previously: the gang had been on a day outing, starting with the rollerskating rink. jensoo are official and everyone and their mother now knows. chaelisa said i love you.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, if you excluded all the ruckus that Lisa, Somi, Jisoo and Ella caused between them during the visit to the aquarium that had Irene at her wits' end while Rosé merely followed them around, smiling as she snapped pictures:
Lisa piggybacking Ella as they wandered around through the dimly lit corridors awash with blue light and solemnly discussing the manta rays that looked like Mr Ray, Nemo's teacher from Finding Nemo;
Somi and Lisa bickering over whether the specimen in view was a shark whale or a whale shark and then betting each other and ended up looking glum when the attendant informed them it was in fact a beluga whale;
Lisa and Jisoo's impromptu penguin waddle dance that earned the group weird looks and guffaws from onlookers as well as exasperated clucks from mothers with kids who immediately tried to mimic them;
a very reluctant Irene being forced into a shark onesie alongside Jennie and being immediately inundated with kids demanding to take pictures with them, thinking they were the aquarium mascots. The culprits (Lisa, Somi and Jisoo) looked on gleefully;
Ella and Somi wearing matching head bands and throwing up peace signs, Lisa and Jisoo photobombing them from behind, pulling zany faces;
Jisoo and Jennie contentedly walking arm in arm, conversing quietly and showing off their matching fish tattoos that they got painted on their hands;
Irene's face scrunched up in a grimace as Lisa and Somi kissed her cheek from either side;
Lisa and Ella playing a clapping game with Somi when they were in queue;
Jennie and Jisoo posing in front of the penguin tank, the turtle tank, the shark thank, the manta ray tank, the dolphin tank and many other tanks;
Lisa listening intently when the aquarium attendant answered Ella's inquiry about dolphins' bedtime habits;
(Rosé's personal favourite): several snaps of Lisa and herself sneaking a private kiss in the penguin observation dome, surrounded only by inquisitive penguins watching them have a quick makeout session away from the rest of their group;
Jisoo and Jennie performing a little skit for Ella in the souvenir shop where they pretended to have a pair of cuddly soft toys cling to their arms, unable to let go ("stroke them El, maybe they'll fall asleep—aha! Great teamwork!)
All in all, it was a fun afternoon well-spent, and the group was also quite spent with all the walking and touring and laughing, arms chock-full of aquarium souvenirs and soft-toys as they piled into Jisoo's SUV.
"Next stop: Everland!" Lisa announced from her seat next to Rosé, bouncing excitedly along with Ella as Jisoo drove. "I wanna go on all the rides!"
"All of them?" Jennie arched a brow in the overhead mirror. "Even the T-Express one? The one that goes super fast and makes you throw up?"
"I heard it goes so fast that some people leave half of their souls behind," Jisoo said solemnly.
Lisa blanched. "Well uh..."
"Chicken," Somi snickered.
Lisa's nostrils flared as she rounded on Somi. "Oh it's on, you little brat! I bet—"
"No more bets," Irene said firmly. "Pipe down and take a nap. Save your energies for later."
Lisa and Somi immediately took her up on the suggestion, vowing to sleep and recharge in order to beat out each other at all the games they intended to play later at the theme park.
"You'd make a good mother, Irene," Rosé chuckled at length with Lisa passed out next to her and Ella sleeping in her lap. Somi had her headphones on in the seat in front of them, head lolling against the headrest.
"I just manage to convince them to shut up sometimes," Irene sighed. Her face softened when Lisa snuggled closer to Rosé, watching as Rosé tenderly brushed some stray tendrils of hair away from her face.
"I'm really glad Lisa got to know you," Irene said and she gestured at Ella, "this might not be my place to say but...I think you three look good together. Like a little family. It's natural, like it was meant to be that way."
Rosé blushed. "Thank you. Lisa means a lot to me. I...I love her."
Irene smiled. "Does she know?"
Rosé returned the smile with a shy one of her own. "Yes. I told her today, but she told me first."
She remembered their confession that very same morning in the kitchen, how Lisa's eyes shone and how she picked her up and whirled her out of happiness. She wanted to see that happy glint in Lisa's eye, always.
"I could tell something was different. She was sticking closer to you than usual and sneaking little hugs and cheek kisses when she thought we weren't looking," Irene said, sounding wistful.
"You were spying on us, unnie," Rosé said playfully.
"Guess so. Got to pass the time somehow." Irene sighed. "I miss Seulgi."
"It must be hard hanging out with us. I hope you're not feeling too left out," Rosé said sympathetically but Irene shook her head.
