A ROSE’S SEVEN THORNS

CHAPTER 26

“Club Can’t Even”

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE IMAGES USED

Earlier

Wheein hummed. “If that’s what floats your boat. Let’s head out~” Then she tugged her cousin out and they exited her room. Jangmi glanced down at the red wig in her hand and felt the corners of her lips lift.

Rosa was making a comeback.

•••

Jangmi stumbled out the door as a result of her older cousin shoving her.

“Auntie, Jangho, bye bye~!” Wheein said cutely as she waved. Then she skipped down the stairs of the porch, pulling her younger cousin who was stumbling and cursing under her breath. Wheein only laughed, “No swearing, Jangmi.”

Said girl finally regained her footing and allowed Wheein to continue to tug her down the street. Jangmi huffed and glared at the back of her cousin’s head. “I learned from the very best.”

“I’m the best~” Wheein agreed with a nod.

“Where are we even going?” Jangmi asked as she was pulled. “The bus stop is in the other direction you know.”

Wheein scoffed. “The bus? Puh-lease! I came here in style yo.” Then she suddenly stopped tugging Jangmi and lifted her arms up towards a nice, shiny car. “Check it out~!”

Jangmi blinked at the car before really observing it. She whistled under her breath, showing that she was impressed. Then she raised an eyebrow and asked, “Who in their right mind would give you a driving license?”

She mocked her younger cousin’s question in a funny voice, making Jangmi smirk in return. Then Wheein pointed at her cousin as a mock stern expression appeared on her face. “You better be nice or I’m not going to take you anywhere.”

I rarely go anywhere…so yeah that’ll really show me.

The only time she went out was when the boys would take her out. When she remembered that, she pushed Wheein’s finger to the side and said, “I have my own ride.”

Wheein quirked a brow as she cocked her head to the side. “Borrowing auntie’s car does not qualify as your ‘own ride’. Sorry to burst your bubble.”

Jangmi rolled her eyes playfully. “No, I’m sorry to burst yours,” Both of her cousin’s eyebrows lifted in curiosity, prompting Jangmi to continue. “Believe it or not, but I have friends who have their own cars.”

…

A beat of silence.

Then Wheein was unable to keep quiet as she burst into loud laughter, tossing her head back and moving her body around while clapping a few times.

Growing up, Jangmi found Wheein’s laughter to be contagious. Most of the times, their mothers would catch them laughing at absolutely nothing at all. They would start by laughing at one thing and then it would turn into laughing at their laughs, and then just laughing at nothing.

This time she didn’t find it to be so contagious.

Jangmi crossed her arms and gave the older girl a dark look. But still, Wheein continued to laugh. She stomped her feet and clapped as she laughed breathily. Then she finally started to calm down and was fanning herself.

“Phew, ah so funny,” She started and caught sight of Jangmi’s expression. Then her grin fell and she coughed. “Oh, you weren’t joking.” When Jangmi’s glare remained, she put her hands up, “My bad.”

“Is it really so hard to believe I have friends?” Jangmi asked her as her hands fell to her sides.

Wheein rubbed the back of her neck as she shrugged, “Jangmi-ah, it’s just that you were never really good at making friends. You mostly stuck to yourself and you talked to people, but never considered them friends.” Then she made a face as if she was annoyed by the thought, “Or you were always the third wheel to those so-called friends.” She reached over and patted Jangmi’s shoulder, “You’ve just never really clicked with anyone besides those two boys you used to hang out with.”

Jangmi took in her words and she breathed out, “Yeah I guess you’re right.” Then she clapped and moved towards the car. “Come on, let’s roll. If we’re late, I’m blaming you.”

“Leggo!” Wheein ignored her cousin’s words and cheered happily. She quickly unlocked the door and tossed Jangmi’s bag into the backseat. Then she hopped into the driver’s seat as Jangmi buckled her seatbelt.

Turning back, Jangmi placed the infamous red wig on top of her bag. As Wheein started to drive, Jangmi began fiddling around with the radio, trying to find a good station to listen to. She found one and sat back, watching her surroundings.

It was a bit strange being out and about without at least one of the guys. She was so used to them being around. Don’t get her wrong – it was nice to catch up with her cousin, but she couldn’t help but wonder what the boys were doing.

“Hey, hey, I have a question for you,” Wheein told her as her eyes flickered towards her cousin and back to the road. Jangmi made a gun with her hands and said, “Shoot.”

Slowing down at the red light, the older girl started, “I was going to ask earlier, but was in slight shock…” She paused before she continued and pressed the gas. “Who are your friends?”

“Actually,” Jangmi started with a grin. “It’s Namjoon.”

“What?” She asked, genuinely surprised. “I thought you couldn’t find him. I know we didn’t talk for a while, but last I heard both of your friends were AWOL.”

Jangmi nodded, “They were, but I found Namjoon after six months. We...met through some of his friends while I was delivering pizza.” It was the truth – you know, the incredibly censored truth. “And my other friend…well we were just recently reacquainted.”

