Bittersweet

31: Can someone tell me what's love?

"Taehyung-ssi! Why don't you take care of yourself more? Why don't you eat well?"
Jisoo said, her hands on her waist.  Deep inside, everything she did, it felt fake. She wasn't just herself. But again, she thought everything's fair in love. A little bit of change won't hurt.
Taehyung tried his best to not break his friendship with Jisoo. He didn't want to hurt her,
"I'm going to pay attention from now on. Thank you for your concern Jisoo-ssi."
Taehyung forced a smile. Honestly, at this point the lies had started to stub him. But what even was the other option? 

"Unnie, Taehyung Oppa needs some rest. So, it would be helpful if you go do your shift sincerely."
Rosé was only focused on balancing the trays. She didn't look at Taehyung or Jisoo. But her Australian accent was strong. It was commanding. Jisoo smiled at her dongsaeng,
"Chaeng has grown up."
Her eyes moved towards the tired young man, trying his best to not be pissed off,
"Rest well, Taehyung-ssi!"

"Chaeyoung..."
Taehyung muttered, making Rosé jumped. She smiled warmly,
"Yes Sunbaenim?"
"You are in love with Jimin, right?"
"Why is it even a question? Ofcourse I love him!"
Taehyung looked at Rosé, giggling and blushing. With his gaze burning a hole through her, he asked,
"Then can you please tell me what actually is love?"
Rosé froze for one second. And then she just started fixing the curtains. Totally unbothered. As if what Taehyung asked was just what he should ask her.

Taehyung was quite surprised. This wasn't very much like the Park Chaeyoung he knew. But again Park Chaeyoung and Rosé were two utterly different people. Park Chaeyoung, was the good girl. Shy, soft and timid. Rosé was strong, professional and confident.

"Sunbaenim, love is a pure feeling that varies from person to person.  There is no one answer. Suppose, for me, love is how Jimin solves my insecurities. Even if it's like... I don't know... Three'o'clock, he would hug me and tell me sweet things like it's okay and he's always be there for me and all. I try to be perfect, so does he. I think that's love for us atleast. Living for each other and living by each other."
Rosé said as she passed the soup bowl towards Taehyung. Taehyung was visibly puzzled. This wasn't exactly what he felt. Of course, he would be there beside Kiera when she feels insecure. But there was nothing perfect in their love. Everything had to be crooked. Nothing can be inside the lines. Cause they both had a chaotic hell inside them, waiting to be unleashed. It wasn't soft. It was just utterly about honest desires from the deepest corners of love. It was about caring yet not being cringey. It was about being a listener. It was different.
Rosé chuckled. Seeing her Sunbaenim visibly flustered,
"Well, Sunbaenim. Just like I told you, love varies from one person to other. The love me and Jimin share can never be the same as the love you two share, right? You can have a space of your own. You can have a love of your own. You can have a story of your own. Just don't back down, cause everyone tells you to. Hold on if YOU think it's worth it. Let go if YOU think it's just a waste of your time. It's all upto you."
Taehyung was seeing her in a different light. Roseanne Park. Strong, wise, opinionated, considerate, calm and composed. He was reconsidering how he always turned down Jimin's nags about his girlfriend's names have different attribute. She's perfect. She's got it all. In a good way. Well, Roseanne do has different traits. Well, maybe not how Jimin says. Maybe Park Chaeyoung is just as calm and composed as Roseanne Park. Maybe Rosé is equally shy as Park Chaeyoung. After all it's just her. Filled with every trait but with a very strong duality.
"Jisoo Unnie likes you, Sunbaenim."
She said in the calmest tone ever. Taehyung tried to reflect her tone of voice,
"I know Chaeyoung."
"Does she know?"
Taehyung looked out of the window,
"No. She's unaware. But I'm going to make it clear soon enough."
"Just make sure nobody gets hurt."
Rose smiled and walked out of the room. Taehyung sighed. What was he even doing?

Rosé's shift was done. She was wearing a pink sweater and a white skirt. Her hair was flowing. She truly looked like a goddess.
"Oh my god! Jisoo is still in love with Kim Taehyung?"
Two clearly young interns, gossiped about the seniors. Rosé was least interested to eavesdrop but again she had nothing better to do. The boy with thick briws and lips and a small mole under his left eye chuckled at the girl with similar features. Rosé knew them. Hwang Yeji and Hwang Hyunjin. The look-alikes.
"Pfft! Yeah. I saw Jisoo Sunbaenim rush mad towards Taehyung Sunbaenim's cabin. She was frustrated."
"Great! But doesn't she know all the rumours about Queen of Hearts and Taehyung Sunbaenim? Doesn't she know that maybe Taehyung Sunbaenim loves the Queen of Hearts?"

Rosé already knew the answer. No, Jisoo doesn't know as she thinks the rumours are baseless. But there's never a hue without a fire being sparked first. Jisoo was way too engrossed in Taehyung. She thought she and Taehyung were a match made in Heaven. Well, Taehyung swore he would've chosen her if not for Kiera. Kiera just changed every single move on the board.
She felt sorry for her Unnie. Oh how heartbroken she would be. But again, she would understand. After all she was Kim Jisoo. Jisoo Turtle Rabbit Kim. All she could do now was wait. Wait for Taehyung to spill the truth. Wait for Jisoo to move on. Wait for everything.

"I'm sorry, Chaeng-ie! Did I make you wait, Champagne?"
Jimin said he quickly hugged his girlfriend. Rosé was quite a bit zoned out. She dreamily pursed her lips,
"Not much, Dooly."
Jimin turned her slim figure towards him and looked into her eyes,
"Okay, tell me what's wrong."
Rosé looked into his deep eyes. For a few seconds it was silence. As if Jimin was reading her mind. But she shook it off,
"Nothing Mochi. I'm hungry. Wanna grab a bite?"