Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 7: Minwoo (Jennie 21; Rosé 24)

The cozy café near the office had become Jennie and Minwoo's favorite spot. It was a charming little place with warm lighting and a relaxed ambiance that made it the perfect backdrop for their casual lunches. On this particular afternoon, the café was particularly busier than usual, but Jennie's attention was solely on Minwoo.

They had just finished their meal, and Minwoo's usually easygoing demeanor seemed to shift. His gaze was steady, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that Jennie hadn't seen before. As he reached out to take her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, Jennie felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach.

"Jennie, can I ask you something?" Minwoo's voice was gentle, almost hesitant, as though he were treading carefully over a delicate subject.

Jennie blinked, taken aback by the shift in his tone. "Sure, what is it?"

Minwoo's fingers curled around hers, and he looked into her eyes with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "I've really enjoyed spending time with you. I was wondering if we could make it official... would you be my girlfriend?"

The question was heavy with unspoken promises and expectations. Jennie's mind raced, grappling with the weight of Minwoo's words.

As she looked into Minwoo's hopeful eyes, a small, nagging doubt flickered at the back of her mind. Despite the warmth of his hand and the sincerity of his gaze, Jennie couldn't ignore the uncertainty. Yet, despite the hesitation, she found herself nodding. "Yes," she said, a small, genuine smile forming on her lips. "I'd like that."

Minwoo's face lit up with relief and joy, his smile wide and genuine. "Really? I promise, Jennie, I'll do my best to make you happy."

Jennie squeezed his hand, her heart swelling with affection for him. "I know you will." She meant it. Minwoo was a good person, and she enjoyed his company. He made her laugh, and his presence brought a comforting stability to her life.

Life with Minwoo was comfortable. Their days were filled with predictable routines—dinners after work, weekend outings, and quiet evenings watching movies. She relished these moments, finding joy in the simplicity of their time together.

"This is normal," Jennie would often tell herself, especially on days when doubts crept in. "This is what I should be doing."

Her fan accounts had long been dormant, the once-treasured collection now gathering dust in storage. She still listened to Rosé's music occasionally, but it was more out of habit than excitement. The thrill that once came with hearing Rosé's voice had faded.

One evening, as she sat beside Minwoo on the couch, her head resting on his shoulder. "I'm happy," she whispered to herself, as Minwoo's arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

But late at night, when she was alone with her thoughts, Jennie found it hard to fully embrace her new reality. Had she truly moved on? Or had she merely buried a part of herself—hidden away like her old posters and albums—under layers of societal expectations and self-imposed responsibilities?

Sometimes, she would lie awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, and imagine what her life would have been like if she had followed her heart instead of conforming to what was expected of her. Those thoughts were small, and quickly overshadowed by the realities of her current life. And so, Jennie would close her eyes and drift off to sleep, trying to convince herself that she had made the right choice, even if the path she walked seemed so different from the one she had once dreamed of.