"It's alright. It's good to get a break from each other too, make sure we're not being too co-dependant. After all, we're our own person. But I...I still miss her. We don't even have be to talking all the time. Even if she were to be just here holding my hand, it would be enough."
"Would you like to hold mine and pretend it's Seulgi?" Rosé joked.
Irene's mouth quirked at the corner. "No offence but your hand is too smooth to be Seulgi's. You wouldn't believe the amount of calluses and blisters she got from all her PFB training."
"Oh trust me I know, I got Lisa..."
They kept chatting intermittently, talking about their respective relationship and sharing anecdotes with each other.
Rosé couldn't believe there was a time when Irene used to judge her for her teenage pregnancy because now they spoke like old friends laughing about their respective girlfriends and sharing fond moments.
Like the time Irene came home from work and found Seulgi had slaved away all day in the kitchen to make her the perfect dinner from scratch.
A happy, sweaty Seulgi with sizeable stains on her clothes greeted her at the door with a cat under either arm (because she didn't trust them not to ruin her masterpiece set on the table with candles) and showed her the amazing spread she had prepared to show off her prowess in cooking under Irene's tutelage.
"I rewarded her well afterwards, of course, in the shower and in bed," Irene giggled, blushing like a school girl, "we complement each other. She helps me in areas I'm unfamiliar with, and I do the same."
"That's really sweet."
"It's how relationships work, isn't it?"
This story reminded Rosé of her own promise for Lisa. They hadn't spoken about sleeping together again, hadn't really found time to discuss the issue properly since Rosé came in late and mornings would be hectic waking up to prepare Ella for music school.
But that didn't mean that Rosé stopped thinking about it, anticipation buzzing in her veins and making her rein in her desire at ungodly hours of the morning when she'd be roused by Lisa's breath crashing too close against her sensitive neck, or Lisa's body pinning her down as Lisa slept obliviously on Rosé's chest, the aching need to be touched leaving her unable to sleep as she did her utmost to banish the heat pooling down south.
It was close to torture, wanting very much to have Lisa entirely, to touch her and worship her and shower her with adoring kisses, yet having to put on the brakes for the time being, waiting patiently for Lisa to catch up.
"You haven't done it yet, have you?" Irene whispered.
"Unnie!" Rosé blinked at her, wide-eyed and hurriedly glanced in Jennie and Jisoo's direction up front, but those two were too busy talking or else too busy holding hands.
She would never had guessed that stiff, straight-laced Jennie could turn into such an effusive person just because of another girl.
Then again, Jisoo must have worked miracles to get to this point.
"No, we haven't," Rosé said softly. "Lisa...she wants to take it slow."
"It's great that she's being so serious about you instead of messing around like she did with her groupies," Irene nodded, "I approve. Besides, you have a lot of time to get to know each other until you feel truly ready. Everyone has their own time. But I'm assuming you're rather...frustrated?"
Rosé was quiet for a few moments, watching the landscape change as skyscrapers towered above them then shrank as they drove on through traffic. The sun was thankfully hiding behind some clouds, otherwise the muggy heat would be unbearable.
"Can I ask about you and Seulgi?"
"Of course."
"Uhm...when did you..."
Though Irene was now decidedly more open than before to discuss such private matters candidly, she still blushed.
"Well...I mean, I think you know by now that the thing about sleeping with someone like that...you know I had my ideas and beliefs."
When Rosé nodded, Irene continued. "I'm not saying I threw those beliefs away entirely. They're still what made me. I still don't agree with one night stands. I still don't like the idea of young people hanging out at bars. I still don't approve of teenagers sleeping together—no offence, Rosé."
"It's okay, I understand and I fully agree."
"But the thing is...I think when you meet someone you like and you're in a steady enough relationship, you might be willing to be more flexible about your beliefs."
"How do you mean?"
"I'm saying, you talk about what you want and see if they meet you half-way to compromise. I think if you're both mature adults ready to go to the next step, you'll know."
Irene smiled down at her lap. "Ddeulgi came up to me one day some weeks ago. She said, Hyun, sit down. So I did. And then she said, we need to talk. And I was a bit apprehensive at first but she sat down next to me, cupped my face and said, I want you to know that I'll wait for you as long as it takes but whenever you're ready, I'm ready for you, because I want you.
"Her major worry was that, in telling me, she worried that I'd be forcing myself to sleep with her because I felt guilty. It had taken her a lot of courage to step up and speak so frankly like that. I had noticed her fidgeting all week."
