A/N: Well hello there...long time no see. Be warned the angst is still not gone. But I will with all my might try to bring back some fluff. But after such an insanely long break here you go!
Despite what the day was suppose to bring, there was an unusual gloominess hanging around the town today. A cluster of darkened gray clouds hovering high up in the sky. Paired together with a chilling wind. It made the world outside look bleak. To anyone else it just meant that it was another day closer to winter. But to some the weather was a mirror showcasing the bottled up emotions buried deep down inside. Something that looked like it felt.
Jennie wasn't aware that she had spent the last half hour gazing out the window. Spacing out. Her eyes focused on the hazy look taking over outside. Subconsciously wishing for the bright and sunny days of summer to come back. Her head lightly perched on her hands as she leaned slightly forward on her elbows. It was almost serene, had it not been for the obnoxious ringing of the last bell that decided to blare its ugly sound out at that moment.
The noise finally reaching her ears, causing her to flinch and her hand to shoot over her heart. Eyes clenched shut. It would've been embarrassing if she weren't seated in the far back corner of the classroom, out of everyone else's view. Lucky for her.
After calming her heart and coming back to her senses, she stuffed the papers scattered on her desk into her bag and headed straight for the door. Ignoring everyone in her path. Exiting her last class seemingly drained of all her energy.
She hasn't been in the mood for much of anything lately. Especially after failing the quiz she had earlier in the day. Which unfortunately set tone for everything else to follow. Obviously, she wouldn't know her actual grade until sometime next week, but she could already feel the failure deep down inside. She knew there was absolutely no way she was getting anything above an F. Of course it's not her fault, knowing the history of some war that happened hundreds of years ago just didn't seem like it deserved space in her beautiful brain. And at this point she was honestly just glad that she even remembered to put her name on the paper. Or so she hoped. That was probably the least she could have done. Giving it a second thought though, maybe it would've been better for her if she chose to leave her name off. Maybe then she'd have an excuse to use later to retake the quiz or something. But that thought didn't linger much longer in her head as she approached her locker. Her bag beginning to slip off her left shoulder as she came to a stop.
After what seemed like a never ending day, she was ready to be anywhere else but here.
Taking the cold metal lock into her hand; she lazily spun the dial to the right, then to the left, and then to right again. Sliding the dial around all three numbers that would unlock the giant metal cage in front of her.
"Look I understand you might be having a hard time but you can't expect to pass by choosing when you want to come to class. It doesn't work that way. I might have excused it, if this were the first time, but you've been consistently skipping all year..." Hearing the abrupt banter, Jennie's attention instantly gravitated to the room just across the hall from her. The one belonging to Mr. Tuan, her least favorite teacher.
Now Mr. Tuan wasn't the strictest teacher at the school, no that title belonged to Mrs. Jung, but he could be very disciplinary. Especially if you weren't one of his over achieving star studded students. Which wasn't the case for Jennie, hence the reason why he was her least favorite teacher. Having had her fair share of run in's with him before, she eagerly awaited to see who he was yelling at this time. Curiosity getting the best of her.
And as if right on cue, Jisoo came trudging out of the classroom with Mr. Tuan trailing after her with his arms crossed and a scowl between his brows. "Kim Jisoo this conversation is not over..."
"Of course..." Jennie whispered to herself. Almost forgetting that Jisoo was the resident trouble maker. Still finding ways to uphold her reputation.
Mr. Tuan was clearly at his tipping point with her. Steam radiating off the top of his head. Jisoo rolled her eyes as she stopped to lean against the doorframe. Letting out a long sigh as she turned to face him again. Impatiently waiting for him to continue. Very routine. Obviously, not the first time she's been on the wrong end of a conversation with this teacher.
"If you plan to graduate then you seriously need make a change starting today, because I won't hesitate to fail you." His finger pointing directly at her as he towered over her much shorter frame. If this were any other girl in the grade, they would have probably been in tears by now, but not Jisoo.
