Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 35: Finally (Jennie 28; Rosé 31)

The air between them was thick with unspoken thoughts, yet the silence felt oddly comforting as Jennie and Rosé lay intertwined on the couch. Neither of them knew quite how to express what had just happened. They had crossed a line, but it didn't feel like a mistake—it felt right. Still, the quiet weighed on Jennie's mind, and she knew that Rosé was probably thinking the same thing.

Rosé was the first to break the silence. Her voice was soft, hesitant. "Jennie... why did you keep saying they were old feelings?"

Jennie turned her head slightly, looking at Rosé's face lit by the soft glow of the lamp. Rosé's eyes were filled with curiosity and something else—something deeper. Jennie sighed, trying to gather her thoughts before answering. She hadn't expected to have this conversation tonight, but it was clear Rosé needed to know.

"I mean..." Jennie started, laughing nervously. "It's kind of obvious, right? I didn't want to ruin what we had." She paused, biting her lip, trying to figure out how to put her tangled emotions into words. "I thought you would never see me as anything more than a friend, and I didn't want to mess that up by saying something stupid."

Rosé shifted slightly, their bodies still pressed together, but Jennie could sense the tension rising. "Jennie, I..." Rosé hesitated, her fingers lightly tracing Jennie's arm. "I didn't know how to say it either. I had these small feelings... but I didn't even realize what they were at first. We've been hanging out for so long, and it was just... different, but I couldn't explain it."

Jennie laughed quietly. "I guess I thought I was crazy. I convinced myself that you'd never feel the same way. I didn't want to take advantage of you, especially when you've always been such a good friend to me."

Rosé's hand stilled on Jennie's arm, and she sighed, almost in relief. "I'm so glad you said something first, because I wouldn't have known how. It's like you read my mind... and I'm thankful for that. But I get it now. You didn't want to push anything."

Jennie nodded, staring up at the ceiling. "Exactly. I was scared, you know? What if I kissed you, and you didn't kiss me back? I thought it might've been a mistake. That I'd lose you."

Rosé chuckled softly, the sound warm and reassuring. "Trust me, it wasn't a mistake." Her voice was gentle, but firm, as if reassuring Jennie that what had happened between them was real, and not just some fleeting moment.

A comfortable silence settled between them again, each lost in their thoughts. But the more Jennie thought about it, the more the uncertainty bubbled up inside her. What did this mean for them now? Where were they going from here? As if sensing Jennie's internal struggle, Rosé slightly pulled away, her face serious as she asked the question they'd both been avoiding.

"So... what are we?" Rosé's voice was quiet, almost shy, but there was a vulnerability in her eyes that Jennie hadn't seen before.

Jennie felt her heart skip, but she smiled softly and leaned in close, brushing a strand of Rosé's hair behind her ear. "We can figure that out tomorrow."

She closed the space between them, going in for another kiss, but before their lips could touch, Rosé suddenly pushed her back—hard enough to surprise Jennie.

"Mommy, I pee," came the sleepy, innocent voice of Hayoon from the hallway, her tiny body framed by the soft glow of the nightlight.

Jennie quickly scrambled to her feet, her heart racing for an entirely different reason now. "Oh, okay! Let's go, sweetie," she said, her voice higher than usual as she grabbed Hayoon's hand.

Rosé was already on her feet, flustered, trying to act casual. "I, uh, I'm gonna go wash up and sleep," she stammered, running a hand through her hair nervously. "Goodnight, just in case I don't see you guys out."

Jennie awkwardly waved, fumbling with Hayoon's hand as they hurried toward the bathroom. "Yeah, goodnight!" she called out, her voice sounding almost like an echo in the spacious apartment.

The awkwardness was palpable, their words sounding forced, as though they were bad actors in a play. Jennie hurried through Hayoon's bathroom routine, her mind racing as she replayed everything that had just happened. She could hear the sound of the shower running in the background, but she didn't dare look toward Rosé's bedroom door.

After finishing up, Jennie quickly gathered their things and slipped out of the apartment without another word, the sound of the door closing behind her echoing in the quiet hallway.

The next morning, Jennie tried to focus on her work, but the memory of last night kept replaying in her mind. The kiss, the cuddle, the awkward interruption—everything felt surreal. She was in the middle of wiping down the counter when her phone buzzed beside her.

Rosé: Let's go to my place, I'll fetch you ;) Miss your cuddles already.

Jennie smiled at the message, her heart fluttering despite herself. She typed back quickly, teasing Rosé.

Jennie: What?? You want me to skip work?

A sad GIF appeared on her screen, followed by another message.

Rosé: Give yourself a break! You rarely take one. Pleaseee I cleared my schedule already, told them I was sick.

Jennie rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the grin spreading across her face.

Jennie: Fine... but only for a few hours!

Rosé showed up at Jennie's shop not long after, and the moment Jennie got into the car, they exchanged a quiet "How's your day been?" and "Missed you." But mostly, they just kept smiling at each other. It was the kind of smile that reached their eyes, the kind that made their hearts race without saying anything at all.

By the time they got to Rosé's apartment, Jennie couldn't hold back any longer. The second they were through the door, she jumped on Rosé, knocking her back onto the couch in a fit of laughter.

"Agh!" Rosé groaned, but she was laughing, her arms wrapping around Jennie's waist as they tumbled onto the cushions together.

Jennie grinned down at her, their faces inches apart. "Gotcha," she whispered playfully, leaning in to kiss Rosé softly.

Rosé let out a muffled laugh into the kiss but quickly pulled back, gasping. "I can't breathe!"

Jennie chuckled, sitting up slightly to give her some space. "Okay, okay, I'll stop suffocating you."

They shifted on the couch, sitting up properly this time, their bodies still close, legs intertwined. Rosé rested her head on Jennie's shoulder, letting out a contented sigh.

"I could just do this all day," Rosé murmured, her fingers playing with the hem of Jennie's shirt.

Jennie pouted, her hand absentmindedly stroking Rosé's hair. "I have to fetch Hayoon soon."

Rosé groaned, burying her face into Jennie's neck. "You still have like two hours..."

Jennie laughed softly, kissing the top of Rosé's head. "You're right."

For the next hour, they stayed wrapped up in each other, the world outside forgotten. Their hands occasionally found each other's, fingers intertwining, and Jennie couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her chest. It was the kind of warmth that she had been missing, the kind she hadn't even realized she craved.

Jennie glanced at the clock, knowing her time with Rosé was running out, but she couldn't bring herself to leave just yet. She kissed Rosé's cheek, lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

"Just a little while longer," Jennie whispered, holding Rosé a little tighter.