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You Call Me Chaeyoung

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It's cold when Chaeyoung wakes up the next morning, alone.

No warmth radiating from the spot next to her, because it's empty, the familiar body she was searching for long gone.

She lets her eyes flutter open slowly, blinking a few times in order to adjust to the bright sunlight striking through her window pane. And then, there's the cold breeze, once again engulfing her. Chaeyoung opens her eyes completely, heart instantly dropping inside her chest when she wasn't met by the sight she expected to see.

No traces of Jisoo anywhere.

She left.

There was a sting in Chaeyoung's chest as she attempted to sit up, forcing herself to ignore the aching of her entire body. Ignoring the tears starting to build up in her eyes.

She didn't stay.

She was partly awake when Jisoo left, that's why she remembers. The memories were a bit vague, but she remembers. And she remembers mumbling desperate pleas for her not to go,

and Jisoo, leaving a stem of rose next to her on the bed.

That's when Chaeyoung's gaze traveled towards the lonely flower sitting just beside her, thorns cut off and petals of a vibrant shade of red. She picked it up, pulling it to her nose, inhaling its scent.

Jisoo.

Maybe it wasn't the rose, anyway. Maybe it was the sheets, or her hair; maybe the cold was engulfed entirely by her scent, but it didn't matter whichever way it was.

6 months, her place felt like nothing but a room, and only now, with Jisoo's scent lingering on the sheets and the four secluded walls, did Chaeyoung's apartment finally feels like home again.

She thought about Jisoo the entire day, and then the next.

And Chaeyoung wondered why she never texted her again.

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Rosie: Hey.
Rosie: How are you?

Rosie: You weren't returning my calls, and I have no idea where you're staying, either, so I couldn't really come over even if I wanted to.
Rosie: And you never came back.
Rosie: Why?

Rosie: It's been three days, Chu. Are you seriously not gonna talk to me?
Rosie: Chu, please pick up.
Rosie: At least respond to my texts.

Rosie: What happened, Jisoo?

-

Jisoo responds to her on the fifth day. A text. A photo.

An invitation.

TURNING THIRTY
A birthday party in honor of
Kim Jisoo

Save the date
01.03

Jisoo: Sorry. Tight schedule.
Jisoo: You should come.

That. Chaeyoung waited five days for that.

Rosie: It's okay. I was hoping we could talk sometime, though. I mean, we have to, don't you think so?
Rosie: Anyway, see you in two days. I could never miss your birthday for the world.

She never got a response to that again.

-

A knock on her door, "Ro, are you done?" And then, it's Lisa's voice calling for her once more.

When there was no response, the Thai took the liberty to enter the flat, herself, a sigh of exasperation escaping her lips as she spoke, "Rosie, come on, we're gonna be late for the party—"

But she was cut off the moment her eyes landed on the blonde's figure sitting in front of the mirror dresser in her room. Chaeyoung was staring at her reflection at first before her gaze travels towards Lisa by her bedroom door.

She smiled, almost forcedly, and it was enough for the Thai to know that something is going on.

"Hey, I've been knocking since forever." She walked up to the blonde, hand hovering on the small of Chaeyoung's exposed back. Her dress is tight around her her curves, hugging just the perfect places. Lisa pressed a soft kiss on her cheek, once again meeting gazes with her through their reflection on the mirror, "Are you ready? How long have you been just sitting here?"

But Chaeyoung wouldn't respond, at least not directly to the question. She didn't want to tell Lisa and worry her. Probably, even decide against coming to Jisoo's birthday party, anymore, after knowing what's been happening between the two of them lately.

She's a fool for not saying anything, and she knows it.

But she kept her mouth shut and, instead, smiled.

"Just finished, actually." She got up from the seat, ignoring the Thai's suspicious stare as she grabbed her by the hand and pulled her towards the direction of the door, "Let's go?"

-

Lisa and Chaeyoung rarely attends a party late. But right now, they are.

It's a good thing that they are, Chaeyoung thinks, because that way there'd be more crowd, more distractions. Perhaps, that way, Chaeyoung's head will be cleared off the thoughts that are starting to swallow her alive since the moment images and texts invloving CEO Kim Jisoo flashes before her eyes.

She's everywhere. It didn't make it at all any easier for the blonde.

"I'm gonna go grab us a drink. Will you be fine?" Lisa yells through the blaring music just so Chaeyoung could hear. The latter nodded at her in return, smiling, but it didn't reach her eyes.

