Jimin tapped and tapped on the wheel of his car as he waited for Lisa to come out of school. His breath hitched and ready to speed up his car when the moment comes. His eyes sharp and focused on the road, his heart beat palpitating out of excitement and unfolded rage.

Lisa, on the other hand, was just waving goodbye to Jennie after a whole day of practicing. The two just made up, hugging each other in the process. The orange-haired woman continued on her way to the dorm, smiling exhaustedly as she clung on to her bag closer when she entered through the door.

Jimin missed his chance-for today. But he doesn't plan on losing. He grabbed his spare phone he used to have from his back seat and dialed Lisa's number.

Lisa: hello? who is this?

Jimin: it's me.

Lisa: jimin... why are you calling me? is this about yesterday?

Jimin finally thought of releasing his hitched breath and gave up completely to the sound of her soothing voice. He missed her. No, that was an understatement-he wanted her.

Lisa: jimin, if you're not going to say something, i'm hanging up-

Jimin: i love you. i do.

Lisa bit her lower lip, swallowing as she doesn't know how to reply to that.

Jimin: i-i want you back...please.

The plead went straight through her heart. He sounded so broken and so incomplete, maybe she should give him a chance? Other guys did worse like cheat and abuse their girlfriends. No. Then again, he still had his wrongs. It almost costed her friendship with Jennie and Taehyung.

Jimin: i'm sorry for what i did. i really am. i just- i want you back with me. i love you, i miss you. i can't live without you.

Lisa: jimin, i love you, too, and you know that, don't you? but...

Jimin: but?

Jimin had his eyebrows furrowed; his pupils became dead, now unknown and wouldn't care what happens to the surroundings. His hand gripping tightly on to the phone leaning against his ear.

Lisa: a deal is still a deal. we made a pact. i still think we should take some time off from each other. is that OK with you?

Lisa doesn't hear a sound from the other line. She looked at her phone to check whether he was still there, before placing it back to her ear to hang up.

Lisa: i have to go to sleep now, jimin. i'm sorry. good night.

With that said, she hung up, leaving Jimin with his own thoughts. His grip loosened from his phone, shooting his focus in another direction: her window from her room. Lisa was just going to turn off her lights, but felt something was wrong. The woman felt like someone was out there, watching her. The most natural thing to do would just shut the curtains to avoid the stalker. But being the curious girl she is, she opened the window slightly to take a peek to see if someone else was there.

Jimin bowed his head and pretended to be sleeping to avoid her gaze. Fortunately for him, Lisa decided to shrug the thought out and just told herself she was imagining things.

"I won't be letting you go that easy." He drove off to downtown where he'll take his plan into action.

•°•°•

The day of the audition has arrived! Which meant extremely nervous and nauseated Lisa backstage. Jennie, being the good best friend she was, kept patting her on the back, throwing sarcastic remarks to throw her off guard and make her laugh, hoping she'd forget her anxiety to perform.

"I-I don't think I can do this.."

"Are you really backing out just because you're nervous?" It saddened Jennie how her friend still hasn't calmed down. So she thought it'd be a good idea to go out for a while. "Let's get some fresh air first, huh? We're on the fourth, anyway. There's still time."

Lisa nodded in agreement. Thus, both girls went out of their way to calm their nerves first. Lisa started off by rubbing both of her hands, trying to warm herself up. Jennie kept watch while recalling the steps inside her head. Out of the blue, Taehyung arrived after taking precautions without Jimin in sight.

"Jimin isn't with you right now?" Taehyung approached.

"Ah, well..." Jennie was about to say something, but with Lisa elbowing her by the stomach made her refrain from doing so. "Maybe I should just- practice. Yeah." With that said, she turned from the two and tried to not listen in their conversation, thinking maybe he was trying to be a good friend for Lisa.

Lisa smiles at him. "I'm sorry about Jimin... I'm actually sorry about a lot of things that went on lately."

"It's fine, you know? What are siblings for?" Taehyung took a step forward and planted a kiss on his sister's forehead before caressing her hair to fix some of it standing out. "Besides, it's more important for me to watch my sister. I'm sure Jimin was just being--"

"-possessive?"

"-protective. I was going to say protective." Taehyung wasn't exactly sure why, though. "Give him a break. I've known him since high school."

"I guess." Lisa shrugs, thinking twice before she can actually see he'd deserve a second chance. Well, third, if she counts his anger issues before, but nonetheless. "We'll see."

"Jennie Kim and Lisa Manoban." Jisoo's voice was heard beyond the boundaries of the auditorium, causing both girls to take off after seeing Taehyung.

Jisoo and her co-judges remain unfazed, trying to keep a straight face on as the two continued their audition. It was all going on tape, as it always has been for every audition that has ever been held for the club. Meanwhile, Lisa was contemplating whether she needed more energy or that Jisoo doesn't really want her to win.

