𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐒

XIX

Rosé's features smoothed over as she spoke once more into her handset. "Chan-go on and open up the shop. Keep the business going-all right? I promise I'll call you tomorrow, all right?"

Chanyeol gulped in lungful after lungful of air. "Rosie -if you don't-if that asshole doesn't let you-"

Rosé cut him off, voice imbued with an air of finality. "He will. Right?" She held Jimin's gaze in her thrall; he could only nod slowly, trying to keep himself composed.

"I promise, Park. She will call you tomorrow."

So very like Jihun-

-dammit-

Rosé bowed her head towards him, expression unreadable as she turned around and walked back into the sitting room, feeling Jimin's eyes boring into her back. "Chan-I-I love you, all right-that's-that's why-"

That's why I'm here instead of you.

Her brother's voice was tinny, crackling through the phone line, almost overcome with emotion. "I know, Rosie-I love you too. So much."

That's why Park Jimin will die at my hands.

"Give Jaehyun my love, all right?"

She lifted the handset from her ear and ended the call. Sat still for a moment, feeling something unsettling and anxious twisting frantically inside her. Struggling. Wanting out. Her lips. Her throat to give it voice. A cry. My brothers-

-I hope they'll be all right-

She heard Jimin hang up his handset; his footsteps growing louder as he approached her seated form on the couch. Almost tentatively. She, staring at her hands. Folded in her lap. Ankles crossed.

Calm. Placid. Controlled-

-smile-

She lifted her head slowly as Jimin began to speak, voice low. "Miss Park-"

"Thank you for letting me speak to my brother. I would be happy to have dinner with you tonight, Jimin." That sweetness permeating her voice. Like a switch-on, off, on-an endless flickering. All somehow comprising her.

She didn't even understand herself sometimes.

Lacing a hint of something into her tone as she continued, lowering her eyelids as if they were heavy with sleep, pressing her lips together before parting them once more, "I look forward to it."

Jimin's eyes traveled from her eyes-those eyes-to her mouth, skimming along her neck and fixating briefly on that aberrant nightgown strap. Hanging off her shoulder still. As if-

-as if it needs to be replaced back onto her shoulder-

-or tugged down-

-fully.

-I'll be damned-

He swallowed hard, those thoughts getting the better of him-rifling through his rational mind, tearing it into fraying ribbons.

Rosé grinned inwardly as she studied the movement of his gaze. Along her body. Ripe. Lush. Promising untold things beneath the simple white fabric.

Even though he'd seen her without before-

-exposed-

-it was evidently not enough. Never enough for him.

"I'll see you at seven o'clock, Jimin."

I will see to it that you break your promise to my brother-

-as if you were anything but easy in the first place, Park Jimin.