Lisa's pov~

The slow and looping video of Tzuyu and her mother emerging from the JYP building, with the news anchor's narration on top was something that would be engraved on my mind for days to come.

Masks on and heads ducked, they looked like any other usual defaulters you see on news every now and then.

But this one was the very source of my every misery.

I listened passively, but in my heart burned a happiness that was equal parts petty and deserving.

"...idol ex-boyfriend Jungkook exposes Tzuyu...charges of blackmail and fraud...audio recording confirms...JYP yet to release a statement..."

Engrossed in the news, I jumped a little when Jennie spoke from beside me. "I heard Jungkook talk to his sajangnim. They wanted to resolve the issue privately, between the companies. JYP even offered to remove Tzuyu from Twice for him to not go public with it."

Jisoo snickered, swinging her legs in the air as she lay on her stomach. "You should have seen her mother when she came storming in here. She threw a blank cheque at his face. I've never met someone more conceited than that woman."

I frowned. "What did Jungkook say to her?", I asked Jisoo.

"Nothing." She threw a smirk over her shoulder. "Just ordered the security to escort her out of the building."

Jennie covered her laughing mouth. "You should have seen her face when he didn't even spare her a second glance. I have to admit I'm starting to see the appeal in your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend.", I mumbled under my breath.

Chaeng sighed quietly, turning my face to look me in the eyes. Her hands were soft and warm. Sometimes she reminded me of my own mother.

She spoke softly, her dulcet voice masking the reality of her words. "The point is, that he could have got rid of her even without dragging his own name through the dredges of media. Instead he opted to press charges against her, take her to court. He released a damning audio of Tzuyu admitting to blackmail. Her name's ruined beyond repair and she and her mother will likely face jail time."

Chaeng smiled sadly at me, continuing. "Now you don't have to forgive him for what he did. But I think it's important that you know why. When I told him the truth about your breakup he indirectly blamed Tzuyu for putting you in the hospital and I could see his hunger for revenge."

She shuddered."He's really scary when he's angry."

I didn't know how to take that all in. After Jungkook's heartfelt contrition earlier and now all this. I felt surrounded, pressured. I needed to take a step back, hash it all out in my own time. I wasn't ready to forgive him.

Taking a deep breath, I changed the topic. "How's the public taking all this?"

"His fans are furious at Tzuyu and JYP. They don't want to see their precious Golden Maknae hurt. So they're supporting him. But there are always haters.", Jennie answered.

Chaeng made a pitying noise. "I'm just worried about the rest of Twice. Just because of one bad apple among them..."

She trails off as the sound of someone running in the corridor and several shrieks of startled nurses interrupts us.

Jungkook bangs open the door to the hospital room. Clutching a cup of latte and blueberry cheesecake in his hands, he leaned against the wall, trying to catch his heaving breath.

After a second he looked at me with a triumphant smile, his radiant bunny teeth blinding me as he proudly handed me the coffee and cake with a, "Here."

I eyed his too happy self, taking both from him. He looked like a puppy waiting for a "good boy" and a scratch behind the ears.

I was always a cat person.

"I asked for an iced latte, why is this cup so hot?"

That wiped the grin off his face in 0.3 seconds flat.

~

They finally discharged me after an overnight stay. Jungkook stayed with me throughout the night, even if sleeping in a hospital chair couldn't have been too comfortable. I didn't pressure him to leave, knowing he wouldn't listen to me anyway.

Now in the morning he helped me brush my teeth as I sat on the bathroom counter top. Standing for too long made me dizzy and I was advised bedrest for one more week.

By the way Jungkook was protectively clutching my waist as he carefully brushed my teeth told me I was going to be forcibly made to adhere to the advice. 

His beautiful face intent with concentration, as he brushed my teeth for me, was undeniably cute though.

"Spit.", he ordered, taking the toothbrush out of my mouth after a thorough cleaning. I complied, rinsing my mouth with cold water.

"I need a shower.", I proclaimed, sitting up straight again.

"Of course.", he replied, handing me a small towel and moving to turn on the shower to adjust the temperature.

I glared at his compliant back. "Alone."

"No can do. What if you slip on the wet floor and hurt yourself?" He didn't even turn around, dismissing my request without a second thought.

"Jungkook.", I whined. "I'm not a two year old. Stop with the hovering. You're not my mother."

At this he turned to me with a thoughtful expression, tongue moving in his cheek in a habit that did weird things to my insides.

I crossed my legs unconsciously.

"You know your mother actually gave permission to me, she said she trusts me to take care of her daughter. So your argument is invalid.", he grinned smugly, reaching to clutch my waist again. What? Now he thought I even couldn't sit on my own for more than two minutes?

"Jung—kmhmhmm." He raised my shirt over my head, muffling my whining.

As the shirt came free of my head, I glared at him with all my might, willing some kind of pyrokinesis and his body to spontaneously combust right at that instant. But unfortunately I was no mutant.

Again he gave me that indulgent look, a look that told me he was very well aware I was planning his death in my head. "I'm not gonna compromise when it comes to your safety, doll. Never again. I've learned my lesson very well. If I had my way you wouldn't see the inside of a hospital ever again."

His words made me soften a little.

But then he frowned, as if realising something. "Excluding when you're pregnant with my children, of course."

"JUNGKOOK—"

This time he pulled me in his arms, leading me to the open shower stall, chuckling as I hit his back in indignation.

~

The crowd outside the hospital roared as a giant collective lion. The endless mass of people stretching as far as the eyes could see.

I was no fool. Neither was I very self important. I knew most of them were here because of Jungkook.

They knew he had spent the last few days inside the hospital and they wanted to know why. Moreover, they were worried about him after the news of the blackmail had spread.

I guess most of all they were curious as to his connection to me.

But I could still see the blinks in the crowd, bless their souls. Their supportive banners and cheers gave me the strength I needed as I stood on the threshold of the exit, just out of sight of the crowd outside.

Jungkook was of course, beside me.

I took a deep breath before addressing him."You can leave later, you know. They don't know you've been staying with me all this time. It's all just speculation at this moment."

I turned to find him already looking at me with soft eyes. I continued. "Make up some excuse about a cold or something.", I shrugged, trying to appear unaffected.

He sighed deeply, taking my hand in his. I guess that was his answer. He didn't say anything at all to my suggestion.

I had often noticed this habit of his. When he found something ridiculous and worth no thought, he completely ignored and refused to acknowledge it.

I found it kind of endearing.

We stepped forward towards the roaring lion then.

I had conviction and determination but my steps still faltered. Nervousness and fear of the unknown made me gulp. Sweat formed on my temples.

Jungkook was attuned to my every heartbeat.

He let go of my hand.

Stepping in front of me, he crouched down with his back to me. He looked over his shoulder with a smile, love and a promise to never let go shining unspoken in his eyes. "Hop on."

I didn't hesitate. My arms went securely around his neck and he pulled my legs around his waist as he stood up.

The bodyguards lined up in front eyed us, but knew better than to say anything.

"Are you ready, doll?" I could feel his voice vibrate through the solid chest I had my hands over. I clutched his hoodie tightly.

"Yes."

The bodyguards parted the sea of screaming people in front of us.

And he stepped outside.

I buried my face in my boyfriend's warm neck, inhaling deeply as I blocked out the rest of the world.

~•~•~

Been so long. I'm so lazy. I literally have everything planned out but my freezing fingers refuse to type lol.

Also, Blackpink has been feeding us well lately. I can't wait for BPhouse and comeback.