Taking a second to get a good look at her face Mr. Tuan could see the lack of emotion and care she was showing. The reaction catching him off guard. He hadn't actually expected her to hold her composure like she did. But of course it'd take more than that for Jisoo to crack.
He cleared his throat while uncrossing his arms, realizing in that moment the lack of sympathy he was showing to her. Knowing how hard things have been lately. It was very rare for him to be this soft, but this situation was an exception. Even if Jisoo was one of his most difficult students. "Look Jisoo, I can understand that school might not be your top priority right now but you gotta keep it going. I know you have a lot of untapped potential. I've seen it. I've seen what you can do when you really set your mind to something. You know your capable of a lot more than you think. You just can't limit yourself. As far as skipping classes goes, I'm willing to give you one FINAL chance to redeem yourself. Okay?"
Refusing to give him a reaction, Jisoo remained silent as she kept her eyes locked on the ground. It was very apparent that her 'do enough to get by' attitude wasn't holding up any longer. Like Mr. Tuan said, school was most definitely not her top priority, but then again it never really was to begin with. But he was right about one thing. When she set her mind to something, she really did do her best to put her all into it. Then again he was also wrong because if it didn't go the way she wanted it to, it was easy for her to give up. That's where having your guidance came into to play.
She let the words process in her head. One FINAL chance. It was strange but those three words actually managed to resonate with her. Giving her an extra dose of energy where she felt like she was lacking. At least now she knew he hadn't completely given up on her.
Clearing his throat. "Well then, I expect to see you in class come Monday...on time Miss Kim?" All Jisoo did in response was roll her eyes. Before completely disappearing back into the classroom he stuck his head out once again. Making sure to get in one final remark. "Detention as well."
For a second Jisoo actually thought that she might get by with nothing more than this talk, but of course skipping classes had its consequences. What could she do? She expected detention from the start anyway. As she pushed herself off the doorframe, turning to leave down the hall she caught sight of Jennie staring back at her.
"- shit..." Jennie thought to herself as she quickly diverted her attention, turning her head back to her locker frantically trying to push the lock that was still in her grasp open, only to have it still be locked. Mentally annoyed with herself she spun the numbers around the dial again. 1 to the right, 16 to the left-
-"You know it's not very nice to eavesdrop on other peoples conversations right?..." Quickly moving herself closer to the locker Jennie stood frozen. Pretending that if she didn't move or say anything Jisoo would leave, like a possum playing dead.
They hadn't really spoken to each other since the day the spent together at the hospital. Which made things between them a lot more awkward.
Instead they opted for subtle glances at each other as they passed by in the halls. And nothing more. Apparently you and Rosie had become their excuse to interact with each other. Which was stupid to say the least.
Jisoo furrowed her brows as she continued watching Jennie from behind. Slightly amused by the brunettes behavior. Leaning against the row of lockers she put herself in the girl's peripheral view. Hoping this would force the girl to acknowledge her. The tactic worked because Jennie couldn't ignore her any longer. As soon as Jisoo came into view her eyes glanced over at her. Completely out of her control.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop." Jennie let her shoulders drop. An apologetic look in her eyes. "It wasn't exactly a private conversation, so I guess it's not completely your fault." Jisoo replied back shrugging her shoulders with a smirk.
"Well it sounds to me like you should probably step things up if you want to graduate. I mean you don't want me to have to sit next to some random person for an entire graduation ceremony do you?" Jennie asked playfully nudging Jisoo's shoulder. Jisoo's eyes grew softer as she looked at Jennie who was giving her that signature smile of hers. That's not something Jisoo expected to hear. "It'd probably be more peaceful for you though."
Remembering their promotion into high school, Jennie recalled sitting next Jisoo for the entire duration. The black haired girl constantly getting on her nerves. On purpose no doubt. Still she really couldn't envision anyone else beside her. "No, that'd be too boring." That spot would always belong to Jisoo. "Besides I kind of like having you around." Jennie looked away shyly. Not realizing how sentimental her words sounded. It was eating away at Jisoo. How could Jennie not realize what she was doing to her?
