"So um...wanna tell me what's up with you?" Chaeyoung raised an eyebrow as she sighed back down to her seat. She pouts while playing with the empty cup and glass on the table, left by Jennie and Jisoo minutes ago. 

"It's so nice...to have a boyfriend to go to the movies every week," She muttered casually.

"What are you talking about? I have a boyfriend...I don't go to the movies every week,"

"That's why I'm saying it to you, cus you should feel the same," She joked.

"Yahh...I can too if I want! It's not that Jimin won't take me!" 

Lisa laughed hard, enjoying Chaeyoung's obvious annoyance and high-pitched, whining voice. It's always a sensitive subject when Jimin is involved! They've been together for 6 years now and it seemed like a fairy-tale love story - but whatever happens after 'and they lived happily ever after'? Wait - is she gonna cry?? 

"I'm joking! Chae, it's a joke - don't cry!"

"I'm not crying!" Chaeyoung crossed both arms across her chest and huffed out. 

Lisa only knew from the story told by Chaeyoung herself. Jimin was Chaeyoung's senior back when they were in high school. He was persistently chasing her around until they finally made it official before his graduation. Everything was exactly how she expected it to be - rainbows and sunshine. Chaeyoung said she had her doubts when Jimin started college - always worried if he'd cheat on her with girls his age. But he never did of course...not that she knew!

He was always caring, consistently making time for Chaeyoung, and being there for her. But things started changing when he started working, which was some time earlier this year. He began appearing less and less in Chaeyoung's days and they had more arguments than before - most of it ended up with Jimin asking his girlfriend to understand that he's now carrying more responsibilities and he needed to prioritize his time. 

Chaeyoung - being the devoted and sweet girlfriend that she is - had to force herself to understand why they can only meet once or twice a week now, even when they're staying so near to each other. It's adulting - he said to her. Lisa felt bad every time Chaeyoung called her up to say that Jimin had canceled their plans, but what else can she do? 

It wasn't just her - both Jennie and Jisoo had also mentioned it to Chaeyoung before, that she should have a serious talk about where their relationship is going if he were to keep this up. She didn't want to and Lisa could guess why. She loves Jimin...of course it's scary to think that she'll lose him over it! No...it's not so bad that I don't have a boyfriend - 

"So? You wanna tell me what's bugging you? You've been zoning out a lot these past two days -"

"I have? I didn't notice...it's nothing," Lisa shook her head and laughed nervously. She looked back up and found Chaeyoung's don't-even-try-to-lie-to-me look.

...

"Wait, I don't understand. What's the problem again?" Chaeyoung leaned forward, frowning as she did. "He sounds like a genuine person and it seems like you really like him. And it's so heartbreaking what he'd gone through. Why would you be confused?"

"Because..." Lisa sighed, leaning back to her chair and playing with her knotted fingers. "I realized that I always ended up misjudging a guy. Like I always ended up picking guys who turned out to be assholes! They're always sweet at first and be a jerk next - ghosting on me and shit like that -"

"So what - you're gonna stop selecting just cus life gave you a few bad apples?"

"Sehun texted me...after the date -"

"Oh my God - please tell me you didn't reply to him!" Chaeyoung gapes at her, making her even more embarrassingly nervous.

"I did...and I met up with him,"

"Lisa-yahh!!! Why...why would you do that?! I told you so many times -"

"I know! I just...I don't know! I just wanted to know what he wants from me - I know it's stupid -"

"You know what he wants from you! It's the attention - that's always what he wanted! We told you this so many times! Yeah, sure - you had a crush on him but I mean, who even goes up to a person and clarifies that they're the cafe owner without you even asking?? Then - when he got you head-over-heels for him - he just went off without even saying anything! You just gave him what he wanted -"

Lisa felt like crying. Chaeyoung was right, of course! Seeing Sehun yesterday had brought nothing positive at all. It was so awkward for her to sit in front of the guy, acting like she's fine about not hearing from him and listening to some bullshit story she knew he made up, all the while thinking how she can reply to Jungkook when she did the same to him! Ugh...I'm such an ass! 

"Lali...don't sabotage yourself like this. You always act like you have no trouble moving on - always smiling and joking around. But I know you're scared. I'm scared too! There's not a day passed that I didn't think like, 'will this be the day Jimin breaks up with me?'. But I have to make a choice. Everyday - I knew I have to make a choice of whether I wanna leave him or stay. And I chose to stay because I love him. If he ended up breaking me, it will hurt like hell but at least I know that it's my choice to let him. You have to make a choice too. Do you wanna stay waiting for a guy who had the chance and blew it, or open yourself up to someone who might be better than you think? Which one?"

"Wow...I..." Lisa never thought of it in that perspective before. She always went her nature of following the flow of things, not really minding of whether she has a voice in it or not. It was easy to lose herself in relationships too, as she never quite felt the need to contribute much. 

But with Jungkook, it's different. He's more passive than she is. Maybe it's only the beginning, but he made her think more than she usually does. He's kind of cocky and confident, but mostly shy and afraid. She can choose...Chaeyoung's right!

