November 2018

Lisa had a hard time sleeping last night. Understandable of course given the situation.

Thanks to her sajangnim she had an inkling on what they were about to release. She did not however know the full story as Jungkook had not called her back like he promised.

Lisa had called Jin oppa, worried about her boyfriend only to find out that he was completely knocked out after he got home to the point that he didn't even bother to change.

Every bone in her body was screaming for her to go to their dorm and take care of him. Only her rational mind stopped her from doing so. Lisa knew that Hanam was probably swarming with media waiting for his so-called girlfriend to show up. So instead she asked Jin oppa for a favor. "Oppa please take care of him for me."

"Our maknae is really lucky to have you Lalisa. Don't worry that pretty head of yours, we'll take care of this baby. Go to sleep, arasso?" She could hear the smile in his voice and was assured that her boyfriend was indeed in good hands. After all, they had been taking care of him before she even showed up.

Despite instructions from Jin oppa to go to sleep, she had not been able to fall into it as easily due to the scenarios whirling in her head. Exhaustion finally won over at around 3AM.

It was seven in the morning when someone deigned to knock on Lisa's door. She groaned not wanting to wake up yet.

It's too early for this.

"Go away!" she muttered pulling the covers over her head, hoping whoever it was got the message that she doesn't want to be disturbed.

Lisa sighed in relief when the insistent knocking stopped.

"Rise and shine Lalisa Manoban!" Chaeyoung singsonged. She made her way to Lisa's bed and intentionally jumped making it bounce, further annoying the hibernating creature inside the blanket.

"Yah! What was the point of knocking if you are just gonna barge in anyway?" Lisa mumbled under her cocoon.

"What was that?"

"I said I'm sleeping, go away!"

"No."

"We're on break I don't need to wake up this early Chaeyoung."

"No."

Exasperated by her stubborn friend, Lisa flipped the covers. "Why?"

Chaeyoung had her phone ready knowing Lisa would come out eventually.

"What is this Chae?"

Chaeyoung didn't say anything and instead she shoved her phone in Lisa's face.

"Rude much?" Lisa took Chaey's phone anyway and read the headline.

JYP and BigHit denies Dating Rumour

Lisa's breath hitched.

"I knew you were worrying so much about this. I wanted to let you know right away. Sorry for cutting your sleep short Lali." Chae whispered.

Her friend was right. Her sleep was fitful at best, even unconscious her dreams were far from rainbows and butterflies.

"Thank you Chae. I needed this." Lisa smiled at her friend and read the article.

Due to Mina being injured from an angered fan, both agencies thought it was prudent to release a statement immediately denying that Jungkook and Mina were in a relationship with each other to prevent further backlash.

JYP also stated that the fan had been sued and that any further actions that could harm their artist would be taken care of the same way.

They had explained that the two have been friends for some years, being a part of a group chat that composed of idols born in 1997.

When they got to the part where they mentioned the rest of the other members of the gc, she wasn't surprised. It was after all why sajangnim had called Lisa yesterday. They even included anecdotes from other members about the incident. Bambam was being his usual epic self.

"I'm putting all the blame on JK here. Everything could have been prevented so I told everyone in the gc that they were banned from giving him anything black or white for Christmas."

Lisa shook her head at her childhood friend. He was being sarcastic, taking a jab at how everyone seems to be triggered by the smallest things without seeming rude.

Lisa furrowed her eyebrow at the last statement where they explained the reason why Jungkook was with Mina that day. Apparently he had asked Mina for her help to design a custom made jewellery, a gift he had given to Jimin oppa on his birthday.

"Oh?"

"What? What is it?" Chaeyoung asked.

Lisa was confused and it was evident as she met Chaeyoung's worried gaze. "Why couldn't he tell me this over the phone yesterday?"

"What? What could't he tell you?"

"That she was helping her with Jimin oppa's birthday gift."

"Oh" Chaeyoung looked shooked at this. I should have read the rest of the article before letting Lisa see it.

Lisa handed Chaeyoung back her phone and grabbed her own. She scrolled through media sites and comments.

Unknown to Lisa, her friend was panicking inside. Everyone from the group chat knew what the real reason was except for Lisa.

While Lisa was busy clicking on articles about Jungkook and Mina, Chaeyoung hurriedly opened her message box and wrote— Bitch call me now

She was just contemplating who to send the message to when Lisa interrupted her. "Chae? Why do you think Jungkook didn't tell me about it?"

"Hmmm?" Chae replied dumbly, eyes going back and forth between Lisa and her phone.

In panic she blindly scrolled down her contact list and selected a random person. She didn't bother to check whose name she tapped and immediately hit the send button. She internally prayed it wasn't sent to her parents or worse, her sajangnim.

