo, their Head Master. She was reprimanded, but good thing her Dad was good friends with him.

 

Irene let out her own breath, feeling bad for the young one.

 

“Thank you Seul-”, Irene got cut off when Seulgi lifted her again through a hug.

 

“See! I knew you could do it!”

 

“My Rose Burgundy!!”, they were both laughing until they heard someone beside them.

 

“Ehem.”

 

“Yah, Seulgi, you Bear! Let me down, NOW!”, Irene’s threat went to waste as she spoke through her giggles.

 

 

“Ehem! EHEM! EHEM!!!”

 

“YAHH!!”

 

“U-u-unnie!”, Irene’s eyes bulged form her sockets as she saw Taeyeon with her arms crossed, not looking pleased by their body contact. Irene immediately gave Seulgi pat on her shoulder to let her down to which the younger one complied but not before raising her eyebrows at the one who interrupted their moment.

 

 

“What are you guys doing?”, Taeyeon questioned firmly. This actually startled Irene a bit due to how high Teayeon’s voice came out.

 

“U-unnie.. We’re just.. Uhm.. We’re just-”

 

“We we’re HUGGING just a while ago shorty. Not until you ruined the moment that is.”. Seulgi bravely answered with irritation on her voice.

 

“Yah, Seulgi!”, Irene turned to Seulgi, beyond startled with how the younger one addressed their senior.

 

Taeyeon swore she felt her right eye blinking involuntarily. “YAH.” She retorted with authority against the freshman; trying to make up for the lack of her height by raising her chin towards the younger girl.

 

Seulgi did not back off the challenge as she moved forward to raise her own chin against the shorter but older girl.

 

Irene would have been laughing because of the image Seulgi and Taeyeon were depicting, but seeing as how they looked like they were about to beat each other, she just opted to neutralize the two chodings.

 

“You guys. STOP!”, Irene went in between them both holding their shoulders to stop them from their stupidity.

 

 

 

Taeyeon flipped her hair and turned to properly face Irene. “Hmpf! Anyway, my donsaeng, I forgot to tell you that Boa-unnie called me yesterday and invited me over to have lunch over at your house. To catch up, since you know, we do owe her.” This made Irene and Taeyeon giggle remembering their ‘ice cream date’.

 

 “Tch.”, a quiet remark from Seulgi was still heard as she let out an eye-roll towards the shorty who was leaving her completely out of the conversation on purpose.

 

“Is that all you wanted to say?? Geez, you could’ve just texted her that. Way to ruin the moment.”, Seulgi interrupted.

 

“Seulgi.”, Irene went to face Seulgi to give her a stern look asking her to just keep quiet.

 

“Brat.”, Taeyeon muttered which surprised Irene since this was the first time she saw her Taeyeon-unnie acting brash towards someone, and a freshman nonetheless.

 

“Anyway, that’s all. SORRY to ruin the MOMENT. Or whatever that was. Psh.”, Taeyeon ended by rolling her eyes towards Seulgi.

 

“God, you’re so immature.”, Seulgi muttered.

 

Irene was torn between looking back and forth at the two.

 

“If you guys are done silently fighting each other, I’m going home now.”, Irene bit her lip as she wanted to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.

 

 

“Wait!!”, both Seulgi and Taeyeon said, making them face each other again. Only this time, it was Seulgi who was able to recover quickly and catch up with Irene. “Hey, wait up. I was gonna ask if I can.. maybe walk you home again?”, Seulgi let out a charming smile to which resulted to Irene’s blushing face.

 

Irene looked back at Taeyeon before muttering goodbye and finally giving a shy nod towards Seulgi.

 

 

Just as Seulgi and Irene passed by the gates, footsteps and someone panting interrupted them once again.

 

“Now that I thought about it. Maybe I can walk my dongsaeng home too, seeing as it’s already a Friday. Plus, our curfews not until 7PM, [fake coughs] unlike them freshmen.”, Taeyeon spoke.

 

Irene can only look back at Seulgi who was already gritting her teeth.

 

Oh, this is gonna be a long day. Irene thought.

 

Kill me. Kill me now. Seulgi thought.

