Roses and Thorns (Jinlia)

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 | nice company & ice cream

Book 1, Chapter 24
𝖭𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨𝖼𝖾 𝖢𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗆

Jisu had spent the past week confined within the walls of her locked-up home, refusing to step outside. With no energy or desire to engage with the world, she filled the days by burying herself in movies, letting the hum of fictional stories drown out her thoughts.

Lying sprawled across her bed, she stared blankly at the ceiling, her arms stretched wide as though in surrender. Ignoring Chaeryeong for an entire week, without so much as a word exchanged, felt like a punishmentㅡone that stung her more than she anticipated. The silence between them was heavy, foreign, and it clawed at her peace.

Jisu wasn’t even sure if Chaeryeong had tried to reach out. Her phone had been turned off for days, isolating her not just from Chaeryeong, but from Ryujin as well. She was surprised neither of them had come knocking down her door by now.

Finally driven to action by hunger, Jisu dragged herself to the kitchen. Just as she reached for the fridge, a voice startled her.

“Why’s your phone off? And locking yourself away for a week? Really?”

Jisu nearly jumped out of her skin, clutching her chest as she spun around. “Ryujin!” she exclaimed. “How did you even get in here? I swear I locked everything.”

Ryujin crossed her arms, unimpressed. “The silent treatment isn’t the answer, Jisu.”

Sighing in resignation, Jisu turned to face her girlfriend fully. “I wasn’t avoiding you,” she tried to explain, though her tone lacked conviction.

Ryujin arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Then why were you avoiding us? Me, specifically?” Her voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of hurt that made Jisu’s stomach twist.

“I... I don’t know,” Jisu admitted weakly, averting her gaze. She hoped Ryujin wouldn’t press further.

Ryujin ran a hand through her hair, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. “You must be relieved I can’t stay mad at you,” she muttered, rolling her eyes for effect.

Despite herself, Jisu chuckled softly, stepping forward to wrap her arms around Ryujin’s waist. “I missed you,” she whispered, her voice tinged with guilt.

Ryujin couldn’t help but smile, resting her chin on Jisu’s shoulder. “Well, if you hadn’t been foolish enough to shut me out, you wouldn’t miss me this much,” she teased.

Jisu pulled back just enough to swat Ryujin playfully on the hip. “Ow!” Ryujin yelped, feigning indignation.

“Sorry, not sorry,” Jisu quipped with a grin.

Ryujin shook her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Come on, let’s head to the living room.”

“Wait--” Jisu began, but her words faltered as she entered the room and caught sight of the figures lounging on her couch.

Her heart sank, and her simmering frustration reignited in an instant.

“You brought them here?” she hissed, her voice sharp as she turned on Ryujin.

Before Ryujin could respond, Jisu spun on her heel, intent on retreating to the safety of her room.

“Don’t you dare walk away from us, Jisu,” Ryujin’s voice cut through the air, cold and unyielding.