Hate You, Love You. | Jenlisa

67

After the rat and death note, no further threats arrived and things are getting back to normal... sorta. As promised, extra surveillance has been placed around the apartment.

Mom and Ella noticed it, but they didn't think too much of it because the police make hourly visits to our neighborhood: they're either busting a drug dealer or arresting someone for weapon possession.

The police unfortunately haven't been able to trace where the package came from. It's like it dropped out of the sky or an alien put it on my doorstep because it's not... traceable.

Hyejun said something about a fake address and an unknown P.O Box, but I stopped listening after he said they have no idea where it came from. Whoever it is is still out there and I'm still not safe, bottom line.

I start picking Ella up from school again and that requires a slight adjustment in Hyejun and I's arrangement. That means I'd start taking my car to school again, drop Ella off and pick her up with Hyejun following closely behind in his car.

That threat scared the shit out of me and I'd be damned if anything happens to my sister, I'll rest easy when I know she's with me.

Ella and Hyejun protest: Ella is irritated that she wouldn't be riding with her best friend but I told her that it's best if we don't bother Kristina's mom since I'm clearly capable of driving. Hyejun on the other hand is worried about my safety (as usual) but I told him that he still gets to drive me on Saturdays for practice, so it's not all bad.

Anywho, we've been comfortable enough with the new arrangement and things are going alright. I try to put the fact that someone is out for my blood behind me and focus my energy on studying for the first term exams.

No way in heaven, earth or hell am I letting anything fuck up my grades, especially when I'm months away from graduation.

Exams come knocking like a thief in the night on the first of December. I'm prepared though, at least to the point where I know that I'd get some A's. I just hope my sleepless nights and coffee overdose pays off.

"i don't know about this dress," I unsurely run my hand through the shimmery and coarse fabric. "It looks more like it's for you than for me."

"Are you crazy? It looks perfect on you." Rosé compliments as she sits on my bed. "It's a Chanel limited edition, straight off the runway and it looks better on you that it'll ever look on me."

At first, when Rosé said she had the perfect dress for me to wear to the Winterwood charity event. I was a little concerned. Rosé and I may have a lot of things in common, but the one thing we disagree on is style.

My style is more laid back and comfortable, with a little bit of edge. You wouldn't catch me in a dress unless it's for a party or an event such as the one I'm headed to. Rosé, on the other hand is more girly-girl, so our styles are completely different.

I'm a sweatshirt and distressed jeans person; she's a pink shirt and fluffy slippers person.

"By the way," Rosé continues. "The length of the dress is totally appropriate for the event. Knee length is always a good choice because it's a formal school event, but not too formal to the point that you have to wear a ball gown or a A line dress. This is a safe choice."

I double check myself in the mirror and turn to my side, trying to find a hint of a pooch but I can't find it because of this waist trainer that Rosé forced me to wear.

"I guess you're right."

"I'm always right."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Moving away from the mirror, I monitor the time on my phone. "By the way, if I feel like I have no oxygen left in me, I'm ditching the waist trainer." I inform her. She rolls her eyes and hands me my shoes; silver pumps.

"When is Hyejun picking you up?"

"He should be here soon. The event starts by 7pm and our performance is by 7:30pm."

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" I try to persuade her. "I need you there with me."

"You're not going to the lion's den," she jokes. "Besides, you'll be fine. My parents probably got invited but they'll never come so I have no reason to go," she says with a hint of sadness but quickly masks it. "I'll probably call Jisoo and we'd go out on a date or something."

"Okay," I pout. "But I'll miss you."

"Look on the bright side, you have your brother there to protect you." She winks.

"Why the wink?"

"Oh, nothing. I just find it cute how he fusses over you and attends to your every need. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two are a couple because you're literally everywhere together, except in the same house."

If only she knew.

"That's disgusting," I remark, scrunching up my nose. "I don't do incest."

"It's not incest if you're not related by blood."

"But we're related by marriage." I toss a pillow at her and she catches it. "Are you insinuating that I have something with my brother?"

"Step brother," she correct. "It'll be hot though. You'll fulfill my smutty books fantasy."

It's official, my best friend is smoking weed.

"You're high," I tell her pointedly. "On a scale of 1-10 how much weed did you smoke?"

"I'm not high," she giggles. "Just ruffling your feathers a bit and getting you to lighten up. You're nervous. I can tell."

It's my first time attending the Winterwood charity event and my 4th time performing with the club in front of a crowd. They always say that after a couple of performances it'll get easier and you'd get rid of stage fright but I don't think that applies to me. With each performance, the nerves increase at a staggering rate.

I guess that's a good thing because I always bring my A game.

For the past month and a half, Mr. Song has been busting our asses and vocal chords, making sure we hit every note on time and synchronize in harmony. We're going to perform six songs in rapid succession for a total of 8 minutes so the plan is to cut the songs into bits and make it a whole.

I know we're going to kill it like we did in rehearsals last week and I can't wait to sing.

"I'm nervous, but I'll be fine." I grab my purse and stuff my keys, a pack of gum and lip gloss in it. "As long as you don't insinuate that Hyejun and I have a thing going on. It's just so wrong and juvenile." And jailbait-ish.

Hyejun is a cop and he's older. Age has never stopped me before, but after the whole Kai saga and the shit show that I'm STILL dealing with, I'm staying away from older guys.

Time to date someone my age.

My phone buzzed and I take that as my cut to head downstairs. "That's Hyejun. Time to bounce."

I check myself in the mirror one last time before heading towards the door. "Wait," Rosé calls out. "Let me examine you before you leave."

Standing in front of me, she adjusts my dress since it rode up a bit when I sat down.

"Pout your lips." I do as she instructs and she coats my lips with more lip gloss. As usual, I opt for the natural looking make up much to Rosé's dismay. I told her that it's a school event and I can't look all dolled up like Nancy, wearing a cake full of make up. I don't want to give Principal Yang a heart attack.

"Come on. I have to go," I groan. "He's waiting."

"He's a guy. He can wait."

Straightening my dress again, she hands me my phone and purse then practically shoves me out of my bedroom door. "Now go kill the girls and boys at Winterwood with your amazing looks and take pictures, lots of them."

"Will do."

"I'll probably stay a while and hang out with your mom and Ella. It's been a while since I've talked to your mom in particular."

"Knock yourself out. She's probably in her room. Bye."

"Hugs and Kisses."