"So.....?" Jennie started. Trying to change topics. "Where've you been?" Suddenly the look on Jisoo's face changed. "Where do you think?" Jennie felt like an idiot for even asking. The answer was so obvious.
"Oh."
Jennie nervously rubbed her shoulder, now avoiding looking directly at Jisoo. Guilt climbing through her veins. "I should've known that..." Jisoo tried to refocus the conversation but before she could say anything, Jennie beat her to it "- Um, I'll be heading over later. Maybe after cheer and after I stop by to see Rosie..."
"Well today's the day..." With a little hesitation Jisoo let out one big breath of air before finishing her sentence. "Do you think she'll come?" The subject a little touchy. Especially since Rosie has been MIA since the day of the accident.
Jennie looked up at Jisoo, her eyes slightly glossed over. Quickly blinking to rid them of the small layer of tears that started to form. "I'll see how she is later when I stop by. But I don't think she'd miss this." Uncertainty in her response. "Then again...she hasn't really been herself, so I can't say for sure."
Jisoo nodded to herself in response. That was basically her cue to leave since she had nothing else to say.
"Will you be there?" Jennie asked, a little too quickly for her liking. A subtle smile making its way onto Jisoo's lips as she pushed herself off the lockers to leave. "I'll be there!" As she made her way down the hallway Jisoo yelled back. "By the way, that's locker 197, yours is 196 isn't it?"
Jennie's eyes went wide as she looked up at the center plate. Jisoo was right. She felt so stupid. That whole time she was trying to break into Rosie's locker without even realizing it. After shifting over one locker she finally opened up her locker, grabbing her stuff before slamming it shut to run to the cheer room. Already running late.
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With a small creak, the floral decorated bedroom door opened. Everything still seemingly in place. The only flaw being the messy bed in the center. The room practically abandoned. Letting out a small sigh, Mama Park entered the room. First moving to the bed, pulling the comforter into place, then fluffing the pillows, and finally laying out the various little stuffed animals in a nice little row in front. After a quick dusting, she grabbed the laundry basket near the door before closing the room back up. Leaving it as undisturbed as it was before she walked in.
As she carried the basket in her arms, she passed by her room down the hall. Rosie was on her bed curled up on her side in a pair of sweatpants and a white t-shirt that hugged her figure with her hair in a loose braid. Her laptop in front of her playing the second Harry Potter film. If it weren't for the tiny sneeze Rosie let out, she would've thought she was sound asleep.
As she lingered in the hallway Claire thought to herself about how she always tried her best to never baby her daughters as they grew up. Always wanting them to be raised well mannered, strong, and independent. Lucky for her they were already on that path, but there were always exceptions. This was one of them. Even though it had been a while since either of the girls last needed her, she wanted them to know that she would always be by their side no matter what. Which explained why Rosie was able to get away with not going to school. Giving her a much needed break from life.
Without making a sound, Claire quickly moved down the stairs passing the living room heading straight through to the kitchen. Alice quickly trying to grab the basket out of her hands as soon as she came into view. Worrying about the amount of housework her mom had been doing.
Without even realizing it, Claire had entered super mom mode. Circling around smoothly keeping the basket out of Alice's reach just as she was about to make contact. Giving her oldest the 'I'm fine don't worry about me' look.
Alice shook her head. "Just trying to help Mom." Claire smiled back at her before disappearing into the laundry room. Missing the sarcastic eye roll the older park sibling gave her. Lucky for her. The fact that her mom kept denying her help really started to annoy Alice. With everything going on she felt that it was important for her to be as helpful as she could. She'd be leaving back to University soon and she knew she wasn't gonna be much help from there. So she wanted to do what she could while she was still home.
The tiny timer on the counter dinging, distracted her. Causing her to dart over to the stove, pulling on a pair of oven mitts from the island on her way. A pan of freshly baked cranberry scones hastily being pulled from the oven. The steam radiating from the pastries filling the room with a sweet smell in an instant. As she carefully placed them off to the side, Claire walked back in, a warm smile on her face. "Now how about you make dinner also!" Alice rolls her eyes again tossing the oven mitts off. "I could, but that would be helping wouldn't it?" Her mom nudges her in the shoulder as she tears a small piece of the scone for herself. "I guess we could just get take out then." Alice jumps up immediately. "Wait No! I actually want to make dinner! I learned a new recipe from a friend. I think you'd really like it!"
The front door bell rings. Followed by a familiar knock. Jennie soon appears, joining the two in the kitchen. Nervously entering. She was still dressed in her workout clothes from cheer practice. Last years cheer jacket from nationals tied around her waist and her hair done up in cute pigtails. Her school bag tightly in her hand. For the first time in forever Jennie felt a little foreign walking in to the park household.
"Hi sweetie! How are you doing?" Mrs. Parks asks, wrapping Jennie in her arms as soon as she reaches her side. Doing her best to make Jennie feel at home.
Fully taking in the hug Jennie brings her right arm around, letting her second mother know just how much she appreciated the affection. "I'm doing good." It's almost the first time anyone has actually asked her how she was doing and meant it. But she wasn't sure if she was truly doing good or if she was just saying it for the sake of saying it.
"I just stopped by to drop off some work for Rosie. Kind of a lot." Breaking apart, Jennie placed her bag on the counter. The subtle break in her voice not getting passed Mrs. Park. Jennie slowly started taking everything out of the bag. The pile of papers and books on the counter starting to grow.
Hesitantly placing that last book on the pile, Jennie clears her throat, whispering softly to the two. "Um, do you think Rosie will come visit today?...The...they're suppose to wake Y/N" The real reason for Jennie's unannounced visit.
"Is that today already?" Alice asks, her eyes going wide, as she noticeably sends her mom a look of worry. "I'm sure she won't miss it." Mrs. Park replies back, lightly nodding her head in response while placing her hand over Jennie's. "I'm sure -"
"Mmm. What smells so good?" Rosie asks, walking in with her nose leading the way. Following the aroma of the freshly baked pastries. She stops in her steps as she finally notices Jennie standing along side Alice and her mom. Her round eyes softening. "Oh! Jennie? What are you doing here!?" A piece of her panicking by the sudden appearance. Quickly trying to mask that feeling she moves closer to the shorter girl giving her a hug.
Jennie motions to the huge stack of work piled on the counter as she breaks the hug. "I just stopped by to bring you some stuff." Rosie looks over the pile with a visible frown in her eyes."Oh. Well that's going to be fun to get to..." Jennie let's out a small chuckle. "I'd offer to help, but you know I probably wouldn't be much of any with my study skills!" Rosie lightly taps her nails on the textbook. "It's the thought that counts."
Slowly Rosie moves away from the homework pile and grabs at one of the scones on the pan. Taking tiny bites as she tries her hardest to ignore the stares the other three seem to not know they're giving her.
Jennie's phone goes off. Jisoo's name appears on the screen. She quickly turns away hiding Jisoo's name from sight. Hesitating to answer. Part of her nervous to receive bad news again. Because let's face it it's not like Jisoo's been calling her for much of anything else. Without getting another chance to answer the ringing ends. A text popping up on screen a second later.
"Oh...Um. I have to get going. I'll...I'll see you later." A subtle shakiness in her voice. Grabbing her bag from the counter Jennie runs out. Alice and Claire exchanging another look of worry as they watch the brunette abruptly leave.
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"Mrs. L/N?"
Quickly picking her head up, your mother looks to the door. The stress and sleep deprivation pulling heavily at her eyes. Clearing her throat. "Yes?"
"I'm Taeyeon from the financial department." A short slender women asks. Dressed in a neatly pressed skirt and blouse. A big clipboard in her hands. "I was wondering if I could just ask you a couple questions about your insurance?" Her voice progressively getting quieter. It's easy to tell that this must not usually go well for her as she hugs the clipboard closer to her chest.
Nodding immediately, your mom stands up meeting the woman at the door. "...sure." She quickly looks back at you then to Jisoo on your left. "I'll be back shortly." Taeyeon stands aside as she makes room for your mom to exit, motioning with her left hand toward the lobby. She gives Jisoo a small nod, and Jisoo returns it while quickly moving the ends of her lips up in an almost smile.
"I wanted to talk about the next steps and care Y/N will most likely be needing now...which will cost more than your current coverage."
Leaning against the lobby desk, your mom looks away. Clenching her eyes shut as if she can't bare to hear any more. Was it so hard for them to tell her something positive? Was it?
"You know I never figured we'd ever need more than what we had, it being just the two of us." All the other woman could do was give your mom a gentle smile back. "Right. Well expenses do add up these days unfortunately." Setting the clipboard down, she flips a few pages over. Sliding the tip of her pen across the page below. "We do have a few options here...Continued treatment....moving the patient to another facility....or as the legal guardian you do have the option to cease all treatment..."
Leaning her head into the palm of her hands, your mom barley listened as the lady went on and on. All her life she tried her best to make sure that you knew how to take care of yourself, that you could be independent if she were to ever not be around. But never in all her life was she prepared for something to happen to you. That's where she felt like a failure of a parent. And it wasn't so easy to think anything other than that.
When she lifted her head back up, she didn't even realize she had tears streaming down the side of her face. "I'm sorry I can't...." Spinning around she moved away from the counter. Immediately colliding with a well dressed man. "I'm so sorry..." She didn't even look up at him as she brushed past him, leaving the lobby with the staff all watching.
Taeyeon slowly flipped the pages in her clipboard back over. "Hello Sir! What can I help you with." The receptionist behind the desk asks, reclaiming his attention. "Oh! Right. I'm detective Park. I'm here to do a couple follow ups."
Stepping out of the elevator Jennie grips the straps of her purse, a small pout on her lips as she makes her way into the hallway. Awkwardly making eye contact with Rosie's dad. She's aware of the situation with him and is also upset that he chose not to say anything to anyone. With a tiny roll of her eyes she moves down the hall towards your room.
Before she has a chance to make it there she sees Jisoo exiting the door to your room, meeting her in middle of the hallway.
"Jisoo? What was that text about?" She asks frantically. Jisoo grabs her by the wrist and pulls her into the waiting room. "Jisoo...you're scaring me." Her heart starting to beat unnecessarily fast. The air feeling tense. Matching the seriousness on Jisoo's face.
Letting go of Jennie's wrist, Jisoo turns to face her. "You know how they were suppose to wake Y/N up today?" Jennie nods. The grip on her bag tightening. Her round eyes filled with worry. "Well....the thing is....Y/N's not gonna be waking up today...."
Jisoo fell back. Like her life force had just left her body. Lucky for her there was a chair beneath her to break the fall. "Basically they misjudged the injury. Now the coma is extended indefinitely."
Jennie looked away, blinking her eyes rapidly. Swallowing the lump in her throat. Gently siting down in the seat next to Jisoo, moving her hands from her lap to take Jisoo's into her own. "shit...indefinitely means...." Jisoo looked at her hands in Jennie's before looking back up to meet Jennie's gaze. "Yeah..."
Sliding away from the doorway with her hand over her heart, Rosie kept her back perched up against the wall. Using it as support to keep her from collapsing. It took all the strength deep inside her to come to the hospital. Especially after eavesdropping on Jennie's previous conversation in her kitchen. Of course she hadn't forgotten that you were suppose to wake up today. She would never forget something so important. It was one of the only things holding her sanity. Everything in her life got put on hold. And she wasn't planning on resuming regular life until she knew you were going to be okay. Sadly that idea crashed and burned overhearing what Jisoo told Jennie.
Collecting herself momentarily for an extra few seconds, she let out a very shaky breath as she kicked herself off the wall.
A/N: Thanks for sticking around. See you in the next one!