 

If you think you can make a move over my dongsaeng, you stubborn bear, then you thought wrong. Over my dead body. Taeyeon spoke through her mind, ending with an imaginary evil laugh.

 

 

 

 

To say that it was the most awkward walk back home Irene had ever experience, was spot-on. The two kept tripping each other ‘accidentally’ or were hitting each other behind her, and even fighting over her attention.

 

 

Irene couldn’t be more relieved once they reach the front of their gates.

 

“Hey, isn’t that your Mom?”, Seulgi pointed towards a woman who was sitting by the front porch of Irene’s home.

 

“Auntie?” “Unnie?”, Irene and Taeyeon said at the same time.

 

The woman stood up as they got near. The more they walked, the more Seulgi recognized the familiar girl. Oh, it was her.

 

“Auntie Boa!”, Irene didn’t hesitate to latch herself towards the older woman. With Taeyeon following behind her with a smile and a confused bear lagging behind.

 

“My dongsaengs!”, Boa cooed.

 

“I- I thought we wouldn’t be seeing each other until tomorrow?”, Irene asked after she broke from their hug.

 

“We got dismissed early from our last period. I figured I’d wait for you here since Dad’s not home from work yet… Yah, Kim Taeyeon. Aren’t you gonna greet your grand seour?”, Boa cooed again.

 

Taeyeon looked at the bear beside her who suddenly turned shy. Before slowly proceeding to hug her unnie. “I missed you so much Taenggu.”, Boa said as she kissed Taeyeon’s head. Taeyeon couldn’t help but smile back and tighten the hug because she felt the same.

 

Irene got caught up with the smiling. She turned to look at Seulgi who was standing there awkwardly.

 

“Auntie.. This is Seulgi. Kang Seulgi.”, Irene shyly introduced the youngest one. Her act instantly gave Seulgi a reason to smile with how cute Irene was acting. But their short interaction didn’t go unnoticed by the two older women.

 

“Oh. Nice to meet you Kang Seulgi. I’ve been hearing a lot about you.”, Boa smirked making the freshman gulp. But in reality, they've already met each other a few times.

 

 

 

Once they got comfortable around the living room, or to be specific, just Boa since she was the only one sitting comfortably over the single-person couch while the three young ones where seated in bigger couch beside her with Irene down at the middle; they continued their conversation.

 

“So, Kang Seulgi. Already freshman I assume?”, Boa started.

 

“Hmm? O-oh.”, Seulgi nodded meekly earning her a glare from the two older girls sitting on her left.

 

“What?”, she muttered. This left Taeyeon to roll her eyes at her while going back to lean by the couch with her arms-crossed.

 

“Greet her properly you bear.”, Irene whispered, causing Seulgi to stand up instantly.

 

“Oh. Uh, sorry for not introducing myself properly sunbaenim. My name is Kang Seulgi from class 7A. Nice to meet you Cream- no.. Green Rose?- uh-”

 

Taeyeon let out a fake cough to catch Seulgi’s attention and pointed towards herself.

 

“Oh yeah! Sorry, uh.. Nice to meet you Red Rose Kwon Boa- sunbaenim.”, Seulgi bowed once again before being signaled to sit back down and release the breath she’d been holding.

 

Irene let out a giggle thinking how cute Seulgi was acting, while Taeyeon just covered her face with a hand while nodding her head sideways in embarrassment.

 

 

“So how come you guys are together?”, Boa questioned.

 

“I-”

 

“We-”

 

“Uhm-”

 

The three young ones didn’t know how to start or where to begin with until Seulgi finally had the guts to speak. “Well, I was gonna walk Irene-ssi home, Boa-sunbaenim. That is, not until we were interrupted by this shorty over here.” Irene and Taeyeon both turned their heads to look at Seulgi only to receive a bored shrug.

 

 

“You guys are so cute together!”, Boa clapped as she let out all the laughter she’d been trying hide.

 

“Us??”, Taeyeon and Seulgi spoke at the same time causing Irene to blush and just hide her face in her hands.

