we walk into his newly-bought apartment and he puts my overnight bag with his in the bedroom, like i am returning home.

"i always thought you'd live underground somewhere, near the earth's core," i manage to say as he makes me a cup of tea with the concentration of a scientist.

"uncle satan didn't have any apartments available in my price range."

i snickered at his response. i scanned the room once more, before i slip my shoes off and go and scrunch myself in a ball on his couch, hugging the ribbon-cushion. everything is neat, everything in its place. no wonder my apartment broke him out in stress hives.

i stare at him as he makes his way towards me, holding a plate and a mug on both of his hand. i talk to myself in the privacy of my head.

you love him. you love him and you always have. more than you've ever hated him. every day, staring at this man, knowing every antics and expression and nuance.

"i'm such an idiot," i breathe.

he gives me a slice of cake and puts the mug on the coffee table. he disappears for a minute then comes back with my gray fleecy blanket. he tucks me in on all sides, brings me an extra pillow.

"you're still tired. why don't you ask for an entire break to your boss?" kook begins to rub my feet through the blanket. since our career sky-rocketed, our schedules are mostly packed.

cover shoots. interviews. fashion shows. name it all. "i'm alright, kookie," i blurt through my mouthful. i close my eyes. the worried line on his brow is killing me. i reach out to his hand and caress it. just to reassure him that i am fine. everything is indeed tiring, but this is what i've always dreamed of. this is how i'll know that the efforts i have made are paying off.

"as long as you're happy, then so am i." he smiles, and i smile too. right there and then, i scoop my finger onto the cake icing and smear it on his cheek. i let out an earthly-laugh upon seeing his reaction.

"very mature," he comments and swaps my feet, squeezing my toes and circling his thumbs. suddenly, he leans his body closer and tickles me to my side.

i start gasping for air in between laughter. he's tickling me to death.

"my girl is a screamer."

"stop!" i plead as i grab a hold of my tormenter's wrists and pushing him away from me. he puts his hand around my waist and pulls me closer to his body.

i glance up at him, only to see him staring so intensely at me. it's all he ever does.

"why do you stare so much?"

"because i like looking at you. you're interesting to look at."

i arch an eyebrow at him. "and why is that?"

"it's mainly your eyes," he confesses. "those absolutely insane eyes that stole all of my words away. the most gorgeous eyes i've ever seen." he says it like he wants me to understand the importance.

i blush at his words. i raise myself from his chest and looked at him in the eyes. "i'm so lucky to have you," i softly say.

he put his face a little closer to mine, his gaze dropping down just right to the level of my lips. "believe me when i say that i'm much luckier to have you, manoban".

he kisses me with eager kisses that almost take my breath away as he links his finger into mine. i bite him, and he smiles against my lips.

i can't speak as he trails his mouth to my ear. "i am completely in love with you, lisa," he whispers. he backs away for a moment.

"honestly, i knew what you felt for bam was genuine. i just loved messing with your head." he chuckles for a bit. "i just wanted your attention because i was curious about you. then, it became a habit of mine to annoy and bicker with you. but damn, it made me furious to see others having your attention. other men who can put a smile on your face. i hated seeing you hurt because of bam. it made me wanted to protect you more. make you feel what you really deserve.

and right there, i knew that lalisa manoban has captured my heart and soul. i didn't even know if i have a chance with you back then. i simply followed what my heart wanted to do, even if i knew that yours was taken."

i furrow my eyebrows. bam may or may not be my first love, but that's already in the past. and i don't know why he is bringing it up again.

"kook—"

he places his index finger on my lips, gesturing me to shut up. "but i didn't care about it. i just thought to myself that he's your first love, but i intend to be your last. however long it takes."

"we're going somewhere now," he says. he stands up for a moment, heading to the bedroom. he then comes back to the living room with a small box on his hand.

he laces his fingers into mine. with his free hand, he opens up the box, revealing two rings. he takes both and wears the ring into his index. he then raises my hand and slides the other band into the same finger of mine.

"couple rings. let that be a reminder of how much i love and cherish you, manoban. i will never care how complicated this gets. i will still and will always want you in my life."

a big bubble of happiness fills me. i kiss him on the cheeks. "i love you, jeon jungkook." i struggle upright and lean against him, my head falling easily into the perfect cradle of his neck. it's true; he fits me everywhere.

"i love you more, baby." he remains silent for a bit. i close my eyes and breathe. "they will accept us one day. and when they do, they're going to see what i see in you. they'll love you too."

i smile at his words. it did, in fact, made me feel at peace. yes, kook. i do hope i wouldn't be hated by your fans now if ever the time comes for us to finally reveal it, i thought to myself.

