really? • taennie

064 - Heartbreak Prince

"Since my mom had been busy pushing her real estate business-I mean, empire-on Hamilton, I have been spending all my time in Warplane. You know, the heritage museum. I have been an intern since my last year in college and eventually, I started working there! Other than helping to curate exhibits there, I have been still in touch with my artistry. Been displaying and selling some of my paintings on the city streets, teaching children in communities, and have been taking creative writing lessons on the side as requested by my museum mentor. Also because I remember you writing poem lines in junior high school."

Jennie can only focus on her spicy beef soup while listening to the girl blabber about her abroad successes. The rest of the dining table sit and eat in silence.

The start of their lunch was awkward enough, when Hye-sun immediately sat at the chair beside Taehyung, stealing Jennie's supposed spot beside her boyfriend. His mother was nice enough to lead her on the seat beside her anyway, and she was even able to calm herself down upon seeing the sweet smile of his mother and the occasional soothing of her back. Jennie could also even feel his father occasionally looking at her, probably to check what she feels about this situation. Jennie could not even look at Taehyung straight in the eye because even at that moment, even how awkward and apologetic his parents are towards her, she still fears how Taehyung is acting. What if she sees his eyes sparkling for a first love coming home after a few years? Great timing, universe. Just... so impeccable.

"Since when have you been this talkative, Choi Hye-sun?" Jennie hears Taehyung comment under his breath. She can feel his voice shaking a bit. Maybe too excited to know a new fact about her?

"꿀곰아 (Honey bear), change comes in Canada," Hye-sun giggles as he playfully punches his shoulder beside her. "Time will also change a person. By the way, I came to your Hamilton show, but you didn't respond to my Kakao chat. What's up with that?"

"It's been a long time. what do you mean Kakao chat? Why would you even have mine when you don't know my username or number?"

Kakao chat... Rings a bell. Of course, BTS had a show in Hamilton, and this girl was exactly there. And during their tour, that was the time Taehyung basically ghosted her-or, as he explained, got caught and his phone was collected... So will that mean that if Taehyung had his phone and he sees her chat, they would have got together? Does this mean they would have met earlier, and he would not tell me his reason for being missing, and then I would not even know he had met his first love in Canada? If he did read and receive that, would he answer her? Will he forget me?... Or what if, Taehyung wasn't really telling the truth when he stopped messaging me? What if it was his choice to ignore me? What if his phone wasn't really collected by Bang PD? As long as Jennie could not get accurate answers, her mind would still figure out speculations on her own. Fucking first loves... Would be nice to have first loves come back to us at the right time... but not now when we're already happy! Fucking... She can only release her tension by stirring her own food.

"We're happy to hear you've been well, Hye-sun. Are your parents home as well?"

"Not yet, auntie. I came home alone, but they will be here next week. I wanted to go here because I want to visit and bring my parents' gift for you. It's probably also destiny that you came, 꿀곰아 (Honey Bear). Don't you think?-"

"-Jennie!" Taehyung's mother cuts the girl off. But it was not on time though; Jennie was already feeling extra uncomfortable. She was gripping the table cloth resting on her lap. "Are you enjoying the food? Taehyung told me you're a good cook, what do you usually cook? Are you on a diet?"

"Idol life must be hard. Is it, Honey Bear?" Of course, she always had to interrupt.

From then on, Jennie chose not to give them attention anymore, and focus on what truly matters: his parents. She smiles at his mother and whispers her answer. She did not even know she was doing it in a cute way: "This is a very good meal, ma'am. I'm not this good at cooking yet, I only know how to cook light meals but I'm trying my best to learn. And we're not on a diet currently. We'll be on tour, and the three-hour-long performances are enough to make us lose weight."