"Uhmm," she hedged. Chaeyoung was never a good liar and was even worse if she was under pressure, like right now. She literally has no idea what to tell Lisa.

"M.. may.. maybe uhh." The ringing of her phone interrupted her stuttering. Chaeyoung looked at the screen and her eyes widened when she realised who she just texted.

She gulped hard. It was either get caught in a lie or pick up the call. She was in a dilemma. Picking up would mean she could escape the problem at hand but will land herself in another kind of mess. A potentially embarrassing one at that.

She chose the lesser of the two evils. She could already feel her cheeks heating up at the humiliation. She tapped the green button and tried her best to sound cheerful.

"A-annyeong oppa!"

Lisa raised her eyebrow. Oppa?

"Ah deh, chakaman." With the phone on one ear, she gestured to Lisa that she'll be going out of the room.

Lisa nodded, curious at Chae's blushing cheeks. Does she like this oppa?

She shook her head, resolving to ask Chaeyoung about it later. Lisa got back to scrolling through the comments section, curious what knetz had to say about the topic.

mrsJeon: 😂 I got triggered for nothin' but still be careful around your "girl friends" Kookie

ot7: @mrsJeon you delulu ass, who are you to tell him to be careful. He can do whatever he wants bish

Jikook: is this the necklace Jimin oppa was talking about during his vlive? My Jikook heart!!!!!!!!!!!

KookieAegie: Jungkook exchange messeages with girls. Jungkook talks to girls. He is friends with a bunch of girls. My whole existence has been a lie.

BTSARMY: See! A perfectly logical explanation! This is why y'all shouldn't be so quick throw shade.

stanlegends: watch solo stans begging for Mina's forgiveness rn 😂

mrsJeon: @ot7 whatever! He ain't in a relationship and I'm so happy rn nothin gonna ruin it

Lilmeow: 92-liner gc squad is quivering

ChaeLisKook: OMG! Two of my ships has potential to actually sail!!!

ot7: @mrsJeon I hope u realise that they denied JK and Mina in a relationship with each other but didn't say anything about him being single and not in a relationship with someone else *watch me sip my tea bish

Lisa was glad fans were accepting the story easily. It helped that everyone knows Mina have been studying jewellery design and had launched her own line last Spring.

Though both companies presented a very logical explanation she has this niggling feeling in the pit of her stomach that it wasn't the whole truth. The comment from one fan pointing out that Bighit did not state Jungkook to be single didn't help her current state either.

She opened her contact list hesitating wether she should call Jungkook or not. She had this urge to ask him to meet with her but it's only been a day, it would be risky if she were to ask him. Right?

Still contemplating, her phone lit up indicating an incoming call. The decision was out of her hands as she sees Jungkook's photo flash on her screen.

"Lisa. I know you're confused right now. Can we meet?" he hurriedly say.

Jungkook got rudely woken by a smiling Jimin hyung telling him to call Lisa. He stared blankly at him for few seconds until he finally remembered what happened yesterday and how confusing the released statement would be to Lisa.

"Kook, you were caught in a dating scandal yesterday and just managed to calm the fans today. Do you really think it's a good idea to meet right now?" she asked even if that was exactly what she had been thinking about a few seconds ago.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. I was given a three day break and I know you were too. I miss you doll."

She chuckled. "Why do I imagine you giving me the puppy eyes right now?"

"Is that a yes then?" he smirked.

"I miss you too. Pick me up at YG?"

"Sure. I need to drop by the apartment and will be there in an hour. See you later babe, I love you!"

"I love you too Kook... so much," she replied quietly.

He sighed. He may have been the one who was caught up in a scandal but that didn't mean his soft-hearted girlfriend had it easy. "Everything is going to be fine. I'll meet you in an hour."

Jungkook got up to shower. Once ready he grabbed his keys and drove to his apartment unit. He bought the place just late this year so that his family would have somewhere to stay every time they visited.

It's a pretty secured area. It's selling point for him was the separate parking areas for residents, guests and hired service with their own separate elevators to use. The resident's directly lead them to the hallway of units of each floor while the other elevators had to pass security before they can enter such areas. He also didn't hear any complaints from any of the high profile celebrities that lived in the same building.

Now, he and his friends frequent his place more than Sub Rosa. They were far from being broke but there's a certain charm in simply hanging out at someone's place and enjoy a good pizza while watching a movie. Honestly though, it was him and Lisa that uses the place often. They meet here more than they do in other places now. It was pure bliss when they have the same day off and just lock themselves in what feels like their home.

He parked his car and looked at his watch. He had forty more minutes before he needed to pick up Lisa.

Perfect.

