Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 47: Some Fantasy Part 2 (Jennie 30; Rosé 33)

Rosé stood quietly in the hallway, her phone pressed to her ear, waiting for her parents to pick up. Jennie's mother had been insistent—demanding, really—that Rosé call them right away, not caring if they were busy or not.

Finally, the familiar voice of her mother answered, and Rosé hesitated before speaking. "Mom... I need you and Dad to come over. It's really important. I'll explain when you get here."

With a shaky sigh, she ended the call. Jennie was beside her, holding her hand tightly, as if grounding herself in the chaos of the evening.

Jennie's mom, pacing in the living room, kept muttering under her breath. "I can't believe at your age, I still have to reprimand you two like children. What were you thinking? How long did you think you could hide something like this?"

Jennie and Rosé remained silent, heads lowered like kids caught doing something wrong, waiting for the storm to pass.

Later that evening, Jennie's dad arrived first, followed soon after by Rosé's parents. The tension in the apartment was thick, and it only grew as they all sat around the dinner table. The silence was unbearable, the clinking of utensils and awkward shifting in seats the only sounds breaking through.

Hayoon had already eaten earlier, tucked safely away in her room, oblivious to the chaos unfolding just outside her door.

Finally, Jennie's mom spoke, breaking the tense silence. "I'll explain what's going on," she began, her voice still laced with frustration. "My daughter, Jennie, and Rosé... they've been dating behind our backs. Living together. Raising my granddaughter, Hayoon, together, even. And now they want us to accept this—this relationship."

Rosé's parents exchanged shocked glances, while Jennie's dad sat with a furrowed brow, taking in every word with quiet contemplation.

"They've been hiding this relationship for two years," Jennie's mom continued, shaking her head in disbelief. "Two Years. And we didn't know a thing. I walk into Jennie's apartment and find another person living here, and it's Rosé. Can you imagine how shocked I was? And then I find out they're not just roommates—they're in a relationship."

Rosé's parents looked confused, trying to piece together everything that was being said. Her father cleared his throat. "We didn't know... Chaeyoung was dating anyone," he said cautiously, glancing at his daughter. "We thought she was just busy with work."

Rosé, embarrassed but determined, met their gaze. "Mom, Dad... we didn't tell you because we didn't think you'd understand. We wanted to be sure of what to say before saying anything. Jennie and I... we've been together for more than two years. It's not some... phase. It's real."

Jennie's mom scoffed. "Real? How can you call this real? Jennie used to be one of your biggest fans, Rosé. She idolized you. This isn't love, it's infatuation. And you? You're famous. You took advantage of her, knowing she was obsessed with you."

Jennie stiffened but said nothing. The accusations hung heavy in the air.

Rosé's parents were quiet, their faces a mix of embarrassment and discomfort. Her mother spoke softly, "We... we don't fully understand what's going on here. But if our daughter has done something wrong, we're sorry. We never imagined something like this..."

Jennie's father, who had been silent until now, looked at Rosé's parents with a furrowed brow. "I'm not sure what's worse," he said finally. "That they've been hiding this from us for two whole years, or that they actually think this can work."

Rosé's father sighed deeply, clearly struggling with his own thoughts. "We raised our daughter to be responsible. To make good decisions. But this... This is something else entirely."

Jennie, feeling the mounting pressure, finally spoke up, her voice trembling but strong. "I'm not just some fan anymore, Mom. That's not what this is. I was a fan years ago, yes, but what we have now... it's so much more than that. We've been dating for two years, and we've built a life together."

"And we didn't hide it because we were ashamed," Rosé added, her voice soft but firm. "We hid it because we knew how hard it would be for everyone to accept. But what Jennie and I have is real. We love each other, and we love Hayoon. We're a family."

Jennie's mom shook her head, exasperated. "A family? You two are living in some fantasy. Do you have any idea what kind of scandal this could cause if the public finds out? Rosé, you're famous! This isn't just about you two. This will ruin your image, ruin your careers. And Jennie—how are you going to protect Hayoon from all of this? She's already been through so much, with the divorce and now this..."

Rosé's parents looked increasingly uncomfortable. Her mother spoke up, still trying to understand. "You've hidden this from everyone for a whole two years? How did you manage that?"

All the parents stared at Jennie and Rosé as if they were two rebellious teenagers caught in some wild scheme.

Jennie looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling slightly. "We didn't want to hurt anyone," she said softly. "We just wanted to live our lives."

Rosé squeezed Jennie's hand under the table, feeling the weight of the moment, the harsh scrutiny from all sides. "We love each other," she said again, looking her parents directly in the eyes. "And I know this is difficult to accept, but we've been careful. We've been responsible. We've thought about this every step of the way."

Her father, still grappling with his emotions, nodded slowly but said nothing. Jennie's mom, however, wasn't done.

"You two are so naive," she said, her voice cracking. "You think love is enough? That you can just hide from the world forever? When this blows up—and it will—it's going to destroy both of you. And more importantly, it'll destroy Hayoon. She's the one who's going to suffer the most in this."

The room fell silent again, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone.