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Injury - Part II

Jisoo swallowed the lump in her throat, and ignored the flash of hurt she felt.

This wasn't about her.

This was about Jennie.

"Stop that." Jisoo tutted, softly stroking Jennie's arm.

"Stop what?"

"I know what you're thinking, right now." Jisoo explained. "I know you too damn well, Jen. And I need you to stop blaming yourself."

"Jisoo." Jennie croaked, ready to argue.

"No." Jisoo kept her ground, firm as ever. "You mean so much to me, you beautiful idiot." Jisoo chuckled, cupping Jennie's cheek, rubbing her thumb softly against Jennie's high cheekbones. "I love you. Not Jennie Kim the super star, not the football player, not the model, just you. This shouldn't change anything-"

"It changes everything, Jisoo." Jennie interrupted. "How can I look you in the eye-"

"Do you still love me?" Jisoo asked, cutting her off.

That stopped Jennie dead in her tracks, her face twisting to one of adorable confusion.

"...What?" Jennie seemed stunned. "Of course I do-"

"Then it changes nothing." Jisoo finished.

"...Jena might not love me so much anymore." Jennie sighed.

"Oh, please. She idolizes you. And she's just confused, Jen, she's a baby. She just wants to play."

"I can't even do that." Jennie snapped in frustration. "I can't even get up on my own, Jisoo. I tried. I tried and I couldn't even-"

"Jennie!" Jisoo put a stop to her spiraling. "These things take time. I know you're upset. I know it isn't fair. Baby, I know what this means, believe me. But we need to stay strong, and we need to keep it together."

"...So you think...I can't play again." Jennie murmured to herself, mostly.

Jisoo frowned. "...Jen, that's not what I-"

"It's what Dara was trying to tell me. I get it."

"Honestly." Jisoo sighed. "I used to think a lot of things were impossible." Jisoo found her gaze, locking on it, refusing to look away. "Like, for you to even acknowledge my existence, way back at YG." She smiled fondly at that. "But if I've learned anything, it's that trying can never hurt. But it's way too early to be having this conversation."

Jennie fell silent, licking her lips.

Jennie's silence seemed to discourage Jisoo, and she sighed, leaning away from Jennie, pushing herself off the bed.

Jennie found that she immediately missed Jisoo's warmth. She began to beat herself up about it.

She was right there, Jennie.

All you had to do was reach out.

To talk to her.

Your best friend.

Jennie felt a fresh wave of frustration overtake her, as Jisoo went about gathering Jennie's clothes, and setting them on the wheelchair.

You couldn't even get up and embrace her.

"Look." Jisoo sighed, watching as Jennie got up into a sitting position. "I refused to hire someone to help you because I thought you'd prefer just me." Jisoo admitted wearily. "But I'm beginning to think that you might want...or need...some alone time. I can get my mom to-"