Second Overtime | JENSOO & CHAELISA

Chapter XXVIII

The day Jisoo jogged for the first time since her injury, the sun was setting over the school track, painting everything in shades of gold and amber. The air was cool, the kind of autumn evening that made everything feel possible, and Jisoo was running.

Not fast. Not far. Just a light jog, carefully monitored by Coach Minzy, who had agreed to supervise her first attempt at real exercise since the surgery. But it was running. It was movement without crutches and the constant, grinding fear that her knee would give out. It was the closest thing to freedom Jisoo had felt in months.

The team was there too, running their own drills on the far end of the track. Lisa had cheered so loudly when Jisoo took her first jogging steps that Coach Minzy had threatened to make her run suicides. Seulgi had actually cried. "They're happy tears, stop judging me!" 

Moonbyul had pretended not to be affected while very obviously filming the whole thing on her phone., while Jeongyeon grinned happily at everyone and everything.

Jennie watched from the bleachers, her heart so full it felt like it might burst.

She shouldn't have been there. She knew that. The track was exposed, visible from half the school, and anyone could walk by. But Jisoo had texted her that morning. First jog today. Come watch? And Jennie had been powerless to say no. The Jensoo Protection Squad had done a sweep of the area and declared it low-risk. Most students had already gone home. Jihyo and her friends never came near the track after hours. It was safe. Or as safe as anything ever was.

So Jennie sat in the bleachers and watched Jisoo run, and she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: pure, unfiltered joy.

After the session ended, Coach Minzy had given Jisoo a proud nod and the team had swarmed her with congratulations. Jisoo then made her way toward the water fountains near the edge of the track. Jennie followed, her heart still bursting with pride.

The sinks were tucked away behind the bleachers, shielded from view by a low concrete wall. The sunset spilled over them, warm and golden, and when Jisoo turned around, her face was flushed with exertion and happiness.

"I did it," she said, still a little breathless. "I actually did it."

"You did it," Jennie said. "You ran. Without crutches and without falling."

"Without falling is a low bar."

"It's an important bar."

Jisoo laughed, and the sound was so bright, so full of life, that Jennie felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She stepped closer, close enough to see the sweat on Jisoo's forehead, the way her chest was still rising and falling with exertion, and her eyes were shining with that particular light they only got when she was doing what she loved.

"I'm so proud of you," Jennie whispered. "You have no idea."

"Tell me anyway."

"You're the most stubborn person I've ever met. You worked so hard and you never gave up, and now you're running again. You're going to be back on that court, and you're going to be amazing, and I'm going to be in the stands cheering for you even if I have to do it quietly so no one gets suspicious."

"Really?"

"Really."

Jisoo's smile softened. "You're my favorite, you know that?"

"You've mentioned it."

"I'll keep mentioning it. Forever."

Jennie kissed her.

It wasn't planned. It was just because Jisoo was here, and she was happy, and the sunset was golden, and for one reckless, beautiful moment, Jennie forgot to be afraid. She cupped Jisoo's face in her hands and kissed her with all the pride and love and relief that had been building in her chest for months.