"and then we won't be sneaking around anymore, nor will our shippers sniff around to provide more proofs of us dating. because we will finally tell it to the public when the time's right. i will declare my love for you where every single person can hear it. i love you, lisa. always have and always will."

i felt a tear running down from my cheeks. i sniff, which he heard, unfortunately.

he immediately looks at me with concern. "wae? why are you crying? did i say something wrong?" he asks non-stop.

i wipe away my tears and giggled. "pabo! how are you this sweet, jungkook-ah!" i complained as i hold his face into my hands, cupping him.

he flashes his infamous bunny smile, laughing at my reaction. i remove my grasp on him and turn my body towards the television. i'm starting to see a future with him.

"kookie," i call out. "if you're shipwrecked onto an uninhabited island, what three things would you bring?"

his face shows a confused expression. the question was random, but my dad used to say that you'll probably have a glimpse of how he will react in dire situations. a deeper understanding of the person's thinking, in his words. if he's resourceful enough or not. something like that.

"a knife. a tarpaulin." he thinks for a long time on the last item.

"and you. to annoy you." he amends.

"i'm not an object. i don't count."

"but i'd be so lonely on the island," he points out. he reaches out for his phone once a notification popped.

"look," he laughs, handing the phone to me. it was our group chat, blackpink and bts. i scrolled the conversation.

KIM SEOKJIN + KIM JISOO = FOREVER ♥️♥️♥️♥️ ft. nobodies

mandeukie: ya! our maknae's at junglecock's apartment 😡

mandeukie: also the gc's name is ugly. makes me wanna barf 🤢

jichu: i'm not claiming him

jichu: @justin seagull, if you do anything stupid, i'll smack you and your junior.

drunksé: lili, i'll pray for you! stay safe 🥺

park chaeyoung's mochi: she'll probably be praying also tonight. if you know what i mean 😏😏😏

JHOE: you're dirty jiminnie 😭😭😭

4D alien: Oh god! Kook, oh my god! - lisa manoban, 2019 😁

mandeukie: taehyung how could you ....

4D alien: ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 😘

RRRRAAAP MONSTER: @JHOE you're missing P again on your name 😩

mr. gummy smile: he's embracing his hoe self

drunksé: wait i don't get what my mochi was tryna say 😅

jichu: no one answer her

mandeukie: it's better if you stay innocent, hubby

park chaeyoung's mochi: you'll know it soon, baby girl 😏

jichu: jin please punch jimin's face in behalf of me

drunksé: okay, mochi 🥰

mr. worldwide handsome: our kids are really growing up so fast, right mommy? 🥺

jichu: ew, not here!

mr. gummy smile: so that's what you call each other

mandeukie: ooooh, choke me daddy? 😳

4D alien: sure, open up your front door baby girl ☺️

park chaeyoung's mochi: there's my boy! 😩 if only kook was here and not ******* lisa :(

jichu: WHAT THE FUCK. KIM SEOK JIN!

drunksé: what's with the asterisks? ☹️

mr. worldwide handsome: STOP MAKING MY WIFE MAD! I'LL BE THE ONE TAKING HER WRATH, NOT YOU GUYS 😭😭😭😭

mr. gummy smile: please end him already, kim jisoo.

JHOE: #SaveKimSeokjin

RRRRAAAP MONSTER: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ just use protection @justin seagull @yadom

jichu: wtf no!

mandeukie: you're one to talk, mr. daddy with two kids 🥱

———

the messages keep on coming. i exited the app and was about to give kook his phone when i notice his wallpaper.

that's the night when we went to the museum. in hongdae.

"so that's why you took a photo of me," i slyly say as i hand out his phone back.

he scratches his nape. "uh . . ."

i shake my head and didn't bother to fry him some more. i then go back to our previous topic.

"okay. so we're crawling up the beach and i'm cursing your name for pulling me away from civilization. what then?"

my shiver from the movement of his lips on my earlobe shakes the couch. when i feel the press of his mouth on my throat, i groan. all thoughts drifting away.

he raises his hands into my hair, softly trailing his fingertips through it, until he reaches the top. my eyelids flutter.

"i'd build you a shelter and find you a coconut, and then we'd pass time."

i almost forgot about the question i asked.

"how?" my voice barely more than a whisper.

"probably like this." he presses his mouth to mine. "thank you for coming into my life. i will always pick you. now until forever, it will always be you."

jeon jungkook, you'll forever remain my mortal enemy and the man i'll eternally love.

THE END