Wheein nodded as she took a right-hand turn. Then she pressed the brakes and came to a stop before she looked at her cousin expectantly. “So…?”

“So what?” Jangmi asked, confused by the follow up question.

“So your friends are the same friends that you had when you were younger?” Wheein questioned her and then shook her head. “I’m totally glad you found them, but I thought you meant you had made more friends – not the same ones.”

She shook her head and said, “But because I found my old friend, Namjoon – I met his friends and now we’re all friends.”

“And you lived happily ever after,” Wheein cheered as she patted the steering wheel, making Jangmi chuckle. “Well then, I’m happy you’re making friends with others. And now I’ll introduce you to my friends and they’ll become your friends.” She put up her fist and said, “Lee Jangmi, you’re moving up in the world!”

She laughed at her cousin’s antics, but felt herself nodding. She was really coming out of her shell to make friends.

In school, Jangmi didn’t have many people she considered friends. She saw them as classmates and she would’ve loved to get close to them, but they never wanted the same. Or they were close for the time being and then the next year, it was like they didn’t know you. In her last year of middle school, she met two girls and they befriended her. This was after she moved to Busan, so she didn’t have Namjoon or Jiho to hang out with.

The two girls were nice, but Jangmi couldn’t help but feel like she was the odd one out. The two would always pick each other first and leave her out. At first, she didn’t mind because the next time she’d be paired with one. But that’s what they always told her – next time, next time. And every next time, she was still the third wheel.

She hated it. She didn’t understand why she was the odd one out. Yes, three was an odd number but she, Namjoon, and Jiho made it work. They were always even and fair; there was never an odd one out. She made sure to include them both equally, despite Jiho joining them late.

So friends were never a priority because she figured she’d never make ones like her Joonie and Jiji. Her mother would tell her that wasn’t a good way to think and that she should try to make friends. Jangmi decided her mother had a point, but as school went on, she never made true friends. She made acquaintances – classmates she talked to on occasion, but not enough to be called friend.

In school, she sort of avoided how alone she really was. When she was younger and still in Seoul, it was because she had Namjoon and Jiho. When she was older and now in Busan, it was because she distracted herself with family things – helping her grandparents, hanging out with Wheein whenever she could, going to Jangho’s baseball games, watching him as their mother worked her off.

It wasn’t until she came back to Seoul that she realized just how lonely she was. Namjoon and Jiho were gone and she was reminded how she had no one. Wheein hadn’t been able to contact her or visit. Sure, she had Jangho and her mother…but it wasn’t the same.

That didn’t matter anymore though. Jangmi now had people she could call friends, people she could hang out with. And her cousin was right, she would make more and hopefully they’d stay with her in the long run. Jangmi was going to finally take her mother’s advice.

“Hmm, hey, was Namjoon the one with the dimple?” Wheein asked as she turned down a street that lead to an apartment building. She pulled into the parking lot and drove to her parking space.

Jangmi nodded with a hum. “Do you remember him?”

“It’s fuzzy, but a little,” She answered back and laughed, “If I saw him now, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to recognize him though.”

Thinking of one of her childhood friend’s platinum blonde hair and his eyes lined with heavy eyeliner, she instantly agreed. How she managed to know it was him after so many years – she didn’t know. It was just a feeling.

Wheein finally parked and turned towards her cousin with a wide grin. “Are you ready to meet my friends? They’re super weird—”

“So they’re like you?” Jangmi asked with a -eating grin.

Sticking her tongue out, she said, “I was going to say you’ll all get along since you’re so similar.” Then she started laughing and Jangmi joined in. They had thought of the same joke to pull on the other.

The two cousins grabbed Jangmi’s things before walking inside the building. They quickly headed over to the elevator and pressed the button to the sixth floor. Soon enough, the elevator had reached its destination and the two exited.

Soon, they made it to apartment 618 and stopped. Before Wheein unlocked the doors, she spun around and said, “Remember my friend who I said will do your makeup?” Jangmi nodded and she continued, “Okay so I don’t know if you recall my friend from middle school…”

Jangmi’s head tilted as she tried to recall the name of her cousin’s closest friend. “Hyejin? Ahn Hyejin? Your best friend?”

Hyejin had been good friends with Wheein since middle school and their friendship was strong. And it was apparently strong enough for them to move in together. Although they had only met with each other a handful of times, Hyejin and Jangmi got along. After all, if Hyejin could handle Wheein, she most definitely could handle Jangmi.

Wheein nodded happily, giving her two thumbs up. “You remembered! Yeah well she was one of the girls I moved in with. There’s two others – they’re our unnies. The oldest is named Yongsun, a 91 liner, and the second oldest is Byul-yi, but we just call her Byul. She’s a 92 liner. Yongsun-unnie is a strange unnie and is super fun to mess with, so if someone starts something, feel free to join in~!”

Jangmi immediately knew the ‘someone’ was definitely her cousin. Wheein was always the on to start most things. She was a troll – a cute one.

