ACT IX | SCENE XLI

❝CHICKEN CONFIT❞

FEET PATTERED INTO the empty classroom, causing jangmi to lift her eyes up from packing her things in time to see rosalie wrap herself around her leg, nearly throwing her off balance. "hey, rosie." she grinned wide, stroking the girl's hair affectionately.

"you'd think she hasn't seen you for a whole week." hoseok remarked from where he stood, leaning against the doorjamb, arms folded over his chest, one leg crossed in front of the other casually. "she's been more touchy since i joked about her giving jimin more attention." she replied, still stroking the soft hair. "just in case you forgot that rosalie loves mummy the most." a cheeky grin found its way to his face.

"mhm," rosalie bobbed her head in agreement, still holding on tightly to her mother's leg. jangmi giggled, shaking her head. "at least let mummy see your pretty face." she cupped the girl's cheeks, lifting her face up. the little girl gave her a toothy grin, her chipped tooth on display.

jangmi reached down and kissed her on the forehead. "i have the cutest girl on the planet." she beamed, stroking the girl's cheek. "while i hate to interrupt this incredibly adorable moment, we should get going." hoseok piped in. "you seem eager. are we going somewhere?"

he pushed off the doorframe, moving inside. "yeah. we're eating out tonight." he stopped a couple of feet away from her. her eyebrows moved higher on her face. "we are?" she asked. "uncle hobi says we're going to a french re-rest..." rosalie struggled with the word. "restaurant." hoseok supplied with a loving smile.

"hm, really?" her eyes shifted up to meet his. "yes. i'm leaving on sunday, so tonight we eat out. and tomorrow we're going to the aquarium to see the fishes. there's even a mermaid show." he announced. "mermaid! i like mermaids. they're very pretty." rosalie let go of her mother's leg and clapped her hands.

"yes, and you will get to see one with me and mummy tomorrow." hoseok squatted down, resting his arms on his knees. she beamed brightly at him, nodding her head. jangmi bent over and picked her up. "now let's go eat some good food courtesy of uncle hobi." she huffed out, settling the girl on her hip. hoseok picked up her bag, slinging it over his shoulder. "yes, i'm starving."

• • •

taehyung's eyes widened a fraction as he recognised the people sitting a few tables away from him. "what are you staring at?" jin asked, looking up from his menu. "uh...i just noticed that jangmi and hoseok are here with rosalie." taehyung glanced at the trio again. "oh, jimin's child? i've never seen her." jin followed his gaze to try and catch a glimpse of the girl. "i told you to come for her birthday party the other time but you didn't." taehyung answered. jin rolled his eyes in reply. "i had to travel for a work function and you know."

taehyung scanned his menu, trying to find something to eat. "we can go say hello after dinner." he suggested, eyes still roaming over the list of dishes he could choose from. "maybe another time." jin shook his head. "well, they're awfully cozy." he remarked, eyes straying in their direction in hopes to see the little girl's face. "mhm, you know hoseok and jangmi are like siblings." taehyung replied, not looking up.

"is jimin okay with them?" jin turned back to his brother. "should he have an issue?" dropping the menu, taehyung glanced up at his brother. jin gave him a look. "he still has feelings for her, doesn't he?" he stated. "he says he doesn't." taehyung answered. "and do you believe him?" jin closed the menu in his hands.

taehyung let out a scoff, "as if." the waiter reappeared then. "have you made up your minds?" he asked in a polite tone. "yes, i'd like the chicken confit please." jin answered, handing his menu over to the man. "i'll have the same." taehyung mimicked his brother's actions.

jin waited for the waiter to leave before speaking. "he better tell her how he feels before he loses her again." he adjusted in the chair. "first, he has to realise his own feelings and then get over his stubbornness." taehyung stated. "he never really told us how things had gone south with them." jin laced his fingers together. taehyung pursed his lips in thought. "i have an idea though." he let out a deep breath.

his countenance quickly brightened again."but hyung, how's the letter thing going?" he asked, voice eager. "i sent the fourth letter this afternoon. and she called me to let me know she'd gotten it. you can't believe how happy she sounds every time." jin's smile was soft, a dreamy look on his face. taehyung smiled, shaking his head a bit.

the waiter returned with their meal. "please, enjoy." he carefully placed their orders in front of them. "thank you." both men said, reaching for their cutlery. their dinner was filled with light talks. taehyung couldn't help but glance over to the table where rosalie and the two adults were sat. he smiled, seeing the child bounce in her seat.

jimin was lucky to have not only rosalie but jangmi in his life. he just hoped it wouldn't take his friend too long to realise this.

☀☀☀

this early update is meant to be a thank you for 10k reads and should have come earlier but wp is still being a little piece of shit and unpublishing chapters and unupdating my drafts and i'm just about ready to flip a table