Jungkook returned to the coffee stall feeling dejected. No girls have ever made him feel this way before and it's confusing how he hadn't been able to get over it. She escaped on her own will...how did she keep on doing that? Or maybe...it's me? Damn it, I hate this feeling!!

"Any progress?" The elder asks with a hopeful smile but Jungkook needs none of it. 

It's clear that the topic of Lisa had become somewhat of a sensitive area to touch on. He didn't plan on pursuing her tonight. He'd seen them walk together and the only thing he recalls being thankful for is that there are distance between the two. But watching her from his work...laughing and nodding along to whatever that guy offered her bruised him. It could've been me...it should've been -

"Here," Jisoo finished counting the cash in her hands and held it forward. "Your overtime pay for the day,"

"Why are you giving me this?"

"Coffee don't sell much past nine so I'm guessing business will be slower now. There's only four to five cups left anyway, so go...enjoy the night,"

"I'm fine, noona. You can leave if you want to, I can handle it. Jin hyung's here, right?"

"Look, your sad, sulk of a face makes me wanna slap it but I'm trying my best to not resort into any physical violence so I'm telling you nicely...go light a lantern or something cus you're pissing me off!"

What? That's hardly what I'd call 'nice'! "What did I do?" He chuckled.

"Nothing!" Her wide, open eyes glares at him. "You did nothing and you'll keep doing nothing it seems – look, just a friendly advice from a woman...if I'm her, I'd already hate your coward ass,"

Okay, that's definitely not nice!! "You should stop encouraging me to do more. You know better that I can't –"

"Then don't fucking do anything at all!"

"Why are you so mad at me?"

"Cus you're so naïve and you think the world of your 'hyungs' and believe me, I get it! I get that you guys spent your whole lives being scared but let me ask you something – aside from Jin, who else have been out there, trying to find love?"

Jungkook is speechless...which is rare because he almost always has a clever comeback for things!

"Exactly," Jisoo folds her arms. "They don't know any more than what they've been told – what, do you think it's easy?? Go ahead and ask Jin, how far and long did he have to wait before I got in the picture?"

When Jungkook still didn't respond, she continues, "You can't use your powers for love, Kook. Then it won't be love. It'll just be constant work – forcing her to like you and be with you, day after day,"

Whoa wait – "Who said anything bout love??"

"You know...there are some days that I actually find you cute but not today. You're attracted to her and for some weird reason, she's attracted to you too. It's not rocket science!"

"Rocket science? What does that even mean? Why are we talking bout rockets -"

"I pity you – all of you guys, really, I do. You're gonna sit here with me and asks what rocket-fucking-science is while your princess goes on with that Ken-doll -"

"His name is Sehun. He was a senior -"

"Do I look like I care??"

Jisoo immediately ignores him and right then, he hears a call of his name. Jungkook turns to find Jin and his mother, standing in front of their stall. A brief moment passed of him exchanging awkward glances with Jin when the elder saw his wife huffing her frustrations out. Ahh my bad!

"Eomma Hee!" He pretends to be all cheerful. This is definitely new! Out of all the woodsmen's wives, Jin's mother is the least to have stepped foot into town. The last she did was what - a year ago?

"She bugged me about coming here tonight. Said she wanted to see the lights," The cousin said, stiffly giggling while worriedly looking over his wife. Jungkook already knew who's the boss in Jin and Jisoo's marriage but tonight really confirms it!

Never mind it, he came out and starts walking with them. "Chim's here too, somewhere..."

"Ahh he's probably in some corner, chatting up some girl,"

That does sound like his brother, all right! Him and Taehyung – this duo is always up for a good flirt, even if it's the same girls over and over -

"Kook," Jin's mother calls for him. "Have you seen it?"

"See what, eomma?"

"The light,"

"No...it hasn't started yet. I saw the floating lights from last year but they raised it from Olin, not here,"

"No, no...not the floating lights. Her eyes...Duri's light,"

Jungkook stood still, not quite understanding. "Whose eyes, eomma?" His question is ignored by the elder as she searches around the crowd, looking a little disoriented.

"Don't mind her, Kook," Jin leans close to him and whispers, "It was from her dream last week. She said Duri's light will shine from Sanheoli to Dukke but the yeonsangs ruled it out,"

Ohh... "Is everything okay, hyung?" Jin's mother had been getting weird dreams for about 8 months now and from the state of his cousin, it doesn't look like the son is holding the fort quite well.