Then she grinned widely, “Ready?” Jangmi nodded again and turned towards the door as Wheein began unlocking it. She slid the key out, but didn’t move to open it. Instead she turned to her cousin and said, “We have little nicknames for each other, so don’t mind that…”

Before Jangmi could think about that sentence, Wheein pushed the door open and shouted in an ugly voice that Jangmi assumed was aegyo. “Wheeinie is back~!”

Jangmi made a face at the voice and gagged.

“Wheeinie brought her cute, but not cuter than Wheein, cousin~” She continued loudly, her voice still an ugly whiny aegyo. “Greet us please!”

Jangmi closed the door as she slipped her shoes off and placed them next to several other shoes. When she looked up, she saw someone with orange hair stick their head out.

“Welcome,” A feminine voice greeted as she entered the room. She smiled politely as she walked over to the cousins. But before she could reach them, she was pushed to the side.

Jangmi's eyes widened and she moved forward as if to help the orange-haired girl, but stopped abruptly when another girl appeared.

She was around the same height as the orange-haired girl, but her hair was a pretty chocolate brown. The two were both beautiful, but what just happened just threw her off.

“Wheein-ah~~~! Hi, welcome~!” The pretty brunette ran forward and hugged her cousin tightly. Then she pulled back and held her face gently. “Aigoo, our Wheein, I'm so happy you've safely returned.” She grinned prettily and then her gaze fell on Jangmi. formed into an ‘O’ and her eyes widened, “Oh, and who is this?”

Wheein opened , but the pretty brunette pushed her away. Very similar to the way she had pushed the orange-haired woman. Then she made her way towards Jangmi.

Jangmi stepped back slightly. She did not want to end up like Wheein and the other girl.

The brunette smiled at her, “Ah hello, dongsaeng, it's so nice to meet you. I’m your unnie, Yongsun~” Then she tilted her head cutely.

…

Jangmi looked past the brunette to Wheein and said, “I get what you meant.” She was referring to how she had described her.

Wheein nodded, “Right!”

Yongsun’s eyes shot to Wheein and they narrowed, “What? Have you been telling lies about your unnie?”

“If they're referring to your strange tendencies, they're not lies,” A voice teased.

Jangmi looked towards the left and saw a tall girl, around the same height as her, with long ash brown hair.

“Yah!” Yongsun shouted as she stomped her foot. “Don't give my new dongsaeng a bad impression of me!”

Wheein appeared next to Jangmi and said with a smile, “Unnie, we wouldn't do that.” She paused before her smile turned into a smirk. “You do that yourself.”

The ash-haired and orange-haired laughed as the latter put her fist up to Wheein, who met it with glee. Yongsun pouted and turned away. This caused the ash-haired girl to move towards her and hug her. The two remaining girls quickly joined in and Jangmi could only stand there.

She felt out of place. But as she stood there, she couldn't help but think that these girls reminded her of someone. Or perhaps several someone(s). The loud, teasing nature…it was like she was with the boys. Just by looking at them, they looked like typical unnies but they turned into someone different when they started interacting with one another.

Their personalities (well what Jangmi has seen so far) matched each other very well. They were all energetic. Of course, Jangmi was sure that they had different traits that she had yet to see but this small interaction showed her that Wheein had found good people for friends. People that could match her cousin’s spirited nature.

Now Jangmi was quietly hoping she could be their friends. They were not only Wheein’s good friends (good enough for her parents to let her move to Seoul with them), but they reminded her of her favorite guys.

It had taken her a while to admit that BTS were her friends, which was an impulsive defensive mechanism, but the boys soon broke through the wall and Jangmi was happy about it. Maybe she would be able to accept Wheein’s friends easier.

“Yah,” Jangmi glanced up to see Wheein smiling at Yongsun. Her cousin hopped over to her and placed her arm through Jangmi’s, tugging her forward slightly. “Why’d you come out like that anyway, Yongsun-unnie?”

Yongsun pouted, but it didn’t last long as a smile took its place. “I just wanted to be the first one out of us to meet Wheeinie’s cousin~”

Jangmi couldn’t help but snicker softly. Yongsun reminded her of Jimin and Taehyung.

Wheein shook her head and said, “Ah, unnie, that was all for nothing. Jangmi has already met Hyejin.” Then she tilted her head and tapped her chin with her free hand. “But you did meet her before Byul-unnie, so…”

“I win!” Yongsun cheered as she jumped. Then she walked over to Jangmi and waved happily. “Hello again, Jangmi. I’m sorry if I came on a little strong.”

The ash-haired woman scoffed with a large smile playing on her lips. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned all her weight to one leg. “A little?”

“Unnie’s been like this since the beginning,” The orange-haired woman chuckled as she tossed her arms around Yongsun’s shoulders and leaned her chin against it.

“But you love me for it,” Yongsun smiled widely as she giggled cutely.

…

The remaining girls, bar Jangmi, met each other’s eyes before they simultaneously shrugged. “Tolerate is more like it.”

“Yah!”

Jangmi chuckled then she moved away from her cousin and bowed in greeting, “Hello, unnies, I’m Jangmi, Wheein’s very cute cousin. It’s very nice to meet all of you.”

“Wah, she’s