 

The whole scenario was like ‘meet-the-in-laws’. With Boa acting as the kind mother throwing questions and sharing stories to Seulgi here and there, while Taeyeon acted as the grumpy protective father of Irene.

 

But as they went on, the conversations got lighter as Boa led it. Sharing stories back when she was still in high school and her memories with her dongsaengs. Apart from that, she had also opened up her relationship with Irene; how they we’re blood-related.

 

Just when Taeyeon and Seulgi were about to go back to the school, Irene’s parents suddenly came home hand in hand.

 

“Oh, I didn’t know our bunny brought over some of her friends.”, Irene’s Dad spoke.

 

“Umma, Appa.”, Irene immediately stood up and went to greet her parents with Boa following her behind.

 

“Unnie, Oppa.”, Boa followed.

 

“Ouch.”, Seulgi rubbed the back of her head when she got a smack from Taeyeon indicating her to stand up too and greet Irene’s parents.

 

 

“A new friend of our baby bunny? Who might this charming young lady be.”, Irene’s Mom questioned this time.

 

Seulgi wasn’t able to contain her giggle as she heard Irene’s nickname.

 

“Seulgi?”, It was Boa who signaled for Seulgi to greet this time.

 

“Oh, right. Mr. and Mrs. Bae. My name is Kang Seulgi of class 7A. A friend of your lovely bunny.”, Seulgi ended with a charming smile making all of them laugh with the exception of a blushing bunny.

 

 

Taeyeon and Seulgi ended up staying for a few more minutes to have dinner with the family and catch up with Irene’s parents as well. Since Irene’s Mom was also a high school graduate of Rose Academy, she ended up sharing stories of her memories. But sadly she was one of the unlucky few who graduated without a petite seour.

 

“It was really regretful. I was so focused in my studies that I forgot about building that relationship. It was one of the things I’d like to change about my past if I can go back. Although I had a close-knit group of friends, having someone to call as your dongsaeng is remarkable… But hey, God does find a way to let things fall into place. Since the day I graduated, I found out my mother had given birth to my baby sister.” Irene’s Mom smiled beside her and gave a pat on Boa’s head.

 

“How about my bunny? Do you have anyone in mind to be your petite seour? Seulgi perhaps?”

 

Irene was startled with her Mom’s question that she ended up choking on what she was chewing. Seulgi seeing this quickly grabbed a glass of water for Irene to drink while she gently patted the older girl’s back.

 

“You two look perfect together.”, Irene’s Mom smiled at their interaction. Even Boa and Taeyeon failed to hide their smile.

 

“I don’t think I'm rightful as Irene-ssi's petite seour.", Seulgi smiled while letting out lazy smile towards Irene. "I'd rather be just someone close to her. That's enough for me."

 

Taeyeon failed to hide her embarrassment for the younger dongsaeng as Irene let out another coughing fit surprised once again towards Seulgi's remarks.

 

Boa and Irene's parents failed to hide their smile at the obvious crush Seulgi seemed to harbour for Irene.

"Now that I look at it, Kang Seulgi right? Are you perhaps related to Kang Sangwoo.", it was Irene's Dad who spoke this time.

"Y-yes Sir. He's my father.", Seulgi instantly confirmed although her nervousness towards Irene's father was apparent.

 

"Would you look at that Yeobo. What a small world… You know your Dad is a good friend of me and my wife here. We we’re school mates back in college." Irene's Dad smiled.

"Wait, wouldn't that mean that you and Taeyeonnie are step-sisters?" Irene's Mom added both startling the three youngest ones at the sudden information.

 

"Ah, yes Auntie." Taeyeon let out with a breath when her secret was exposed.

"Wow, this really is a small world right Yeobo?", Irene's Mom smiled as she looked beside her husband not realizing she made things awkward between Irene and the two 'step-sisters'.

 

“We’ll if our bun-”

“Umma-”, Irene interrupted her Mom from mentioning her embarrassing nickname.

“Fine. If our Irene here would do take Seulgi as here petite seour then that would make her and Taeyeon Rose dongsaengs too.”

