He pulls up into the basement garage and its designated parking space, and she wonders why are they here. It doesn't look like a warehouse area at all. In fact - from the short glimpse she had just now, it looked like just another one of the bungalows in between the rest. Except that this one seemed to be standing out for its asymmetric concrete walls, full tinted glass covering the first storey and geometric veil-like wood screens on the second. 

She wonders who this house belongs to. It's not her field to discuss, but the structure seems to reflect an impeccable taste in modern architecture. Jungkook opens her side of the door and led her out. What a gentleman...

There's no one around - not that she could find since they got into the driveway anyway - so maybe it's his new house? The size would make more sense to store all 23 of her canvases. She's sure he's put them somewhere in one of his many rooms! But it's such a big house for only one person! A realization struck her hard.

This is probably not a good idea! The two of them...alone...in his house...no, no -

"You know what, I don't really need to know where you put them. You can just tell me, there's really no need to show them -"

He pressed a button on the wall and the door opens to reveal an elevator. 

"After you," He gestured her in. 

Of course he has a freaking elevator in his bungalow - who has time to climb stairs anymore??

Lisa gulps, steadying her breathing as she stepped in. 

It's fine...I can control myself...and I'm sure that he won't dare to try seducing me or whatever...it's gonna be fine! Just don't look at his charming and unbelievably handsome face, and you'll be fine -

The door opens back to reveal a large foyer, and Lisa froze at her view. She could see the natural light bursting in and onto the spacious, part-wooden and part-concrete flooring, a few beige-coloured contemporary upholstered benches and concrete walls and archways - but it's not the fancy, minimal interior that caught her breath the most. 

No, what caught her were the canvases hanging on the walls - neatly and seamlessly arranged to bring colours into the otherwise neutral space. Jungkook cleared his throat and her eyes now fall onto the nervous face. 

"You..." She forced her feet to move, then turned to face him. "Please tell me there are other people's works here too,"

His eyes wonders from left to right to avoid hers, and he kept his lips pursed in a straight line. Lisa sighed, still unsure of how to respond over this turn of event. 

Okay...calm down...just walk...and keep walking. I'm sure he meant well - are you kidding me?? He meant more than well - he just transformed the place into a freaking art gallery just to hang my artworks - this is way too much!!

Her sudden detour to face him again halted his tracks behind her, and his eyes grew large in panic. 

"You...okay, let me guess this straight. You bought my works. And you rented..." He opened his mouth to speak and Lisa crossed her arms. "You bought this place...to hang them,"

"I bought this house 2 years ago. But I never did anything with it. I mean, I've always wanted to do something with it...but I hadn't actually put much thought into what it would be. The first of your artwork that I bought, I have it in my house. Your favourite one?"

Lisa cocked an eyebrow - feeling slightly impressed that he remembered well. 

"For the rest, I knew I had to have them...and I wanted a special place to showcase them. So I renovated the house to make it look like a gallery..." There's a shy smile as he began ruffling the back of his hair. "I don't know much on how a gallery should look like, so I called some people in to advise. I hope it did justice,"

She took a deep breath and tears herself away from the gaze. She has to think things through - digest and try her best to justify on this - this over-the-top, super-grand and super-unnecessary gesture, and she couldn't do it while looking at him. His humility is making him look ten times hotter and it just won't do!!

"Did you like it?"

Did I like it - hahh - of course not - I love it!! I love it so much that you're doing all this just for the thought of me but I can't say it cus if I say it, then I'll have to accept it and feel even more guilty than I already have, and I can't live with it so stop!!

"It's um...it's..." She glanced over and noticed that he's biting his lower lip - as if he's waiting nervously for her answer. 

Bambam's words rang back clearly in her ears. Just follow your heart and talk to him...

"Why are you doing this, Jungkook?" She calmed her staggered feet but her voice is a little scratchy from the nerves.

"I um...I don't know..."

Lisa turned to him again and tilted her head to study the man. He's hunching slightly, looking down to his feet. One hand is in a pocket and the other is still on the back of his neck, rubbing it as if it's a habit for whenever he's nervous.