"Yeah...just...waiting for appa to come back -"

"Duri's light!" The mother exclaimed delightfully.

The boys turned to see where she was pointing but before he could see any 'lights' worthy of the elder's excitement, he caught the sight of Lisa and Sehun – sitting comfortably together at the edge of the docks. Jungkook felt like his heart is being squeezed mercilessly for the umpteenth time today before it was interrupted by Jimin's unnecessary, loud greeting.

...

"Packed this for you," Sehun brought a bottle out from the pocket of his jacket. It took a few seconds for her to clearly see what it is. "You seemed to like it so,"

Ahh... "I can't drink it anymore. I got sick before –"

"You're just not used to the taste. And you did down the whole thing...your tummy's probably shocked or something,"

Ugh...why is he so persistent?? "Thanks...maybe later,"

"Sorry that the lantern's all sold out..."

She looks back to the dark, shimmering waters in front of her. They are sitting at the far end of the harbor's dock – a little far from where the happy crowd is but 'will hold the most amazing view', he said. The thought of Jungkook is still lingering at the back of her mind while the story of Seongja and his princess occupies most. It was such a sad story...I can't imagine how both of them could be so brave in front of such power...

She recalls watching movies in all of her free times at home. For one year before she was finally allowed to step out of the house, that's all she did. Catching up on the entertainments that she had missed, reading about celebrities just to prep herself for the 'real' world. Who would've thought that she never needed it? Anyways, in DVDs and streams, those characters became her closest friends in that one year. None of them had ever impacted her heart this much.

Her mind drifts back to the unexpected flashes of sounds and images. Perhaps she had felt so much for the story that she started having visions of it. But it felt so real...as if I was there, with them! What's wrong with me?

"Lisa?"

"Hmm?" She looks over her shoulder. Sehun frowns. "Sorry, did you say something? I just blanked out, I'm sorry,"

"Here, I opened it for you," Again, he held the bottle out. "Is everything okay? You seem a little...lost,"

"Yeah...hey, you were born and raised here, right?" Sehun nods. "And your parents...have they always been here?"

"Nine generations, as I've been told,"

"Then...have you maybe heard...of the Seongja and Duri legend?" She tries her luck.

"Aren't you a little old to be looking into folks' tales?" Sehun sighed a laugh as he leaned back. Okay...maybe he's not the best person to ask - "Everyone has at some point of their lives. It's not exactly in our History textbooks at school but you're bound to hear about it whenever the elders need to keep the kids quiet," Oh... "It's just an old fairy tale...without the fairies, I mean,"

"So...you don't believe it happened?" 

"When I was little, yeah maybe. You can ask any adult here – eventually, we just grew out of it. I forgot what the whole story was...but I think the fact that there were never any traces that those people actually existed just kinda switched it off, you know?"

"Seongja and Duri, you mean?"

"And the sons. There was a King Yeonsun and yes, he had a daughter, but she died when she was little. Plus, he wasn't really as bad as the legend said. He didn't have to kill anyone over an heir, him and his half-brother had been conspiring in the rule,"

"Half...brother?"

"Prince Yeonsun was the result of King Jongjun's second marriage. His mother was a concubine until the counsellors deemed his first wife – the Queen – unfit to bear a son. But a few years after he was born, the first wife gave him another prince, Yeonjun. They grew up in the palace together and had been inseparable since. Under his – or say, their ruling, the court established the firsts of many State Councils...that's what we learned in school anyway,"

Lisa thought of how simple it sounds. It's exactly the kind of factual manners that she has read from her many historical books too. The great and powerful are always written to inspire. Only their amazing achievements...hardly any truths about how they achieved it.

"Why are we talking about them, anyway? Doesn't really matter if it's true or not...here,"

For some reason, the indifference in Sehun's remark pissed her off and the fact that he's still insisting for her to take the beer is highly suspicious. "Of course...the lives of those we never knew won't interfere with our very own...right?" She smirks. "You seem to like the beer more than I do...why don't you drink it?"

He stares at her, looking like he's trying to find the right words in order to please. "You know...you don't have to be this smart all the time but...I guess I asked for it," He placed the cap back on and keeps it back. Really, is he trying to get me drunk cus it definitely looks like it!

