Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 45: Cooking Dinner (Jennie 30; Rosé 33)

Months had passed since Jennie and Rosé had moved in together, and life had been a blissful adjustment. Their little family, including Hayoon, was thriving. Hayoon had grown even more attached to Rosé, treating her as if she were a second mom. Rosé, in turn, went above and beyond for Hayoon, loving her like her own daughter. Their bond had become something special, a closeness Jennie admired more with each passing day.

But maintaining their secret life was no easy feat. Whenever friends or family visited, Jennie and Rosé had to hide each other's belongings, carefully tucking away evidence of their shared life. It was exhausting at times, but they both agreed it was worth it to keep their relationship hidden from the public and their loved ones—for now.

One afternoon, while Jennie and Rosé were at work and Hayoon was at daycare, Jennie's mom decided to surprise them by coming early to cook dinner at Jennie's apartment. She had the door passcode, so she let herself in quietly, eager to prepare a hearty meal for her daughter and granddaughter.

As the soup simmered on the stove, Jennie's mom wandered around the apartment, inspecting the place. It was mostly neat, but there were a few scattered boxes on the floor and some clutter in the closet. Curious, she began tidying up, her mind at ease until something caught her eye. Tucked away in the closet were several designer bags and clothes with tags attached.

She chuckled, thinking Jennie had finally splurged on herself—something she always encouraged—but when she took a closer look at the tags, her heart sank.

"To: Rosé"

"For: Rosé"

Her first thought was immediate concern. Was Jennie obsessed with that idol again? Had she wasted all this money on her, just like before? She frowned, frustration bubbling inside her. Jennie was an adult now, a mother—she shouldn't be spending so much on an idol, no matter how much she admired her.

As Jennie's mom continued to investigate, she realized something wasn't adding up. There were two of everything—two toothbrushes, two towels, two sets of slippers. Clearly, someone else was living here. Her thoughts turned to Minwoo. Was he back in Jennie's life? Had she reconciled with him without telling anyone?

Just then, the front door clicked open, and the voices of Jennie, Rosé, and Hayoon floated into the apartment.

"Who's cooking? Did we leave the stove on?" Jennie asked, her voice full of confusion.

Jennie's mom froze, her heart pounding. She hurriedly ducked behind the curtains, trying to figure out what to say.

Rosé entered behind Jennie, her brow furrowed. "It smells like fresh food... is someone here? Did you invite anyone?"

Jennie tensed, immediately on guard. "No, I didn't. Hayoon, come here, baby."

Rosé's fame made privacy and security a constant concern. Both women instinctively became more alert, Jennie's hand already reaching for her phone to call the lobby guard when she noticed something move behind the curtains. Her eyes quickly darted to the handbag resting on the chair.

"Mom??" Jennie exclaimed, her tone a mixture of surprise and exasperation. "What are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming!"

Her mom sheepishly stepped out from behind the curtains, trying to smooth over her sudden appearance. "I wanted to surprise you with dinner... but now I'm the one surprised," she muttered, eyeing Jennie suspiciously. "What's going on, Jennie? Why are there so many boxes and bags labeled 'Rosé'? Are you wasting money on her again?"

Jennie felt the familiar frustration build. She couldn't believe her mom was jumping to conclusions again. "Mom, it's not like that! I'm not—"

But her mom cut her off, her voice rising. "And whose things are these? Why is there another person's stuff in your apartment? Is Minwoo back? You didn't tell me you were getting back together with him!"

Jennie glanced over at Rosé, who had been standing quietly, trying to avoid the escalating situation. But now, Jennie's mom's eyes locked onto her, her face twisting in sudden recognition. "Wait... Rosé?" she asked, stunned.

Rosé offered a polite, nervous smile. "Yes, ma'am. It's nice to see you again."

But instead of the warmth Rosé had hoped for, Jennie's mom looked at her daughter with disapproval. "Jennie! What have you done? Why would you drag a famous person into your home? This is so embarrassing."

Before Jennie could respond, Hayoon piped up from her spot by Jennie's side. "It's not a problem, Grandma! Auntie Rosie lives with us now!"

Jennie's mom blinked, utterly confused. "Auntie Rosie?"

She turned back to Jennie, her eyes now wide with shock and disbelief. "Jennie, what is going on here? I don't understand any of this." She rubbed her temples as if trying to piece together a puzzle too complicated to solve. Slowly, she sank down into a chair, her face pale.

Jennie sighed, realizing she couldn't keep dodging this forever. Rosé gently placed her hand on Jennie's shoulder, a silent reassurance that they'd face this together.

Jennie took a deep breath, knowing this wasn't going to be easy. She could feel Rosé's presence beside her, a silent strength that gave her the courage to push through. Her mom's eyes were still locked on her, a mix of confusion and concern clouding her expression.

"Mom," Jennie began softly, her voice shaking slightly but growing steadier as she spoke, "I know this is a lot for you to take in, but I need you to hear me out."

Her mom was silent, eyes narrowing as she waited for Jennie to explain.

"It's not just about Rosé being here as a friend," Jennie continued, choosing her words carefully. "We... we're more than that. We're together, as in... we're dating."

Jennie's mom blinked, not quite understanding yet, so Jennie pressed on, her voice firm but gentle.

"I know this isn't what you expected from me, and I know it's hard to understand because, well... we're both women. But we care about each other, Mom. This isn't something I just jumped into. We've been together for a while, and it's serious."

She paused, searching her mom's face for any sign of understanding, but all she saw was shock.