Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 29: Auntie Rosé (Jennie 28; Rosé 31)

The food arrived, and for a moment, there was silence. But it wasn't an uncomfortable one; it felt like the quiet before something deeper could be said. Both Jennie and Rosé were wrapped in their own thoughts, chewing not just on their meal but on the words left hanging in the air between them.

Jennie was replaying Rosé's words over and over again. "You were important to me." She hadn't realized Rosé had seen her that way, had felt that connection too. For years, Jennie had pushed aside those feelings, not wanting to feed into her own fantasies or delusions, but hearing Rosé say it aloud made her feel... grateful. All those fan meets, all the nights she spent listening to Rosé's music, putting her heart into the connection—it hadn't been totally one-sided after all.

On the other side of the table, Rosé was having her own internal struggle. Did I overstep? she wondered, poking at her food absentmindedly. Is Jennie weirded out by what I said? Was I too forward? Did I make her uncomfortable? She knew Jennie had moved on—she was a mother now, settled in her life. But something about Jennie had always drawn her in, and now, she genuinely wanted to know her—not as a fan, but as a person. She just wasn't sure if Jennie felt the same.

The silence broke when Hayoon, fidgeting with her spoon, leaned over and whispered something into Jennie's ear. Her voice was soft, but just loud enough for Rosé to hear.

"Mommy, go home. Show kitchen," Hayoon said, her little hand pointing toward Rosé.

Jennie furrowed her brow, confused. "What do you mean, sweetie?"

Hayoon continued to point at Rosé, her eyes wide with earnestness.

Jennie laughed softly, catching on. "You want to show her?"

Hayoon nodded. "Let's pyay peas," she said, her toddler voice struggling to pronounce "play" and "please" correctly.

Rosé chuckled nervously, leaning in as if to join the secret conversation. "What did she say?"

"She wants to show you the new toy kitchen she got recently," Jennie explained, pulling out her phone. "Here, Hayoon, show Auntie Rosé the picture," she said, handing the phone to her daughter.

But Hayoon pushed the phone away and shook her head. "No pyay at home," she insisted, mispronouncing "play" in the most adorable way, her small hand again pointing at Rosé.

Jennie and Rosé's confusion faded as they realized what Hayoon was trying to say. "OHHH!" they exclaimed in unison.

Jennie laughed. "No, baby. Auntie Rosé can't play today," she said, her voice gentle as she reached over to brush a strand of hair behind Hayoon's ear.

Rosé smiled, her heart warmed at Hayoon's invitation. "I wish I could," she said softly, meeting Hayoon's big, hopeful eyes. "Maybe next time."

Hayoon's face lit up at the idea of a "next time," and she turned her attention back to her food, happily munching on a piece of bread.

Rosé shifted slightly in her seat before speaking again, her voice tinged with a bit of awkwardness. "By the way... you don't have to call me Rosé." She hesitated, glancing at Jennie as if testing the waters. "Rosie, Chaeng, or even my real name, Chaeyoung... it's fine, really."

Jennie blinked, caught off guard. "Oh," she murmured, her lips curving into a small smile. "Auntie... Rosie can't play," she repeated, feeling herself stumble over the name. It felt strange on her tongue, but strangely comforting, too—like they were stripping away the layers of formality.

Rosé laughed, her nerves easing. "Yeah, that's better," she said with a soft grin, her eyes flickering between Jennie and Hayoon. "It feels weird when you call me by my stage name."

"I'll get used to it," Jennie replied, her tone playful. She glanced at Hayoon, who was now humming quietly to herself, completely content with her food.

As the conversation continued, they delved deeper into their lives. Jennie talked more about her journey as a mother, the ups and downs of raising Hayoon, and her new life running the ice cream parlor. She spoke with a kind of passion Rosé hadn't seen before, a different kind of fire than the one Jennie had as a fan, but just as strong. Rosé listened intently, absorbing every detail, genuinely interested in this new side of Jennie.

In return, Rosé opened up about her own experiences—her time off, the highs and lows of being in the public eye, and the quiet moments of doubt and reflection that had come with it. She spoke about how she'd grown, not just as a performer, but as a person. And how, in many ways, she had found herself missing the simplicity of real connections, like the one she had unknowingly shared with Jennie all those years ago.

As the plates cleared and the evening wound down, Jennie found herself more at ease than she had been all night. She was still in awe, still processing how they had come to this moment, but she felt the beginnings of something—something genuine—forming between them.

Rosé glanced at the clock, disappointment hitting her as she realized the night was coming to an end.

"Thank you for tonight," Jennie said quietly, meeting Rosé's gaze. "For... everything."

Rosé smiled, her eyes softening. "No need to thank me. I'm really glad we did this."

Jennie helped Hayoon gather her things, slipping her tiny arms through her coat sleeves. But Hayoon had other ideas. She clutched Jennie's hand and tugged lightly, her eyes pleading as she looked up at her mother.

Hayoon's lips pouted, and she tugged at Jennie's hand again, more insistently this time. "Pease, Mommy? Auntie pyay," she begged, the mispronunciation of "play" making Jennie's heart melt. She glanced at Rosé, unsure of what to say.

Jennie crouched down to meet her daughter's gaze, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Baby, Auntie Rosie has to go home. We can't play tonight."

Rosé knelt down beside them, meeting Hayoon's hopeful eyes with a warm smile. "I'd love to play sometime, Hayoon," she said softly, her gaze shifting to Jennie. "If... that's okay with your mom."

Jennie blinked, caught off guard by the question.

After a brief pause, Jennie smiled at Hayoon. "We'll see, baby. Next time."

Rosé walked alongside them, her steps slow and hesitant, as if she didn't want the night to end just yet.

"Are you sure I'm not intruding too much? The dinner and everything, I mean." Rosé asked quietly, breaking the brief silence as they reached the door. She glanced at Jennie, then quickly looked away.

Jennie smiled, a bit surprised by Rosé's question. "Not at all," she replied, shaking her head. "Actually... it's nice. I never thought we'd ever do something like this."

"Me neither," Rosé chuckled.

She glanced down at Hayoon, who was busy humming to herself, playing with a napkin she'd grabbed on the way out. "She's really something, huh?" Rosé added with a softer tone, clearly endeared by the little girl.

"She is," Jennie said, a warm pride filling her voice as she glanced down at Hayoon.

As they finally walked out into the crisp night air, Rosé hesitated, then asked, "So... next time, huh?"

Jennie glanced at her, pretending to think. "Maybe," she teased lightly, though her smile made it clear that 'maybe' was leaning toward 'yes.'

Rosé's eyes brightened at that. "I'll take maybe. It's better than no."

Jennie shook her head with a soft laugh. "Alright, maybe next week then. I'll let you know."

Rosé grinned. "Sounds perfect."