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Injury - Part III

"That's why I didn't call you back." Jennie whispered.

Jisoo nearly choked on the air she had been comfortably breathing just seconds ago.

Did Jennie just...?

"Because we want to help you?" Came CL's haughty reply.

Oh, fuck. She did.

"Help me." Jennie chuckled, shaking her head.

It was almost a little haunting to see Jennie so bitter. Jisoo had to admit, she was used to the other side of Jennie: the side that usually got whatever it wanted. Seeing Jennie now, hurting, feeling inadequate and ashamed because of something completely out of her control...It was killing her.

She felt the need to step in, and yet, some part of her conscience kept telling her that this was an important moment between Jennie and her parents.

Jennie took a deep breath, almost imperceptibly shaking.

Almost- but Jisoo could see the slight jitter to the edge of her features, and it made her feel even worse.

Jennie was nervous, but she was saying something that had long been on her chest.

This was either going to help solve some of her internal issues, or end very, very poorly.

"I played football because I loved it, at first." Jennie began, her voice breaking slightly with the sheer intensity of the emotion that was pouring out of every word. "I didn't even think I'd be good enough to compete. But when I saw that I was, you know what was the first thing that came to my mind? I thought, Damn, this will make them proud. And what did I expect? You still didn't come to the games, you were still always abroad, always doing business. I mastered a sport, put myself in a career dominated by men, by people who wanted to see me fail. And they did. They protested my draft, my first interview, my first game. I played my heart out on that field, every single time. And you know what? It became about more than you and dad. Ironically, it was my greatest failure- trying to impress you with football, and it became my greatest success. I learned to actually love it- and not just for the sake of your approval, but because I just genuinely loved it. And after my injury, the worst part of my life, I just want sympathy. I understand you're just trying to help, but in this particular context, that ship sailed a long time ago." Jennie finished, leaving CL and Jiyong shell-shocked at her words.

Jennie took a deep breath to regain her composure, leaning forward as she slowly took her foot off the table, reaching for her chair.

Jisoo saw her struggling, and decided that Jennie would much rather accept her help than that of her parents.

She stepped forward, seemingly reminding everyone that she was in the room the whole time, and reached for the wheelchair.

She could feel CL and Jiyong's eyes remain heavily on Jennie, as she switched into the seat, keeping her head down, as if it were somehow fucking shameful to have a broken bone.

Honestly, Jisoo wanted to whack Jennie with some good sense.

The level of pride in that family was borderline masochistic.

"This doesn't mean you can't-or shouldn't- stay." Jennie cleared her throat. "Jena would love to see her grandparents for a while. We're just done talking about this." Jennie motioned to her leg.

Jiyong and Chaerin were completely silent, as they watched Jisoo guide Jennie back to the safety of their bedroom.

*****

"We should talk about it."

"We're not discussing it, Jisoo." Jennie was tight lipped as Jisoo helped her into bed, after the challenge of getting her to change her clothes.