Luminous • Jisung

41 • Volunteer

• Chapter 41 •

Renjun and Cho-a stepped into Jisung's living room as if it was their own. The girl walked straight towards the sofa where the youngest boy was resting, with his eyes on his phone. 

Claiming the remaining space that was very much enough for two people to sit on, Cho-a laid down and threw her legs over Jisung's lap and, though a little surprised, Jisung didn't mind it. 

However, it drew his attention to her for a moment. He inspected her. Eyes closed and arms crossed in front of her chest. 

Seeing her so calm, even though she looked exhausted, made him smile. 

"Tired?" Jisung questioned and Cho-a replied by nodding her head a little. 

Jeno and Chenle were playing on their phones, barely keeping attention to the others. However, Jaemin couldn't help but let his eyes run over the girl a few times. 

Soon enough, his eyes got stuck on bluish-purple. 

"What's with that giant bruise on your ankle?" Jaemin asked. Hearing that question, Jisung quickly put his phone away. He brought a hand to her leg and pulled her sock down a little. 

Just then, Cho-a opened her eyes again and laughed.
"Funny story actually. So I tried to teleport but I kinda messed up and was suddenly stuck in a tree and when I tried to get down I fell." 

Jaemin's expression dropped. Staring at her blankly, he blinked a few times. 
"Seriously?" 

Renjun sighed. "I told her to take it easy." 

At which Cho-a rolled her eyes. She didn't need his comments.
"And I asked you to help me so things like that wouldn't happen." 

"Why do you need to be able to do that anyway?" he countered. 

"Why not?" She closed her eyes again, too annoyed to look at the older one. "I have the ability to do it so why not use it." 

Her voice trailed off, her words died down quickly without any response from Renjun who focused back on his phone as well.

He didn't want to keep her from learning new things. He just didn't want her to get swallowed up in this mess. Which felt odd considering who she was. 

What Renjun was doing was also rather obvious. It's just that Cho-a didn't care for his reasons because she had her own. 

Meanwhile, Jisung had listened wordlessly. Once it grew quiet again and Cho-a had her eyes closed, he carefully rolled up her trouser's leg a bit. Gently, he moved the heel of his hand in small circles over her skin, massaging it. 

Cho-a looked at him, lips parted in surprise. She was about to say something when Jisung spoke first. 

"You will get better with practice." His voice was gentle and he sounded sincere. 

Cho-a couldn't help but smile at his reassurance. 

"She should just stop," Renjun interrupted strictly. It sounded definite. Authoritative. 

And despite being rather headstrong, Cho-a reacted in a way that made it seem like she was going to listen to Renjun. It's what she had been doing for most of her life anyway. 

Clenching his jaw, leaving his hand hovering still just over her ankle, Jisung glared at the oldest. 

"She just never liked that side of her because of what happened," Renjun said. 

"Hyung," he said in a warning tone. "Remember what I told you?"

Jisung looked away in irritation. "If she doesn't like herself you should help her change that," he argued.