Rosie Park and Jennie Kim had always been the golden couple among their friends. Engaged, deeply in love, and seemingly perfect for each other, they exuded a kind of effortless harmony that made everyone around them feel like they were witnessing something almost too beautiful to touch. They laughed easily together, shared whispered jokes, and could finish each other's sentences. It was clear to everyone that they were meant to be.
Their friends often joked about how enviable their relationship was. "I swear, you two are straight out of a fairytale," their friend Mina said one evening as they all sat at a rooftop bar, the city skyline twinkling beneath them. "Like, how do you do it? How do you stay so perfect all the time?"
Jennie laughed, her eyes twinkling as she leaned into Rosie, her hand resting on Rosie's knee under the table. "I think it's just us," she said, smiling fondly at Rosie. "We've always been like this. It's natural."
Rosie smiled back, but there was something unreadable in her eyes. She looked so in love with Jennie, but if you looked closely enough, there was a flicker of something else—something darker—just behind her gaze. She nodded in agreement, but inside, her mind was miles away, consumed with thoughts of her secret life.
"I've never met a couple who gets along this well," Mina continued, sipping her drink. "It's honestly a little intimidating."
Jennie shrugged, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "We're just lucky, I guess." She glanced at Rosie, her smile softening. "Rosie's the one who makes everything easy."
Rosie's smile faltered for just a moment, but no one noticed except herself. Jennie's words, meant as a compliment, were just another reminder of the web of lies Rosie had been weaving behind her back. Because the truth was, Rosie wasn't the perfect partner. She wasn't the loving fiancée Jennie believed her to be.
Rosie had been seeing someone else for the past six months—a woman named Lana, who worked in fashion. Lana was everything Rosie felt Jennie wasn't. She was wild, unpredictable, and thrilling in a way Jennie couldn't be. Lana didn't ask questions. She didn't have expectations. It was just the two of them, wrapped up in stolen moments, with no strings attached.
Rosie had never intended for it to go this far. She'd met Lana at a party, and the chemistry between them had been undeniable from the start. One kiss had led to another, and before Rosie knew it, she was sneaking around, balancing two lives, all the while pretending to be the perfect fiancée to Jennie.
The worst part was, Jennie had no idea.
Jennie believed in the love they shared. She trusted Rosie implicitly, as she always had. And Rosie, for all her guilt, loved Jennie too. But the pull toward Lana was something she couldn't ignore. The excitement, the rush—it was intoxicating.
That evening, after the group of friends had finished their drinks, Rosie and Jennie left the bar together, their hands entwined. Jennie rested her head on Rosie's shoulder as they walked to their car. "I'm so glad we have each other," Jennie said softly. "You're my rock, Rosie. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Rosie's chest tightened, her smile strained as she leaned down to kiss Jennie's forehead. "I feel the same way, Jen. You mean everything to me."
It was a lie, but it was a lie she had told herself for months.
---
The next morning, Rosie woke up early, as she always did when she was meeting Lana. She slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Jennie, who was still sleeping soundly beside her. The morning sunlight streamed in through the blinds, casting soft shadows across their bedroom. Rosie's heart ached a little as she glanced at Jennie's peaceful face.
But she couldn't stop herself. She had already texted Lana, and the thought of their secret meeting sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins. She quickly dressed, gathering her things in silence, then slipped out the door.
As she met Lana at a secluded café on the outskirts of town, Rosie couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. Lana was already there, sitting at a corner table, her lips curled in a knowing smile. "You look stressed," Lana said, her voice light. "Everything okay?"
Rosie forced a smile, shaking her head. "Yeah. Just... another day in paradise." She took a seat across from Lana, leaning in as their conversation turned to other things. The usual pattern of their secret meetings resumed.
But as they kissed later, hidden away in the shadows, a small voice in Rosie's mind whispered, "What are you doing?"
---
Meanwhile, Jennie had a feeling something was off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Rosie had been distant lately, pulling away just slightly when she used to be so affectionate. She had noticed the late-night texts, the sudden disappearances, but Rosie always had an excuse. Work, she would say. Busy with wedding plans, she would say. And Jennie trusted her—maybe too much.
But today, something gnawed at Jennie's chest. As she walked into their shared apartment, Jennie noticed Rosie's phone on the kitchen counter, its screen unlocked. She picked it up absentmindedly, scrolling past a few messages when one caught her eye.
It was a text from Lana.
"Can't wait to see you later. I miss you so much."
Jennie's heart dropped into her stomach. She blinked, trying to make sense of the message. A million thoughts swirled in her mind as she stared at the screen, the pieces of the puzzle slowly starting to fit together.
She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think.
Jennie felt the ground slip out from under her as she heard the sound of Rosie's car pulling into the driveway. In a daze, she put the phone down, trying to compose herself, to appear normal. She knew she had to confront her fiancée—now, before everything came crashing down.
When Rosie entered, her smile faltered as she saw the tense expression on Jennie's face. "Jen? What's wrong?"
Jennie took a deep breath, holding her ground. "I think we need to talk."
Rosie's stomach dropped. She knew, in that moment, that she couldn't keep running from the truth any longer.
