LALISA

🍂

"Thank you for taking care of my sister," Jungkook said as Jennie slept soundly on the mattress.

After her revelation at Yang's Choc'lit Shoppe, I offered to take her home since it was already three in the morning. But I didn't have a car and she said she didn't want to go home so I offered for her to sleep over our house instead. I called to inform Jungkook so Jisoo wouldn't worry too much.

As they tried to uncover the mystery of Tzuyu's death, they've arrived at one hypothesis: Kim Jaejeong killed Chou Tzuyu. Or at least hired someone to do the dirty work and make it look like she killed herself. But knowing the influence of the Kim's—especially having his wife as the town mayor, he'd get away with everything. So they have to find concrete evidence to prove that he's guilty.

"Jisoo will be here shortly," he informed. "She just needed to run some errands for mom."

"I understand," I said as I yawned—mug filled with coffee at hand. "You guys can stay as long as you want. Jennie had a long night so it's best for her to sleep in."

"What about you? You had a long night as well," he said gently rubbing my knee. We were sitting on my bay window inside my bedroom.

"With all the information dropped at me last night, I doubt I'd be able to fall asleep." I chuckled a bit before sipping my coffee. "This is actually my fourth cup so no sleeping for me."

Jungkook smiled as he tucked some of my loose hairstrands behind my ear.

"It's the first time she opened up to someone," he said. "My sister... she's not the type to open up to just anyone. Even with Jisoo and me. I only happen to find out some details because I was the one who delivered her the news. And Tzuyu, she's close to me."

"And Tzuyu chose your sister over you?"

"Well, I can't force someone to love me," he said shrugging. I chuckled making him smile as well. "But I'm glad she chose Jennie over me. We're too alike. Jen's more... like you. They compliment each other well."

"Is that your way of indirectly telling me we compliment each other?" I teased making him grin.

"Guilty."

Again they chuckled. Then I remembered something.

"Kookie, what's your father like?"

Shocked, he answered nonetheless.

"Well, we honestly don't see eye to eye but, he provides for us," he started. "He's closer to Jen. And mom's closer to Jisoo. I'm just the much needed male successor our family needs to extend the Kim's family line."

"Way to be optimistic, Kim Jungkook," I sarcastically said as I sip my coffee. "I really think I should switch to tea. I might get jumpy because of this large caffeine intake."

"Where's your father, by the way?" Jungkook asked out of the blue. "I didn't see anyone when I went up."

"He's out of town," I answered truthfully. "He said it was something important or something."

"Oh."

I raised an eyebrow as Jungkook flashed his bunny smile hinting he's up to something.

"Ya. What tf are you thinking right now, Kim Jungkook?"

"Who? Me? I'm not!"

My eyes narrowed. He's definitely up to something.

"Kim Jung—"

"Where is she?! Jennie Kim—ya!"

Jennie groaned as she heard her sister's voice echo from downstairs. That's how loud she was.

"She's not much of a morning person," Jungkook whispered.

"You don't say—"

"Jen—ya Kim Jennie! You almost gave me a heartattack! I was worried sick—"

"You didn't know she was even gone, noona," Jungkook cut her off. "You sleep like a dead person."

"You're not wrong about that," Jin seconded.

"But she left! She could've been in deep trouble going out in the middle of the night!"

Jennie—who looked pissed, rose from the bed with hair disheveled. Puffy like the little dumpling that she is, she looked far from that bitchy girl I met days ago.

"Explain yourself, Nini!" The elder begged.

"Can I at least have a cup of coffee first, unnie?" She mumbled while rubbing her eyes—which Jisoo slapped right away.

"How many times should I tell you that you'll get dark circles if you keep doing do that?!" Then she turned towards the three. "Can we... can we have some privacy for a minute? Kookoo, can you please do me a favor and make your sister a cup of coffee?"

Jungkook jumped off from his seat and helped me up as well. Walking out I turned to him.

