"Hi," He flashed his best smile, despite feeling nervous as hell. She stood there...frozen...with a straight face he remembered well, just like their first encounter on the train. Is she glaring at him - he can't tell.

He would've waited until Monday to strategise better instead of appearing right this second without so much of a plan on what to say if it weren't for Chaeyoung, insisting to reschedule the freaking date! Damn, Taehyung would laugh his ass off for all the efforts he'd put in....coming up with a non-existent project just to make Lisa busy enough for the day and for a chance to meet - what an amateur Guk!

Her friend is smiling awkwardly at him, and somehow Jeongguk felt confident enough that Lisa hadn't said anything bad about what happened between them. Let me guess...

"You must be Chaeyoung...hi,"

"Oh...hey, aren't you Jeon Jeongguk? Wait - how'd you know my name? Lisa, he knows my name!"

So everyone close to her calls her 'Lisa'. Hmm... "Yeah um...Lisa told me about you,"

She's still not saying anything...is she even breathing?? Should he call an ambulance to standby -

"You know him?? Lisa!" Chaeyoung shook her a bit and she blinked a couple of time - looking so cute Jeongguk can't help his wide smile.

"Yeah! Um...yeah...he knows your name - he knows my name. Let's go," She tried to grab her friend's hand to leave but Chaeyoung halted her tracks. Jeongguk makes a mental note to be nice to the girl - even if she tried to pair Lisa up with someone else. She could be his ticket to Lisa's heart now.

"Yahh it's still raining -"

"Where are you two heading? I can give you a ride -"

"That won't be necessary, Jeongguk-ssi," Lisa gave him a piercing look that could possibly drive any guy running. But not him...no, she's been absent for far too long, Jeongguk can't let her leave again!

"Wait...you two know each other?"

"Yes," He said, the same time as her saying 'no'. Okay...this is awkward. But Jeongguk couldn't stop looking at her. He missed being this close to her!

"Okay, obviously you two know each other...and something happened," Chaeyoung crossed her arms and glares onto Lisa.

"Chae, let's just go,"

"Lisa, please...I need to talk to you," Jeongguk pleads when he realised how she couldn't look at his face. Does she hates him that much - of course she hates you!

"There's really nothing to talk about. If you don't mind, we have somewhere to be," She made a move to leave. No, no! If she's not letting him speak now, Monday wouldn't be any different!

Jeongguk took a step to block her path. "Please, it was a misunderstanding,"

She turned the other way, determined to ignore him but was blocked by Chaeyoung. The girl is obviously on his side for some stranger reason - or maybe she's just curious! She gave Lisa hinting looks a few times before Lisa turns back to him.

"Fine, what do you want?" Yeah...she's scary when she's angry.

"I um...I..." His free hand reaches the back of his neck and Lisa eyes his action with a knowing look. So she remembers...

"I don't have all day,"

"But it's raining. You're kinda stuck here," Fuck me and my smart mouth! "It's cold...here, have my jack -" 

"In case you forgot, I'm stronger than I look. A little rain or cold is nothing -"

"Oh, I never forget anything about you - how could I?"

She frowned a little and Jeongguk can't help his eyes from falling onto those precious lips.

"Don't look at me like that," She breathes. Is she affected by me - I hope so!

"Like what?"

"Like that - stop it!" Okay, her pink cheeks answered it. Yes!!

"Just say what you wanna say and leave me alone,"

It hurts him when she said that. Jeongguk felt he had went through hell and back, only to have a dagger piercing straight into his heart. The reasoning behind her harsh words drowned in his thoughts - all the nights dreaming of her...the days when his focus were solely on finding her...just to get to the place he is now. Was it really all for nothing?

"I'm sorry. I wanna say I'm sorry. My dad's bodyguards came and I didn't wanna wake you up cus you looked so tired. I told you I'm coming back but my hyung...he didn't know who you were...he thought he should leave the money - I swear I had no idea about it until I went back to the hotel! I didn't even know where he got that idea and it frustrates the hell out of me when I found you gone - I just...I'm sorry. He was wrong to do that and I was wrong to leave without waking you up or let them know,"

"You...you came back?"

"Of course I did -"

"Did you get your money back?"

"Hyung's money, yes," He sighed embarrassingly.

"What's her name? The girl who gave you the money?" She didn't trust him enough...understandable...

"Mi Yoon. I have her direct line and address if you'd like to thank her - I can't believe you asked her to give me those,"

"Just in case you came back for your money, you'd know who to look for,"

"I don't care about the money. I just want you. Please..."

"You don't even know me,"

"Barely, yes. But I know you. I'd like to know more, please don't leave me again,"

"Oh my God, this is so sweet!! I feel like tearing up - like...I don't know what happened and you have to tell me everything but girl, you have to say yes -"

"Thanks Chaeyoung," He smiles brightly to the other girl.

"No," And...the smile disappeared.

