Precious Things || Jensoo

Chapter 54

Chapter Fifty-Four

Time heals all wounds.

That's the saying isn't it?

I'm so used to pain that, even though this is by far the worst lashing I've ever had, it's mostly over in a few days. I have painkillers this time and that makes all the difference in the world.

Hyorin offers me the rest of the week off school, but insists that Jennie has to go back on Wednesday. I'm still too sore on that day, so I spend it hanging in her room. Hyorin's at work and I'm a little shy around Taeyang. He makes me lunch and we find a nice easy conversation talking about Jennie as a child.

I think he's just as nervous back because he seems quite happy when I timidly ask if I can go upstairs and nap.

He's a nice guy, but I'm not used to men that aren't ancient and ridiculous.

By Thursday, I'm going out of my mind with worry, so I go back to school, too. I win the argument with both Hyorin and Jennie by basically saying that I'm fine. Hyorin seems willing to let me decide for myself but Jennie is a harder call.

She's so worried about me. I can see it in her eyes.

But, in the end, I know she's secretly glad I'm back at school with her. Even if I do wear my skirt and blouse. She offers me clothes of her own but I'm uncomfortable. I don't know why.

Maybe it's because they suggest I'm never going back home, because they remind me that I'm out in no man's land.

So I just wear my normal gear.

Three things change how I'm feeling. Three little things.

First, telling Jennie that I was thinking about getting an apartment and a job had results that I did not expect.

First she got mad. Then she yelled at me. "You're the valedictorian, Jisoo! You're not dropping out of school!" Then she did something that completely surprised me. She called her step-mother. Jennie has never, ever brought anyone into our arguments before, not that we really have them. I realised, as Hyorin stepped into the room, that my girl was genuinely petrified.

"She says she's going to drop out of school and get a job!" Jennie told her step-mother.

"That's ridiculous..."

And that did it. It led to the whole conversation about where I was going to go, the one that ended up involving Taeyang and Hyorin and Jennie and myself, with me in my very own corner.

I don't think three people could have made it more clear about how welcome I was. In fact, Hyorin basically just put her foot down and said I was staying until I went to college and that was that.

When I mentioned, more timid by the second, the money and support aspect, I got unexpected glares. The Kim are rich, and I have been reminded. Firmly.

It's after that conversation that I come to a resolution of my own. I've been alone for so long that I don't really know how to accept help. And I need help right now. The Kim are my friends, and they're offering it. It doesn't take a huge intuitive leap to see where that path leads. So, instead, I promise myself that I'll pay them back; maybe not till after college when I have a decent job and can afford to do so, but I will.

The second thing that happened was that Jennie and Hyorin took me shopping. After declaring my wardrobe a tragedy of epic proportions on a teenage scale, I was summarily marched off to the mall. I now have enough jeans, skirts and tops to last me two weeks before I need to wash. That's three times the amount of clothes I've ever owned before and even then they called it a skeleton closet.