Miss J | Jensoo

Ch33. Chained Up in Friendship

After Jisoo had the last mouthful of her brunch, Jennie gently dabbed at the raven's lips with a paper towel, "There, nice and shiny."

"Thanks," Jisoo beamed so happily her eyes almost disappeared. How cute, and Jennie could not help giving Jisoo a pinch on the cheek.

They shared a chuckle before Jennie started clearing away the trash and wiping the table clean. She was a little proud of her baby steps towards friendship with Jisoo – now, she could mention the bracelet and talk about their wounds with sprinkled humour and without a heavy tension hanging over them. Good job, Jennie!

Taking the trash out of the room, Jennie trudged along the corridor that smelt of antiseptic. She was beyond exhausted both mentally and physically; maybe she could head back to the dorm for a bath and a nap. She exhaled a long sigh of relief pent up within her as she disposed the trash in the bin outside, before returning to the ward. Everything was worth it to see Jisoo well again.

Jisoo was scratching the gauze on her forehead when Jennie pushed open the door.

"Hey monkey."

"Ugh! It's itchy!" Jisoo whined and Jennie melted at this adorable side of the raven.

"Stop it, silly. I'll get the nurse to change it for you on my way out," Jennie plucked Jisoo's hand away from her forehead and interlocked their fingers instinctively, but when she realized what she was doing, she instantly released Jisoo's hand and gave it a warm pat instead, making a mental note to kick this affectionate habit.

Widening her eyes, Jisoo looked at Jennie with round wondering eyes, "You're leaving?"

Jennie chuckled, Jisoo was being a little too dangerously cute. "Yeah, it's not exactly sanitary for me not to get a bath after... almost 20 hours."

"Oh shoot, you're right! Sorry, I didn't think of that earlier," Jisoo puffed up a cheek with air, and let it deflate along with her posture, and Jennie wondered how Jisoo could be this cute now and flirty other times, all in one.

Jennie smiled as she began packing her things into her purse, and that was when she saw the velvet box again. Calming herself, she took a silent deep breath before clearing her throat and turning to Jisoo. Keep it light and friendly.

"Before I go, I think this belongs to you," she beamed naturally at the raven and extended her hand with the box, "but please, don't worry about putting it on, especially if it doesn't match your outfit of the day." For good measure, she raised her brows a little and nodded her head slightly, as an encouraging gesture for Jisoo to take the item.

She wanted to convey that she was over it, that it was okay for Jisoo to do whatever she wants with the gift from her heart, that there was no need for guilt or apologies, no matter how far it might be from the truth.

For a short moment, Jisoo's eyes drooped at the corners and blinked glisteningly up at Jennie, but then Jisoo closed her eyes and when she reopened them, the expression was gone and replaced by a small smile and tentative eyes as she took and opened the velvet case.

"Thanks, Jennie," her voice was soft and careful as her eyes roamed the expensive necklace, "do you think you can, you know, help me to put it on? I doubt I'll ever be able to single-handedly clasp it." It was almost like Jisoo was referring to something else apart from the necklace, but there was a sincere smile from Jisoo and Jennie was instantly swamped with relief. While the pain of the rejection still bit and stung, Jennie could not be more thrilled for Jisoo to wear the gift after all intended for her. As friends.

It was strange that her eyes were starting to water, but right now Jennie just wanted to hide these weird emotions more than she wanted to figure them out. One blink seemed to be all it would take for the tears to gush out, and she certainly did not want to ruin the mood, so she consciously kept her eyelids open for as long as possible to hold the tears in place.