Lisa lifted Jennie Kim's head in panic. It's the first time she'd seen someone collapse and she doesn't know what to do. She immediately checked if the girl's heart is still breathing because if not..
She pressed her ears on the girl's chest and was able to breathe when she heard a steady heartbeat. Lisa decided to abandon her things and carried Jennie out of the classroom with her arms under Jennie's head and knees, hoping that the clinic is still open. The hallway is already empty and there's no one left in sight. Unfortunately, the clinic is on the second floor of their building. With difficulty, Lisa climbed the steps and almost collapsed at the first landing. Jennie is not showing any signs that she is to wake up anytime soon. Lisa's heart is already palpitating with exhaustion and her eyes are starting to water because of anxiety. Her arms are already sore and her knees are about to give up. When she reaches the second floor, Ms. Yoona is at the door and about to enter the clinic.
"M-Ms..."
Ms. Yoona looked at Lisa first and then gaze landed at Jennie who is still unconscious. She immediately opened the door wide and gestured Lisa to bring Jennie in. She immediately placed Jennie on the vacant single bed before sitting at the nearby sofa, exhausted.
"What happened?" The nurse asked while putting Jennie's feet on top of a pillow. "You should've called me instead of carrying her upstairs. What if you two fell down the stairs?"
Lisa's eyes started to water. "I d-didn't know what to do."
Yoona looked at her in sympathy. "I'm sorry. It's okay.. You did great. Can you get her things for me so we can see if she's under any medication?"
Still panting, Lisa nodded and headed downstairs. She went back to their classroom to get Jennie's and her bag. She slowly climbed the stairs again, remembering what happened about 10 minutes ago. Maybe she should start caring about other people again but.. caring means you are allowing other people to get close. To have people close means she is giving them a pass to hurt her.. again. She doesn't want that. She is contented with the small bubble that she has now in her life with Ten and Aunt Dara.
Lisa carefully carried Jennie's bag.
She is again on the first landing when someone shouted.
"HEY!"
Lisa looked at the bottom of the stairs where Taehyung Kim is standing, glaring at her. The guy is still wearing his basketball jerseys with a duffle bag slung on his back.
"WHY ARE YOU HOLDING MY SISTER'S BAG?! ARE YOU TRYING TO STEAL IT?"
"N-no." Lisa replied. She is now legitimately scared. Taehyung is a head taller than her and looks mean. He climbed the stairs quickly to approach Lisa. With every step, Lisa's knees feel like they are about to give up.
"WHA-"
"Kid!" The nurse, Ms. Yoona sought for Lisa when the younger failed to come back fast. Taehyung looked at Yoona and then at Lisa. His eyes widened when he realized that Jennie is in the clinic.
//
"Taehyung said I should watch what you eat." Lisa said as she handed a shrimp burger to Jennie. The older girl glared at her when she handed her the drink, hoping it was Mountain Dew but it turned out to be apple juice.
"Don't listen to him. He is annoying."
"He just wants the best for you."
"Whatever." Jennie replied as she continues pouting.
"I'll buy you cotton candy once we're out.. and will have the ahjussi sprinkle powdered milk as an exchange, yeah?"
Jennie thought of the bargain and just nodded. She's not allowed to have dairy in any form but she misses milk and anything associated with it.
//
"What happened to your hair?" Lisa asked when she sees Jennie enters their classroom. Her long shiny black hair yesterday is now with streaks of blonde everywhere and the ends are in splits. Jennie glared at Lisa as if it's her fault why Jennie's crowning glory is not glory-ing today.
The older woman sat beside Lisa. Their classmates' backs are straightened-up and Lisa knows they are listening. She didn't pay them any attention. They are very much afraid of her now that she's friends with the twins. No one wants to mess up with Jennie, let alone Taehyung. The guy is on a league of his own. Even Sehun and Jongin cowers whenever he's around. Why, Lisa doesn't know. The Taehyung that she knows is different from the Taehyung the school knows. She sometimes wonder if Irene is the same. Sometimes she thinks that Taehyung is oddly similar with Irene.
"Irene happened." Jennie whispered with her hands shaking. Lisa held the older girl's hands, tracing Jennie's knuckles with her thumb. She discovered it's one the ways to calm Jennie.
"What did she do?" Lisa asked. She's threading the very thin line of curiosity and somehow her eagerness to find out how Irene has been these past two years. Lisa haven't seen the girl - now she knows a woman now for two years. How Irene was able to bring chaos into Lisa's life without them interacting is a mystery to Lisa. Like the universe is telling her that Irene is not just a background in her life.. or someone that's just suppose to pass by. She shook her head, hoping that Jennie didn't notice. She can feel herself sweating under her uniform.
"She sneaked inside my bathroom and put bleach in my conditioner! I didn't notice until I removed my s-shower cap." Jennie said sadly. Her eyes brimming with tears. If there's one thing that Jennie loves, it's her hair.
Lisa ran her hands through the girl's hair, feeling the roughness and grimaced.
"You should come home with me. Aunt Dara is very good with hair. There's nothing that she can't fix." Lisa said proudly. There's one time she went home with her hair cut into a bob. One of her classmates during her sophomore year thought it was a very good idea to put bubblegum in Lisa's hair. She didn't have a choice but to cut her hair short. Aunt Dara thought she's following a trend of celebrities with short hair and volunteered to fix it for her. She's been sporting a short hair since. She can give up her long hair but not her bangs.
The following morning, Jennie came to school in all smiles. Her hair is back to it's shiny condition and she embraced the blonde streaks in her hair. Lisa had hers bleached too so Jennie won't feel alone.
Let's just say that the girls from their school thought it was cool and started bleaching their hair.
//
"Happy birthday, Nini." Lisa whispered as she dances with Jennie on the latter's 19th birthday. Ten volunteered to tailor a woman's suit for her when she told him that she's Jennie's last dance. Taehyung has been sulking for week when Jennie told him that she prefers Lisa to be her last dance. He opted to give the highlight of their birthday to his twin, and ignored the birthday wishes he received that day. Well.. Everyone except from Lisa's.
"Nineteen." Lisa added. "You are a big girl now. We can now register the business under your name. Aunt Dara said we should do the transfer soon."
They danced slowly, exchanging silly stories that they accumulated for the two years that they've known each other. They were interrupted when someone cleared throat behind Lisa. They both looked around.
Irene is looking at Lisa with a smile on her face - the first time that Lisa had seen Irene smile at her. She is wearing a sophisticated black sequined gown, the thin straps are delicately placed on her shoulders. Lisa was right. Irene looks how she imagined her as a woman.
So fucking gorgeous. She thought.
"Can I have this dance?"
YOU ARE READING
before | lisrene
Fanfiction"Get out!" Irene yells while pointing at the door. Lisa is slumped on the floor, crying. She slowly stood up and went to the door, not sparing Irene a glance. Years later, Irene realized that will be the last time that she'll see Lisa.. ..or not. No...
