Jennie managed to negotiate with the coach to participate in the game as little as possible. It is advisable that she always sits as a reserve player. He couldn't get her to play anyway, but she tried to be as polite as possible when she tried to tell Jungkook that she hadn't come here for sports.
-Do you want me to arrange for you to be on our team?
The girl was startled by Eunchae's voice. She saw out of the corner of her eye that she was approaching, but she was completely focused on Rose: the blonde was thoughtfully examining the girls who were lining up for a warm-up. Jennie wondered what decision her roommate would make, given her injury. She wonders what role volleyball plays in Rose's life?
-No, I asked not to participate in this.- Jennie replies, with only a fleeting glance at the girl.
-It's a pity. I'm sure you would have brought victory to our team.
-Well, considering that the tallest and, as I understand it, the strongest players are in Sana's team, I don't think I would help you. It's actually weird. It's not interesting when the opponent is weak.
-Well, we're not exactly weak.
-Have you ever won?
-No.
Jennie chuckles and squints, watching Rose and Jungkook, who are talking about something.
-You're so small, but judging by your figure, you're athletic. Maybe you could bring victory to our team.
-Listen.- Jennie turns to Eunchae.- My figure looks like this only because I keep fit and don't eat a lot, but it has nothing to do with sports for a long time. Go.
She was probably harsh, but she doesn't regret it. She is glad that Eunchae is finally leaving her.
Jennie is sure that Rose was not going to play volleyball, she would have preferred to sit on the podium. But after Sana's words that Rose most likely doesn't even know how to play, her roommate changed her mind. She can see it in her changed face. Kim chuckles, noticing how angry the girl is. Whether she's angry because of Sana's words, or because she's forced to play, but obviously she doesn't like it when her abilities are doubted. Jennie could use this next time at the relay, but she won't do it, because deep down she cares about the injury that the girl was getting. Jennie wonders how much she cares about it and if it's even a concern. She rarely thought about anyone but herself, but she would not like to become the culprit of someone's serious physical injuries. Yes, she cares about that, not Rose.
-Okay, girls.- Jungkook raises his hand in the air, calling for silence.- We have new players, so now there will be three reserve players, not one. Gaeul, you wanted to sit in the stands, so now your place will be there. Girls.- He turns to Jennie.- This doesn't mean that you will not take part in the game at all. I can't force you, but nevertheless, I insist that you take part at least sometimes. Rose was a leader and setter at her school, so now she will have the same role. Leeseo, you will then stand on the second line, on defense. It's a warm-up now.
Jennie chuckles at this information.
The setter often acts as the captain of the team, this is not surprising. Also, the role of the setter, leader and strategist is very responsible, which means that Rose would not have achieved this at school just for her good looks or, as here, for lack of better candidates. Jennie was a libero, only such a role would suit her with her short stature. Although football was always given more attention at her school, nevertheless, volleyball was also important. The best girls went either there or did cheerleading. Jennie spent a lot of effort to get into the team — at first she was a reserve player, and then firmly took the role of the main defender. She played well with the girl who was the setter at school.
Kim smiles, imagining how she and Rose could play. Maybe she should replace the girl who plays this role. Anyway, now the brown-haired girl is thinking about it.
Jennie thought it would be pretty boring to watch what was happening, but she was wrong. The warm-up was really boring, but as soon as the girls started the game, everything immediately changed.
The main defender of the team in which Roseanne played was not only terrible, she was disgusting. It's like she's made of wood. In ten minutes, this girl, whose name Jennie did not know, never fell or even tried to take the ball in the fall. It's like she's afraid to do it, hoping that the ball will land on her hands. Rose has to take the pitches herself. Instead of taking the ball from the defender and throwing the ball to the attacker, she takes the ball, and then anything can happen.
Half an hour later, Jennie's eyebrows were almost on her forehead in surprise, and she noticed that Rose's eyebrows were in the same place. No one else seemed surprised: for them, such a shitty second—line game is a common thing.
The girl attacking the ball is also a bit silly. When serving, it might even seem that none of them had ever held the ball in their hands before. It was hitting the net. Yes, the team won only thanks to mistakes in the opponents' serve, but at least they served out, and the ball flew over the net.
It was so terrible that Jennie at some point had a cramp on her face from the grimace that formed by itself during the viewing.
She notices how angry Rose is, how the girl clenches her fists, how she sighs heavily at another failure. She sees how Rose is trying to take the whole game into her own hands, but she is not on attack and not on defense, and in general this is a team sport, interaction is important here, which is completely absent.
