23

                                    

                                          
Chaeyoung's POV
                          
I was already tired of her saying 'One more time.' or 'Again.' I don't get it, why is she making things hard for me?
                          
She sighed sighed. "Tsk. Everything's wrong." 
                          
I stopped dancing, "Again? What's wrong? Is it me? Is it—"
                          
"No. It's not you. It's what I've been feeling for you." She said as she turned her back on me. I stood there, dumbfounded at the sudden confession.
                          
"W-What? What f-feelings?" I asked, flustered. My heart kept beating faster, as the I felt the heat crawling up to my cheeks. She looked at me with a soft look on her face.
                          
"I... I like you a lot, Rosie. No. I love you. Do you remember the poem I cited in Sonnet 116? It was for you. I was absolutely shocked to see you there, that's why I left as soon as possible." I recalled that moment when she read her poem. That was... for me...
                          
"Then why were you avoiding me? I'm confused as hell. If you liked me that much, then why?!" I said, my voice shattering.
                          
"I had to, Rosie. There's been rumors spreading in the area that you and I are dating. YG-nim talked to me about it and said that I had to stay away from you for weeks, but I can't!" She paused and took a deep breath before she continued.
                          
"It's hard, frustrating, and sad. It was the hardest pill to swallow, but I managed to take it. But I can't stand seeing you with someone else. I can't stand seeing you laugh with someone else. I want that someone to be me, but I can't. How am I supposed to keep up with everything that you do when you... when you're okay without me?" She said, tearing up. I was speechless.
                          
"L-Lisa... I—" 
                          
"You don't have to be sorry for not reciprocating the feelings I have for you. It's okay. I'm okay." She said and looked at the floor. I don't know if I should laugh or should I cry with her, because...
                          
"Can you let me finish first? I've been feeling these emotions lately when I'm with you. I'm always happy when you treat me like before. Like I was special. I would be sad when you ignore me. Whenever I see you with some girl, I'll feel jealous. Which means one thing." I paused.
                          
"I love you too, Lisa. You would think that this is so sudden, but it's what I felt for you. After all these years, I've been trying to fight the thought of me liking or loving you. I tried to stop those feelings because I didn't want to assume. I didn't want to fall for someone who loves someone else. I also didn't want to try and use you for me to move on from Junhoe. I didn't want you to be a distraction for my heart. I wanted to love you because I love you, not because I wanted to forget all the feelings I had for June." I said and smiled. She looked up at me with wide eyes.
                          
"Y-You... love me back? But... we can't." The smile across my lips faded. 
                          
"You don't want this? Us?" I asked as I felt a lump in my throat.
                          
"I want us to happen, but not now. It's impossible for us to fight against the world once we debut." She said.
                          
"Lisa, we're talking about us. Not what others think of us. They might think that this love is wrong, but no, they're the ones who are wrong. Love doesn't choose the age, height, wealth, body, face, skin, or gender of a person. Because it chooses the heart, Lisa. If you really love the person, you should love them for who they are, not for what they think they are." I paused. 
                          
I took a deep breath before asking her, "So, do you really not want us to happen?" 
                          
She looked at me, the tears in her eyes were replaced with joy. 
                          
"I do, Rosie." She said and hugged me.
                          
"Wait, why does my answer suddenly feel like we're in a wedding?" She asked. I pulled away from the hug and smacked her head.
                          
"Stupid." I giggled.
                          
"I have a question, too." She said. I raised my eyebrows.
                          
"Can I court you? I want to show how deserving I am to be yours. Just because you love me back doesn't mean that I have to be confident about that then ask you out all of a sudden. I want this to be a process. I don't want to rush things, Rosie. Is it okay?" She asked. I saw sincerity in her eyes.
                          
"Of course, Lali."