"Are you nervous cus I asked you that?"

He looks up. "No...I'm nervous cus I'm not sure if you like what I've done with your works,"

She felt her heart fell like a slow-melting ice-cream under a hot summer's sun. 

"I love it. This place...it looks amazing...what you've done with it. Does that make you feel better?"

He smiled his shy smile and nods. 

"Now tell me, why are you doing this?"

He looks around briefly, as if absorbing everything and every air in this large space for some...what - inspiration?

"I've missed you a lot. It's kinda funny if I said it like that...but it's just, simply that. I've missed you a lot, and I just wanted to feel closer to you. It's been keeping my mind occupied, over all the bliss...the fun, all your charms, and my ignorance and the way I feel when you let me touch you and how I fucked things up with you. It makes me feel...grounded...and somewhat alive. Just like you did to me on the night we met. I guess I did it cus I don't wanna forget,"

His words put her in such a trance that she didn't even realized how he had taken a few steps closer. Not until he's now standing just a feet apart, and his face looking down to draw her close to him. 

Damn...she wanted so much to take the leap...

She shook her head slightly and looked down. "We don't know each other that well, Jungkook-ssi. It could be just the adrenaline...just the thrill over everything that happened in such short time -"

"Then let's get to know each other. Please..." He breathes. His fingertips are now on her cheek, caressing it softly. Lisa felt her heart beating fast and her subconscious shouting loud. 

"I um...I need to think...I don't think it's gonna be easy -"

"I'm not asking for it to be easy. Nothing's ever been easy since the moment I met you, and that's just the way I like it. Lisa, please...give me a chance. I may not know much about how and why I'm feeling this way, but please give us a chance. I've been so lost...and so in love with you, please -"

...

It was as if everything held its breath. Time froze and the world stopped spinning.

He felt her arms circling tightly around his neck, pulling him down towards her before he felt her lips on his - stopping him from saying anything more. He could carry on the speech he held in for these past 3 months - about how sorry he was, and how much he's willing to do to make her trust him again - but that can wait!

The most important thing right now is...she's in his arms...and she's in his kiss...and she's giving him a chance! He can't thank his lucky stars enough that this beauty is finally back with him - today is a fucking amazing day!! She still tastes the same - sweeter even! - and her small body still fits perfectly in within his hold. God, I could hold her forever -

"So does this mean you're not gonna buy my works anymore?" She suddenly broke their kiss and asked, frowning at him.

He held in his need to laugh. "I mean...there are more space to hang some at the back...and it's still empty upstairs. I counted...on average you'd re-install your works once a week if I buy them immediately. And you've been sending 3 works for a month now at that same gallery. That would mean I'd have 12 works with me in a month. I think I could fit another 80 in this whole space so I guess...you'd have a buyer in another 7 months?"

"So I need to find a new buyer in 7 months?"

"I have 3 other properties in Mapo-Gu alone - you're not getting a new buyer!" He sulks playfully and she laughed. 

"So what is expected out of me here - I need to know what I'm getting myself into,"

"Oh...you know..." He cocks an eyebrow and smirked. "The occasional 'thank you'...a hug would be nice too -"

"Once a day?"

"Mmm...at least 6 a day. You might mark up your price so I'll be working so hard to earn more...so screw it - 10 a day! You shouldn't be stingy on hugs - I give great hugs, you know,"

"Oh, I know! I just wanted you to ask for more,"

"Then whenever I want," 

She giggled and stopped. "But you have to promise me that you won't hurt me like that again, or I'll run so far you won't be able to find me,"

He held Lisa's steady gaze. The longing that he felt for her is so overwhelming that he felt like tearing up. "Mmm...I promise I won't hurt you - not on purpose, you have to know that. But if I somehow, unintentionally mess shit up...you should know that I'm always prepared to run to you and carry you back home with me. What's the point of me working out so hard right?"

She smiled and her eyes twinkled with delight - seemingly happy with his answer - before she leaned back in again. Who said they didn't know each other well enough??

...