By the way, Sana's team is no better, but at least the girls there can serve the ball normally and play well in attack.
Jennie notices that the opposing team (of course, this is the team where Sana is) is aiming at the back line — at the place where libero is standing. Maybe other defenders are better, so no matter what position (on the edge or in the center) the libero occupies on the field, the ball flies to her.
They finished the first game with a score of 25-11, and Jennie notices Rose walking away somewhere.
Actually, the toilet is also in that direction, but after seeing the roommate off, she realizes that she turned into the forest.
She's curious.
Actually, she can't. She can't go, because it's weird, but Jennie is already standing. Jennie's on her way. She's never been overly curious, but right now she just can't be indifferent. Maybe Rose decided to get the fuck out of here. She is so shocked by her team.
The girl has a lot of options for why it's worth leaving here, and this one is the most reasonable. Any volleyball fan would not be able to watch this without tears. Maybe Rose went to cry?
Jennie laughs to herself as she continues to go over the reasons.
She walks along the path and stops when she notices Rose standing by a tree and slapping its trunk with her palm.
Kim clings to the tree, taking a relaxed pose, and continues to watch as Rose slaps the tree and mutters something under her breath.
-It would be better if you slap the defender of your team like that.- Jennie grins, and Rose jumps in surprise when she hears her voice.
-Damn it! What the fuck are you doing here?! Have you been following me?!
-Of course.- The brown-haired girl smiles and, pushing off from the tree, walks closer to the girl.- Listen.- She says mysteriously, while Rose controls the urge to beat her too.- I can help you be calmer. You're mad about the game, aren't you?
-They're stupid!- Rose shouts as if unable to stand it.- How can they play defense like that, how can they not throw the ball over the net?! Moreover, they do not risk making the top serve or... damn, they just can't do it!
-Let them use the bottom serve.- Jennie gently suggests, biting her lip, coming very close to the girl, who begins to frown, reacting to such a short distance between them.- They can be prompted or helped. I noticed that they were taking risks. It's just not visible yet.
-Did you follow me to talk about volleyball?- Rose takes a step back, leaning her back against a tree.
-I can play with you. I was the main defender at school. It's been a long time, but I'm not afraid to fall, so I could definitely be useful.
-Why didn't you join the team right away?- The blonde studies the girl with her gaze, lowering it to her legs.
-I didn't want to. But I want to do it for you.
Rose immediately grins, and then shakes her head:
-You're not giving up.
-No.- Jennie shrugs and takes another step forward, stopping at arm's length.- What do you think about this?
-It's easier for me to give a fuck about this game than to kiss you, Jennie.- Rose purses her lower lip and shrugs.
Jennie follows the girl with her eyes as she walks around her:
-Then I'm sure you're going to kill someone there. Well, do whatever you want. Although... if you keep trying to fulfill all the roles, I'm afraid to imagine what awaits your poor injured leg.
-Fuck you.- Park answers with a smile, turning away and speeding up her pace. She walks forward, leaving the girl behind.
Jennie is not upset by this response. She had foreseen it. Actually, she was improvising, thinking on the move, what could hurt the girl. To offend — in this case, not to offend, but simply to provoke. She likes it the most. Not with everyone. With Rose.
Her roommate is too charming when she looks at her with her own eyes. Her smile is also charming, which, although accompanied by refusals, still provokes. Jenniewould never impose, especially when she is rudely rejected. Actually, she can't even remember when she was rejected. In this part of her personal life, from the moment it began, she has always been fine. With Rose, everything is strange.
On the one hand, she is rude and has made it clear more than once that Jennie should leave her alone, but on the other hand, this does not fit in with how she often stares, with what kind of look she does it... that smile of hers and the eyes that study her when they're around. She can cling to this, and she can make mistakes in this, but some moments are perceived intuitively, and they are not at all explicable by any facts, they just exist. Maybe she interprets it incorrectly, and Rose is ordinary. Maybe... as long as Jennie wants to do what she does, she wants to see everything that way and think that her intuition does not let her down, and these invisible vibes really exist.
Realizing that the blonde has already left, and she is standing alone in the park, which is essentially a forest, Jennie sighs.
There's going to be a disco tonight. Perhaps there will be one girl for yes, and perhaps this very girl will attract all the attention to herself. Then Jennie will give up on her roommate and her maybe not even existing vibes.