Jungkook waits anxiously for the elder to pick up - shaking his legs underneath the table. He heard the worried voice at the end of the line and smiled.

"Mom - I -"

"Gook-ah! I have news!" He puts the phone on loudspeaker and placed it on the table. "Lisa said she's coming tomorrow, please come back! Come back now and - and tomorrow when she comes you can tell her you're sorry! I'll try to persuade her too - just please come back now -"

"Mom - aishh...don't cry! You'll fall sick easily if you keep worrying like this!"

"How can I not worry?? Yahh you better drop everything and come back now! I'm not losing my daughter because of you so you better -"

"Eomma..." Lisa calls out gently. There's a brief pause from his mom before she started crying loudly. "Eomma, I'm here. Don't cry,"

Jungkook saw the pooling tears in her eyes. It's really overwhelming to watch the sincere and pure love the girl has for his mother. Even after all these years, he's still in awe over it!

"Lisa-yaa...you made me so worried! Gook-ah...aish you embarrassed me so much these days! Why didn't you tell me she's there with you?!"

"I wanted to but you started shouting on the phone," He chuckled at the sighing woman, earning a frown from Lisa. "I'll bring her back tomorrow, mom. Don't worry okay? And stop crying -"

"You're the one who should stop crying! You cry all the time - worrying me all the time - aishh!" It's obvious that his mother is annoyed at him by now but he can't dwell on it too much. "Lisa-ya...come back with Gook tomorrow okay? I'll make gamjatang -"

"Yes, eomma. You told me,"

"What about my favourite, don't I get one too?" He pretends to be sulky.

"No! You're the reason of all this mess, so you don't get to be picky!" Ouch - that hurts right in the chest! But of course, his mother was right.

"Okay...we'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Okay! Oohh...I'm so happy, I'm gonna call your dad now!"

Jungkook laughed as he ended the call. In a way, he felt slightly proud of himself for being able to make his mother happy. The way he did it was far from ideal - definitely! - but at least it's in the past now. All that matters is that she's here with him...and her hand never left his since they kissed just now. He's not quite sure what it means - if she's accepting him back or not, or if she's just taking pity in his actions of dragging the chair to sit close to her - but he's thankful. Today will always be one for the keep!

Her phone buzzed and her hand lifted away from his to pick it up. He heard her muttering 'upstairs' and 'come up' before ending it and he grew nervous. He heard steps and ready himself before the reveal of a guy. He's tall and slender, but his built looked strong. His hair is parted sideways and with a tensed jawline, he makes his way to their table. 

"Bam-ie," Lisa calls out with a warm smile but the guy didn't return it. Instead, his stare is directed onto Jungkook.

"Stand up," 

"Excuse me?" Is he...is he her new boyfriend or something? 

"Stand up so I can punch you in the face for what you did to her," 

Okay...maybe it's her cousin. The anger is understandable! 

"Bam-ie, stop - what are you -"

"It's okay, Lily," He assured her. I mean...she lied to his and her parents - who else does she have to talk about it? Man to man, Jungkook had to welcome the beating. So he stood and face the guy. 

He wasn't moving though - he just stood there and stare at him. Jungkook felt more awkward as each seconds passed. He felt the hit on his right cheek the moment he blinked, and a small wince can be heard from Lisa. 

"Bam -" Jungkook held a hand up to assure her that it's okay, then rubbed his temple and jaw. It hurts, but he deserves it! Hell, he deserves more than just one punch - but he's not about to ask for it!

"Remember that the next time you plan on hurting her again," He warns - to which Jungkook smiled. 

"There won't be a next time," His voice came out raspy, still trying to calm his heavy breathing.

"Better won't be," The guy smirked and grabbed a chair to sit in front of the hissing Lisa.

Jungkook sat back in his seat and Lisa immediately placed a hand on his cheek to examine it. It made him smile like a fool - that's for sure! Thank you Bam-ie!!

"Don't worry, I'm okay,"

"Ckk - it's only a single punch. Not like he'll die -"

"Pull something like that again and I'll tell your mom what you did with that girl last week!" Lisa hissed at him. Aww...my baby's back and she's protecting me! Is this the best day or what?!

"You wouldn't - she's sick! How could you that? Yahh you promised!" The guy whined nervously - looking so different than the macho persona he had put up earlier that Jungkook almost burst into a fit of laughter.

