𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐒

XXV

NOTE:  big brother character has changed to Johnny !
continue reading and sorry for the long wait hihi :)

Rosé dialed the number to the Park apartment and held the phone to her ear, scowling at Jimin's back from where she could see him, perfectly suited and buttoned-up, in the sitting room's antechamber, one hand resting on the wooden table, the other holding his extension.

The asshole insists on listening again? Fine by me-

Chanyeol, just freshly showered, towel around his waist, a granola bar in one hand, answered the phone on the first ring, sighed with relief as the mysterious blocked number-the almighty Jimin Park has to hide his own phone number, of course-appeared on the phone screen once again. "Rosie--thank God-I'm so happy to hear from you again-" He adjusted his glasses and tore the wrapper off the granola bar with his teeth, taking a large bite of his makeshift breakfast, his eyes welling up with tears. If that bastard has even looked at her the wrong way, I swear-

Rosé cut him off, a hint of concern into her voice, keeping an eye on Jimin's form from where he stood, back still turned to her. "Chan-how's Johnny ? Is he... well?"

If this works-

-if I can pull this off-

Chanyeol thought about their brother-Johnny's  painfully clear stress levels rising ever since Rosé had been taken by that rich asshole-with his moneyed arrogance and unbearable cruelty-how Johnny had raged upon missing Rosé's  phone call from several days earlier-worryingly uncharacteristic for the stoic man-

"No, Rosie-no, he's not-and neither am I, for that matter-"

She interrupted him once more, her voice growing more urgent. A trace of grave fear. "I meant physically, Chan-wasn't he supposed to have some tests done this week?" In her lap, where she knew Jimin couldn't possibly see, she crossed her fingers amidst the white folds of fabric, praying to every god she could think of in that moment that Chanyeol wouldn't say anything to contradict the groundwork she was trying to lay-with Jimin listening in on the extension, any misplaced word from Chanyeol could ruin everything-

Jimin gave a slight start at Rosé's  words. She didn't mention anything about any tests for her brother...

-then again, why would she have told me-?

Chanyeol ran a hand through his sopping wet hair, cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder as he stumbled around his bedroom, trying to get ready for the day's work at the shop, as his brow furrowed with confusion. "Tests? Rosé?"
What can she possibly mean?

Rosé gritted her teeth, keeping her voice merely worried, hiding all traces of annoyance as she continued. "Yes, Chan. Tests-didn't he tell you? He told me back when I was at school..."

I am sorry to cause you undue worry, brother...

-I hope you'll forgive me-

Chanyeol swallowed hard, the granola bar suddenly tasting sour as his heart rate began to pick up, rattling in his chest unmercifully.
Tests-a physical test-?

What could Johnny be hiding from me? What would he have told Rosé that he wouldn't have told me?

"R-Rosie... what did he say to you? He never told me anything a-about a test..." Chanyeol managed to choke out from around his mouthful of food, collapsing onto his couch, hands starting to shake as he gripped the towel around his waist with one hand, pushing his glasses up his nose with the other hand. What isn't Johnny telling me?

Rosé huffed out a silent breath, taking care to make sure none of her growing irritation was audible on either end of the phone call. "Well-Chan-it's not really for me to say-just please, tell him I will be calling him tomorrow morning at this same time, all right?" She adjusted her position on the couch, wrapping one hand around her middle almost pitifully as Jimin, eyes narrowed with confusion, turned around to gaze at her from where he stood.