Authors Note: Hey, how are you guys? All good? I read all the comments and I just wanna say - YOU GUYS ARE THE LOVELIEST!! Hang in there a lil bit more okay? Just a little bit more :)

...

Lisa stares blindly into the nothingness outside of her bedroom window. Her usual favorite meal of Pad Ka Pow has been left untouched since her mother brought it in. It's the fourth day since the incident at the warehouse...but she still doesn't have any appetite to eat much of anything. She's just waiting to leave her parents' house and go straight to Jungkook.

The sound of shots fired at him was the loudest ringing in her ears, and the image of his bleeding self haunts her day and night. His eyes...filled with so many pleadings...stared longingly at her, and it only made her cry more with mixed tears of both regret and anger.

Why did he have to do that? He was protecting dad, she knew that - but still, why? He wasn't wearing a vest. Dad did! Not to say that daddy would've been fine but the chances are high! Why did he have to be so bravely stupid??

The only thing Lisa knows so far is that he was brought to the Asan Medical Center. It wasn't long after she'd been scooped and dragged by her father out of the warehouse that the shootings had stopped and the police started apprehending those criminals. She was kept far from the area - in a black van that her dad's people put her in - that she didn't even get the chance to see him again. 

To say that she was shocked by everything that happened is an understatement. In her father's words, she was traumatized. 'Where is Jungkook?' was all that had come out of her mouth since that night. They brought a therapist to visit her for four days straight now and she's not allowed to step outside. 

To be honest, there are so many things - questions - running in her mind. She's not sure which of those she should be asking...or maybe she was just too scared to ask. Scared to know the complication of Jungkook himself, and scared to find her own reaction to it. 

She almost believed that he did kill her father. The man who stood so cockily in front of all those criminals was such a stranger to her. The way he spoke to them made her think she never really knew him at all! He killed a man in front of everyone...in front of her. And she pushed him away when he came to save her. 

Suddenly, it made so much sense as to why he ran out when Taehyung mentioned him holding a gun. Why it mattered so much for him to know if she was scared of him. She thought he was just an anti-social, broken guy that had become the way he is because of his traumatic past, but now she knew that there could be so much more that he's hiding from her.

It should be enough to scare her away and it should be valid for her to move on but why does her heart still calling out for him? The guilt of not knowing and seeing anything beyond what he appeared to be is haunting her. The assumptions she made and the disgust she portrayed at the warehouse is just...unforgiving. 

I need to see him! I need to tell him I'm sorry - that I trust him! And it doesn't matter what the story was now because my dad's safe...I'm safe...he needs to know that he saved us!

Her bedroom door opened and she found her dad, standing awkwardly by it.

"You didn't touch your food..." His mouth formed into a grim, straight line.

"Where is Jungkook?" Her voice is small and croaky. She knew he would answer the same, just as he did for the past 4 days.

"Lalisa...you need to eat. You need to take your medicines,"

Maybe he didn't hear me. "Where is Jungkook?"

"Your mother's getting so worried. I'm worried -"

"Where is Jungkook, daddy?" 

"Lalisa..." He came to sit beside her and it looked like he's trying to find the right words to answer her. Lisa's heartbeat started to pace. No...please, God, no!! 

"Why aren't you answering me - you always answer me! He's at Asan Medical Center - tell me he's at -"

"He's not!!" The aggressive tone shuts her up and tears unwillingly welled up in her eyes. "Not anymore,"

"No - you said he's fine!" Her feet took over - standing up and pacing across the room. "You said they took the bullets out and that he's fine - so don't you dare tell me -"

"Oh God, no! No, no sweetheart - he is fine!! He just...he just left the hospital, that's all,"

She stopped her tracks and stared at her father - gauging his sincerity over the news. There are just way too many secrets around here that she's starting to feel like everyone's lying to her.

"He's...daddy, don't lie to me. He's still alive, right?" 

"Last time I checked was this morning," Her father nods.

"Oh, thank God!!" Lisa sighed in relief. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scream at you,"

"Screaming is good...better than one same sentence every day," He shrugged and shifts to sit on the bed. "And now that you've said more than 'where is Jungkook', why don't we talk a little?"

He tapped on the bedsheet beside him and Lisa dragged herself to it. 

"It's all my fault...I'm sorry," He held her small hand in his. "I should've at least gave you a clue about what's going to happen. I should've been more aware that they might come after my family too but I didn't. I'm sorry you had to go through that. He did mention it to me the night before...but I was too stubborn of a man to even give it a second thought. I thought we needed a foolproof plan to catch this guy so we can't afford to have anyone acting over it,"

She couldn't understand a word of what her father said. Not of which that could answer her questions at least. "How...how is Jungkook in on this?"

Please don't say he's a part of them too...please...

"He came to me...around a month ago. He said there's a bounty for me. And since he knows how it works, and he's good at finding out about things, he offered his help. Turns out, the person who wanted me dead was involved in a case my department's been investigating for the past two years now. Can you believe that? Two years...and I got enough proof to put him out for life within just a month. That boy is really something..."

