L A L I S A

I felt as if my heart stopped beating for a split second. The very next moment, I let out an airy, hysterical laugh.

"Wow auntie what a good way to joke, this isn't April Fool's, why are you joking on the new year?"

"Lisa..." she tried to calm me down but my craziness saw no bounds.

"We're sorry dear, you yourself were in a critical condition. So we let you live in the illusion that..."

"And so what are you implying? All this while I had been hallucinating him?! I need proper reasons....justifications."

"Lisa, when I said that you had fallen off the stairs, I had lied to you. Actually you and Jungkook got into an accident." Eomma pleaded.

"It was around eleven at night I suppose. During those months, thievery and trafficking were becoming prone around the bridge area that led into surrounding towns and connected to the city. We heard the news about a boy and a girl who got into an accident after a supposed assault...although we didn't know they were referring to you two." Aunt Sohyee broke out the news and a grim silence filled the room.

The silence was so deafening, that I wanted to suffocate and die.

"Just around quarter to twelve, we got a call from the police, that you were rushed to the nearby hospital. The cops informed that they found you two crushed under a car, holding hands. While the criminal behind this ㅡ was killed on spot. The doctors managed to save you but...my son, he couldn't make it. He breathed his last at 12am honey..." Aunt Sohyee let amidst her sobs.

"Calm down, sweetie." Eomma immediately hugged me as I broke down in her arms.

━

A Few Months Back

"Oppa, you can just drop me by the bridge on the way, you know?" I asked Baekhyun who was taking a cab to the city.

"I'm in a hurry right now and given the time, I can't wait for an hour for you to merely dress up. And the bridge isn't far off, you can literally walk there. Would give you some exercise."

"You can't just reject me you know, don't spread your philosophy. Get out of my sight, I hate you."

"Okay kid, I'll be back soon." He patted my head as he left off, for an emergency.

Such an ungrateful brat of a brother.

Changing into a fresh pair of clothes, I did some minimal makeup. I usually don't intend to dress up a lot when I'm meeting Guk, but today was going to be eventful, my gut feeling said so.

Jungkook was supposed to return back to his grandparents' home in the countryside where he would spend some months. He had invited me over to have a last walk by the river where we usually hung out.

While walking towards the bridge post, I was feeling unusually uncomfortable from within. It was as if someone was following me.

When I turned back,

No one.

Right. I was being delusional.

I must be a raving idiot to read thriller novels, I need to stop believing them for real.

"Lisa?! Who are you talking to?" I heard Jungkook ca me from behind and I rushed towards him.

"Why were you talking to yourself?"

"Nothing, I felt as if I was being followed." I replied in an unsure tone, still confirming there was no one behind. "What about you Gukie?"

"Let's have a stroll around, shall we?" He offered his hand and I gently accepted it, placing it over his.

"Let's have some food first." I stuck my tongue out as my stomach wailed for food to which he smiled.

On our way back home, there wasn't much left for us to talk. An awkward silence surrounded us, when I cleared my throat to speak up.

"You're leaving tomorrow?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

"You wouldn't forget me right?"

"Lisa relax, I'm just going for two months to spend the summer with my grandparents. I'll be back soon. What makes you so anxious?"

"I don't know, I'm so used to being around with you that it's difficult for me to let go at times." I bit my lip as I whispered the words.

"Yeah? Didn't know you could get so possessive." He teasingly nudged my elbow as I shied under his gaze.

"Its your fault that you've been so clingy to me."

"You know Lisa, you're one unique person."

"Did I just hear a word of compliment from you? I should've brought my camera along, how rare is this." I chuckled to which he rolled his eyes.

"So you want me to call you an annoying brat?"

"Jeon Jungkook!" I faked being angry and playfully punched his shoulder and he let out a melodramatic whimper as the two of us broke into fits of laughter.

Taking a deep breath, he smothered it and continued to speak. "So I was saying, you're like a ocean Lali. Pretty enough on the outside and with questionable amount of guts, but your inner beauty is alluring."

"So you indeed are calling me beautiful."

"No, you're still ugly."

"Ugh, you're the worst best friend ever. But despite being a jerk, I can't hate you. Why the sudden philosophy though?"

"Because Lali....there's something I need to tell you, please don't get mad at me. I don't want to regret later."

He spoke in the usual idiomatic language that I never understood, but nonetheless i gestured him to go ahead.

"Lisa, I just want to tell you that I like you."

"I....I'm sorry? I like you too Jungkook, but..."

"Its not that type of like. Like like LIKE."

"I'm not sure I understand."

He grabbed me by my shoulders to face him. Sweat trickled along his temples in nervousness.

"Lalisa, I just want to say that I love you." He may have fumbled with the words, but it was the softness in his tone that called my body and brain to rest and let my heart go to its steady rhythm.

The emotions his face read were clear: even though Jungkook wasn't one of the most expressive people around, his eyes sparkled in pure honesty, there sincerity in everything he said, he meant it all by heart.

