Jungkook was killing time inside a small (and safest-looking) Boba shop when he spotted the familiar Ducati - parking by the street across from him before the female rider gets off and into a convenient store. He contemplated for a good 6 and a half minutes whether he should pretend to bump into her or not - and when it's clear that she's in there longer than his thoughts, he decided to just wing it.

He didn't expect to walk into an argument though.

"Look at you - who are you calling thief??" A boy in a high-school uniform scoffed in front of the cashier counter.

"I saw you putting that bottle into your backpack. You can either take it out and apologize to this ahjussi, or I'll take it out for you and you'll be going back with a broken face! Which one will it be?" The boy is no doubt much taller but Lalisa held her head high and forward. 

It's only now that he noticed the 'ahjussi' behind the boy, cowering slightly at these two bold personas. My God...does she pick fights wherever she goes??

"The fuck is wrong with this bitch - haistt!! Yahh!" The sudden shout made him flinched but the girl stood firmly on her ground. "Just go suck a dick or something - that pretty little mouth talks too much!"

What in the world...this kid did not just -

"Of course...since there's obviously no dicks big enough in here for my pretty little mouth!" 

Oh...

Okay...

Should I leave?

"Listen here you piece of shit - I'm sure your mom is a nice woman who just happened to fail at parenting a fucking dirtbag of a brat like you so are you gonna come clean or should we embarrass her further by forcing her to drag your pathetic, unconscious body off the damn floor??"

Oh wow...that's...a lot of cussing - how are her response always sounds so smart?? She's so hot and cool - all at the same time! 

The boy didn't seem to feel the same way though since he grabbed the lapels of her jacket with brute force. It feels like the film had gone into slow motion when he raised a hand to hit the girl. Jungkook's feet got in full charge - breaking them apart and pushing the boy and his backpack to fall on the floor. The glass thud was loud but that isn't in his list of concerns. He turns and with panicked eyes, scans her over.

"You okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

She probably looked more puzzled than he did when he first stepped in here. And she was about to answer when Jungkook felt the sudden pull from behind - turning him around before the first hard struck hits his cheek. 

. . .

"You wanna stand there all day or you need a ride?" Lalisa called with a straight face and it took him nano-seconds to scurry over to her and her Ducati.

"Should we um...should we call the cops or something?" He glanced back past his shoulder, to the store's entrance. Lalisa has already taken out the whisky bottle from the boy's backpack...while the boy was (indeed) left almost unconscious on the floor. 

"You can...but it'll probably take a week for them to even get here," She snickered, looking almost unbothered about the fact that she just beat the crap out of the young boy over a whisky bottle. "They don't really care much about what's going on in this part of the world, Jungkook-ssi,"

Then she hands him a pink-colored helmet. Jungkook stares at it, half-confused and half-debating whether his head is even something worth protecting. It probably isn't since his face is already hurting...and I should at least save my pride while I'm still alive! When she found him taking too long to decide, she sighed and switched it to the black one in her left hand. Well if she insists...safety is always first!!

Jungkook can barely contain his excitement when he got on the bike behind Lalisa. He's admired the girl and her choice of transportation from afar for 13 days now, and he finally skipped through those large gaps to be only centimetres away from her - what a progress!! I might have to apologize to Jackson hyung later on for not showing up -

The gear picked up and the Ducati flew - surprising Jungkook's body and resulting him to immediately clutch around Lalisa's waist. He's never gone against the wind this fast before and as much as he enjoys being able to sit and hold on to this girl, he must admit that he feels a little scared. While his eyes are shut tight, his chest prays that he won't have to die today. 

He only got the hang of it 7 minutes after, when she pulls the bike to a halt. Jungkook opens his eyes and realized that they are stopped at a red light, just after the river's bridge. He loosened his hands and noticed the slight turn of Lalisa's head. Is she...is she sending me back? Maybe now is the best time to be asking -

"Lalisa-ssi..." He trembled a little. "Where are we going?"

She didn't answer. Maybe she can't hear me with these thick cushions around our faces -

"Lalisa-ssi -" He raised his voice only to be met with the loud roar and speed. Jungkook grabbed her tiny waist again so he won't be swept away. What - is she mad at me or something?? Is that why she's going this fast? Why would she even be mad - I saved her! I mean...sort of...okay, maybe not!

It occurred to him that this evening was the first time that he had willingly put himself at risk...and it's over someone he barely knows. Jungkook was never a fighter - no, he's a gentle Soul citizen, which means he walks calmly away before a fight even happens. Not that he doesn't have the muscles for it, there was just never the need to be in a face of trouble. Especially in the ever-peaceful Geum.