...

Okay, so it didn't go as I planned. But I'm back on track now!

Jungkook told himself again as he sealed another big box with a tape. He looks around to what else needed boxing and taping. His laptops and computer - done. He disassembled the desk and packed the books. There are not much from the kitchen that required packing, and what's left now from it is just the stuff in the fridge. 

The bags of guns, bullets, and knives are done. He'll just carry the clothes, toiletries, pillows, duvet, and carpet by hand next week. Yeah...that's it, I guess! Just the usual...

He reached for the mug of coffee sitting on the island counter and walked out to the balcony. He never felt much in all the times he had moved out from a house, but his chest felt heavy at leaving this one. It holds a special kind of memory - something the others didn't have. A girl was here. A very special girl who came once in his 23 years of living. Right here at this balcony was where he cried on her shoulder - something he's never done to anyone before.

Jungkook still thought about what had he done wrong during the date, but it's slowly fading since he saw her sitting in that coffee shop with a guy. Yes...when he said it didn't go as he planned? He went to stalk her a little a day after. Just a little. He left, shortly after he saw her smiling warmly to the guy - the same way she did to him. 

He figured that it must be someone she liked, seeing how nervous she was - fixing her hair and playing with her fingers while the guy got her a cup of something. It hurts him to see it. Not in a you-played-my-heart-like-a-fool kind of hurt, but more like I-wish-I-can-be-that-man-you-like type. He knew he couldn't offer much to the girl. A fun life. An easy life. Not with all the lies.

So he contacted another agent to look for another studio in the Gangbuk-gu district, farther than here. He'll soon start anew again and once he settles down there, he'll look for another job. One last job. He already has enough to buy the property he wanted in Jeju, renovating it, and starting the business, but he needs to secure extra money just in case. 

Just one more job...finally...and I'll be out of this misery. It's quiet there, and no one will know me and question where I come from. I'll be in my own home...finally...

The knock on his door brought him back to reality. Jungkook frowned as he swiftly grabbed the big, black bag. There are a few knocks again as he carefully disassembles the wooden planks on the floor, placing the bag in slowly to not make any noise, and putting it back together. He scanned around the studio to ensure that there are no suspicious things laying around before heading to the door.

I didn't order any food. He diverted back and grabbed a kitchen knife. The knock became louder and more aggressive than before. No one knows me here. Who's targeting me? Maybe they got the wrong address? The grip on the knife became softer. Calm down...

He took a deep breath before opening the door. His eyes widened when he saw who's behind it, and Jungkook threw the knife across the counter before opening the door fully.

...

Are her hands shaking? Maybe. Is her heart pounding madly? Definitely! 

"I um...I'm sorry...for showing up without telling. I brought some food," Lisa held up the brown paper bag, containing the tupperwares she had packed earlier. 

She didn't want to show up empty-handed - not after she had ghosted on him for 4 days! She didn't know how to apologize on the phone as she's so bad at lying, so she thought she could make him jumeokbap since it's his favorite! Jungkook stared unwaveringly for a second or two, then shook his head.

Shit...is he not gonna forgive me?!

"Sorry! Uh...come in!" Oh...okay! Lisa smiled and relaxed a little as she stepped in. "Sorry...it's kind of a mess in here. What uh...what are you doing here?"

She turned when Jungkook closed the door. He seems stressed...but still so cute! "Did I catch you at a bad time? I'm sorry -"

"No, no! I just finished packing some stuff up," He scratched the back of his neck. 

"Are you moving somewhere?"

"Yeah...to Hongdae...remember?"

"Oh...that soon?!" Her face lits up with lively glee, and it brought him to smile shyly. 

"Yeah..." He laughed a little. "So what are you doing here?"

Lisa took a deep breath, trying to remember her little speech. "Okay...so I know I didn't reply to your text. And I'm a jerk for not contacting you at all after our date night. But I have a valid reason. There's no justifying what I did, but..." What was the next thing I planned to say?? "Gosh...I'm so bad at this -"

"Lisa, it's okay, you don't have to -"

"No, listen!" She closed her eyes, trying to remember. "I um...I was confused. About how I felt. I just...I really like you and I needed some time to think. Cus this is all happening really fast and it felt new so I didn't know how to act on it. Not to mention that I did embarrass myself that night! I'm just really sorry and I hope we can still be friends at least!"

She slowly opens her eyes to peek at him. The first thing she noticed is his amused, little smile. The next is how he saunters over to her, closing the gap slowly and dipping his head slightly as they stood inches apart from each other. The familiar scent is back, and she wills herself to drown in his gaze. 

"You...like me?" 

Had the world stopped spinning, or is it just me? Can't. Stop. Looking into his eyes! I thought he looked damn good-looking before but being so close - how can someone be this beautiful??

"I um..." Lisa tried to think straight but found herself at loss. "I made jumeokbap...for you. I don't um...I don't cook a lot...but I made it...for you,"

His smile got wider and she felt warm. Like literally - her entire body felt warm! Is there no breeze at all in this small space??

...