She turned to Rosé with a smile. "It was enough for me. She had informed me she was ready and I know her enough to know she was never going to pressure me like that. Not my Seulgi. But the truth was, I had been trying to think of a way to ask her as well. Because I wanted to go for the next step in our relationship too, I just didn't know how."
"What did you do?"
"I told Seulgi, I want you too, but I want our first time to be special and perfect. And Seulgi smiled at me and said, special how? And it struck me then. What did I even mean, special and perfect?
"I'm not one for romantic gestures or setting the atmosphere like rose petals on bed or scented candles. Yes they all sound nice but...none of that even registered in my head when I thought of Seulgi and I together.
"So Seulgi smiled and said, you know my idea of perfect? Just you and me together, and all the time in the world. And that can be any time we say so."
"That's really sweet," Rosé said wistfully and Irene smiled in agreement.
"And it hit me then, that I was just looking for a fantasy. Waiting for the perfect moment would be ridiculous. There is no fantasy perfect moment, with romantic candlelight and rose petals. There is do or don't.
"The perfect moment is when you both want to be together, and that can be any time available. Although not out in public," she added hastily making Rosé chuckle, "that's one other thing I can't picture...." she broke off with a shudder.
"Thank you," Rosé said, "I needed that. Lisa...is my first real relationship. I'm still learning how to go about it."
"My advice? Just tell her, like Seulgi did with me," Irene said sagely. "If you talk, I'm sure you'll get a better idea of whether Lisa is ready or needs some more time. Just make sure you don't push her. And...just be there for her."
"Always," Rosé said hoarsely, interlacing her fingers with Lisa's.
>
"One fish-cake to go, with extra sauce just like her highness requested," Jisoo said over the noisy screams coming from the rides as she arrived next to Jennie. She chuckled as she flicked the panda ears Jennie wore, matching her own.
"Oh thanks," Jennie said absently, taking the fishcake. Her eyes were on Lisa, Rosé and Ella on the merry-go-round, while Somi and Irene had gone to get candy (or rather, Somi had dragged Irene to buy her candy).
It was a balmy summer night, with fairy lights and powerful spotlights illuminating the park as people and families milled about, eating or laughing as they played games or queued up for the rides.
"They seem to be having fun." Jisoo pointed at Lisa and Ella as they laughed and threw their hands up, with Rosé in between them, snapping pictures. "Have you decided what to ride next? We already did the Turbo Twister and the Pancake Flip, what say we give the T-Express a go for real?"
"Yeah sounds good."
Jisoo looked at her girlfriend. "Or I can go jump off the Mountain Coaster, that ought to be a thrill, especially if I get a matching cast with Lisa."
"Yeah, cool."
"Hmm, you know what, maybe I'll go on the Spinning Tops, I feel like puking up everything again."
"Yeah sure."
"Jendeukie, what is it?" Jisoo asked softly. Jennie blinked and turned to face Jisoo hastily.
"Oh n-nothing, sorry I blanked out. You were saying?"
When Jisoo simply kept staring at her, Jennie's shoulders slumped.
"I'm just...keeping an eye out, that's all," she said quietly. She gestured at the busy park. "I really don't want to be paranoid but...someone could be following us around."
She fidgeted some more and when Jisoo went to take her hand, she flinched. Jisoo tried not to feel hurt by that reaction.
"I'm sorry. It's unreasonable of me to do that when I was okay earlier," Jennie said, firmly taking Jisoo's hand of her own accord and squeezing tightly. "But...maybe I didn't think this through properly when I announced that we're together. I...I just was so irritated."
"Jen, just because now our friends know we're together doesn't mean we have to be all showy in public, you know."
"I know. But I also know that you like it when I hold your hand or kiss your cheek like this," Jennie smiled as she leaned in and kissed Jisoo's cheek, who blinked in surprise. "Who am I to deny you such pleasures?"
Jisoo bit her lip to hide her grin, failing miserably.
It was true, she had been secretly envious of Rosé and Lisa's freedom to kiss whenever and in front of whoever they pleased, able to casually touch or be intimate if they so wished.
Though Jisoo hadn't minded keeping her relationship with Jennie secret, the more time passed the more she longed to walk in the street and hold her hand, or kiss her when Jennie smiled, or hug her and pull her close, or wrap her arms around Jennie's waist from behind.
She was free to do all that now, except for the fear of being spotted by some bigot, or seen by the source of Jennie's fear...
"I just don't want anything bad happening to you because of whoever is out there," Jennie said softly, "because they'll know you're with me now if they see us like this. And maybe I should have thought more about that earlier but I wanted that girl to bug off and leave you alone. And I want people to know that we're together because I'm proud that you're my girlfriend, Chu."