"Kookoo?" I teased.

"Shut up."

I giggled. Jin closed the door from behind us to give the two girls privacy and proceeded to the kitchen.

"Nice place you got here," Jin said.

"Well, it's not a mansion like all Northsiders have but, we manage."

"It's better to have a quaint house where you can see everyone than a huge one but seldom see anyone in it." He then opened the fridge. "Full stock. Would you mind if I cook you guys breakfast?"

"No, not at all," I said. "I suck at cooking. The fridge is full 'coz we seldom cook. We always eat at Yang's."

"I love their food but, home-cooked meals are healthier," he said while taking out ingredients from the fridge.

"Jin hyung's an amazing cook," Jungkook informed me. "He makes killer kimchi rice."

"Well if you grew up with a mother who couldn't cook to save her life, you'd learn fast," he joked. "Also, my sisters know nothing in the kitchen."

"Right. You mentioned you have a sister. Chaeyoung?"

"She goes by Rosè now," he said while putting his apron on. "I have two sisters, actually. Rosè and Jihyo. Jihyo's a year younger than I am and Rosè's around your age."

"I see." I leaned by the counter. "So where are they now?"

"Jihyo's in Seoul while Rosè's studying in Australia," he answered. "Jennie chased her away if that's what you're wondering. Ninth grade."

"Chased her away?"

"Jennie bullied her when they were in the ninth grade," he narrated. "They used to be the best of friends but something happened and Rosè went home crying one night. That started all the bullying which I think was about this guy named Hoseok. Some sources told me that they both like him and he chose my sister so she got mad or something. Then people at school would call her a slut or she's a boyfriend stealer. I tried to protect her but it only grew worse. So she decided to just leave town."

"Did she... did she confirm what you know? I mean, about what actually happened that night she went home crying?"

"No," he sighed as he started to cut the stored kimchi. "Until now she wouldn't tell me. I tried to convince Jisoo to ask Jennie but as you can see, she loves babying the twins."

"She's like a second mum to be honest," Jungkook—who's busy making coffee, claimed.

I chuckled at how he agreed almost instantly.

"She's a big sister," I said. "I have older guy friends and they're pretty much over protective. I can't imagine how much more you'll get if they're related."

"Jisoo's gonna be a great mom one day," Jin said smiling out of the blue. "I know she will."

Both of us—Kookie and I grinned widely at Jin's comment.

"Mom, huh? So you're thinking of getting married..."

"Well duh. I love her," Jin said nonchalantly. "Of course I always think about marrying her. I'd be one lucky guy if she'd say yes to me."

"I hear a but."

He heaved a sigh.

"But of course, her parents," he looked over at Jungkook. "Your parents, wouldn't allow it."

"Why not?" I immediately asked. "You're from a decent family and you're fucking attractive. Not to mention you're smart. You're like a character straight from a fucking fairytale. If I had a kid I'd force her to marry you."

He smiled and gently patted my head. "You're really good for my ego."

"Why? Why can't you two just get married after Jisoo unnie graduates?"

"Because I'm adopted," he said. "The Kim's wouldn't want their first born with someone who doesn't even know his own lineage. It would cause a scandal for them."

"What?! That's not fucking fair!"

"Language."

"Sorry," I mumbled. "But oppa, that shouldn't matter. You're an amazing guy. Even if we just met recently, I know you'll be a great husband to Jisoo unnie. It's just unfair how their parents always gets in the way of their children's happiness. Being rich sucks."

"You'll come to understand how Northsiders are, Lis," he said turning towards Jungkook. "You're dating one now."

I unconsciously bit my lip. Dating? Are we really? We haven't actually talked about it.

"But this is is just a reminder for the both of you. You're the only son, Jungkook. They'll be much more strict with whom you date compared to your sisters," he said straightforwardly. "You two should know Northsiders and Southsiders... there's a bigger rift between the two sides than we think—"

"What's taking my goddamned coffee too long?!" Jennie hissed as she went inside the kitchen. Jungkook—who looked genuinely scared, immediately gave her the cup.

