Rome, Italy
December
The water dripped from her long hair as she walked the hallway of the expensive residence and at the same time her plump shivering lips hugged the roll of tobacco lighting it up..
As she reached her destination, which wasn't far from her flat either
Her wet foot banged on the door of her neighbor, and the drops of water dripped down her swimsuit..
After couple of minutes she finally saw his straight face after opening the door
With a smirk..
"Opa.. una Serena coreana.."
His Italian accent makes her cringe as she blew the smoke in his face, "I feel bad for you.. you don't have clothes should I give you money.." he leaned by the door eyes studying her body so she rages growling "if you don't stop messing with my waters I'll burn down your apartment soon you pervert piece of shit"
"I didn't say I wanted to trap you in the corner of your pool yet.. " he grinned as she rolled her eyes turning away.. "listen here filthy half Italian of whatever, next week my tournament starts and if you don't stop cutting my practice I'll tell the owner to kick your ass off" she glared back at him when he shrugged
"You failed three times already " she clenched her jaw taking an angry step back before throwing her cigarette down and walk out on her annoying neighbor
"but seriously, you gotta find yourself some clothes" she heard his sarcastic comment before hearing his door slap behind her..
she cursed ruffling her hair, "I hate him " she mumbled to herself before entering her flat..
Which half of it was occupied by her pool..
She walked closer putting her toes to test the water again after her neighbor messed the settings and it ended up hotter than it should be.. "this system sucks"
She cursed at the residence system that allowed the residents in the same floor to control the water of all the flats there..
which made her often fight with the half Italian/ Korean neighbor cuz he kept messing it up.
Even tho the residence was quite rich and it their work ressembles a high class hotel.
Her hands slipped to the her shoulders removing the swimsuit from her body.. and Before she could tie the bath robe on her skin
She heard the house phone ringing..
Staring at it while it made sounds for a while, she walked sloppily to hold it against her ear while feeling her cold breath hitting back to her cheek
"Hello?"
"Mi perdoni signorina Kim Jennie, we got your call from Seoul" she sighed hearing the agent's broken English..
"Thank you.." she sighed holding her breath
As the phone made a click sound, Jennie closed her eyes listening to the silence
"It's early in Seoul jennie say what you got"
Until the other part broke it with a sloppy voice making her flatter her eyes open
"My tournament starts next week,"
"And? Good luck " Jennie sighed before cracking a low chuckle
"Are you drunk again? Where's your half Italian douchbag? He left you again"
"I'm not drunk,"
She cut her
"You know Jennie, one day someone will take off your body from some lake and it won't look nice.."
"Don't worry that's not gonna be you, mother" she cuts off, before ending the call and throw the phone on the bed.
She let her body fall down the mattress as she held her hands to her face brushing it softly..
And she didn't realize she fell asleep until she heard the violin melody coming to her ears from her balcony..
it was definitely her stupid neighbor because who the hell would play twinkle little star at five am.
She removed the flying curtains to lean on the parapet..
She silently glared at him as she lit up another cigarette.. her hair fell off her shoulder and she couldn't scold him cuz she needed to wake up this time anyway.
His hotness was his only good deed.
She bopped her head down watching the old woman coming out of her balcony
"stai zitto stronzo.." she yelled glaring up
"In English grandma"
Jennie cracked a laugh yelling back
"Shut up asshole" he rolled his eyes dropping the violin on the balcony couch before removing the beret to ruffle his hair under her stare..
"And you" she pointed at Jennie who blew the smoke off her mouth with a straight face as her leg sneaked out her robe when she kneeled a little "tobacco will kill you one day Serena" the old woman slapped her balcony as Jennie giggled pointing her index to her also.. "seems like everyone sees my death the way they wanna"
—
"MEDLEY" Jennie removed the beer can from her lips as she played with her feet under water.. her both arms leaned by the corner of the pool as she took a break from the training..
"Medley Will exhaust me" she licked her lips answering her swim trainer and also her best friend.. Roberto.
" butterfly opening will give you a push back.. you're playing with world champs Jennie everyone will start with medley" he kneeled by her taking the beer can away She glared at him
"Stop drinking" he glared at her big eyes and she as about to talk back when the door knocked..
She smoothly took a cigarette in her way as she tapped her wet feet on the ground of her flat
She squeezed her bun before opening the door with a straight face "are sure you don't have fucking barbarian roots" she spat at him
"Are you sure you're not a mermaid because.."
He answered smirking before checking out her body in the swimsuit before snatching her cigarette " who's there?" Roberto called when Jennie slapped the door but unfortunately the barbarian blocked her squeezing his head to take a peek "who the fuck are you"
He yelled slapping the door open before glaring back at Jennie who stumbled back glaring at him too. "I'm Roberto.." the other guy answered trying to piss him off yet he just looked back at Jennie
"Get the hell out Taehyung.." she sighed massaging her temple, he surprisingly grinned when she called his name, taking a step towards her he inhaled the cigarette ruffling his hair with a smirk.. his big hand suddenly engulfed her nape when and it's a snap she felt the smoke in her mouth and his lips left hers..
"Piece of shit get out" she hit his stomach with her fist face raging with anger.
"As you wish champ" he smirked holding his hand up waving a stupid goodbye before she slapped the door behind her and screamed loudly hearing his laughter from outside.