"Even though I dumped my shaved ice on that attendant creep at the Ferris Wheel?"
"Especially because you did that. He had it coming and he deserved worse for being a perv."
"Got us banned from the ride though. And my bingsu," Jisoo said dolefully.
"Who cares about some ride? And I'll buy you some more bingsu." Jennie rubbed her thumb in circles over Jisoo's knuckles. "Your knack of spilling things saved the day and that's worth any crummy ride. If Lisa was around, I'm sure she'd have punched him into next Sunday for trying to catch a peek at my chest."
"I would have punched him too, if you didn't hold me back. Nobody gets to treat my girl like that," Jisoo muttered but a smile took over her face when Jennie chuckled.
"Easy there, Rocky," Jennie snickered, "or I'll replace you with Lisa in the ring."
"I'll have you know I throw a mean punch."
"For a limp noodle, sure."
"Hey!"
She let it slide, partly because it was true and partly because hearing Jennie's giggle was music to her ears.
She was determined to have her laugh somehow and seemed to be inching towards that goal little by little each day as Jennie's chuckles and giggles grew gradually louder.
The moment passed however as Jennie soon settled back in a pensive mood, scanning their surroundings restlessly. Jisoo nudged her, reluctant to have Jennie clam up on her again.
"Who is out there, Jen?" she asked tentatively. Jennie's face betrayed nothing but Jisoo had gotten to know her well enough to read her eyes, and she saw a glimmer of fear.
"I'm not sure," Jennie said tightly and looked away. "But I can definitely tell you that it's not me they're interested in..."
Jisoo followed her gaze, landing on Lisa who was hollering at the top of her lungs while Rosé laughed and Ella yelled with her.
Jisoo squeezed Jennie's hand. "Jennie, please...I can help. I want to help, that's why I'm meeting with Jinyoung tomorrow, right? I won't leave, no matter what it is. If it's some mafia thing or loan sharks or—"
"I told you, I never went to loan sharks," Jennie said sharply, her voice ringing with warning.
Jisoo wilted. "Sorry..."
Jennie didn't say anything else but she didn't let go of Jisoo's hand. If anything she squeezed tighter, silently begging Jisoo to stay, making Jisoo inwardly cheer up.
Jennie lashed out out of fear, not malice, which Jisoo could take. It was only the fact that Jennie didn't fully lean on her, always keeping her guard up without trusting that had Jisoo saddened, because she thought she had done all she could to earn Jennie's trust.
"It's okay," Jisoo said softly, in answer. "I never meant to imply that you did but I should have watched myself better. Sorry for that. I just...want to keep you safe."
Jennie looked at her thoughtfully for a long moment then wordlessly stepped up in front of her, her shoulders hunched as though squaring up for battle.
"Hug me," Jennie said, voice terse. Her eyes never looked away, challenging in their intensity, as though she had stepped out of her clothes and now waited for Jisoo to join her.
Jisoo didn't pause to question: she put down her food on a nearby bench and wrapped her arms around Jennie, holding her close and relishing her fragrance, the curves of her body pressing against her, her scent beneath it all that Jisoo had gotten to know so intimately.
Jennie didn't react at first, keeping stiff as a board but then she thawed like ice, leaning her face closer next to Jisoo's with stray locks of hair tickling Jisoo's cheek.
Jisoo's heart fluttered when she felt Jennie's hands skimming the band of her jeans, but the circumstances didn't call for excitement. Jennie's movements were pondering and careful, as though Jisoo would shatter to dust in her hands.
And it suddenly struck Jisoo that this was the first time they were hugging publicly.
Yes they had bumped cheeks and brushed chaste cheek kisses and strolled arm-in-arm, but hugging felt like a far louder declaration of their status, to everybody and nobody at the same time.
Jisoo couldn't help the uncontrollable fondness that swelled in her chest for her fearful yet determined girlfriend.
"I'm safe," Jennie said softly next to Jisoo's ear and leaned against her shoulder, nestling cosily in the crook of her neck like she did when they were locked away in the bedroom.
Jisoo swore softly, making Jennie chuckle.
Unbeknown to them, hidden away from the glaring lights, a camera aimed directly at the pair clicked once, twice.
>
"Yikes, I think I'm getting old," Lisa huffed, bent over her knees as she held her back with Ella still sitting astride her. "Alright, off you get kiddo. Piggyback ride is over."
"Already?" Ella said sadly, pouting.
Lisa crouched down in front of her, in full view of Rosé and made a big show of secretly passing Ella some money bills and putting her finger up to her lips to indicate secrecy, which had Ella perk up.
