It's Over, and So Are We

Three

It was such a long lecture that Jisoo got from management, even though she has a good excuse to decline the dating news. There are two pictures of her and Haein shared by Dispatch. It was from after the concert when the two of them were seen together around the back stage area.

"I invited many of the Snowdrop casts, not only him. I'm not dating Haein. We are all good friends. The pictures were taken when everyone else were still inside. I was just walking around with him for several minutes, that's all!"

She was mostly being honest, if not telling the company that they held hands and even hugged each other last night didn't count as lying. Long story short, the company decides to release a statement to decline the dating rumor. They also ask Jisoo to be careful because public will be more curious and won't just accept their statement.

Jisoo enters the studio where her members are. The three of them watch her walking across the room and plop her body on the nearest seat.

"You okay, Eonnie?" Rose seems concerned.

"All good. Only verbal warning and they will close this case today."

"Thank God... Now you must have feel relieved right, Eonnie?"

Jisoo is far from 'relieved', so she didn't answer Lisa. Maybe her depressed facial expression shows it all.

"Or not..." says Lisa again.

"So something did happen yesterday," Jennie fold her arms. "Are you really dating him?"

"No, but..." She glances at Jennie. "Why is it become a problem, anyway? Dating someone is humane. It shouldn't have been a problem whether I date him or not."

Lisa and Rose cheer and clap their hands in agreement.

"It's true. But remember that you're a public figure, Eonnie. And so does him. It's your right, though. You want to date publicly? Sure, go ahead. But both of you should really consider the consequence before decide to be opened about your relationship status. Because it will surely affect your career."

"Woah, talking about experience." Lisa quickly covers her mouth as Jennie gives her a death stare.

Jennie's explanation successfully makes Jisoo falls in silence.

"I just don't want to see you make a wrong decision. Please think twice, Eonnie."

Jisoo gives Jennie a bittersweet smile. "I will. Thanks, Jendeuk."

***

"I saw the statement that your company released. Mine will also do the same. It's solved, now. There shouldn't be any more problem after this."

Unlike Jisoo, Haein is unbothered. Or maybe he pretends to look like it. Knowing him for a few years already, Jisoo knows that Haein tends to think a lot about everything. He must've been worried but choose not to show it to her.

"Right..." Jisoo answers with low voice.

"What's wrong?"

"I..."

Somehow it's really hard to put her anxiety into words. The only thing for sure is the undeniable urge to just hug Haein again and forget about everything else.

"I miss you."

Haein didn't say anything back for a while.

"Are you at the dorm?"

It's weird that he just changed the topic, but she answers anyway. "Yes... I'm alone now."

"Really? Where are the others?"

"Jennie stays at her parents house for today. Chaeyoung went out on a movie date with Lisa. Maybe they will stay at Lisa's apartement since it's closer. I just don't feel like joining them."

"I see." He hums. "Then... shall I come?"

Jisoo almost drops her phone when she heard it. "What? Aren't you out of town?"

"It's just two hours driving from here. I can cook you something and we can chat. If you don't mind, of course."

The thought of inviting Haein over without anyone knows is just so wrong and yet, it's an offer she can not resist.

"I don't hate the idea."

***

Jisoo is more than ready when someone rings the door bell. She opens the door after three times of doing deep breath. It feels like her heart nearly explode. An oversized white t-shirt and a black long legging, she hopes that she looks just okay to Haein. His bright smile welcomes her. He wears a pretty thick grey jacket. It must be cold outside and Haein had to drove for hours.

"I brought tenderloin." He proudly says.

"And I've got the drinks ready. Oppa, come on in."

The dorm feels really wide and quite now that there are only two of them here.

"Whoa, it's really clean. You girls are neat."

Jisoo laughs nervously. She just cleaned the living room, kitchen, and dining room because Haein came. It was supposed to look like world war 2 remains, before.

"Oppa, do you like to cook?"

"Yes. My parents were busy when I was young, so I'm used to prepare my own food." Haein takes out the ingredients one by one.

"Great. Because I can't be any help when it comes to cooking."

Both of them laugh. Haein then gently pushs Jisoo to the chair.

"You can sit here and watch. The food will be served in no time. Okay, ma'am?"

Jisoo nods and do exactly what Haein told her to. Watching him seasoning the meat. Cutting onion and thyme leaves. Melting the butter on the pan. He looks both cool and sexy. It makes that urge that Jisoo had rises again. She slowly walks toward him, who is now focus on frying the meat.

"It smells good..."

"The magic is in the onion and butter." Haein explains.

"No," Jisoo gives Haein a back hug. "You. You smell good, Oppa."

He lets her be for a while. Then, Haein turns off the stove and turns around, facing Jisoo. He caress her cheek and place his other hand on Jisoo's waist.

"I didn't say it on the phone because I want to say it directly."

Jisoo can't even say any word. Staring at Haein's twinkling puppy eyes make her tounge goes numb.

"I miss you too." He continue.

Jisoo closes her eyes when his warm lips touch hers. His kiss is long yet gentle. This is not their first time kissing. Both of them know that their love already there, then and now. They only stop when they feel like they are out of breath. Then, their giggle come out of the blue.

"Man, this is crazy." Haein couldn't believe himself.

"I know." Jisoo agrees.

He shyly stares at Jisoo again. "Jisoo-ya... shall we date?"

"Oppa, do you still need to ask after we did 'that'?" Jisoo teases him.

They laugh again, harder this time. Haein grabs both of Jisoo's hands.

"Let's date, alright."

Jisoo feels like she needs to clarify one thing. "Publicly, or in secret?"

Haein smiles then hugs her tightly. "Let's date in secret for now while we figure things out."

Jisoo hugs him back. "Okay."

Just like that, they are official and Jisoo feels like owning the world. The world that only belong to both of them. Little did she know that this new beginning will bring them not only sweet thing, but also the bitter one.