"Where's Jisoo unnie?"

"Upstairs," she answered as she sipped her coffee. "She needs a minute to absorb the fact that I'm into girls. And I had sex with your sister."

Jin stopped cutting whatever it was he was cutting and turned towards the brunette—mouth wide open.

"Got a problem with that Seokjin oppa?"

🍂

"So this is Yoongi, Jimin and Taehyung," I introduced the guys to my guests. "They're my bodyguards. Sometimes Uber, most of the time friends. And Jimin, don't even think about it. You're not her type."

"Hi I'm Seokjin. Nice to meet you all," he said smiling. Jimin leaned a bit closer to Jisoo.

"You weren't kidding when you said he's way prettier than you."

"I told you so," she replied giving him a thumbs up.

"It's nice to meet new people and all but, why exactly are we all here?" Yoongi asked. He looked uncomfortable being her didn't like mingling with many people.

"Well, due to some..." I momentarily threw a gaze at Jennie. "...findings, Jennie and I have some suspects in mind regarding Tzuyu's murder."

"Lis, the case was closed due to insufficient evidence," Taehyung interjected. "Shouldn't we just let it be? If the cops didn't find anything, how'd you think we will?"

"You really underestimate you bestfriend, Taengie." I took the pin board I hid behind the couch and showed it to everyone. "So this is what we have so far. The main suspect as of now is Kim Jaejoong and Kim Dara."

"Our parents?" Jisoo exclaimed. "First you accuse my sister, now my parents. Who'd it be next, me?"

"Unnie," Jennie intervened. "Dad knew I was going to Border Bridge. He and his men were already there when I got there. And when they literally dragged me back to our house, dad and one of his bodyguards didn't go back with us. And it happens that Tzuyu died when we were supposed to meet up. That same day he suddenly went to a business trip. Don't you think that's sketchy?"

"Innocent until proven guilty," Jin defended.

"That's why we need to look for concrete evidence," I said. "Murder weapon or something. Anything. CCTV footage, autopsy reports."

"Jennie," Yoongi suddenly called her attention making us all look at him. "Since when did you plan this 'running away' thing?"

"Around two weeks, I think."

"Did anyone else know?"

"No. No one knew which is odd 'coz Dad suddenly found out about it."

He fell silent. But his eyebrows furrowed which meant he's thinking about something.

"Yoongi?"

"Does your father know? About Tzuyu and you?"

"No. No one knows except me, her, Kook and Hobi."

"Who's Hobi?" I asked.

"Jung Hoseok," Jisoo supplied. "He's from the Northside like us."

"No, Hobi won't rat us out even if Dad kills him," Jennie immediately defended. "I trust him more than my own parents."

"Jen, if you think he can be trusted, we have to talk to him," I said. "Wait. Scratch that. When was the last time you talked with him?"

"Yesterday. He's in the cheerleading team," she said with her forehead in a knot. "Look. I trust him, okay? He's been nothing but helpful to me while I was grieving."

"Don't you think he's doing that to just get close to you?" Jimin then said. "I mean, a beautiful single girl like you is like an X mark in a map of conquests. Vulnerable. In need of manly shoulder to cry on. An easy lay."

"He's not like you, if you're asking," Jennie spat savagely. "He's just... Jung Hoseok will not put me and Tzuyu in trouble. Not again, at least."

My forehead creased. Again? Does it have any connection with Jin's sister?

"Why Jennie?" I asked her again. "If you don't want us to put Hoseok as one of the suspect or at least an accomplice, you have to tell us everything."

She glared at me. I didn't even flinch. Instead, I challenged her. She sighed.

"He's gay."

Everyone's mouth flew open. Not because of what Jennie just revealed but because Min Yoongi answered with her.