"Go to the others and play games for a bit. We're gonna have a quick break."
"To kiss?"
Rosé flushed but Lisa merely laughed. "Amongst other things."
Ella took her cue and quickly left with the money, skipping up to Somi who grinned and sent a thumbs-up their way when Ella handed her the money.
"Smart girl, our Ella," Lisa grinned and Rosé agreed, loving the way Lisa referred to Ella as their kid. She could get used to that.
Lisa flopped down in the seat next to Rosé, away from the hustle and bustle of the theme park. She looked to the side at her patient girlfriend, waiting for her with a cloud of candyfloss in either hand and the softest expression on her face.
"For me?"
Rosé nodded, her smile tender. "Just for you, baby. You deserve it."
"Aww, thank you!" Lisa happily took her candyfloss and started tearing into it. "Gosh, Nini is gonna have me benching for days to get rid of all the sugar I ate today."
"Ah ah ah," Rosé giggled, putting a finger to Lisa's lips and pausing her candy devouring frenzy, "we agreed no health talk today. It's a cheat day so enjoy it while you can. I know I will."
"You sure did! I like a girl who pays so much attention to her burger to the point that I felt left out."
"I have you every day, babe. I have burgers once a month."
Lisa gripped her heart. "Ouch, darling, that was lethal."
"Should I kiss it better?"
"How daring of you, but you know I'd never say no."
"You like it."
"I love you," Lisa winked and Rosé blushed, unable to quip back other than a soft: "I love you too."
It was almost unfair how a small simple statement left her reeling but she couldn't complain, not when it came to Lisa.
They both sat quietly enjoying their candyfloss and each other's company while Ella and the others were pre-occupied with winning a game across from them. Cries of frustration or cheers of jubilation broke out at intervals from the group while Rosé and Lisa bet on who was winning.
Rosé turned to watch Lisa's profile, loving the soft smile that curved her girlfriend's lips as she watched Ella high-five Somi.
"What are you thinking?"
Lisa turned to look at her, eyes deep and dark. "That I'm so lucky to have you, and Ella and everyone. It's been a blast, starting from this morning with...you know," she said, suddenly turning shy. "I want to keep this memory forever."
Rosé smiled and sidled closer, laying her head on Lisa's shoulder. "Ditto. I'm lucky too," she sighed, humming contentedly when Lisa nuzzled her lightly.
She felt comfortable enough to be closer to Lisa out in the open even though they could be potentially spotted, but she deemed it safe enough—they were a little ways away from all the light and noise.
Few people came walking around this area except for the odd couple now and then seeking some privacy, like themselves.
Jennie's report of a car that seemed to be consistently in the neighbourhood had Rosé on high alert, guarded about kissing Lisa anywhere near the windows and double-checking their distance any time they walked outside together.
She also made sure to always follow a little while after Lisa when going out of the condo, never walking together unless Ella was with them.
She had been right not to trust Yang and she intended on getting to the bottom of this new development in his repertoire of tactics to intimidate her, maybe confront him about it tomorrow before her gig.
Nerve-wracking though it might be, she was banking on her fury at his blatant disregard of his word to help her face him.
Deep down, she worried that he was keeping close watch because of his suspicious interest in Lisa and her apparent connection to Tiger King, which had her torn more than ever over confessing everything, especially with how her relationship was going so well.
"I love you," Rosé blurted out of nowhere, because now she could say it freely instead of imagining it in her head.
She interlocked their fingers together and Lisa rubbed her thumb over Rosé's hand, making the skin heat up on contact. She shivered beneath Lisa's fond gaze.
"I love you too, baby," Lisa said then sighed.
Rosé raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound very enthusiastic."
"I just...in movies, this would be the perfect time to kiss," Lisa began. "We confessed our feelings this morning, we're having a romantic moment away from everyone else...but I don't want to upset you or endanger you in any way."
"Is this about the car Jennie saw watching the condo?" Rosé asked carefully, trepidation making a home in her heart.
"Yes...and more..."
"More? What do you mean exactly, more?"
Lisa fidgeted absentmindedly, stroking her pink cast. "There's some things in my past that I haven't...properly explained before."
Rosé tensed, waiting on edge. She had suspected as much, especially with the way Lisa and Jennie always skirted around their childhood during the twenty questions game or Hwangssabu's death, and especially now that she knew they were both undocumented migrants: there was something more to their story than they let on.
But Lisa ducked her head. "Not tonight though, but I'll tell you soon. I...don't want to spoil tonight."