She stops in front of a CU store and went in after both of them had hopped off. He wanted to tag along but he wasn't sure if he should leave her bike unattended. He swore he saw a couple of bystanders eyeing on it at the convenient store in Heulin earlier and it kind of stuck to him. Plus, she hadn't said a word to him and he's pretty sure that she was glaring underneath that tinted visor when he asked her where she's off to just now. 

Will it be wise to upset her more than she already does - whatever the reason may be? I should at least update someone, right? Just in case? He takes out his phone and typed a 'If I don't show up, here's my last location' before sending it to Jaehyun. The throbbing on his cheek is sending pulsing pains into his head and he wonders if his mother will scream at him later.

"Take it off," Lalisa re-appeared, gesturing to the helmet that's still on his head. He quickly abides and after he placed it on the seat of the bike, she held a cold of packed ice onto his right cheek.

"It's um...it's actually the left side..." His voice is small, yes, he's aware of this.

"Hold it yourself then," The pack almost fell when she lets it go but thankfully, Jungkook caught it on time. 

He plastered it on the sore cheek and hears the clipped sound of clicking metal. He turns and finds Lalisa gulping on a can of beer, leaning comfortably against her Ducati. God, the cold is soothing and she's stunning!! But her knuckles -

"You're hurt!!" He panicked, stepping forward to grab her hand. He placed the ice pack on it for a few seconds, then remove to examine the bloody patches. Oh no...her precious, pretty hand... When he looks up to her face, Lalisa is staring at him with a confused expression.

"I'm sure many would agree that your face is more valuable than my hand, Jungkook-ssi," She pulls her hand away and goes back to sipping on the can. Why would she say that? "So which one's your house?" She asked as he takes a few steps back. 

Jungkook looks around to realize that across the street, lined rows of familiar townhouses. Being so caught up on Lalisa and her bike must have distracted him so much that he didn't realize...they're now actually in his neighbourhood.

"How do you know where I live?"

"Your mom was our Sociology lecturer last semester. Not hard to guess which areas the quarters are for Jinsil's best. Will you be okay walking in with that bruise on your face?"

Oh...she remembers eomma too! How perceptive of her...and...and caring -

"I don't have all day, Jungkook-ssi,"

Jungkook chuckled at his further conflicting thoughts. "You're an extremely busy woman..." She smirks and he'd like to die. "I'll be fine and um...even if you leave me here, I'll still say 'thank you',"

"I figured you were sight-seeing earlier? Why else would you be in that rowdy part of town?"

"Why were you in that part of town?"

"I live there. Don't think that comes off as a surprise...or does it?"

"What if I say I live there too? Like...by myself, I mean..."

She flicks her tongue underneath her cheek and he must say...kill me now! "One look at you and it would've never crossed my mind," How does she do that - make even an insult sounds so dangerously sexy?? "What were you really doing there, Jungkook-ssi? Did you follow me into that store?"

He may have to go overboard by the consequences of this answer but since nothing else pops up, "I went to get a tattoo," I hope eomma understands! "My friend, Jackson...he has a tattoo parlour there. I was waiting for him before I saw you -"

"You? A tattoo?" She raised an eyebrow and her half-smile didn't reach her cheek. "You're friends with Jackson Wang?"

"Is that hard to believe?" Her nods are slow and he likes to think that she's slightly impressed. "Are you...friends...with Jackson?" Maybe we can get on a common ground...remove this hostility -

"No,"

Oh... "But you know him?"

"As a tattooist,"

Okay...well at least Joon hyung was on track! "You have um...do you get your tattoos from Jackson?" She nods. "Where?" Wait - think before you ask, Guk!

"Wouldn't you like to know..." Oh, please...put me out of this misery already!! "Well then...since you don't mind me leaving you here..." She threw the can and it landed right inside the bin. For heaven's sake - can she be any more cooler??

"Wait - where are you going?" He panicked when she puts her helmet back on.

Fastening the strap underneath her chin, she smiles. "I'm not up to mingle with the clichés today," Oh, I get it! It's a name...for who - for everyone in Geum? For me too?? Well...I guess since she gave me a ride all the way here, I can't quite complain, can I? "Do you drink, Jungkook-ssi?"

"Yes!!" It's the first time that Jungkook had seen her being remotely affected by anything, seeing how her shoulders flinched. Maybe too excited, calm down, Guk! "I mean...yeah, sure. I drink. Big drinker...not always though - responsible, responsible drinker!"

