𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄

f o u r

The sun was shining brightly as Jisoo and Jennie strolled through the famous park in Busan. It was one of their favorite spots in the city, a place where they could escape the noise and chaos of everyday life and simply enjoy each other's company. The park was alive with the sounds of children playing, birds chirping, and people laughing as they enjoyed the warm day.

Jisoo breathed in the fresh air, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. "It's so nice to be here again," she said, smiling at her sister. "I missed this place."

Jennie nodded in agreement. "Me too. We used to come here all the time when we were kids. It's like nothing has changed."

They walked along the winding paths, surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowers. The park was a haven of peace in the bustling city, and it felt like the perfect place to reconnect with each other.

As they continued walking, Jisoo couldn't help but let her mind wander. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions—coming back home, reuniting with her family, and the upcoming gathering her father was planning. She was excited, but there was also a lingering sense of unease that she couldn't quite shake.

"What's on your mind, unnie?" Jennie asked, noticing the pensive look on Jisoo's face.

Jisoo shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Just thinking about everything. It's a lot to take in."

Jennie smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. We're all here for you."

Before Jisoo could respond, they heard a familiar voice call out to them. "Jisoo! Jennie!"

They turned around to see Rosé walking towards them, a bright smile on her face. She looked as stylish as ever, her long hair flowing behind her as she approached.

"Rosé!" Jennie exclaimed, her face lighting up as she rushed to hug her. "It's so good to see you!"

Jisoo joined in the hug, smiling warmly at Rosé. "It's been too long. How have you been?"

Rosé laughed as she pulled back from the hug. "I've been good! Just busy with work and everything. How about you two? How's it feel to be back, Jisoo?"

"It's good," Jisoo replied, genuinely happy to see Rosé again. "I missed Busan, and it's great to be home."

They chatted for a while, catching up on each other's lives. Rosé was always full of energy, and her cheerful demeanor was infectious. As they talked, Jisoo found herself relaxing, enjoying the lighthearted conversation.

But then, Rosé's phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced at the screen and her expression changed slightly. "Oh, that's Jungkook. He's waiting for me outside the park."

Jisoo's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Jungkook's name. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but the sudden rush of emotions was hard to ignore. Why did the mere thought of him affect her so much?

Rosé noticed the change in Jisoo's expression and smiled apologetically. "Sorry to cut this short, but I should get going. Jungkook gets impatient if I make him wait too long."

Jennie chuckled. "Typical Jungkook. Don't worry about it, Rosé. It was great seeing you."

They exchanged hugs and goodbyes, and Rosé headed towards the park's exit. Jisoo watched her go, her mind swirling with thoughts. As much as she tried to push it aside, she couldn't stop thinking about Jungkook. There was something about him that got under her skin, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

She remembered the parties they used to attend as kids, how Jungkook had always seemed so distant, so cold. He had never tried to befriend her or Jennie, always keeping to himself or sticking close to his family. It had bothered her back then, and it still bothered her now.

"Unnie, are you okay?" Jennie's voice broke through her thoughts.

Jisoo blinked and looked at her sister, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about something."

Jennie gave her a knowing look but didn't press further. "If you ever want to talk, you know I'm here."

"Thanks, Jennie," Jisoo said, grateful for her sister's support. "Let's keep walking."

As they continued their stroll through the park, Jisoo tried to shake off the thoughts of Jungkook, but they lingered in the back of her mind. Why did she dislike him so much? Was it really because of the way he had treated them as kids, or was there something more to it? She couldn't help but wonder if she was overthinking everything, but the feelings were there, and they were hard to ignore.

Meanwhile, outside the park, Rosé approached the sleek black car where Jungkook was waiting. She could see him leaning back in the driver's seat, his eyes closed as if he was lost in thought. She tapped on the window lightly, and he opened his eyes, looking slightly surprised.

"Hey," Rosé said as she slid into the passenger seat. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Jungkook shrugged, starting the car. "It's fine. I wasn't in a rush."

They drove in silence for a few moments, the soft hum of the engine filling the space between them. Rosé glanced at her brother, noticing the tension in his jaw. She knew Jungkook well enough to tell when something was bothering him.

"So, I ran into Jisoo and Jennie in the park," Rosé said casually, breaking the silence.

Jungkook's grip on the steering wheel tightened ever so slightly at the mention of Jisoo's name. "Oh. How are they?"

"They're doing well," Rosé replied. "Jisoo seems really happy to be back home."

Jungkook nodded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He didn't say anything, but his mind was already drifting to thoughts of Jisoo. He hadn't seen her in years, and the idea of meeting her again brought back a flood of memories. But unlike Rosé, his feelings about Jisoo were far from positive.

He couldn't exactly explain why he disliked her so much. Maybe it was her outgoing personality, or the way she always seemed to draw attention wherever she went. He had always been more reserved, more focused on his own goals, and Jisoo's exuberance had always felt like an intrusion.

But as much as he disliked her, he couldn't deny that she was always there, lingering in the back of his mind, a reminder of the things he couldn't control. And now, with the upcoming gathering, he knew he would have to face her again.

Rosé noticed the change in Jungkook's demeanor and decided to change the subject. "Anyway, how's everything with you? Still busy with work?"

Jungkook exhaled slowly, glad for the shift in conversation. "Yeah, work's been intense. There's a lot of pressure with the upcoming transition."

Rosé nodded sympathetically. "I know you'll handle it well. You've always been good at staying focused."

They continued talking, their conversation shifting to lighter topics as they drove through the city. But in the back of their minds, both siblings couldn't help but think about the upcoming event, and the reunion that awaited them.

As the car rolled to a stop outside their home, Jungkook parked and turned off the engine. Rosé stepped out first, but before she could close the door, she leaned back in and gave her brother a reassuring smile. "Don't stress too much about the weekend, Jungkook. It's just a get-together. We'll have fun."

Jungkook managed a small smile in return. "Thanks, Rosé. I'll try not to."

But as he lay in bed that night, his thoughts kept drifting back to Jisoo. No matter how much he tried to push her out of his mind, she was there, a stubborn presence that refused to be ignored.

It was going to be an interesting weekend, whether he liked it or not.