"It's okay," Rosé told her softly, stifling her disappointment. "They didn't conquer Korea in a day."
Lisa glanced at her with an adorably confused expression. "Huh?Who conquered?"
"It's a saying...oh never mind. I'm just saying, take your time and tell me when you feel like it."
Lisa seemed to be struggling to say her next words, her eyes wide and vulnerable.
"Rosie, if anything happens...I just want you to know that I love you and Ella so so much, and you both have made this little woman here happy beyond words."
She squeezed Rosé's hand. "I want you to hold on this moment, in case...in case something happens to me, okay?"
"What will happen?" Rosé asked, her mouth suddenly dry.
Lisa sat silent and thoughtful for an agonisingly long moment before she exhaled. "Let's just say...I'm always afraid of the past catching up to me," she said at last, her brow furrowed. "And I'm not sure what will happen when it does."
"The past..." Rosé repeated.
The memories that haunted, the deeds that tormented. She could relate.
Just what had Lisa been involved in?
All manners of conspiracies hurtled through Rosé's mind, ranging from mild felonies to more serious crimes but she shot them all down.
Worrying before Lisa even told her would do her no good.
Lisa squeezed her hand, making her break out of the spiral.
"I'll tell you one day soon, I promise. Once I find the right words," Lisa said softly, "I just want to be selfish...while I still can. I want to hold on to you..."
She stared when Rosé shook her head.
"Don't talk like you're saying goodbye," Rosé said fiercely. "Our story together is just beginning. I'm not letting go, not after I found you. We'll have many more moments to remember when we're old and grumbling and complaining, and we'll wake up each day next to each other when Ella barges into our bedroom and she'll give us both grey hairs when she starts going out on dates.
"And I want to read comics and watch movies with you and play the guitar and sing with you and do pilates with you and learn new words together. And once your arms heals, I want to box together. And I want to raise the cats together and cook together and go out on dates together and celebrate birthdays together..."
She had to believe in the little big dream she told herself to get through every night she spent in bars running errands for Yang. Even with all the mess of her double life she was leading, Rosé had to believe she would one day escape Yang's clutches and leave it all behind to be free with Lisa and her—their—daughter.
It was dangerous to hope but with Lisa by her side, it seemed like any obstacle was breakable, no matter what had happened before.
"I want a life with you in it, Lisa, because I was so lonely before you came into the picture. I'm not even sure how I was coping," Rosé finished.
Lisa was watching her dreamily. "Ah, babe...that sounds just perfect to me, growing old together. I'll be sure to hide your walker, you're so cute when you're trying to be mad. I wonder if you'd still chase me around?"
"I don't even chase you around now!"
"Oh yeah? What about when Ella and I hid your guitar, hmm? I remember a very mad chipmunk stomping around the apartment shouting Lisaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"You guys are just mean," Rosé pouted.
Lisa smiled fondly, caressing her face. "Then I'd kiss you to make you smile again, and also because you're cute when you blush."
It took everything in Rosé not to kiss her senseless on the spot. She swallowed. "You better be around to do that then, or I'll come kick your ass in the afterlife."
Lisa's smile was crooked but the hopeful glint in her eyes inspired hope in Rosé's chest as well.
"I'll never stop fighting to be with you, Rosie," Lisa vowed solemnly, "you're the only one for me. I promise."
And Rosé nearly leaned in to kiss her weren't it for rustling noises and movement at the corner of her eye. She whipped around just in time to see a shadow ducking back behind a shop's wall.
Rosé was immediately on high alert, about to reach for Lisa but before she could grab her attention, Ella ran up to them instead.
"Seulgi's here! You gotta play now please please please Lisa!" she begged, tugging at Lisa's hand. "You promise you'd play if we form a team to beat Somi!"
"Huh? She's here?" Rosé said, distracted. She caught sight of Lisa's smirk and her confusion cleared. "You knew."
"I may or may not have...persuaded Seulgi to cut short her stay with her family, yesterday," Lisa admitted.
"It's her family, how could you?" Rosé scolded but Lisa shrugged.
"She didn't seem very reluctant when I floated the idea of surprising Irene. She mentioned being tired of her parents nagging her about her lifestyle or something."
When Rosé glanced back at their friend group who were gathered around the newcomer, she spied Seulgi wearing a big grin with Irene wrapped around her arm, and conceded that maybe Seulgi being there was the right thing after all.
"Stop talking and come play!" Ella whined. "I want a fluffy unicorn!"
"What happened to 'please' and 'thank you' ?" Rosé scowled disapprovingly and her daughter instantly turned meek.
