Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 55: Doing It Again (Jennie 30; Rosé 33)

The memory of Jennie's breakup played in her mind, vivid as ever. It was the day she had gone back to her parents, utterly broken after Rosé left. Jennie had expected judgment, perhaps even anger, from her mother, but what she received was something entirely different.

Her mother had taken the news surprisingly well. Too well, in fact. She had nodded and sighed softly, as if she had always seen this coming. "You know," she had said with an eerie calmness, "maybe this is for the best. It's time you focus on Hayoon and your future. All these distractions, this relationship... it wasn't meant to last. You'll see. It's better this way."

Jennie had felt her heart crumble at those words, but she was too exhausted to argue. It wasn't that her mother was being cruel—she had never been unkind. She simply had a way of reshaping reality to fit into a box she could understand. In that moment, Jennie had felt gaslighted, like her pain was being quietly dismissed. But still, her mother had been there, holding her as she cried, whispering reassurances about how everything would get better with time. Jennie had wanted to scream that it wasn't "better" she wanted, it was Rosé.

In contrast, Rosé's parents had handled the breakup with a gentle silence. They hadn't pressed or questioned her when she called them, tears choking her voice as she explained what happened. They didn't ask if the relationship had been too unconventional or if this was a phase she needed to outgrow. They simply listened. When Rosé had finished speaking, her father had quietly said, "If you need anything, we're here. Whatever you need." Her mother had echoed the sentiment, offering her a simple but comforting, "Take your time, Love." And they had. They had given her the space to grieve, to heal, and to figure things out on her own.

Now, sitting side by side on the couch with Jennie, Rosé glanced nervously at their parents, gathered together in the living room of the apartment Jennie and Rosé had once shared. The air was thick with unspoken tension. All four parents were there, each of them expecting this meeting to be a civil discussion—a way to wrap up the logistics of their daughters' separation. They assumed they would talk about dividing the apartment, about how to move forward now that things had seemingly come to an end.

But they were wrong.

Jennie took a deep breath, her hand clasped tightly in Rosé's as she prepared to speak. "We're not here to talk about ending things," she began, her voice firm but slightly shaky. "We're actually... back together."

The silence that followed was heavy, stunned.

Rosé's father was the first to respond, his brow furrowing as he processed Jennie's words. "Back together?" he repeated, his voice more surprised than anything else.

Rosé nodded. "Yes. We've talked things through, and we're not going to let anyone—parents included—dictate what we do with our relationship anymore."

Jennie's mother's face fell slightly, her expression shifting from confusion to a tired disappointment. It wasn't anger, but there was a deep weariness in her eyes, like she was watching her daughter make a mistake she didn't know how to stop. "Jennie, I thought... I thought this was over. For good reason."

Jennie met her mother's gaze, her chest tightening. She knew this conversation was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. "Mom, I know you don't understand, but Rosé makes me happy. Really happy. I want to be with her. I want to build a family with her and Hayoon. That's what matters."

Her mother let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples. "But Jennie, you were married. You had a family with Minwoo. What about that? What about Hayoon needing stability?"

Jennie's resolve hardened. "I did have a family with Minwoo, but you know as well as I do what that turned into. I was content because it felt normal, because it made you happy. But after the divorce, I realized something—I wasn't happy. I was doing everything to meet your expectations, to fit into this version of life you always wanted for me."

Rosé squeezed her hand tighter, silently offering support.

Jennie's mother shook her head slightly, her disappointment growing more visible. "I just don't understand... You always liked girls? What does that even mean? You never said anything before."

Jennie's heart raced as she prepared to finally say the words that had been sitting in her chest for years. "I've always liked girls, Mom. I just never acted on it or showed it because I knew it wouldn't fit into your idea of what my life should look like. I started realizing it in college, but I buried it. I thought if I just did everything right—got married, had a child—it would go away, and I could live a 'normal' life. But after the divorce... after I met Rosé... I couldn't ignore it anymore."

Her mother's eyes narrowed slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. "So, what? You're saying you left Minwoo because of this?"

Jennie's frustration bubbled up, and she shook her head sharply. "No. You know why I left Minwoo. He changed. He became distant, cold. He made our lives—mine and Hayoon's—a never-ending hell. And I stayed for so long because I thought it was the right thing to do, because it felt normal. But it wasn't right. It wasn't right for me. And after the divorce, I felt free for the first time in years. And yes, I want to be with Rosé. I want to be happy. I'm not going to pretend anymore."

The room was silent, tension swirling as Jennie's words hung in the air. Her mother looked tired, worn out by the weight of everything her daughter had just revealed. She didn't argue, didn't raise her voice, but Jennie could see the resignation in her expression.

Rosé's parents exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, her father spoke up, his voice gentle but steady. "We just want you to be happy, Chaeyoung. That's all we've ever wanted. If Jennie makes you happy, then we'll support you."

Rosé felt the tears welling up in her eyes, grateful for the unconditional support her parents had always given her. She leaned into Jennie, resting her head on her shoulder for a moment, and Jennie squeezed her hand in response.

Jennie's mother stood up, sighing as she gathered her things. "I don't understand it, Jennie. I really don't. But I suppose you're an adult now. You'll make your own choices." Her voice was calm but laced with a sadness that Jennie had anticipated.

"Mom, I know this isn't what you wanted for me," Jennie said softly. "But I'm happy. And that's what matters."

Her mother looked at her for a long moment, then nodded slightly. "I hope you're right."

The room was heavy with unsaid words, but for Jennie and Rosé, the most important words had already been spoken. They were free now. Free to be together, to live their lives without anyone else's expectations holding them back.

And that was all that mattered.