A Single White Hibiscus (Pearl x Rose)

24. The Pop Star

Everyone talked about Rose. She was the pop star, who everyone gossiped about on the internet and talked about on all kinds of social media. Her graceful yet overpowering singing seized any listener with such force that no one could escape; she possessed millions and millions of fans across the world. No one would have imagined, however, that that star Rose had a secret lover.

    Rose's secret lover was a past ballerina. Once a stick-thin, unbelievably flexible, captivatingly beautiful ballerina. But nowadays, she only became graceful in front of Rose. Her name was Pearl. She liked to go out grocery-shopping in a loose pair of jeans, which was held together with a black leather belt, and a short crop top that exposed her white midriff. Then she bought a baguette and apples and eggs, then returned home to her apartment.

    It was another mediocre day in her town. The time seemed to seep into every object in the room, and Pearl sat on her mini-sofa to read an article about Rose. The weather being unusually hot and humid, it was a kind of afternoon that made one sleepy and sluggish. Pearl liked winter, too.

    Suddenly, the front door beeped and her lover's voice resonated in the air. Pearl whipped her head around, as if this was such a weird occurrence.

    "Rose?"

    "I'm back!"

    "Don't you have work today?"

    "No, I called in sick."

    "No problem at all? I mean, you're so popular these days...."

    "It's okay. I'm the one doing all the work—if they wanna profit off of me and use me like a slave, I won't do it. Besides—." Rose reached out, and patted Pearl's head. "I missed you a lot."

    "...Oh. I'm glad," Pearl smiled awkwardly. Like this wasn't expected in one of her boring days.

    "What're you worried about? I'm right here," Rose said. "You don't seem so happy."

    "No, I am happy," Pearl explained. "It's just, you're so important now. I was just reading your article on Vague magazine. It talks about your hair." Pearl reached out and touched Rose's hair. "It's so fluffy, so beautiful...."

    "Just for you." Rose smiled. A genuine, kind, pure smile. She hasn't changed, Pearl thought silently.

    "Anyway, I'm glad you're back, Rose."

    "Are you? I'm so glad! I worried you would have forgotten about me...."

    I worried the same thing, too, Pearl thought.

    They sat around the empty, clean fireplace and read together. That night, they cooked dinner together, warm bowls of sweet potatoes and avocados and some steamed broccoli. Afterwards, a hot cocoa for Rose and a cappuccino for Pearl. They watched the selection movies that were emerging as an early summer collection, and turned all the lights off in the apartment to gaze stars outside the second-floor window. Then they whispered love and fell asleep together in one queen-sized bed, feeling each other's body temperatures. The subtle warmth that they could feel through each other's pajamas became the greatest relief for both of them.