"Sorry Mom. Lisa, I'd like a fluffy unicorn, please, the big fat one with the rainbow wings."
Lisa grinned and ruffled her hair as she got to her feet. "My little pie-eater has excellent taste. One fluffy unicorn with rainbow wings coming right up or my name ain't the Thai Tornado. Race ya, kiddo!"
"I'm not kiddo!"
Lisa laughed and caught a squealing Ella in her arms. "What's this? You're so tiny, I don't think you're even a kid. I think you're still a baby!"
"I'll be tall as mommy soon, or even taller than you!" Ella gasped in between laughter as Lisa tickled her.
"As long as I'm carrying you, you're my kiddo," Lisa pronounced as she tossed the squeaking girl over her shoulder in a fireman toss and walked towards their friends, leaving Rosé to follow in a daze, still replaying Lisa's endearment for Ella.
Having Lisa be so open and accepting of her daughter and already addressing Ella as though she were her biological daughter only had Rosé keep falling harder and deeper, more than she thought was even possible.
Rosé's heart melted, all protests for Lisa to be careful because of her hand dying on her tongue as she followed, forgetting all about the shadow that had been spying on them.
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The night was advancing but sitting in his dark lonely office room in the top floor of Rkive, Jinyoung had no intention of leaving just yet.
There were many pawns moving across the chessboard and he had to make sure he was keeping track of them all and pushing them in place for his plans to work out.
The mastermind, people on the street called him. Jinyoung smiled to himself. He liked the sound of that. It gave him more credit than he was owed.
But he liked to think of himself as the game master. He thought it suited him more.
Because really and truly, he was merely the one setting the whole operation in motion, moving the chess pieces, putting the puzzle pieces together and shaping them to fit.
He was playing many games at the same time, controlling some and masquerading as a player in others but ultimately, it was all his game.
He had many pieces in his hands and it was a matter of carving them to his liking, moulding their old form into something better, transforming them to fit into his vision.
Life, as it were, had the tendency to indulge him with interesting puzzle pieces, like right now as he frowned at the computer screen loading photos from the Jay on patrol that was stalking the group of girls at Everland.
"Well, well, well, what have we here..."
Jinyoung rested his chin on top of his hands, propping his elbows up on the table as he studied the succession of photos that blinked before his gaze, replacing with new footage each time.
"She still has the cast," Jinyoung sighed to himself, "that doesn't look good. That old fart said it should be off by now. I wonder if she's weaker than he thought..."
Shaking his head, Jinyoung tapped a pad next to him, entering a code and ringing a secret number. The recipient picked up after several rings.
"Password," rasped a voice.
"Jay B."
"Oh it's you."
Jinyoung stifled a nasty laugh. "Don't sound so disappointed. I won't bother you for too long."
"Skip the pleasantries, I'm a busy man as it were."
"Doubtless. But I have some updates."
"Unless you have Tiger King, I'm not interested to hear."
"It's related."
A pause, an exhale, a rattling breath. "Go ahead."
"Jackson is on the verge of a breakthrough with the serum. Yang Hyun-suk has procured a number of the substances Jackson needs to replicate your formula, he should be passing them on to me tomorrow night. We should be ready for testing soon so I'd suggest you have your test subjects ready and chosen in advance."
"Don't tell me how to do my job, boy," barked the man on call, "I've been at this for longer than you have. I will be prepared. They are, in fact, already on stand-by and receiving their doses. What else?"
"Mr Elordi, the private investor from Australia, is very interested in our projects and is already brokering a personal meeting to see results for himself once all systems are good to go.
"We're in the process of courting the Pentagon, and Beijing . Meanwhile, my team is establishing connections with Moscow and Pyongyang, but early indications tell me they are already immensely interested in what we have to offer once we develop the serum for mass production."
He couldn't help but gloat over his progress.
Since when had one single individual stolen the coveted attention of the world's most powerful military organisations?
"Hmm hmm. And what of the mob boss with a personal vendetta? He's turning into a problem, from what you tell me. Getting too many ideas for his own good."
"Yang Hyun-suk will be taken care of by the police. I have left them some trails that should lead them to him, without disclosing our connection to him, naturally."
There was a pause as he waited for the axe to fall, for his words to register.
"Fool," seethed the man, his voice ringing with fury, "bringing in the police into the mix? Are you out of your senses? They will find you and shut down the whole operation. Are you out of your senses? You will bring disgrace to the company. Your legacy will be a failure."
"Rest assured it will not be so. The moment the authorities get too close, I will deal with them. I am confident in my abilities, Father."