"Jungkook-"

"No it's fine, you don't have to say anything. Take your time, even if you don't accept my feelings it's okay. We can still go back to being friends and I-"

"No Jungkook, stop. I have liked you too, for a while now. The reason I never conveyed it to you was because I thought you were dating Eunha."

"Wait what? Why?"

"I thought you liked her and then you have been close for quite some months and I heard from some kids around that you were dating."

"Geez Lali, why would I date her, when she's already seeing someone else? I admit I've been close with her, but that's for a reason. She was helping me to confess my feelings to you. She suggested me to compose a song dedicated to you, just in case I fail to let my emotions out through words."

A second later, he fished out his Walkman from the pocket, an old one he had still preserved to hear his own compositions. The song started with the blissful tune of the guitar being played against the soft pouring rain in the background.

Still With You.

"I love it Jungkook. And I love you too." My eyes glistened in tears as he wiped them away. His hands cupped my cheeks and a moment later, I felt his lips on mine as we kissed as rained poured in. In his kiss, I found promise, a sense of fulfillment of the long wait for real love, I found home.

"Hey, wait for me Lisa!" He exclaimed and chased me after I shyly ran a distance.

We swung our hands together as we walked down the bridge, enjoying the soft patter of the raindrops against our skin.

"I'll come see you off tomorrow, hmm?" I asked as he hummed in response. He kissed my forehead once more time and flashed his beautiful warm smile that melted my heart.

Just when we parted ways and walked on different routes, someone suddenly groped me from behind out of nowhere, taking me by shock.

From the corner of my eye, I could notice the man: a middle aged drunkard, who reeked of alcohol. I fidgeted and tried to get out from his hold when he pulled out a dagger that he used to trace against my neckline, giving it a gentle squeeze that made a sharp cut on my skin and blood started oozing out as he continued to touch me inappropriately. I had been afraid of needles and sharp things my whole life; even though I had learnt quick moves of self defense, I felt weak and helpless.

He forcefully covered my mouth with his hand and somehow I managed to call Jungkook through muffled voices.

Jungkook heard my cries and he charged towards me, his hands balled into a fist at the end of his stiff arms and punched the man, making me free from his hold.

He was about to throw his hands at him, eyes burning in rage but I pulled him away and suggested to run. However, the man tried to grope me yet again and Jungkook's anger saw no bounds.

"LET HER GO YOU BASTARD!" He yelled  and repeatedly threw punches at him as I fell onto the road, losing my balance and injuring my ankles.

"Jungkook!" I cried when I saw him groan in pain as the psychotic man ran away but was immediately hit by a truck running in the opposite direction.

He had been stabbed. He tried to walk towards me and the sight completely devastated me: he was limping, trying to cover the wound with his bare hands that were now soaked in blood.

Jungkook collapsed in the middle of the road as I tried to reach him by pushing my arms forward with all my strength.

"Jungkook...s-stay still please."

But before I could completely reach out to him, a bright light flashed from the side, almost blinding me.

"WATCH OUT LISA!" Jungkook yelled as he immediately got up and ran towards me.

"NO!" Was all I could scream before an ear piercing crash was heard and I banged my head to the nearest wall.

By the time I had regained some of my dwindling consciousness, Jungkook had grasped my hand tightly, a trail of blood left behind him as he dragged his crushed body out of the car that crashed into us.

Tears uncontrollably streamed down my face, I felt pathetic of myself. He had sacrificed so much for me, yet I wasn't able to save him. And seeing him like this was like piercing a thousand daggers in my heart. It destroyed my will to live.

"J-Jung...Jungkook." I whimpered as the two of us were heavily breathing.

"W-why..."

"Hey...don't...don't cry please. Just hold me tight, okay?" He managed to let out in midst of immense pain he was feeling. I could sense he had already lost a lot of blood and I could no nothing. Absolutely nothing to save him.

I was the reason he was suffering like this.

"Stop crying Lali....shhhhh."

"B-but I-I..."

My vision was getting hazier minute by minute, my eyes were closing and my body was getting pale under the rain.

Jungkook sensed the same, which is probably why he put his full strength in his hands, grasping mine tightly, just to make me feel safe. He did it all for me.

Yet the fact that I kept crying appalled him.

"Lali...I will do anything and everything but the last thing I want to see are those tears crowning your beautiful face. Promise me you will not cry for me, when I die. Because then, I won't be beside you to wipe those pearls away. You're gonna be happy, Lisa. I'll watch you and love you like I always have."

"N-no...please J-jungkook...I love you."

"I love you too. Just...a few more minutes...Lali. Hold onto me. Close your eyes. I promise, you will live." He said in a broken tone as he pecked my lips one last time. That was all I remembered, his gentle voice amidst of police sirens we heard from afar. He had a proud smile on his face as he closed his eyes.

I wished it was all a joke. A terrible nightmare. I just wished he was kidding, I'm sure he'll be waiting for me, we had promised we would never leave each other.

Don't leave me Jungkook.

I need you.

I prayed, before my vision completely blacked out.

I love you Jungkook.

I always have, I always will.

And I will never stop loving you.