But seeing Jennie by her side, moving all steps with all her might, they made a quick, subtle eye contact to regain trust. And so, Lisa was back in their game.

Once it was done, she has never felt so relieved her whole life. A breath of exhaustion, she fell to the floor. The results will come out right then and there on the spot, right? She hoped so, to be done with the nervous wreck she has been for the past week.

Jisoo stood there at the center, totalling what's left from the numbers. Once the buzzing was done between the judges, she held it in her hand, eyeing each and every one who came up on stage today to make sure they stay strong and use failure as their inspiration to improve more in the future.

"I'm sorry, but this is a competition. And I must only pick one, after all." Letting the contestants tap their foot, bite their finger nails and completely have their heart stopped, she took the opportunity to quickly reveal without another second to spare; just like pulling the band-aid off your skin. Though Lisa still believed she won't get picked and that there will always be someone better than her. Others may have given their best and performed way better than she did. Maybe those people deserve it. "Lisa Manoban and Kim Jennie, you have proven your position to uphold this as your own. I congratulate you,"

There wasn't much to say, but let the feelings of happiness overflow; all the hardwork they've been doing-had not been gone to waste. Lisa can retain her position on the scholar list. In fact, be number one amongst all of them! This is her chance to be discovered and acknowledged by the lot.

A victory cheer came solely from the mouth of her brother, raising his hands up in the air, clapping at her success. All she could do was smile at the boy and accept the winning title.

"Jisoo, thank you so much for choosing me. I won't let you down! I promise."

Jisoo smiles at her member with a wink to follow. "I know you won't."

Taehyung went over to his sister, about to pull her into a tight hug, but there were eyes everywhere; he had no choice but to withdraw his congratulatory affection. "You were daebak," He looked over at Jennie and nodded, indicating same for her.

"O-Oh, thanks," Jennie felt the heat of the moment from being complimented for the first time, and by a stranger at that.

"Ah, Jennie and I will just change clothes for now," Lisa smiles, patting him on the shoulder. Taehyung ruffled her hair up, causing a pout to come out from her expression. "Can't believe you did that. And I had fixed my hair so nicely, too!"

Jennie was beginning to feel awkward, too, in this situation. Funny how she thought it would only be Jimin she'd feel this with. She assumed she won't be needed in this conversation, as always. But with Lisa grabbing her hand, and tugging at her, she felt overwhelmed and warmth from her best friend. Feeling validated.

As Lisa said, they were going to change. And seeing as the backstage room was already full, she decided to go to her dorm. She was sure Jennie can enter since she was a girl. Jimin managed to sneak past the landlord before.

"I'm so happy for you," Jennie spoke.

"Us. You should be proud, too. Hold up that chin high and say you and I are going to represent Beyond the Scene together." Lisa held her hand as they crossed over.

"Well, can't say I didn't do all the choreo and such," Jennie giggles in response, trying to tease her friend.

Once they managed to sneak their way in, Lisa took her costume off, changing into her casual clothes before plopping onto her bed, teasing Jennie she should change, as well. Jennie rolled her eyes at her persistent-annoying, she added-friend and took her bag into the bathroom to change, when she suddenly realized something.

"Oh, shit. Damn, damn, damn!"

"What, what, what?" Lisa looks up, following Jennie inside the bathroom, where she sees her all sweatier than after the auditions and practice. She couldn't comprehend what happened.

"I don't see my phone- I can't see it anywhere in this bag!"

"Check again, maybe you just left it at the bottom of it?" Lisa tried helping, lurking through her stuff, but to no avail. "Wait, what if we try the backstage changing rooms?"

"Aw, crap. I have to go back all the way up to the fifth floor again?" Jennie shook her head and pouted, hands clasped together. Just with those eyes, Lisa knew what her friend was begging her to do.

"Jennie, it's your phone-"

"What are friends for?" Jennie pouted even more to add to the effect.

Lisa ends up laughing it off as a sign of defeat. "Alright, alright. Sheesh." She pulled her hair up into a ponytail to feel lighter, then left Jennie lying on her bed, laughing triumphantly. "Wait right here, and I'll be back before you know it."

However, all that ended; the happiness, the laughter between two friends. Especially when someone pulled over their car, pulling Lisa in it. The orange-haired was so confused and scared at first, not recognizing the man behind the mask and sunglasses. She tried breaking free of his grip, but she couldn't. Instead, whiffing off something to drift her off to sleep.

Her eyes were starting to go blurry, only then did the stranger reveal himself: "Missed me?"

•°•°•

a/n: ahhhh it's ending,
it's ending!

posted: jan.05,'18