"Impudent as always," his father sneered. "Is that any way to show respect to me? The nerve of you."
Jinyoung closed his eyes, imagining himself reaching through space and strangling the bastard. Unfortunately, he was an important piece of the puzzle that he couldn't quite get rid of.
Yet.
"Apologies, sir."
"Hmph."
Jinyoung turned his gaze out towards the dark neighbourhood, illuminated by streetlights and skyscrapers in the richer district, congratulating himself for still keeping his emotions on a tight leash.
The last thing he needed was for his tempestuous outburst to be heard all the way down to the restaurant floor because talking with his father always had his meticulous control snap.
"A mediocre report so far," the annoying drawl of his father's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"There's more. The girl still is wearing her cast. I thought you said she should have healed by now?"
"Maybe she's taken a liking to it. If she's smart, she'll keep it on to throw you off. That's what I'd do," his father sneered but it ended in a hacking cough and a rattling inhale of breath.
"Put your mask back on, old man," Jinyoung said calmly, "and stop working yourself up."
"You little cocky brat," gritted his father, more muffled now with the oxygen mask back on his face.
"This little cocky brat is trying to bring back glory to JYP Pharma and succeeding in ways you haven't before while cleaning up the mess you left behind," Jinyoung said.
His voice was pure venom now, breathtakingly cold. "Let me know if you still think of me as the runt of the family once we have the whole world owning armies of Tiger Kings and bowing down to me as a god.
"Let me know if you still think I am the black sheep of the family when the global medical community will pledge itself to fund research for the groundbreaking technology and medicines we will develop thanks to Tiger King."
"Tiger King is mine," his father snarled. "I made it. I created it. Don't you get all high and mighty on me. You'd be nothing without my knowledge. When I get my hands on that..." he broke off with a violent bout of coughing.
Jinyoung laughed cruelly. "Yes, you created it, and look where you are now. Wasting away."
He leaned closer, his voice mocking. "You work for me now. I call the shots. You will die, but not before you will see what I can do. Not before I extract every ounce of knowledge from you. Not before I make you pay."
His eyes were brimming with fire. "Seoul will be mine, and anywhere beyond that I wish, and that's more than you pathetic old geezer could ever dream to accomplish."
"You ungrateful brat," his father gritted. "Jaebom died so you—"
"You're the fool for giving it all up without even putting up a fight," said his son coolly. "Now excuse me, I still have work to do. I'm a busy man, as it were."
"You—"
Jinyoung couldn't help the little smirk that curled his lip when he cut off the call.
Taunting his father always felt satisfying, repaying all the years that he used to obsess about his work in favour of spending time with his family, all the years he used to ignore Jinyoung in favour of his older brother, Jaebom.
Jinyoung continued to peruse through the photos he had received, because there were numerous more that the Jay had sent whilst he had been speaking with his father. At one point Jinyoung paused, eyes widening.
"Jisoo...and Jennie Kim?" he said out loud in amusement. "No wonder she was so territorial when I gave Jisoo my card. Now that's interesting...I should congratulate her tomorrow."
Jinyoung printed out the photo of the two girls caught in a tender embrace.
But no sooner had he lifted his eyes up to the screen again, he was greeted with another romantic moment caught on camera, this time between Yang's drug runner and the boxer. They were sitting on a bench on the outskirts of the park, shoulder to shoulder, heads leaning against each other, blissfully unaware of the world around them.
He blinked, caught off-guard.
Certainly Jinyoung had suspected something was up between the two based on the reports he had received, but he had dismissed it as a casual summer fling, nothing truly relevant for his puzzle.
He needed concrete connections—demanded them, even—to ensure the whole operation ran smoothly when it came to manipulation tactics.
But whatever these two had, it had never looked so serious, so intimate, so tender.
More puzzle pieces falling right into his lap, more threads to pull and play with. Life was really spoiling him at the moment.
Jinyoung printed that one too and sat staring at the two photos, marvelling at how much easier they were making his job by revealing themselves out in the open.
"Did nobody tell you how dangerous it is to show your hand, Jisoo? Jennie? Rosé? Lisa?" he inquired of the photos. "Because you just gave me the most crucial piece of the puzzle: your weakness."
Jinyoung couldn't help it: once he started smiling, he couldn't stop until he was full-blown laughing.
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another small chapter :P now we can get back to the fun
life is getting more hectic but i'm determined to keep writing as much as i can, the plot is finally coming together :V
hope you enjoy, thanks for reading, commenting and voting
i do hope we get a comeback before the end of the year, i miss the pinks :( but looking forward to jisoo's kdrama :D