Lisa raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you're okay, Rosie?"

She hates how she had to lie constantly to Lisa's face, but she didn't have a choice. Opening her mouth, Chaeyoung attempted to retort, but suddenly, a voice interrupted her from behind.

"You made it."

Chaeyoung didn't even know it was possible to literally freeze right in her spot, not a single muscle in her body seemingly functioning very well the second the voice bounces into her ears.

"Chu, hey." Lisa was now approaching her, but Chaeyoung is still frozen. "Happy birthday. Everything looks stunning."

They shared a hug, in front of Chaeyoung —or behind her. She wasn't sure because she still can't manage to even just turn around, although she felt the subtle action.

And then, Jisoo's familiar rasp once again calls for her, and she knew she had no other choice.

"Hello, Rosie."

Rosie.

She, then, remembers the day they first formally met at the restaurant three days after spending the night together for the first time.

Hello Rosie. The same exact words, yet in a very different pull. Back to square one.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Chaeyoung forced herself to turn around, facing the brunette. She's gorgeous, and Chaeyoung's heart breaks inside her chest even more.

"Hi," The same exact words, and it was barely a whisper. But Jisoo heard, based on the way her rather forced smile fell a little. Either way, Chaeyoung forced back the expression. "Happy birthday."

She couldn't even say her name.

She felt like puking her guts out just by attempting to do so.

It hurts. It all hurts. The way Jisoo just nodded thankfully in return, gaze trying its hardest not to break, or it may mean something if it did, which it doesn't.

It hurts, Lisa not noticing the tension at all, and instead, bidding her farewell to exchange pleasantries with Jisoo's siblings, who called for her, leaving just Jisoo and Chaeyoung alone.

Just Chaeyoung, and Jisoo, and the memories of several nights ago, and the silence.

Surprisingly enough, Chaeyoung had somehow found the courage to break it.

"Why didn't you call?"

Daggers.

Jisoo's gaze dropped to her feet, bottom lip tugging in between her teeth unsurely.

"I—" She cuts herself off, as if trying to find the right words. And then, she sighed, "Rosie—"

"Chaeyoung," Jisoo had to look up at the interruption, and was met by the sight of the blonde in front of her, hazel eyes completey glossy from unshed tears. "You call me Chaeyoung." She mumbled, voice breaking, as if reminding someone who forgot.

She could no longer take it. She's not Rosie. Rosie is a whole other person, and she never was Rosie, anymore, since Jisoo in her life.

A forced chuckle escaped the brunette's lips.

"Does it matter?" Jisoo's soft gaze lifted up once again, a shrug in her shoulders, "Park Chaeyoung; Roseanne Park; Aren't they the same person, anyway?"

Chaeyoung scoffed, shaking her head as she blinked her tears away. This time around, couldn't stop herself from taking a few steps closer to the brunette, anymore, a hand attemptingly reaching out, "Chu, what the hell is going on—"

But Jisoo took steps back.

And Chaeyoung was forced to stop in her tracks.

Staring at the obviously hurt blonde, Jisoo smiled.

"I was gonna tell you something," She glanced at the stage lights that had just been switched on, the once loud, upbeat music gently turning down, "But the party's commencing." Turning back to the still confused blonde, Jisoo simply mumbled before completely walking away, "Enjoy the evening, Ms. Park."

A blur. It's the way it was when Jisoo walked into the giant waves of crowd, disappearing in an instant, leaving the blonde dazed.

She didn't even wait for Chaeyoung's response, anymore. She didn't want to.

Jisoo needs to clear her head, and when she does, she leaves.

She gets away.

The rest of the music turned down, the same time the host spoke to the microphone, welcoming everyone. The spotlight is pointed right at the stage, illuminating only the expanse where Mr. Kim stood with a smile on his face.

Jisoo was standing behind him. With Nayeon, again.

Chaeyoung had seen them together too many times already to get used to the sight. But right now, Jisoo and Nayeon standing next to each other, wide, almost forced smiles plastered on their faces, with the younger girl's hand clutching firmly onto the brunette's arm;

Chaeyoung didn't understand why it didn't sit right with her at all.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant evening. I couldn't even put into words how thankful I am for everyone who made it. Each of you here are the most important people in Jisoo's life, and it is such an honor to welcome you all tonight as we celeberate my daughter's 30th birthday."