So...was that the reason for his disappearance all the while? He was trying to keep us safe? A part of her feels flattered to hear it, but it also led her to so many more questions. "Did he tell you where he found all this information from?"

"I uh..." Her father scratched on his thin hair. "I think he needs to tell you himself. But I don't think it's possible...for us to find him -"

"What? Why not? I know where he lives - and, and I know where his mother lives - his adopted mother! If you could just let me go now -"

"They're not there, I've checked. Their place is clean by the time we got there,"

No...no, please...not again...please Jungkook, don't do this to me again!! 

"I'm sorry, sweetheart...he's really a good kid, but I think he has his reasons,"

His reasons? What are his reasons?? Why can he tells dad about it and not me?! Was I so insignificant - no, he won't have taken the bullets if I was! 

Her father's silence grew and she knew it's as far as the old man's willing to share with her today. So for the third time of the day, she broke down again.

So that's it? That's the last of it? That's how he chose to leave her - with images of blood on his body?! God, I hate him so much!! I'm so tired of this - I wish I'd never met him!!

...

His chest and shoulder felt sore, but it's the itchiness at areas he can't reach that annoys him the most. Jungkook winced a little as he fixed the sling across his shoulder. He didn't need it, but it helps with the recovery of wounds on his shoulder and abdomen. That's what they said anyway -

He looked to his watch again and gave in to the annoyed sigh. Now I know how he feels about me being late in those plans! He was supposed to meet Marco at this bar - the place where they first met. He wasn't sure what it's about really as they both agreed to this plan of him disappearing.

Maybe he changed his mind? He'll come with his officers, ready to put handcuffs on me. He then won't have to worry about another criminal being free in the street, because that's the type of cop he is! Aishh...of course he'll do anything to make sure I won't get near his daughter ever again! 

And of course, these assumptions were already in his mind before he made the decision to meet. He confessed everything to Mrs Kim when he was at the hospital. It's a wonder that the woman could still smile and held his hand as they packed and left the apartment together. Mrs Kim hugged him before he left the motel, knowing that it might be the last.

'I'll take care of you better this time, wherever it'll be', she said. He almost teared up upon hearing it - reminiscing of the night when Lisa cried, telling him that she'll go wherever he wants to go. It brought peace in his heart...that there are people who would give him a chance in this life, even if it's not that long.

"Jungkook-ssi," The deep voice from behind startled him a little. Jungkook turned as Marco took the seat beside him, then placed a brown, leathered briefcase on the countertop. 

"You're late,"

"Ahh...you sound just like me!" Marco called for the barista and points to the beer in front of him. "Whatever he's having,"

"I know...I practiced," He gave a triumphant smile. "Good to see you're copying me too,"

"I don't like to waste time thinking about what to have at a bar," Marco said as a-matter-of-factly before facing him. "How are you? Feel any better?"

"Getting there. I can tie my shoelaces with one hand now, you proud?"

The man smiled simply and nods. He knew that look. Marco's been putting that face on whenever he visited him at the hospital. It's the guilt.

"So what'll it be today, sir? You're gonna say 'goodbye' or put me in jail? Or is it both?" He continued to joke, not wanting to see that sentiment in the guy.

"What do you take me for, son?" The annoyance on Marco's face made him giggle. "I don't think it's something you should be joking about - it doesn't give me peace either way,"

"Here, have some beer, dad," He emphasized the last part, pushing the glass placed by the bartender. It still gives him butterflies whenever Marco calls him 'son'! "Relax a little,"

"I'll relax when my daughter stops crying,"

The words stopped Jungkook's humor and he stares down at his own glass. "She um...she's still scared?"

"I told you, she wasn't scared. She was in shock and that's perfectly understandable. There's a difference,"

But Jungkook knew better. He saw it with his own eyes. The fear was evident and strong, and there wasn't a day passed without him recalling her face from that night. She saw a glimpse of the monster that he was...and it'll take more than just 4 days of therapy for her to recover from it, he bets! Jungkook threw the remaining liquid in his mouth at one go, hoping that it might help him regather himself.

"You can still stay here, you know that right?"

He shook his head slowly. "See, I knew you'd get clingy with me -"

"Jungkook-ssi, I'm serious,"

"I know. It's just...there's just too many memories here. Lisa...I know you'd hate to hear me talking about your daughter like this, sir...but she's everywhere - she's all I see here. And I can't - I won't be able to stay away -"

"You're right - I don't like to hear you talking about my daughter like that. But no one's asking you to stay away,"

"You did,"

"Did I? When did I say that?" 

"I can recall you asking me to end it straight in my face - what are you even -"

"I did? No...that doesn't sound like me at all!"

Jungkook frowned. Is he laughing at me? He is - he's laughing at me!! "Aishh you..."

"So where do you plan to go?"

"Maybe Daegu...we both agreed that we won't return to Busan but I...I don't know yet,"

"What happened to Jeju?"