Lisa rolled her eyes and looked back to Jungkook. "This is my cousin, Bam-ie. Bam-ie, Jungkook," She introduced the two. Jungkook wanted to offer a hand but figured the guy is still wrapped up in anger with him so he didn't. "Bam-ie's been working here...for half a year now. I've been staying at his house -"

"So are you back with this guy or what?" 

Okay, Bam-ie's definitely getting on his nerves with his 15-year-old attitude thrown all over! 

"His mother -" She emphasize while looking sharply at the guy. "Is my mom's second youngest sister. She came for a visit last week but fell sick about four days ago. She's in Songdo Hospital," She gave Jungkook a hinting look.

Oh...so that's why she was there! It's unfortunate to hear, but he's still thankful that it's not Lisa. 

"How is she now?" Jungkook turned to Bam-ie. Hey, he needs to get on Bam-ie's good side if he dares to hope that she'll come back to him right? 

"Fine," The guy answered and looks back out through the glass window. 

Well at least he answered him - that's a good start! Jungkook looks back down to his fingers, feeling slightly embarrassed. In a second, he saw Lisa's hand covering on his. It made him feel better. She always knew how to make him feel better.

"Bam-ie, about tomorrow...you don't have to drive me to Busan okay? Jungkook will take me," He heard a sarcastic chuckle from Bam-ie but ignored it.

...

Jungkook couldn't sleep. He's been tossing and turning - still can't believe that he had found her or better yet, that she found him! It felt kind of weird saying goodbye to her just now as she stepped into Bam-ie's car. Not the bad type of weird...just...nerve-wrecking weird. It felt like she's leaving him again and he hated it. She glanced with a smile to his worried face, holding a hand up gracefully - as if telling him not to worry - but he can't help but do.

He's been having mixed emotions and he knew why. They haven't talk about what's going to happen - whether they're getting back together or about her going back to Thailand - and he's too scared to even ask. God, there are so many things he wanted to ask but most of all, he wanted to send her back to pick up her stuff and bring her back home!

But he can't...he knew he can't. 

She shouldn't live in a place that's last marked by someone else - even if she was the first and only one to have owned it. No, she deserves better! She's still trusting him - even after what he had done - and he would never want her to live in those God-awful moments when someone else had taken her side of the bed. Maybe he should get a new mattress for the time being? Maybe it's too soon to be thinking about it??

Yeah...he should talk to her first...ask if she's willing to give him a second chance. Tomorrow...he'll do it tomorrow. They'll have a few hours in the car alone, so maybe he can talk to her then. Jungkook sighed and close his eyes...and opened it back when an idea popped in his head!

...

Okay...so the drive back to Busan didn't go as he expected! He didn't get to talk much with her - with only small talks before she asked if she can sleep for a while. He was totally fine with it, but he didn't expect her to sleep all the way until they reach Busan and his house! Why was she so tired? He wanted to ask but Lisa had been occupying herself with his mother up until now. He's not sure why...but Jungkook can't help but feel like she's trying to avoid him, or more specifically, being alone with him. That's not a good sign at all -

"Gook-ah...eat more. You look sick," His mom interrupted his thoughts. "Lisa-ya..." She scooped more soup as Lisa holds up her bowl. 

Jungkook looks back down onto his barely-touched plate. He felt a bit off, to be honest. There's a lot of things in his mind. She held his hand yesterday. They kissed - didn't it mean something? If it does, then why is he feeling like a stranger to her? And it's not just that. The warm welcome was expected and his parents looked so happy when they waited at the porch earlier, but the fact that the two didn't care at all if Lisa is back together with him or not made him feel somewhat disappointed. 

Perhaps the guilt is still lingering around - and now toying with his mind. They've been extra careful, even in their words - he could definitely see it! Perhaps they're trying to pay off from his mistakes - covering it up desperately so she won't leave for good? He felt the slight sting on parts of his skin, feeling sick all of a sudden. Did the temperature dropped or is it just him? He looks up and caught his dad staring at him. Jungkook forced a small smile and diverts back down.

"What time is your flight? Are your parents picking you up at the airport?" His mother asked Lisa.

"Ah yes, eleven in the morning -"

"So early?! Gook-ah...make sure you wake up early to send her tomorrow -"

"No, that's okay!" Her quick response made him feel worse! She glanced at him, then back at his mother. "I'll be with my aunt and cousin, eomma. We'll go together in one car so...I don't need a ride,"

Yeah...so that's that, I guess. Whether it's true or not, the fact that she's so eager to decline his presence is enough to throw his anxiety off the charts! I guess that's the answer I've been waiting for huh? 

...