Opening adresses are supposed to be warm, welcoming. Mr. Kim's was, maybe to other guests.

To Chaeyoung, it wasn't.

"Now, I know the evening's not getting any younger, so I'm gonna keep this short. I would like to make an announcement, the biggest one there is, to match the occasion." He paused for a second, smiling tenderly at the anticipating crowd. "It has been announced a few weeks ago that the board of directors of Kim Corportation have agreed to sell the company to the Hirai's, expanding to HM real estate. However, I'm rather disappointed, and thrilled, at the same time, to officially confirm, that my daughter's company is not going anywhere."

Several whispers engulfed the place, some guests seemingly confused, while the others looked like they've already seen it coming.

Chaeyoung wishes she's one of them.

Because later on, she will realize, that she wasn't at all ready for what was about to come out of Mr. Kim's mouth next.

"It is going to be kept, instead, and will be taken care of under the hands of both this dynasty, and the Im's."

This time around, the confusion in the guests' faces were replaced by surprise, and then delight, and then there are rounds of thunderous applause everywhere,

And then Chaeyoung's heart starts to slowly sink inside her chest.

Painfully slowly, the same exact way the words started to process on her brain.

Smiling wider at the crowd's response, Mr. Kim nodded, arm reaching over for Jisoo and Nayeon behind him, and nodding in approval. "You all got it right. Wedding bells aren't too far off for Jisoo and Nayeon, the fourth-generation heirs of two of the greatest names in the industry. Two of the biggest companies, influences, and families in New York, sharing one, incredible success. And to that, I propose a toast."

Raising his glass up, the man smiled wider when the delight in the crowd's faces didn't seem to falter, and the loud applause didn't seem to fade.

"To Jisoo and Nayeon," Mr. Kim starts off, in which the guests followed short after, raising their glasses up as well, "Cheers."

-

It's hard not to keep her gaze from holding Jisoo's firmly on that platform.

They were both frozen, at least Chaeyoung was in a ridiculous obvious, but Jisoo was good at masking her real emotions. She seemed rather at ease, smiling whenever she had to, although it didn't reach her eyes; glancing at the crowd whom she knows was more than happy for her, because she gets to keep her company, her legacy,

And because she's getting married.

She's getting married.

It's as if the world stops spinning the very second Chaeyoung hears the words roll off Mr. Kim's tongue. She was paralyzed in her spot, breath hitched, it was impossible to breathe.

She barely processed the way Lisa was running towards her side hurriedly, her voice a series of faint echoes when she asked repeatedly if Chaeyoung is okay.

Chaeyoung isn't.

How could she, when she's standing still on her spot, unable to move even if she desperately wanted to?

How could she, when she can't seem to tear her gaze off of the brunette despite her chest getting denser and denser the longer that she did?

Exactly how, could Chaeyoung possibly be okay, when the image of Nayeon pulling Jisoo in for a kiss in front of the crowd flashes right before her eyes, and she couldn't do anything about it despite desperately wanting to?

She could feel her entire body trembling, tears too painful at the back of her eyes for Chaeyoung to even forcefully let out.

She hated that she's frozen, and that her eyes chose to point at that specific spot on the stage. She can't even cry, or look away.

She wanted to look away, but she couldn't.

Maybe a part of her wanted to see if this, all of this, is actually real. If the universe is just playing a silly trick on her again; If she was just in the middle of an unwanted daydream, and not the brutal reality slapping her right across her face.

It was the latter.

That, Chaeyoung figured, because she continued to watch, but Jisoo never pulled away.

She stayed still on her spot, eyes shut, hands firm on Nayeon's sides, unmoving, despite the blinding camera flashes that pointed towards her and Nayeon's direction as they sealed a sweet, unstaged, and highly anticipated newly-engaged kiss.

Chaeyoung wasn't sure if Jisoo kissed her back. Did she?

Could she?

After everything?

After Chaeyoung, just several nights ago?

It's like she's running out of air, like the crowd is starting to suffocate her. It's like she was being torn to pieces, watching the way Jisoo and Nayeon finally pull away and share a sweet smile while they stared at each other as if what they have was actually... real.

Right before Chaeyoung's eyes.

Or at least, just for the sake of the crowd, and the cameras,

That, Chaeyoung figured, too, because the moment they both got off the stage, lights dimming and loud, upbeat music blaring from the speakers once again, Jisoo ran away.

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