LISA'S POV
"You must be Lisa?" Mr. Park asked me as he put down the newspaper he was reading.
I extended my hand and gave him a small smile, "Yes sir. I'm Rosé and Jennie's friend."
Upon mentioning Jennie's name, I noticed the latter look away awkwardly.
"I'm Andrew," he shook my hand and smiled, "I heard a lot about you from Rosé. I'm glad you took time to visit her."
"Lisa hun is that you?" Aunt Jas came rushing to the living room. I was surprised to see her with glistening eyes, like she's about to cry. She quickly held me in a hug.
"Aunt Jas," I greeted her as I pulled away from the short hug.
"You came to see her right?" she asked hopefully.
And then it struck me how serious Rosé's condition might be. Her family is really worried because it's not the first time it happened. They're worried that Rosé might get worse.
I gave her a sympathetic smile, "Please don't worry too much. Rosé is strong, she'll get over this. I'll do everything to help her."
Mr. Park wrapped his arms on his wife's shoulder as she began to cry lightly. "Thank you so much Lisa," he voiced out.
Jennie cleared her throat, "I'll take you to her room," she said with dreary eyes.
Side by side, we proceeded to Rosé's room silently. Their house is enormous, it's evident that they were from a wealthy family.
"You don't know how much it means to our family," she suddenly broke the silence, "Thank you for assuring mom. She was really worried these days."
Jennie looks so tired and her eyes... flickered guilt. I can't help but feel that I somewhat made her feel more guilty.
I looked at her sad eyes and sighed, "You're tired too," I simply stated my observation, making her turn to me and meet my eyes.
I gave her a gentle squeeze in the shoulder, "Look after yourself too. Rest if you must. How else can you be strong for your family if you're not at all healthy?"
I wish I wasn't stepping over a line. I'm aware that we're not really friends but I was just looking out for her too..
God I sounded like a totally different person.
She pursed her lips like she was about to say something but ended up sealing it and shrugging, "I guess... thanks," she mumbled while looking down, that I almost didn't hear her say it.
We stopped in front of a familiar door that I once entered before. My mind went back to the last time I was in Rosé's room... when we kissed.
"I hope her fever has gone down now," Jennie said as she knocked gently before opening the door, "Rosie?"
Jennie opened the door wider so I followed her inside. There I saw Rosé laying, shifting as she turned her back on us.
"I'm fine Jennie," she said in a raspy voice. She sounds sick. I also noticed how she called Jennie by her first name instead of 'Unnie'.
My eyes flew to the tray of food next to her bed with medicine beside it. It seems like she didn't even touch any of it.
"Rosie please don't be like this," frustration and sadness was evident in Jennie's voice, "You should at least eat for you to get better."
"I said I'm fine," Rosé said sharply.
I noticed how Jennie gripped the sides of her skirt, probably holding back her frustration.
I knew I just had to interfere before things get worse so I sighed deep before pursing my lips, "But that food looks tasty," I commented with a slightly cheerful tone.
I saw her stiffen before slowly turning to see me. Her mouth fell agape as she tried to sit up, "L-Lisa..." her eyes started to get watery so I decided to step closer to her bed.
"Hey," I softly said as I reached to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear and sat beside her, "How are you feeling?"
"Look you didn't have to visit..." she avoided my eyes.
"Why? You don't want to see me?" I acted like I was hurt playfully but it was of no use. She just remained silent while looking outside her window.
I frowned, realizing that she won't let me in easily. But I have to try because deep inside, I know she needs someone beside her.
When I turned to look at Jennie, she looked worried but I just sent her a smile and a nod, saying I can handle it. When she got the message, she hesitantly nodded before going out of the room and closing the door.
"I'm not going anywhere..." I sincerely said as I held Rosé's hand with both of mine, "I'm here for you."
"You d-don't have to feel responsible just because you turned me down, I know for sure Jennie or my parents already told you," she sucked in a deep breath because her voice was becoming more and more shaky. Then she looked at me with tearful eyes that made my heart ache, "I'm the problem. I kept feeling like this no matter how hard I try to be happy and I hate myself for being so pathetic..."
