CHAPTER XX

ONE YEAR LATER

(knocks on the door)

“Coming!” Rosé shouts from the kitchen. She took off her apron and rush towards the door. She didn’t even bother to look at the monitor to see who is coming and just open the door. She gasped seeing the person in front of her.

“Hi,” the person greeted.

“Jennie unnie!!!” Rosé shouts excitedly.

“Chaeyoung-ahhhh,” Jennie also exclaimed happily and rushed to hug Rosé. “I miss you so much,” Jennie said to Rosé’s ears.

“Did you come alone?” Rosé asks as she broke the hug and signalling Jennie to come inside the house.

“Yeah, but the girls will come later,” Jennie told her as she walks inside.

“Oh- why are you coming differently?” Rosé asks.

“Because I told Lisa that we’re leaving on the 7^th but she literally translates it that we’re leaving at 7 o’clock and decided to pick up some work exactly on this date. Jisoo unnie become the victim because of the misleading information that Lisa spread. Therefore, I left alone today,” Jennie explains.

Rosé chuckles.

“So, where is my baby?” Jennie asks about Jiyeon.

“She’s at school. My mom will pick her up later and send her back home,” Rosé told Jennie and walks to the kitchen. Jennie followed her to the kitchen.

“What are you cooking?” Jennie asks again.

“Just some Korean food. I miss Korean food so suddenly,” Rosé said silently.

“Why not just come back? You can eat Korean food anytime,” Jennie said.

Rosé smiles.

“I’m happy here. It’s a bit lonely and I barely managed to survive here but I like it. I can be independent. I don’t have to trouble other people or make other people worried of me since I live here alone with Jiyeon,” Rosé said.

“Speaking of which, weren’t you saying you’re going to live with your parents?” ask Jennie.

“Hm,” Rosé replied. “But I think Jiyeon is not used to living in a strict environment like how my parents brought me up. So I bring her to live somewhere else. I don’t want her to grow up being tightly controlled. I want her to be free and do what she likes to do. Being strict is good but I think there’s a limit to it,” Rosé says.

Jennie nods, understand.

“By the way,” Jennie speaks reluctant. “Do you hear anything about him?” she asks.

Rosé stops what she was doing. She looks into the dish in front of her blankly. She shook her head slowly. Jennie Rosé’s back.

“I heard that he is now appointed as the CEO of his dad’s company. He works like crazy until he has no time to even get a proper meal. He barely gets home, quit drinking and going to the bar,” Jennie told her silently.

“Why are you telling me this?” Rosé asks. Her voice toned down as well.

“You might want to know. If you didn’t, then I won’t tell anymore,” Jennie said.

Rosé kept silent. Rosé understand Jennie’s intention was just to get her updated of Jungkook’s well-being. To be honest, deep inside her heart, she really wanted to know how he is doing. Is he doing well? Did he take proper meal? How does he look like now? Although there might not be much different from a year ago but she wanted to know so badly. But for Rosé disclosing her heart and mind for Jungkook when she knew she’s going to be hurt later is a big no. She is not ready for this again.

***

“You guys are finally here!” Rosé exclaimed as she hugs both Jisoo and Lisa at the same time once she opens the door for them.

“We miss you so much!” Jisoo and Lisa exclaimed at the same time.

“What are you doing at the door? Come in first,” Rosé’s mom shouted from inside the house. All of them laugh and walks inside and went straight to the living room.

“Jiyeon-ah!!” Lisa shouted as she walks in.

“Mommy Lili! Mommy Jichu!” Jiyeon exclaimed and run towards the two mommies that she haven’t met for a long time. She hug them so tight. “I miss you too~” Jiyeon said as they broke the hug. Jiyeon looks at them smiling widely.

“Come girls, have a seat. I’ll make you something to drink,” Rosé’s mom said. Jisoo and Lisa nods and took a seat.

“How long are you guys going to be here?” Rosé asks.

“Not long. Two days,” Jisoo told her.

Rosé frowns and pouted.

“So short?” she said.

Jisoo nods. “All of us are working on my high school friend’s wedding. Since this is our first collaboration so we wanted to really focus and work hard on it. And the wedding is coming nearer. We need to be fast,” she explains.

“But I thought mommies going to spend time with me?” Jiyeon pouted.

They chuckled.

“Jiyeon-ah, if you want to play with us, come back to Korea okay? Bring your Mommy along!” Lisa persuade her. “We can play anytime you want! I can bring you anywhere! I already bought a car recently!” Lisa excitedly told her.

Rosé widened her eyes in excitement. Glad to hear Lisa’s story.

“Lisa’s right, Chaeyoung-ah. Go back to Korea. How long are you going to stay here?” Rosé’s mom interrupted. “Come ladies, have a drink,” she invites the girls and took a sit beside Jisoo. The girls thanked her for the drink. “I know you’re not happy to stay here. You don’t like your work here. You even refuse to stay with me. If you wish to go back to Korea and continue your life there, it’s your own choice. You’re all grown up now. Your dad have no rights to control your life anymore,” her mom said.

Rosé slightly smiled.

“Speaking of which, what work are you doing here?” Jennie asks.

“She’s working with a creative planning company but all she did was assisting people in meeting, copies this and that file,” her mom nagged.

“Mom,” Rosé glares.

“Why not-” Lisa speaks. “I was just thinking, why not you come back and help us plan the wedding? I mean, we have the designer…” pointing at Jennie. “…the bakers…” eyeing Jisoo. “…and the photographer.” Lisa pointing at herself. “But we don’t have the event planner!” she exclaimed.

Rosé glares at Lisa and smirked.

“I thought Jisoo unnie said the wedding is coming nearer?” Rosé said.

“Yes it is. But we are all over the place. Everyone is so busy that we don’t even have a venue or even a plan yet. I’ve been busy designing the wedding dress, others are busy with their work as well and this is our first project together so…” Jennie holds Rosé’s hand. “…we are lacking one squad in this,” Jennie making puppy eyes and blinks her eyes several times.

Rosé sighed.

“Are you guys sure you’re not planning anything else other than the wedding? I’m afraid I might came back with full of surprises,” Rosé confirmed.

“We came here to get you back in town, we won’t be doing things to send you back here,” Lisa assures. She hold Rosé’s hand tightly.

“Okay, when is the wedding?” Rosé give in.

“In a month!” Jennie exclaimed.

“Seriously? Are you guys seriously don’t even have a venue yet when the wedding is in a month? I am speechless,” Rosé left out a heavy breath. “Wait….” Rosé eyeing each one of her friends. “You guys purposely wanted to drag me into this right? That’s why you didn’t even book a venue yet!” Rosé accused them.

They looked at each other.

“Good,” Jisoo said. “Now that you know, come back and help us!” she added. “Who knows that if this is a success, more works coming in and we can finally work things out together. Like what we’ve always wanted!”

Rosé smirked.

“Okay fine!” Rosé give in.