"Ahh...that's um..." He scratched his non-itchy head. It'll be embarrassing for him to admit that he had spent almost half of his savings on the bidding, would it? "They sold the place to someone else,"

"Oh...that's too bad. And there is nowhere else you can get?" Marco's question sounded too honest and innocent that Jungkook simply shook his head. "Okay...well, wherever you're going, Jungkook-ssi, I wish you all the best. Let me know where you end up so I know you're keeping your promise. I trust you can do that, right?" 

"Yes, sir. I will,"

"I hope you find the sanctuary you've been looking for. And I can't thank you enough for saving my life...and my daughter's -"

"Sir, I -"

"I'm not done yet," Jungkook pursed his lips. Marco opens his briefcase and took out a few papers - laying it in front of him. "Your identification. I had them put in your last address so you might wanna change it once you get settled," 

Jungkook stares at the ID, speechless at what he's reading. 'Jeon Jungkook' is written, next to his picture. 

No wonder he wanted to take a picture of me last week - it's for this?? I thought he was gonna put it in a WANTED sign or something in case I bail! My name...it's finally there! It's real ID - it's a freaking real ID!!

"And your bank account," Marco slid the stapled paperwork, two small books, and a card. 

Is he reading this right? That's two banks -

"I figured it'll be faster for you to transfer your money with two accounts. Kakao Bank is digital-only, so you can do the transfer more often. I've deposited two million in each, so it looks like you just started working and got your first paycheck. Shouldn't be hard to maintain after,"

He looks up back to Marco, who's wearing a straight face as he usually would. "I can pay you back -"

"It's not my money, it's yours. I'm not going to file a case on Han Ji Hyuk for attempted murder or kidnapping...since it's going to get both you and Lalisa in the spotlight. The list that you gave me - all the proof of his network - is enough for me to get a life-sentencing without parole on him and his people. So the three-hundred-thousand USD is not confiscated. I signed it off. The balance is with Officer Nam, back in my car...ready for you. I figured you might wanna use it to buy your property or keep you well-adjusted while figuring out what you wanna do, now that you're 'out of work'. These things...it's the least I could do after what you've done. I just hope you take it as a mean to start a new, fresh start,"

It was too much...way too kind for him to do this for me when I never asked him to! But it's a gesture for me to make peace with myself. And he has trust in me, just like his daughter did. It was more than enough.

"Thank you, sir. And I'm sorry...all those times I annoyed you - it was just something I did to not take it too seriously. I work better in that way,"

"You're used to treat it as a game, Jungkook-ssi. I understand that. I just hope you know that your life isn't one. You're a smart boy, I'm sure you'll figure it out...of who you want to be in this life...and who you keep around you. You should learn to give credits to yourself more - and I mean real credits! Not just for your skills about putting bullets or knives in someone's head - I know how much you love to brag about that!" Marco rolled his eyes and Jungkook smiled to himself.

So that's where Lisa got her sass from!

"Yes, sir...I know that. Your daughter said the same thing to me too,"

"And she was right! I've seen and met hundreds if not thousands of young men who either had it worse than you or turned out to be worse than you and my God - I gave them no chance at all! So you should consider yourself lucky! You still have that conscience in you - you knew what you did was wrong but you're trying to fix it - I know! So fix it! You've been calling me 'dad' for a month now, so as your 'dad', I'm telling you - I don't want to see your name as a suspect or even think about your name when a murder happens, you get me?"

"Y - yes, sir," He stuttered, partly afraid of Marco's sudden aggression and partly thrilled when the man said that last sentence. 

"Good. Now...I have one request,"

"O...kay?"

"At least tell my daughter that you're leaving. She's been crying...a lot...and I don't know how to be a father in times like this. If you can't meet her, send her a message - an email, something! Don't let her remember you that way - she has nightmares with your blood on it. Please,"

...

Jungkook:
My dear Lalisa 
I hope you are eating and resting well
I know you have questions
I wish I could be brave enough to answer them to which would satisfy you
And I'm sorry I'm not
There are too many things that I kept by myself
hidden from the rest of the world, including you
and I am at fault for that
When you came into my life that night
I knew you would change it forever
In my every word to you, I gave you my heart
There might be a few lies
But most of them were true
Like I love you
And I miss you
and you're beautiful
and I will always love you
I never meant to hurt you this way
I thought I could keep you for as long as time allows me to
and that time is now 
I'm sorry, from the depths of my soul, I'm sorry that I have to leave you now
I hope you don't hate me too much
I hope you're not as scared of me as you were 5 days ago
I hope you'll always remember me as the person who laid next to you
staring at your beautiful face while you fell asleep in my arms
thinking about how lucky I was to have met you
and that no matter how far I go in this world, how long or short my life will be
I will spend it with the thought of you
of my beautiful love who came to me in one strangely usual night
and she brought me home
Please be happy, Lisa
Please do well in your exams
and take good care of yourself in Canada
Please don't cry for too long
Your family loves you, longer than I have
so please love them back and not worry them too much okay?
Again, I'm sorry 

Sent at 4.36 am

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