He got out of the car and locked it. He saw Heechul hyung stepping out of his and Jungkook greeted him like the respectful hobae that he is.

"Ohh did you just get in as well?"

Jungkook chuckled. His hyung probably just got back from his girlfriend's place. "Ani. I just came here to drop my car. I'm picking up Lisa in that."

He heard his hyung's admiring whistle upon seeing the vehicle I was pointing at. It was a black two seater Porsche with it's windows tinted in black for privacy.

"So you're the owner of this baby. I've been wondering all week who owned this magnificent piece of metal." He tapped the hood and Jungkook couldn't stop his giddy smile. He had just recently purchased the car, not even his members knew about it yet. It would also be the first time he would be driving this baby with Lisa.

"Well get on with your date. Traffic's a bit of a bitch this time. By the way, I read the article this morning. Nice cover kid. Just let things cool down for a week or so and everyone will forget all about it."

"Yes, thank you hyung. You should get in too, I think Hani noona tired you out."

"Aish this kid. Your not wrong though." Heechul hyung winked and ruffled his hair before making his way to the elevators.

Jungkook got on his car and drove to YG. Hyung wasn't wrong, Seoul traffic really was a bitch today. He looked at his watch and sighed in relief, he was't late. Jungkook texted Lisa to wait for him as he was already close by.

Jungkook made the last turn and entered YG's parking area. He went up to the upper parking space reserved for their sajangnim and active idols. Jungkook couldn't help the smile that escaped him at seeing Lisa cutely bundled up waiting for him by the glass door.

Lisa heard an incoming car and couldn't help but be impressed by the sleek black beauty.

Is it Seungri oppa's?

Said beauty surprisingly stopped right in front of her. She crouched down when the passenger window was went down and looked at the driver. She raised her eyebrow in question.

Jungkook laughed and got out. He went to Lisa hugged her tight.

"I missed you so much love." It felt like it's been ages since they had last seen each other when truly it had only been a few days. Yesterday dragged too much energy from him and he needed Lisa's presence to recharge.

He sighed in pleasure when she wrapped her arms around him even tighter. "I missed you too Kook-ah."

He eventually loosened his hold and kissed the top of her head.

"Come on we have places to be Miss Manoban." He gave her his bunny smile and opened the passenger door for her.

He hurriedly made his way to other side and joined her inside the warm car. He closed the door and looked at Lisa only to find her looking at him.

She grabbed the collar of his coat and kissed him full on the mouth. Jungkook smirked and gladly made out with his girlfriend inside his new car. The tinted windows after all had been put up for such reasons.

When their lungs demanded for air, Jungkook couldn't help but quirked, "I prefer the way you greet me doll."

"Drive Jeon," was her only response. He chuckled and started the car.

Lisa made herself busy exploring the different buttons on the dashboard. They would chat about this and that never once mentioning about the topic that was hanging over their heads.

"Where are you taking me Kook?" Lisa asked as she realised that they were going outside Seoul's city limit.

He reached for her hand. The scandal had taken it's toll on him. It shook him up especially with how bad the reactions were from the fans.

He was going back and forth with feeling relieved and guilty. Relieved because it hadn't been about him and Lisa. Guilty because Mina had been dragged into this mess.

He had not dared to look up the news and comments on the statement their agencies had released today. He just wanted to escape the chaos. He also knew that it wasn't only him who had been shaken but Lisa as well which was why he thought of a little trip he had been contemplating on for some time.

"I read somewhere that a town was also having it's own lantern festival," he explained.

He read it on a random travel blog. It was pretty underrated and was mostly attended by town members and other neighboring areas. They didn't have a prayer in attending the one in Seoul even with the large crowds because of how fresh his scandal was.

It wasn't as extravagant as the one held in the city but based on the pictures it was still as beautiful. He was looking forward to the lanterns, the food and presentation held by the town folks.

When they stopped at a red light, Jungkook gave Lisa his phone so she could read the blog herself.

Lisa was giddy with excitement after seeing the pictures. Though she's been in Korea for years, she hasn't attended festivals unless it was to perform in one.

It would be quite a different experience to totally be in the moment and enjoy everything that's happening just like any normal couple.

"Won't we be recognised?" she asked.

Jungkook shrugged. It was a very small town and he's hoping that not many people would be able to recognise them.

"Putting our mask would make us more suspicious. I've prepared some hats for us. I think that will do. Besides I heard that the town would be in total black out so the lanters will stand out. As long as we don't try to draw attention to ourselves, I think were good to go."

Jungkook was banking on the late night and dim lighting to be enough to shroud their identity.

Lisa nodded and squeezed his hand, hoping for the same thing as Jungkook.

Lisa dosed off with the wish that the news didn't reach as far as the town they'll be going.