When Thai transfer student Lalisa Manoban enrolls at her new Korean academy, she expects a hopeful fresh start away from the sadness she left behind. But when Lisa meets the popular and charming Jennie Kim, everything changes.
Minute by minute. Hou...
The sun was gently setting as I took my usual evening stroll. The streets were calm but beautifully decorated with pine trees wrapped in lights and tinsel for the upcoming Christmas celebrations. Such beauty all around me and yet I felt nothing but emptiness.
I'd driven to a small, lake side park about 20 minutes from home where I often brought my dog Zero on peaceful walks to enjoy the city views. It was a special place to me, a place I used to bring someone I deeply cared for. The drive was an excuse really, an opportunity to be go somewhere alone where I could play my guitar or sing reflecting on what I'd lost.
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The past few weeks had been lonelier. I knew I'd been spending less time with my friends and when I was with them, I didn't really say a lot. I didn't talk to them about my personal life, finding it easier to keep things to myself.
Having often been a little shy, I'd discovered my best form of expression was through music. It gave me an energy, a sense of purpose that more recently had been needed. It was the only way now I could say how I felt. But there was a story behind each song.
For with every note I sung, every lyric I wrote, every performance I gave, it was all inspired by her.
I remembered the day so vividly when Rosé and I first met. She was an exchange student with a carefree nature and a radient smile that was simply unforgettable. Our shared love of music brought us together as we wrote songs for one another and I helped her learn new melodies. We became practically inseparable and, in no time at all, I found myself falling for her.
Naturally, I told her how much I liked her and we started to go on a few dates. It was amazing how comfortable it felt but it wasn't perfect. Sometimes I tended to say the wrong thing or made an ass of myself but it never seemed to matter, for she accepted me anyway.
Every day I felt more elated, an overwhelming happiness. I'd never felt that way about anyone before and in truth, I haven't felt that way ever since. Sadly though she didn't feel the same and I told her I understood but deep down, I didn't. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
For there was always competition where Rosé was involved, most notably when she met President Jisoo Kim of the Student Council. Jisoo was everything I wasn't. Flawlessly pretty, confident, rich and naturally intelligent and so insecurity set in.
I wonder if she ever thought of me? When they went in dates to the places we'd once been, it hurt. Yet I couldn't tell Rosé how it made me feel, I wanted her to be happy but there were times when Jisoo's expectations made her lose her smile and it broke my heart all over again.
As time passed, I watched them fall further in love. It was as though she was recreating moments I'd shared with her with someone else. They quickly became an item, though few were aware, and I was simply the friend Rosé would go to to talk to about it all.
