Jennie
All I've been able to think about for the last week is Lisa's question. I can't believe she actually wants me to move in with her. Even crazier is that I can't think of many reasons to say no. I want nothing more than to spend more time with her, especially once she starts to get busier with football. I'm terrified of pushing Rosé even further away, though. I doubt she'll accept us moving in together, and I don't want to make things worse. Even if things between me and her never get better, I don't want to be responsible for ruining Lisa's relationship with her sister.
I pause in front of Rosé's bedroom door. She's been in her room since we got back from the cabin, and I admittedly went out of my way to avoid her when I should've tried harder to make things up to her. I hesitate before knocking. I'm not surprised when she doesn't reply and open her door, my hands trembling.
"Rosé?" I murmur. She's sitting on her bed with her laptop on her lap and glares up at me.
"Get out."
She slams her laptop closed and crosses her arms. My heart is beating loudly and I'm oddly scared. I don't know what to do or say. This helplessness is killing me.
"I'm sorry," I tell her for the millionth time. Rosé rolls her eyes and looks away as though she can't even stand to look at me. "I never meant to hurt you, Rosé. I definitely never meant to break my promise. None of this was intentional. Lisa and I… it just happened."
Rosé looks at me and frowns. "Are you seriously standing there and telling me the two of you getting into a relationship just happened, like it wasn't a conscious choice you made?"
She huffs and I bite down on my lip, unsure what to say. She's right, I did choose to be with Lisa, and I did it knowing it would hurt her.
"Did lying to me just happen too? Was it fun for the two of you to sneak around, leaving me clueless? You've been going behind my back for months now, Jennie. Months. You're supposed to be my best friend, but you've been lying to my face this whole time."
I shake my head. "I never meant to, Rosé. Of course I didn't mean to do any of that. Lisa and I just wanted to be sure our relationship would last before telling you about it."
Rosé laughs and rolls her eyes. "What, so it was all for my sake? You lied to me and broke your promise for my sake?"
She looks away, disgusted. I don't even know how to defend myself, because she isn't wrong. I did do all of those things, but at the time I genuinely thought I was doing the right thing.
"Why, Jennie? Why did it have to be Lisa? I've always welcomed you with open arms. When the kids at school used to make fun of you for not having a mother, I defended you. Every Mother's Day I made sure you'd join me to buy a gift for my mom, so you wouldn't miss yours so much. When your dad was too busy to teach you how to drive, I convinced my own dad to teach you instead. I've always shared everything with you. I've invited you on every trip and we've celebrated every holiday together. Even when I was sick, I'd always make sure Lisa would take you to school or pick you up. And this is how you repay me? I asked one thing of you, Jennie. Just this one thing. All I asked was that you don't go after my sister."
I look down at my feet, my heart breaking. "Rosé, I tried. I swear I did. I never meant to fall in love with Lisa. I fought the feelings I had for longer than you can imagine. Falling for her wasn't a conscious choice. I tried to get over her for months, years even. I've been so scared to let you down or to hurt you, but not being with Lisa was tearing me apart. We're both so much happier together. I know you're worried us dating might change things or that we might break up and ruin everything, but we won't. I promise you, nothing like that will happen."
Rosé shakes her head and inhales deeply before looking up at me. "I want nothing to do with you, Jennie. I don't trust you. You're nothing but a leech — hanging onto me and sucking all the happiness out of my life. You won't stop until all I've got is yours. You've already won over my parents, and now Lisa. You play the innocent role so well that you had me fooled for years. But I see you for what you are now. You're nothing but a sad girl wishing for someone else's life. I'm done with you. I've already put in a request with USC to change roommates. I never want to see you again."
I inhale sharply, my heart clenching. I swallow hard and will myself to say something, to do something… but I can't. I can't speak another word without bursting into tears. I take a step back before turning away, a tear running down my cheek.
"Fine. I understand," I murmur. I inhale deeply and walk out of Rosé's room. I'm surprised to find Lisa standing in the hallway, a worried expression on her face. Did she see me walk into Rosé's room?
She opens her arms and I walk up to her. She closes her arms around me and hugs me. "It'll be okay," she murmurs. "Give it time, baby. Everything is going to be okay."
I shake my head and clutch her tighter. This time it won't be okay. This time things won't work out. But if being with Lisa is costing me my friendship with Rosé, then I might as well not hold back. Nothing I do or say will make her forgive me.
"I'll move in with you. If you meant it, then I'll move in with you. Rosé already put a request in to change roommates, so we don't have to if you don't want to."
Lisa pulls away and looks at me excitedly. "Of course I meant it," she says, her eyes twinkling with affection. She leans in and presses a chaste kiss on my lips. "I'd love nothing more, Minx. I'm so ready for us to do this right. I want it all with you."
I nod happily and rise to my tiptoes to kiss her cheek. "My scholarship pays for room and board costs, so I can even pay rent."
Lisa threads her hands through my hair and shakes her head. "Let's save that money for our future and for emergencies. I've got rent covered."
I nod at Lisa, my heart soaring. Our future together… I love the sound of that. "Are you sure Jaehyun will be okay with it?"
Lisa smiles at me endearingly and nods. "I wouldn't have asked you if he didn't agree. He owns the apartment as much as I do, and he's fine with it. He may have suggested he'd like some home-cooked meals, though…"
I chuckle and hug her tightly. "I'll go back with you. When you leave for summer training, I'll go back with you. I don't want to be here without you."
Lisa nods and presses a kiss on top of my head. "I'd love that, Minx."
