Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 30: Eating and Drinking (Jennie 28; Rosé 31)

That dinner and their promise to Hayoon marked the beginning of many more nights spent together. The once distant gap between idol and fan dissolved as they grew closer, and soon, dinners at each other's places became routine. Jennie and Rosé would unwind, debrief about their days, and share light-hearted conversations over food and wine, finding comfort in each other's company. Hayoon, who had grown fond of Rosé, often referred to her as "Auntie Rosie" and eagerly looked forward to their time together. It was as if they had never been Idol and Fan. Just two friends.

One evening, at Jennie's apartment, the atmosphere was particularly cozy. Hayoon was fast asleep, her gentle breathing barely audible from her room. The night was cool, with a slight breeze coming through the cracked window. Jennie and Rosé were sitting on the living room couch, wine glasses in hand and a spread of cheese, crackers, and fruits laid out on the coffee table. The lighting was soft, the kind that encouraged deeper conversations, and the wine had made them both a little tipsy, loosening their words.

Jennie sipped from her glass before leaning back and chuckling softly. "You know," she began, her voice slightly slurred from the wine, "it's so strange... I used to be so starstruck whenever I saw you. Like, I couldn't even breathe half the time, and now... now you're just here... in my apartment, drinking wine with me."

Rosé laughed, glancing around the apartment as if seeing it through Jennie's eyes. "Yeah, it is weird when you put it like that," she agreed, her tone light and teasing. "I guess it's a good thing you can breathe around me now."

Jennie giggled, swirling her wine in her glass. "Oh, totally. But seriously..." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice in a mock-serious tone. "I should just sell all the merch I have of you on eBay. I mean, it's kinda weird now, right? Like having my friend's autograph and limited edition merch in a huge box in my closet."

Rosé burst into laughter, her eyes wide with surprise. "No way! You still have all that?" She shook her head in disbelief. "You could probably make a fortune off of it though, honestly."

"Right?!" Jennie grinned mischievously. "I could make some serious cash. Not that I'd ever do that, of course. But... it's tempting."

"Tempting, huh?" Rosé raised an eyebrow, amused.

Jennie laughed, leaning closer. "Oh, I'm serious. I'll give you a cut of it if I ever do."

They both dissolved into laughter, the kind of laugh that lingers long after the joke is over, their cheeks flushed from the wine and the warmth between them.

As their laughter died down, Jennie leaned back, staring at the ceiling, a soft smile playing on her lips. "It's funny, though," she said quietly. "I used to admire you so much. Those years as a fan... they were some of the best years of my life." She took another sip of her wine, her voice growing a bit nostalgic. "I really, really admired you, Rosie. The way you sang, the way you danced, the way you just... were."

Rosé's expression softened as she listened, but then Jennie let out a sudden, almost hysterical laugh. "I was so in love with you," she admitted, her words tumbling out in a mix of humor and something else.

Rosé blinked, her neutral expression shifting slightly as the words hit her. She sat up straighter, looking at Jennie with more focus now. "Wait, for real?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You mean, all those years... you actually liked me? Like, liked liked me?"

Jennie paused, the laughter fading as she realized what she'd just said. She sobered up a bit, her cheeks flushing from more than just the wine. "Yeah," she admitted, glancing at Rosé with a sheepish smile. "But I think I was just confused. I mean, it's hard not to feel something when you admire someone that much, right? I think it was more about the idea of you, you know? Not the real you." She looked at Rosé, her smile softening. "But... look at you now. Wow. You still look amazing."

Rosé joined in Jennie's laughter, but something lingered behind her eyes. Her curiosity was piqued, and the way Jennie spoke about her admiration had stirred something deeper. She set her wine glass down and leaned back, still processing Jennie's words. "That's... interesting," she said quietly, her tone thoughtful. "I mean, I always knew you were a huge fan, but I didn't realize it was like that."

Jennie waved it off, trying to keep the mood light. "Oh, come on, don't think too much of it," she said, grinning. "It's in the past. I've grown up now."

Rosé nodded, though a part of her wondered if Jennie had really moved on from those feelings—or if they had simply evolved into something else. "Yeah, you're right," she said, smiling back. "We're both older now. That was... another lifetime."

But as they both leaned back on the couch, comfortable in each other's presence, the air between them seemed to shift. The wine was taking the edge off their inhibitions, and the playful banter had given way to something more introspective, more vulnerable.

Rosé glanced at Jennie, her curiosity growing. "You know... I've always wanted to get to know you more. Even back then. But it felt weird, like there was this... invisible line I couldn't cross because of who I was."

Jennie nodded slowly, her gaze thoughtful. "I guess it was like that for me too. I didn't want to be that crazy fan who thought they could be best friends with their idol." She chuckled softly. "But now, it's different. We're just... us."

Rosé smiled at that, her eyes softening. "Yeah. We're just us."

Jennie snorted, swirling the wine in her glass before taking another sip. "Still weird, though," she said with a playful grin, her words slurring just a little from the alcohol.

Rosé let out a laugh, the kind that comes from deep in the chest, and soon they were both laughing uncontrollably, the wine loosening their inhibitions even further. The absurdity of their situation hit them—how they went from Idol and Fan to sitting on Jennie's couch, drinking wine and laughing like old friends.

Jennie wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, trying to catch her breath. "I mean, come on! How did this even happen?" she asked between giggles. "If you'd told 17-year-old me or 20-year-old me that one day I'd be sitting here, drinking with YOU of all people, I would've passed out on the spot."

Rosé leaned back, still chuckling. "Right? It's kind of insane when you think about it."

Jennie nodded, still smiling. "It's surreal. But..." She glanced at Rosé, her expression softening again. "I'm really glad it did."

Rosé met Jennie's gaze, her own smile lingering. "Me too."