Hate You, Love You. | Jenlisa

64

"It was horrible," Rosé exasperates. "Absolutely and utterly horrible."

"Why don't you calm down and tell me what's up," I say calmly as I hand her a bottle of water. Thursdays are my favorite days of the week for a couple of reasons: I only attend a few classes and Math isn't one of them and it's close to Friday which is close to the weekend.

But nowadays, my Saturdays, along with that of Hyejun's, are preoccupied with preparing for the big performance at the Winterwood charity event. The class settled on a song by the Beatles, one from Anita Baker and one from Micheal Jackson for the Classics so we've been hard at work stressing our vocal chords.

The next meeting is this Saturday and I couldn't be happier. I need a distraction, a healthy distraction.

"The counselor called my parents and scheduled a meeting like she said she would and they actually showed up!"

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Yes! You know they never come to any of my shit."

For as long as I've known Rosé, I've never seen her parents show up for anything school related. I've never seen them at parent-teacher's conferences, or at games or even at the annual charity event.

Instead, they send her favorite Aunt in their stead. Rosé stopped caring a long time ago claiming it doesn't matter but I've seen the sad look in her eyes when they miss events that are important to her.

They are not bad people. I've met them a few times and they've been nothing but kind and hospitable, but they're just too busy.

"Anyway, they came in today and I got pulled out of class. At first I thought I was in trouble but then the kid who called me was like the counselor wants to see me."

I nod and take a bite of my pizza. "Go on."

"So, there they were, in the flesh. Mind you, I haven't seen them for 3 days because Jinyoung said they went on some business trip or whatever. The counselor told them I was doing great in school and all that jazz. She showed them my test results and they were impressed." She explains animatedly.

"Then she asked them if they've discussed college with me and shit. Do you know the next thing my father says?"

"No."

"He was all like, 'My daughter is going to Yale and she's going to be a surgeon just like me'," she mimics exaggeratedly. "Then he blatantly lied and said we've discussed the Yale thing when I swear on my life, the conversation has never been brought up. The only conversation we had is the one where he said that he wants me to be a surgeon!"

Rosé continues. "And my mom, she just sits there and nods and I look at them like they're fucking crazy because there's no way I'm going to the US and I'm pretty sure I don't want to be a surgeon."

Uncapping the bottled water, she takes a small sip. "My future has already been decided for me! Hyejun can you imagine that?"

Rosé and Hyejun have become fast friends. Dare I say, I think she likes him more than she does me because according to her, it's nice to get a 'male's perspective' on matters. Now our squad of two has become three.

"You must be living in a nightmare," he responds cheekily. I didn't even realize he has been listening in on the conversation.

"I like your brother, Jen. He actually agrees with me."

"You like anyone that agrees with you."

"You don't agree with me on a regular basis and I still like you."

"You don't have a choice," I tease. "You're stuck with me."

"Whatever."

"Moving on, what did the counselor say?"