Rosé has 6 words running around in her head. Repeating themselves over and over again.

I have to talk to Wendy.

I have to talk to Wendy.

And she will. The reason might've changed a bit, but she still has to talk to Wendy.

Now it's about Lisa as well.

Even though Lisa didn't answer the question and just brushed it off with 'I'm not sure', 'I don't know', Rosé knows Lisa is fond of Ms. Kang.

And Rosé also knows that Wendy definitely has something to do with Ms. Kang.

The short glances, the proud smile upon hearing her achievements, the way she looks at Ms. Kang, didn't go unnoticed in these days. 

But why?

She knocks on Wendy's door apprehensively. It takes about 1 or 2 minutes for the older to open the door.

"Thank God chippie, you're here!" Wendy pulls Rosé in and dramatically hides behind her, clutching her shoulders. "This kid here won't stop pestering me."

"Wha- mommy, that's not true! Chaeyoung-ah, listen to us and tell us who's right."

Rosé wants to smile seeing how cute the two were, with Wendy who's literally hiding behind her like Joy would jump at her anytime, and Joy just waving her hands and explaining the situation, but she can't.

She can't just smile.

Not when so many things are occupying her mind.

"Mommy promised me she would go out, we would, just you, me and mommy, but she's saying she's busy on next Sunday. Isn't that wrong?" Joy huffs and looks at Rosé expectantly, probably waiting for her to tell Wendy that they should go out.

She doesn't want to ruin thier playful mood, but she can't just ignore her thoughts.

She's already been doing that for long enough.

"Joy could you please go out for some time, I have to talk to your mother."

She didn't want it to come out this monotonous, but it did. And it sounded rude.

But Joy just nods and picks up her phone, Rosé thinks maybe it's her face that gave it away. Her face, that was nothing but serious right now. Joy just seems to understand and walks towards the gate, but Rosé doesn't want to be rude to her, not when she did nothing wrong.

"Joy I promise you we'll go out next Sunday." Rosé manages to smile a little and wink. Joy smiles back and nods again as if encouraging her, she then leaves the room.

Leaving them alone.

"That's 7 days from now chippie, you can't just promise her like that." Wendy talks normally, like she just forgot what happened yesterday, like everything's fine, like she didn't just read Rosé's face.

But Rosé knows better.

Wendy still wants to avoid what has been happening, still wants to hide things. She thinks talking like nothing is wrong will make it better somehow.

Pushing it won't make it better, Wendy.

She turns serious again, trying to act brave, in case it's needed. But mostly to let Wendy know what she's here to talk about.

She wishes she doesn't have to say anything.

That somehow Wendy just knows.

"So, um what's up?"

"Don't, Wen. Please stop, I'm- I'm fed up now." Rosé looks at Wendy grimly.

--

Wendy knows what the chipmunk was talking about, she knows, but she chooses to ignore it.

Ignore that look on her face.  

They're just sitting there, no one says anything. Wendy doesn't want to.

And she guesses Rosé can't.

She just watches her fiddle with her fingers, sitting on the bed, contemplating on whether she should talk or not.

But she can't be this selfish, can she?

"What do you wanna talk about little chipmunk?" She says with a warm smile, and just after hearing those words, it is like that was the only thing Rosé needs to hear to gather herself back.

"You know very well, Wen."
 

I do, but I wish I didn't.
 

Wendy just looks away, she's sitting on one end of the bed, with her legs hanging on the floor, just beside the bedside table.

She flinches a little when Rosé comes and kneels down, right in front of her legs, looking up to her. The younger takes both of Wendy's hands in her own hands. Her gaze never leaving Wendy's eyes.

Suddenly, Wendy sees the other's eyes glistening. Fresh tears colouring her cheeks.

Rosé finally gives in and puts her head down in Wendy's lap, trying to hold her sobs in, sniffing.

"I-I'm.....sorry."

"What? Why?" Wendy can't be more confused, she thought Rosé was talking about yesterday, but now she's confused.

No response.

Wendy waves her hand through the other's hair, her motherly side now kicking in. She's getting more and more anxious with every second.

Rosé lifts her face and hastily wipes her tears, with saying words in between sniffs.

"No, no, I-I'm....st....strong....I...w-won't...cry."

Wendy cups the cute chipmunk's cheeks, and wipes the tears away.

She says the words she once used to say to someone else.


"Crying doesn't mean weak."


Rosé pulls away and finally regains her composure.

"Wen, I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you can't trust me, that I wasn't- I- I-"

Chippie, I trust you with my life.

"I don't understand, Rosé. What are you talking about?

The other doesn't say anything, she just looks at Wendy with an unreadable expression. She comes forward and grabs Wendy's hands again.

"Wendy, I want you to know...to know that you can trust me. Heck, it doesn't even have to be me, just someone, anyone. Just...just don't suffer alone. I'll- I'll...be here, no matter what."

Rosé wipes away the tears left on her cheek, and Wendy is finally s