"No?" This is not the answer he's been waiting for. And it's not an answer he'll accept. "Yes!"

"No! I've cried enough - and I don't even know you! I'm not gonna spend more time - what if one day you turned out to be like Jae? Just leave me alone and go ahead with you life and -"

He grabs her neck and pulls her into a kiss...and he's back in heaven! She cried for him...he meant something to her and she cried...

Is that Chaeyoung's voice in the background gasping loudly? He doesn't care. Is anyone looking at them - that too, he doesn't care. Not anyone - be it the reporters, gossip blogs or whoever - can stop him from kissing her...worshipping her...and that's that!

She didn't return it...but then...she didn't exactly push him away either. When he released her, she opens her eyes and there are glints of tears in them. Is she crying because she's angry or happy?

"I'm dead serious about you. I like you so much...it's unbearable to not see your face every damn day - I'm going crazy, please! Please trust me. Please give me a chance. I even told my parents about you and they're dying to meet you. Please Lalisa...I've never felt like this for anyone - please believe me. I need you to -"

"You look like Leo,"

What?

"Who the fuck is Leo?"

"My cat and I don't appreciate your tone," She answered with a straight face.

"Oh..." He was ready to search up 'Lalisa Manoban and Leo' - how could she be so random in times like this?? Wait...does this mean she forgave him? Does it mean she's okay with him kissing her just now? "Is Leo cute?"

"Leo's the cutest,"

The cutest! She just said I'm the cutest!! Is he grinning like a fool? Maybe - but who cares?!

"I should meet Leo then...to confirm the similarities you know,"

"He's cuter than you," She rolled her eyes and smirked. It's taking all his might to not squeeze her cheeks and kiss her senseless!

"Okay...since Leo's a cat, I can live with that,"

"Leo's not just a cat - he's my baby,"

"If he's your baby, then what am I?"

She blinked a couple of times before putting on a confident shrug. "You're just a guy I used to like," 

Jeongguk's face falls. She said 'used to'. It's...it's too late. Jeongguk's chest tightened all of a sudden. He's too late on finding her. She...she doesn't want him anymore...she really doesn't -

"Jeongguk-ssi, do you mind sending us home?" Chaeyoung's voice was soft. Lisa frowned at her friend but Jeongguk couldn't focus on their hinting looks. He felt numb, as if his entire body is now drowned in despair. He nodded nevertheless.

...

The drive was short, but painfully long for someone who felt like his world just collapsed right on his feet. Both of the girls were silent, only muttering where he should turn - even when he knew where they already lived by heart. She's sitting next to him and Chaeyoung at the back, and Jeongguk couldn't help but glanced a couple of times to her fidgeting fingers.

Those palms were on his cheeks, calming him down on a night that felt just like it was yesterday. He itched to hold them in his throughout the ride, but reminded himself that he shouldn't. Because she wouldn't want him to. She doesn't want him in her life. And at this point, Jeongguk somehow felt that she made the right choice.

He was a selfish jerk when they met. All he thought about was himself and she was right when she said it's not just about him, but all the people who're looking up to him as well. After learning about her background, he can understand how different their outlook was. But she makes him want to better - doesn't that count for something? Not from her point of view I guess...

She deserves so much better - someone who wouldn't fuck up like he did. Someone as perfect as her. Someone who will stop at nothing and will take on every single risks just to be with her. Someone as sweet and as caring as her, someone who'll wait for her to wake up every morning instead of leaving -

"Just here is fine," Chaeyoung said and he pulls to the side of the parking lot. 

This is it. The last time he'll see her. Or more like the last time she'll be seeing him. Well, he can't promise that he'll stop stalking her - give him time!

"Thanks for the help!" He couldn't look up to the girls but he nods with a smile anyways.

Chaeyoung left as she said it, while Lalisa remains in her seat. Is she looking at him - he can't tell. He's too scared to look up - too overwhelmed with the sadness that he's afraid he might beg once he looked into those eyes again.

"So um...thank you,"

"Don't," He cleared his throat. Something felt stuck. "Don't worry about it. It's raining. And it's cold. Make sure you warm yourself up when you get inside or you might get sick. And um...just...just take care of yourself," He muttered, all while looking down to his hands. Don't cry...you're a man...don't cry...

"Okay," At least she acknowledged what he asked. Count your blessings, Guk. "So um...are you gonna take my phone number or what?"

He looks up immediately. Lalisa's lips curved up in a small smile. Her eyes are hopeful, just like they were from that night. What..is...she...saying? He's been beating himself up so much the entire journey...when he shouldn't??

"I - I thought -"

"I miss this look on you...bunny -"

Jeongguk sighed a small laugh, hanging his head back to the headrest. Jeez...this woman is just - "You're messing with me. Stop -"

"What? When did I mess with you?"

"You - you said 'used to'!"

She paused to think, then nodded simply. 

...