He spotted a little laugh from her and flowers began blooming in his chest. "Okay, mister Responsible Drinker...maybe one of these days, I'll have a drink with you,"

"Tomorrow?"

She laughs again and the flowers melt into fresh honey. "Once your cheek's healed. People are gonna think that I'm a man-beater if I let you anywhere near me with that bruise," 

Oh... "You don't seem bothered to stand with me now,"

Her long, lean legs climbs on the Ducati.

"I'm not worried about me, Jungkook-ssi...it's more for you. I'm sure you don't want anyone talking about how you got that black and blues," The teasing should embarrass him to death but for some reason, he welcomes it with his arms wide open. "Put some heat on it starting tomorrow. Oh, and Jungkook-ssi..."

She revs on the engine and the Ducati lets out a roaring sound - enough to get a few passerby's attention, more than enough to get him thrilled.

"You can stalk me as much as you want but don't be too obvious about it - especially in class. Your hordes of fangirls might get me expelled one day,"

. . .

"You can't be serious?!" Chaeyoung came and gasped, holding herself by the waist as if stopping herself from plunging forward and murder him. "You got that bruise because of her and now you're gonna go out with her??"

Jungkook turns to Jaehyun with a piercing stare. 

"I'm sorry!! I don't know what to say but I do know you need a perspective - and she's good at giving perspectives!!"

"Kook..." Chaeyoung sighed and sits in front of him. What's with this extremely 'caring' vibe over my personal life all of a sudden?? "Is there something else? Are you dealing with something...some emotional problems, maybe?"

"What?"

"This is just so unlike you...to be wandering off track and making way too many efforts for people who don't deserve it,"

"Funny...I don't remember putting people on scales to see whether they deserve my efforts or not -"

"You know what I mean!"

"No, really, I don't," All these unwelcomed attention is getting irritating, to be honest! "Maybe you guys should put in some efforts too...she's not that bad, once you get to know her,"

"You don't even know her yet," Chaeyoung squints her eyes.

True...but I can tell and I'm trusting my gut on it! "She tried to stop a school kid from stealing, I don't have to know her that deep to say it. And she did stop that boy from doing a whole worse to me for stepping in so yes, she's not that bad,"

"She was probably just in the moment - they probably do that all the time in Heulg!" Oh wow...have I ever been this ignorant at any point of my life? "So she did one thing right, doesn't make her an entire superhero, Kook! If she's so nice, why is she still not talking to you? You helped her, she should at least acknowledge your existence by now!"

"Why are you so mad about it? I'm not,"

"Because you should!!" Okay, she didn't have to shout! "Look, I'm saying this because we're worried for you," What am I, ten?? "You've been...different...since you started knowing who she was -"

"Do you know how smart she is? I checked and apparently, she's always in the top spots," He chuckled almost ridiculously because how in the world could he not know who she was and whether that name was even there before?

"Smart does not equal good,"

"What is then?" Jungkook got up, feeling slightly desperate for some fresh air. "I told you she helped a person...two persons...but that's not enough. I'm telling you she's smart too, and it's still not good enough. Tell me, what equals good?"

Right then, a girl came beside him with a wide smile. "Jungkook...hi..." 

"Hi," He returns it with a polite one, feeling slightly confused on who this person is.

She shifts between her two feet. The blush on her cheeks is obvious. "I um...I wanted to give you this," She hands out a folded paper. "You can read it later...if you want," And just like that, she walks away quickly. 

"Pretty..." Yugyeom grins. "What is it?"

Jungkook opens it and a bunch of writings that starts with 'Dear Jungkook' and ends with 'Call me' (along with a phone number) filled half of the paper. 

"Ooo...another love letter!" Yugyeom's excitement behind his shoulder is crowding, so he folded it back and places it in the pocket of his khakis. As much as he doesn't care about the so-called 'love letter', it's still not right to show it to another. That girl had probably written it with so much hope, it won't be fair to her efforts if some unknown eyes read it.

"See how easy it is for you to get a girlfriend, Kook? You don't even have to do anything, just stand there and they'll come flocking," Jaehyun laughs.

"Yeah...and she looks like a nice girl," Chaeyoung smiled along.

"So she said 3 sentences...and it's already good enough?" He can't help his smirk.

Chaeyoung pursed her lips and crossed her arms. "Yes. Not being a Heulg, for a start, is already considered good,"

. . .