(ROSÉ x SUZY) Papilefiko

4. in the future state of the system

That day, Suzy no longer smiled at Chaeyoung. Her eyes locked with hers, but her legs seemed eager to run away. In that moment, she wished she didn't have to face her. Any other time would have been fine—just not now.

Suzy had just had an urgent meeting with CEO Park. Originally, she could have spent the rare free morning relaxing, but her manager had rushed in, insisting her headung to the company because the top floor of the headquarters was practically on fire. Suzy already had a sense of the impending calamity awaiting her within the next hour.

"Bae Sooji, do you think the group disbandment gives you the right to just do whatever you want?"

Suzy wasn't greeted by the CEO's usual warm welcome. Goodness, if he wanted to scold her, should've done it outright—why bother with this charade of questioning? Another Park, but he's not Chaeyoung. So, Suzy wouldn't even bother responding.

"Is it true, or is this just some tabloid fabrication to defame you?"

Suzy paused a moment to think. She didn't yet have enough confidence in the relationship to give a definitive answer, but she couldn't deny loving her.

"I think we look cute together."

"Miss Bae, do you think relationships are something to joke about? Don't do anything you'll regret later. Here's a list of male actors around your age. Pick one for a media play."

"Did you hear yourself just now, telling me not to treat dating as a joke? And now you're asking me to play with someone else's feelings?"

"Do you still want to star in Vagabond?"

"Yes sir, I understand. Have a good day, sir. Wishing you a pleasant week ahead."

Just because Suzy's called the Nation's First Love doesn't mean she can afford picking up a fight with her CEO. And so, in Suzy's hands was a folder filled with the names of twenty male actors and ten singers born in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Suzy exhaled deeply, feeling how irony the situation was. Her thumb and index finger were still shining with the couple rings with Chaeyoung, but her palm was tightly gripping a corner of the document, wrinkling it.

And the elevator didn't let her off easily, mocking her till the end. As it was descending to the ground floor, it stopped at the level with the dance studio. Suzy didn't care much, intending to just nod and greet the juniors briefly. But to her surprise, the first face she saw was none other than her baby.

"Wait, Chaeng... is that you?" As she was about to ask why Chaeyoung was at the JYP building, another little head popped up behind her—another Chaeyoung. Suzy quickly added, "Long time no see."

The second Chaeyoung was confused, not knowing when she and Suzy had become close enough to be called by a nickname. But the first Chaeyoung quickly saved the situation, "I've admired you for so long! Finally get to meet you in person! Such a pleasure, I'm Rosé from BLACKPINK!"

Their seamless interaction made the younger Chaeyoung light up with excitement. It was a beautiful morning, meeting two attractive women. Her friend junior invited her to dinner next week, while her sunbaenim already adored her.

To keep the atmosphere between the two Chaeyoungs and one Suzy from growing awkward, the first Chaeyoung quickly pressed the button for the cafeteria floor and pushed the other Chaeyoung inside.

"Go have lunch, okay? My mom just texted, said we have to go home for a family meeting, preparing for a wedding. Alright, bye."

From the hallway came a question no one wanted to answer: "Wait, but your mom's in Australia?"