The first yellow light flickered from afar, and Lisa gasped at the sight of more. The lanterns float slowly...and beautifully, above and across the lagoon. On the waters, she saw some burning tea-lights complimenting the flying ones.

"Those are for the lost hopes," He explains. "They said when a person dies and the family wants to clean their spirits off any unfinished business, they light the small ones and release it on water,"

She nods slowly, vaguely aware that some people had gathered behind them and along the docks of the harbor - too captivated by the scene before them. It was like little stars...

"Fireflies,"

"Hmm?"

"I've never seen them personally before but I always wanted to. Must be similar...but smaller," Her smile grew, truly happy to be witnessing such a magnificent sight.

"You know...you look really beautiful in this light," She looks back to Sehun – whose eyes are already fixed on her. "You have no idea...how jealous my friends were when they found out I'm going out with you tonight,"

What? Where is this coming from? "Thank you..." I guess?

The subtle flashes of lights caught her attention and she look up to the darkness above her. The clouds that she hadn't notice was there before illuminated as quiet grumbles reveals an incoming storm. The soft wind too, had somehow paced harder on her skin.

"Lisa," She turns back to the guy. He's now staring at her lips and her heartbeat picks up immediately.

"Sehun, I think it's gonna rain –"

"Nevermind it," He leans closer.

"No, Sehun –" His hand had somehow landed on her neck, forcing her to lean in. 

"Please, Lisa. You know how I feel about you," He whispers - his dark eyes regarding her intently.

"What are you doing - stop!" She pleads again as he pulls – his grip harden. Her own hands immediately risen to his chest as she threw her face as far as she could - trying to push him away although it didn't seem to do anything. The closeness begins to suffocate her. No, no – this is not what I –

"Damn it!!" He released her and Lisa scoots herself back just as fast.

Oh, thank God! That was so close!! Her hand is still wrapped around her chest – calming herself – when she turns to the guy who's busily and aggressively wiping his jacket. She has no idea what had happened but then the smell of coffee hits her nostrils...and when she looks up behind Sehun, she finds him.

"The heck did you do?!" Sehun stood up to Jungkook and she grew nervous.

Don't fight him...just don't...just walk away...just leave! These internal thoughts kept playing in her mind. She didn't know why it's there but for some reason, she felt that Jungkook could raise hell if he wants to.

"Oh...sorry. I must've tripped a little," Jungkook answers calmly. Too calm even...

"A little? Your drink's all over me –"

"Yeah...tends to happen when one holds a cup and trips. Do you need a napkin then?"

The glaring between the two is evident, and Lisa's not sure who she should be taking sides on. Sehun was a bit forceful just now but Jungkook...well...Jungkook is Jungkook!

"Acting tough now, are we?" Sehun squared his shoulder, no longer care about his ruined clothes. Jungkook didn't even flinch as Jimin suddenly came to his side. Lisa didn't have to look at their faces to feel the intense energy surrounding them! "Brought your boys out huh? Look, why don't you go play someplace else – hey, maybe go back to the jungle or something?? Play with the monkeys, I'm sure they liked you better than any of us do!"

Okay, he didn't have to be that rude! "Sehun, stop. Why are you –"

"That's really the best you got?" She sensed the wickedness in Jimin's chuckle.

Jungkook's gaze lands on her and she suddenly felt shy...or embarrassed – yeah, that's the word! He held his stare as she wanted so much to tell him that everything's okay...that nothing happened and she shouldn't have sat here in the dark with this dodgy guy and his suspicious ways in getting her to drink that awful taste of an alcohol but a minute later, he turns back to Sehun.

"You know what...I think you've had a little too much drink. You must be feeling warm," What?

He takes a step forward and before she knows it, drops of ocean-water splashes on her feet and Sehun is no longer on the dock. Holy shit!

"What the –" He is flailing – erratically thrashing the otherwise calm waters and catching his breath.

Oh my God!! Lisa can't help her own gasps as she kneels down, hoping that he knows how to swim! The sound made quite a commotion and she knew a few people have reached close to her based on the few hues and cries. 

"Please! Please, help him!" She looks back only to be met with a few of the towners, Jungkook and Jimin no longer in sight.

...