Work Text:
Jimin peers over the edge, watching curiously as the police officers rush to set up the giant inflatable cushion at the foot of the building. It’s a little silly–if she really wanted to jump, she could just move a few metres either side of the building and miss the cushion entirely.
She can see an officer in her periphery, standing a comfortable distance away, likely sent by the authorities to coax her down.
“Listen to me,” the officer says. “It’s not the end of the world. You’ll make a full recovery, I promise.”
Jimin only shrugs and swings her feet over the ledge, careful not to hurt her already injured left one. It’s less scary than she thought it’d be, being up on the roof.
Then, she hears a shout from behind her. Jimin’s eyes meet another student’s, her name right on the tip of her tongue.
“Hey! You’re not allowed up here!” the officer’s voice wavers.
The student ignores her, lugging a chair right up to the edge. She’s glaring at Jimin as she hoists herself up.
“I can’t go home because of you,” she frowns as she strides across the length of the ledge, as though they aren’t multiple stories above ground.
Kim Minjeong. Jimin recognises that voice from the morning announcements. She’s prettier up close, when she’s not on stage droning on about the school’s activities or campaigns.
Minjeong takes a seat right beside Jimin and hums, admiring the view of the cityscape. She eyes Jimin’s cast before asking, “Are you upset because you can’t dance?”
“No,” is Jimin’s immediate response, defensive.
It’s more complicated than that. Because it isn’t just because she can’t dance.
“I just wanted some fresh air when the ambulance and all the police cars came.” It’s not a lie, but Jimin winces at how flimsy it sounds.
She figures Minjeong already knows the full story; it’s all the entire school has been talking about. It would be hard not to know–Jimin wasn’t the most discreet about being an idol trainee, what with the long absences from school, the skill showcases during dance festivals, and the autograph requests plastered all over her askfm.
The whole school knew and celebrated her success.
Now the whole school knows and watches her crumble.
Jimin doesn’t know what’s worse–the way the doctor looked at her when he told her that she’s likely to never dance again, or the pitying stares she got when news broke out that she quit being a trainee.
Being in school suffocated her, which is why she’s up here, away from prying eyes.
“I didn’t want to go down and explain myself, and they’re here anyway. Might as well let them believe it wasn’t a wasted trip,” Jimin finishes, revelling in the quiet laughter she prompts from Minjeong.
“Is dancing the only thing you’re good at?” Minjeong asks after a beat, refusing to drop the topic.
Jimin studies her for a second; there isn’t an ounce of pity in sight, only innocent curiosity that Minjeong doesn’t bother to conceal.
“It’s–” she hesitates. “It’s the only thing I know.” It’s the only thing I’ve ever known.
“I’m sure there’s lots of other things you can do that don’t involve agitating this,” Minjeong bumps their knees together and gestures at the cast.
Jimin scoffs. “Easy for you to say. You’re really good at a lot of things.”
It’s coming back to her now; Kim Minjeong is everywhere in this school. Jimin knows she’s vice president in student council, and she’s heard her name being announced when their school’s bowling team won the regionals. She even remembers Minjeong performing after her during one of the dance festivals.
“Not really,” she shakes her head. “I’m just not afraid to try new things.”
She takes one look at Jimin’s unconvinced face and huffs.
“I’m absolute shit at chess,” Minjeong admits. “My friend tried to teach me but all the rules flew over my head. Apparently capturing as many pieces as I can isn’t a viable strategy.”
It’s cute, the way her face scrunches with annoyance as she recalls the memory.
“Trying something new is always terrifying at first, but getting over that fear is the hardest part. Once you can do that, it really isn’t that bad,” Minjeong gets up from the ledge, brushing the dust off her skirt.
She grins at Jimin and offers a hand as she says, “You just need to take the plunge.”
Jimin’s gaze darts between Minjeong and her hand, before she begrudgingly takes it and lets Minjeong pull her to her feet. She doesn’t let go as she uses their clasped hands to anchor herself, trying not to put too much weight on her injured foot.
“Trust me,” Minjeong murmurs, mischievous glint in her eye.
Jimin glances at her, confused. She doesn’t get the chance to respond before a calculated shove at her shoulder causes her to lose her footing.
And then Jimin is free falling.
She hears panicked shouting from the officers behind her, and scrambling of feet. She feels wind rush violently past her ears, and tries not to think about how fast she’s falling. She sees Minjeong peeking over the edge of the building, getting smaller and smaller in her line of sight.
The cushion catches her.
Jimin’s heart pounds hard against her chest, and she can barely breathe. But she’s safe. She watches Minjeong come into focus, and catches the slight nod the other girl gives her. Jimin, despite herself, laughs–she bursts into full blown laughter, unable to stop her shoulders from shaking.
She doesn’t even notice the officers rushing to retrieve her from the cushion as she sees Minjeong break into her own laughter, lips curving into a smile so bright behind the backdrop of clear blue skies.
Jimin thinks she understands Minjeong a little better.
-
The next time Jimin sees her is in cuffs, looking frazzled and more than slightly vexed as the officer that tried to negotiate with her tugs Minjeong forward like she’s a criminal.
Minjeong catches sight of Jimin and immediately rushes towards her, ignoring the way the officer yells.
“You’re fucking crazy Minjeong,” is all Jimin can muster, but the smile she gives her is fond.
She shakes her head and nearly stumbles into Jimin’s arms in her rush to get away from the officer.
“Please tell them you don’t want to press charges,” she scrambles to speak. “They’re going to arrest me.”
“Only if you accompany me to the hospital,” Jimin retorts, laughing. “They want to take me there to check on whether the fall hurt my foot. The fall which you caused by the way.”
Minjeong blanches at that, guilt colouring her face. She gives her a quick once-over and frowns.
“I’m sorry–”
“Hey,” Jimin interrupts her. “I’m not mad. I get it.”
Minjeong pauses, then sighs. The officer finally catches up and grabs Minjeong by her shoulders, chiding her harshly.
“It’s alright,” Jimin steps between them. “I don’t want her punished. Please release her.”
The officer only looks at her in disbelief, confirming and double confirming that Jimin really is alright with letting the girl that pushed her off a tall building to be released. Minjeong’s cuffs do eventually get taken off of her, and the other girl breathes out in relief.
“So are we going?” Minjeong nods towards the ambulance.
“Ah,” Jimin stutters, surprised. “I was kidding. You don’t actually have to follow me to the hospital.”
“But I’ve never been in an ambulance before,” Minjeong tugs at her sleeve and slings her arm over her shoulder to let Jimin use her as a crutch.
Her eyes sparkle as she grins at Jimin. She can feel Minjeong practically bursting with boundless energy underneath her. She probably would’ve raced all the way to the ambulance if she didn’t have Jimin’s extra weight to carry.
Jimin lets out light, chiming laughter. “Then let’s go.”