When her tears started to keep falling, I pulled her closer and let her cry on my chest as I soothed her back. "Listen to me Rosé, you're not pathetic. There's no way I'm letting you look down on yourself because you've been nothing but wonderful to me. And I'm not here just because I'm feeling guilty, okay? You're my friend, of course I want to be here for you..."
She just cried harder while I held her tight in my arms, my heart clenching hearing her cry her heart out to me but at the same time.
JENNIE'S POV
I bit my lip as I leaned back on Rosé's door. I can hear her crying and it was making my heart shatter.
At the same time, I was somehow relieved. I've been worried lately because it feels as if she didn't feel anything anymore. Like she has given up in her life that she wasn't even capable of crying anymore.
I'm thankful that Lisa's here, making Rosé bring out her emotions. I just hope that she'll somehow feel better now that she opened up to someone again.
I rested in my room for a few hours and was about to go down to eat when I decided to stop by Rosé's room.
It was quiet so I quietly opened the door and peeked in slightly.
A wave of calmness suddenly flushed through me when I saw Rosé peacefully sleeping in Lisa's arms, who fell asleep too. It looks like Lisa was able to make her eat the food prepared for her and drunk her medicine too.
I silently closed the door and went down, just in time to see mom preparing the table for dinner.
"How is your sister and Lisa?" Mom asked, stopping whatever she's doing for a while.
I smiled at her, one that I truly mean and I have to thank Lisa for it. "She fell asleep as well as Lisa. She's doing well with Lisa beside her, Mom. I know she'll eventually get better."
---
After eating, I volunteered to wash the dishes so my parents could already rest. They looked restless these days, especially mom. She's always worried about Rosé.
I was already drying my hands with a towel when I saw Lisa walking down the stairs. I let my hands fall to my sides when our eyes met.
"Sorry, I think I overslept," she shyly said while scratching the back of her neck.
It's really weird to see this soft side of hers and to think that my sister brought this out in her makes me think they have some kind of special connection. Within a short amount of time, and despite their differences, they managed to have each other's back.
I know I have my own friends and I'm thankful for it, but their relationship somehow made me jealous. It was like they were made to be there for each other and help them be who they really are.
Lisa was probably one of the few that was able to actually start a friendship with Rosé. Most of Rosé's friends were either introduced by myself or were just trying to get along during classes, but I never really saw her hangout with anyone as much as she did with Lisa.
"Thank you Lisa," I suddenly said, making me the center of her undivided attention as she looked at me, "For being there for there..."
She smiled wide at my remark as she rubbed her hands on her arms playfully, "I received a lot of 'thank you's today, mostly from you. You actually look thankful enough to befriend me, Jennie," she smirked.
I rolled my eyes at her while fighting back a smile, "It's only for today Manoban. Unless you want to be friends with me?" I teased back.
"I'm not sure," her eyes went smaller as she walked closer to me, eyeing me intensely. My lips parted when I saw her hand about to cup my face.
I froze when her fingertips touched the side of my lips.
My breathing hitched, but was confused when she suddenly pulled her finger away that already has some white sauce in it. I shyly wiped the side of my lips just in case there were still some left.
"I'm not the friendly type you see," she grinned, "Much less to someone I know I can't handle well, unless you'll be willing to be under me."
I felt my whole face heat up because of what she said on the last part even when I knew what she truly meant.
"Consider me as just the student council president then," I forced to keep up a straight face.
She chuckled and shook her head, "I'll see you tomorrow, my president," she said while bowing exaggeratedly, obviously to tease me.
Then she turned her back on me to walk out of the house but I was quick to call her.
"Wait, don't you want to stay over for dinner?" I asked while biting my lip, "You were probably tired and hungry. I just also want to return back the favor, since you've been a good friend... to my sister."
She didn't face me completely, just a side glance while wearing her infamous smirk, "Maybe next time, my president. I have to go. Guess our friendship over dinner can wait."
And just like that, she became the Lalisa Manoban that I know at school. The annoying one.