Irene’s parents we’re quick to assume that Taeyeon and Irene we’re already seour, seeing as Taeyeon was the only ‘Unnie’ and sunbaenim aside from Boa that Irene talks about. Plus, with Taeyeon being the petite seour and en bouton of Boa, she naturally became known and close to Irene’s parents too. Especially with her own parents not around.

 

 

Seulgi was startled, especially Taeyeon and Irene knowing well-enough that Taeyeon still hasn’t made the move to ask Irene as her petite seour.

Taeyeon was quick to lie even before one of her dongsaengs denied the false assumption from Irene’s Mom. “Yes Auntie.. Unfortunately..” She finished off with a quiet joke making the parents laugh.

I never expected you to be a good liar. Seulgi thought through her gritted teeth.

As much as Taeyeon was an expert in hiding her emotions, Boa saw through Irene’s crest-fallen face and Seulgi’s baffled and furrowed expression. Boa ended up nodding her head sideways, seemingly very disappointed in Taeyeon.

You’re still very good in hiding your emotions my dongsaeng. Boa recited in her mind. She swore to herself that she needs to have a long talk with Taeyeon later.

 

Before things turned awkward and the adults notice the uprising tension between the teens, Boa just initiated to speak for all her dongsaengs, “Thanks for the dinner Unnie and Oppa. Unforetunately, we have to go now, Taeyeon and Seulgi have a school curfew.”

Unfortunate for Boa but lucky for Taeyeon, Boa’s father (the step-father of Irene’s Mom) called her to say that he was going to drop by to just pick her up, this would prevent Taeyeon from her expected confrontation with her Boa-unnie.

 

Boa and Irene ended up walking Taeyeon and Seulgi to the door, with Irene and Seulgi lagging behind.

Irene and Taeyeon were unable to look at each other since they said their goodbye’s to Irene’s parents, making Boa’s assumptions correct.

 

“Hey… Are you okay?”, Seulgi looked beside her. Irene nodded quietly to confirm.

“You know you’re not really a good liar.”, Seulgi smiled while reaching out for Irene’s hand.

Irene let out a sigh, “I wish I was.” She tightened her grip with Seulgi.

 

Boa and Taeyeon heard Seulgi and Irene’s  conversation clearly, as quiet as they made it sound. Taeyeon felt Boa looking towards her so she just opted to look at the ground as they made their way to the front gates.

 

“B-bye u-unnie.. And t-thanks for the dinner dong- Irene..”, Taeyeon said softly. Boa pulled her in a short embrace whispering, “You and I need to have a talk tomorrow.”

“Y-yeah. Take care.”, Irene muttered, unable to acknowledge her sunbaenim-dongsaeng relationship anymore.

“So! This was nice. Meeting the parents and all.”, Seulgi joked, trying to make the atmosphere lighter. “This Shorty-unnie and I will be running along now.” Seulgi continued while locking her arm around Taeyeon’s neck, silently comforting the older one.

“Stay beautiful Boa-unnie.”, Seulgi added with a wink. Finally making everyone giggle momentarily.

“You.. Uh..”, Seulgi quickly let go of Taeyeon to give Irene a brief hug, surprising the rest.

“See you in school, yeah?”, Seulgi whispered just before Irene returned the hug.

 

 

Seulgi ended up dragging Taeyeon with an arm on around neck once again as they finally left the Bae residences.

 

Just when the two step-sister made their way around the corner block did Seulgi tighten her hold to a light-choke hold while messing Taeyeon’s hair with her other hand.

“YAAHHH!”

“God, unnie! Why the hell did you have to say that?!”, Seulgi retorted after letting go of Taeyeon who was already fuming.

“Why the hall would you care?!”, Taeyeon replied with equal vigor.

“Because I do!”, Seulgi shouted this time.

“ If you haven’t noticed I really like Irene! And- and I can’t stand seeing her hurt.. You better make things straight! You danshin.”

Before Taeyeon was able to reply, Seulgi made a run for it before shouting back, “We only have 5 minutes before 7(PM)!”

 

Taeyeon was left to sigh for herself before running to follow Seulgi with all her short legs’ might.

“Yah Kang Seulgi, you brat! Wait for your unnie!”, Taeyeon said.