Roses and Thorns (Jinlia)

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 | apology & a coffee

Book 1, Chapter 9
𝖠𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖠 𝖢𝗈𝖿𝖿𝖾𝖾

Jisu slammed the front door shut, her expression darkening into a deep scowl. Instead of joining Chaeryeong for lunch at the university, she had decided to head home.

“What’s with the noise?” came her mother’s voice, muffled by the kitchen walls. Moments later, Mrs. Choi appeared, a puzzled look crossing her face. “Oh, Jisu-yah, what brings you back so early? It’s blazing outside, and here you are biking home in this heat! Just look at you!”

Jisu was drenched in sweat, her face flushed from the heat, and her ponytail clung to her damp skin. Her school uniformㅡa white blouse with a maroon tie adorned with golden stripes, layered under a black sleeveless sweater vest and a maroon blazer, paired with a black tennis skirtㅡwas hardly suited for the sweltering temperatures.

“Hey, Mom,” Jisu managed, a hint of surprise creeping into her voice. “A heads-up text that you were back from work would’ve been nice.”

Mrs. Choi moved closer to her visibly upset daughter, concern lining her features. “Everything alright?” she asked, gently peeling off the blazer and sweater vest.

Jisu worked at loosening her tie, trying to sound nonchalant. “I’m alright, just starving, that’s all.”

But Mrs. Choi wasn’t easily fooled. She knew her daughter too well to buy the façade. Though she sensed something was off, she understood Jisu’s reluctance to talk about it and chose not to press. “Perfect timing then. I’ve cooked up something. Hopefully, it’s enough for the both of us.”

With that, Mrs. Choi gently guided Jisu to the dining area, insisting she sit while she took care of the rest.

As Jisu sank into the chair, waiting for her mom to set everything up, her thoughts drifted back to the confrontation earlier in the day. She knew it wasn’t fair to compare Ryujin’s cold demeanor to Yuna’s warmth and outgoing nature, but she couldn’t help herself. The guilt of those thoughts gnawed at her, especially since Ryujin had turned her life upside down by claiming to be her cousinㅡa cousin Jisu didn’t even have. The thought of Chaeryeong finding out about this mess was daunting. After all, Jisu and Chaeryeong had been inseparable since their diaper days; hiding something like Ryujin’s presence from her would be nearly impossible.

What a dilemma! Ryujin might be a thorn in her side with her haughty attitude, but outing her true identity wasn’t an option. Jisu knew both Ryujin and her mother preferred to keep a low profile, and blowing Ryujin’s cover could spell disaster for her scholarship. Getting tangled in any scandal was the last thing she needed.

Jisu let out a scoff, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Ryujin...

The delicious smell of her mother’s cooking snapped her back to the present, prompting a smile to creep onto Jisu’s face. “Maybe that’s why I came home after all.”

Mrs. Choi chuckled, playfully ruffling Jisu’s hair. “Your hair is a mess. Eat up and go change. We don’t want you to be late.”

──⇌••⇋──

Jisu’s mood had definitely taken a turn for the better. She practically bounced across the campus field, her spirits lifted.

“Jisu eonni!” Before Jisu could even react, she was nearly bowled over by an enthusiastic embrace from behind.