She raised her eyes to find Roberto leaning by the chair shaking his head "you should just get back together "
"I'm not going back to him.. and I will leave this city in a month anyway" she snatched another beer yet he snatched it again
"Roberto join the barbarian and leave me the fuck alone please " he sighed pushing himself up and before he passed by her he asked
"The backstroke?"
"Tumble." She mumbled
"Jennie, you're so fucking talented you're born for this "
He started off
"But this is a worldwide championship.. it's not Europe and not Asia, Australians are sharks you can't just rely on your talent" she looked up at him biting her cheek
"And quit fucking drinking " he added "it will kill you"
"Bury me In me In Paris mio amico" she giggled closing the door behind him
Staring at the water for a while she found her herself diving again.. the water was the only place she runs to..
she spent most of her life there, between the molecules and staring at the bubbles..
Starting to swim at three, and starting championships at nine.. Jennie quickly became a known face in the swimming world.
Jennie Kim Korea's champ
Jennie Kim Asia's champ
Jennie Kim Europe's champ
people started calling her the Mermaid..
Until the world's championship started..
and she was the swimmer holding the three titles when It the tournament started in USA
Right after the Europe tournament.. when she was twenty.. yet unfortunately it didn't happen
Jennie started losing her breath while she's under water, as memories drowned her mind
Her vision blurred remembering the ominous day.. and when she was knocking off the water to bring her head outside, her image hitting the pool wall replayed and she lost her balance and strength.. leaving the water to Carry her down she closed her eyes..
_
"Jennie.." she heard his voice from afar
So far away
Wasn't he always?
"Jen.." he called again a little closer this time reminding her of how much she was addicted to his deep manly voice
"for fucks sake, JENNIE" her blurry vision started clearing up, and there he was
Her third addiction.. the half Italian.
When she realized she was on the cold floor while he topped her trying to bring her from her unconsciousness
She started laughing.. before she leaned on her elbows and spit on him.. making him flinch
"why don't you just let me fucking die" she talked dropping to the floor again before he brought her up by her hair "don't wake the fucking monster in me and get your fine ass off the damn floor, And if I ever hear this shit coming off your pretty lips again I'll deal with you in my own ways, I've been going so easy on you" he let go of her hair when she slapped his hands.. she dizzily stood up under his worried gaze.. "stop that damn poison already"
He kicked the beer cans with his feet walking after her
" and where's your sweet angel Roberto shouldn't he be training you.." he rolled his sleeves up as he stood in front of her with his tall slender body and piercing eyes..
"Did you break in my damn appartement "
She wondered with a hoarse voice eyes wandering around her apartment
"Look at your face Jennie, aren't you fucking eating" he grabbed her chin and she shook him off disgusted look Making him sigh in defeat.
"If you're not coming back to me anytime soon at least take care of yourself jen.."
"I'm not coming back at you at all actually "
She wore the bathrobe removing the bun and sit on her bed with a cigarette on her lips.
"I miss you"
"You don't"
"Why do you think I moved to Rome for then"
He kicked the nightstand next to them making her shriek..
"Leave Taehyung.. I'm tired"
"Please, Jennie stop torturing me.. It's been six months I can't take your absence anymore"
"Please I want your body next to mine, most of time just like it used to be"
"Taehyung.. " she called him blowing out the smoke and he kneeled there waiting
Hearing and listening to her with open ears
"Forget me" she let out with a cold tone and a straight face ignoring the fire in her heart
His face dropped reflecting the disappointment in his heart and he swallowed his sorrow before her grabbed her head to rest his forehead on hers whispering
"You are not a lover because they come and go and you're not a past I can let go.. you're a my soul and a home wherever you be I find my existence doing so.. "
And how wouldn't Jennie's heart melt and Squeeze when his mouth drops such beautiful words for her..
She felt her heart stinging when she removed her face away with her glassy eyes
"Taehyung.. you wanted it and I have no power to keep up with you no more"
And before she could continue her words she felt him engulfing her in a tight hug.
"Your forgiveness is my life purpose, I'm not leaving this until you're in my bed again and between my arms again." He informed resting his head on her chest.. his favorite place.
"Please go easy on it.. " he kissed her heart location " I know me and this are going through the same " he patted her head
"And I brought you rice and Alfredo sauce you love it.. please eat " he stood up collecting the empty cans in to throw them as he took the full ones too " and don't drink this poison when I'm not with you" he glared and she saw a flashback to when they were together
When everyone asked her to stop drinking he scolded them and told them she could whatever she wants and he'll take care of her.
He was thirty and she was twenty one..
He was a free spirit and she was a walking catastrophe.
But they both were addicted to eachother.
—-
"Take your marks" she held her certain position her ears stopped hearing whatever was around and she could only focus on her breath three competitors from the left and two from the right Roberto's words kept replaying in her head Australians are sharks there was one of them there but probably she's the one staying for the finale medley was the opening she was supposed to take but since her shoulder got injured medley only exhaust herFrom the start butterfly Was what she planned to kick off with.. butterfly wasn't a worldwide class opening opening, yet Jennie didn't think much about it.. the familiar loud whistle rang in her ears and the last thing she heard was the breath she took before diving into her beloved waters..