Jungkook paces around with the phone in his hand. His eyes are fixed on the screen – reading and re-reading the exchanged texts with Lisa. Did he say something wrong? Did he scare her by sending the last text? Maybe she got the hint and didn't feel the same way?

It couldn't be, as she replied after that. Then why haven't she been in touch for the past one week?! She didn't pick up when he called every day and night since, and it's the first time that this happened! He waited again the whole day. They're at the same event but there's still nothing from her. Was she too busy that she couldn't reply? But he'd seen her being 'Online' for a couple of times when he messaged - why can't she spare a second or two to reply him??

He huffed and crashed on the couch, feeling agitated with worry. The girl had gotten under his skin so much, his feet is itching to visit Blackpink's dressing room. If only he could! She appeared 'Online' again and Jungkook sits up. Please, reply something...please...

Then it disappeared again. Jungkook groaned in frustration. That's it, I can't take it anymore!

Jungkook:

Lalisa, are you avoiding me?

I've been waiting for your reply since last week

You make me worry so much that I can't do anything

Say something! Have I done something wrong?

Tell me please

After a second, he saw her 'Online' again. Come on...reply... He takes slow, alternate deep breaths and waits patiently, trying to calm down.

Lisa:

Hi Jungkook

I'm sorry to worry you

I've been really busy

I also had been doing a lot of thinking, and I think it's best if we don't talk as often

If that's okay with you?

We're still friends

That's it? What does that mean? Why would she suddenly say that? Did something happen? Is she in some kind of trouble? Or did she really get the hint and figured that it's the best way to let him down?

Jungkook finds her number and press dial. Please pick up...

"Hi," He heard her small voice after the third ring. How he missed that voice!

"Lisa, what's going on? Are you okay?" He's pacing again, with one hand in his hair.

"Yes, I'm okay. Don't worry,"

"How can I not worry? You didn't reply or answer my calls, and now you're saying this!"

"Jungkook, calm down. Why are you so upset?" Is she serious right now?

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

There's silence from her end.

"Lisa, tell me what's wrong, please. You're making me go crazy over here, honestly! I'm thinking to go to your room now and see you -"

"You can't say things like that,"

"Like what?"

"You can't – " He could hear her sigh, like she's holding something back.

"Tell me, please," He said, softer this time.

"I just," Her voice cracks a little. Is she about to cry? No!

"Lisa..." Silence again. "Can we just meet up for a moment? I want you to tell me, if it's something...anything that I've done wrong,"

"I can't,"

"Please," He breathes softly, hoping that she'd hear his desperation. "I'll wait for you at the room upstairs, the one you brought me to the first time. Just for a while. Please?"

After a few seconds, she sighed and agreed.

...

There's something about today. Lisa had been feeling butterflies in her stomach since morning, and she knew exactly why. But she's also feeling so damned miserable! They're attending an event today and she'll get to see him.

Of course, she's also excited to perform and the prospect of winning an award tonight doesn't sound so bad either, but all she could think of about today is seeing Jungkook. She's excited but also nervous. A mix that she's not familiar with, especially when the cause is about a guy! And now he wants to meet. She hadn't expected this part. What can she say?

She hadn't spoken to him since 'the text', and she knew he wasn't happy about it. All the texts and phone calls left untouched had clearly pointed out his frustrations. But it's something that she had to do. She had to protect her heart. She can only hope that he'll eventually let it be and stop trying to find her...and they'll be strangers again.

It's bound to happen anyways – she knew from Jisoo that there's no way a guy and a girl can be 'only friends' for a long time. Not when they're as close as her and Jungkook, and certainly not when there are feelings involved. In this case, her feelings to be exact. Of course she misses hearing his voice and talking to him, but the fact that they don't see each other – not since the day at the park – kind of helped.

She'd been travelling a lot for their tour and whenever she's back in Korea, BTS would not be around, travelling for their own. Not that they could even meet easily - with the tight schedule the agency lined up for their promotions and not to mention, the extremely tight supervision from their managers, making sure they won't get into any 'suspicious incidents' during this period.

Lisa can't complain. Their latest mini-album had been surprisingly well-received and they're gaining new and bigger fan-bases each day. It's only understandable that they have to be extra careful now in order to protect and sustain the group's image.

It had been a full week since that day when Jungkook mentioned about 'a certain girl'. Lisa would feel her cheeks flush every time she recalled how she cried herself to sleep that night. The embarrassment she felt with herself - thinking of how she could allow herself to fall for him, and to linger around for three months...subtly and unconsciously hoping that something more might happen.

Look at yourself, Lili! Why would Jeon Jungkook feel the same way like you did to him? For the entire week, she couldn't help but wonder who the lucky girl that has caught Jungkook's heart. Must've been someone charming and beautiful, just like him.

She hadn't known him that long, but the time they'd spent talking to each other and the way he cared to get to know her better made her feel up in the air. On top of his daily updates, he shared pretty much everything with her. Whenever he asked on her favourites, he would share his. They'd recall their own individual memories – good and bad – sharing stories of when they were younger.

The only thing he hadn't shared is about his ex-girlfriend. At first she thought it might be a sensitive subject for him, so she didn't ask. After she started developing feelings for him, she had - on a number of times - been tempted to ask, just to get a glimpse of how it feels like to be his girlfriend. But she always stopped herself. Somehow she knew that she'd be sad to hear about it, especially if he'd come to admit how he missed his ex and how empty he felt without her.

Call her naïve, but all this while he had filled rainbows in Lisa's little world. They talked every day, and exchange pictures of the little things, anything that reminded them of each other. Just two weeks ago Jungkook sent her a picture of a pack of Twinkies. He said it's the same brand from one of the picture she posted on Instagram.

He got so excited when he found it, as it wasn't sold in Korea. It made her heart warm to see how attentive Jungkook had been as the post was uploaded a long time ago! She had teased how he came to know what she posted on Instagram, which somehow ended up with him admitting that he has an 'undefining' account – whatever that means. She thought it was cute!

"Lali, let's go say hi to Red Velvet. They're waiting for us," Jisoo called her from the door. On that cue, Lisa got up and walked out from Blackpink's dressing room.

Jungkook asked to meet, but she can't say no to her members. Maybe she can go say a quick hello and excuse herself for a while. She followed behind her members as usual, ducking her head down with every passing idol, nervous to catch eyes with someone in particular.

They reached a room labelled 'Idol Area' and walked in. The first thing that Lisa noticed was a table at far end, with drinks and food displayed. Chaeyoung clutched on her arm and Lisa can already tell where they're heading to, while Jennie and Jisoo proceeded straight to their friends.

"Only sandwiches? Do you think anyone would notice if I take 2 or 3 of these? I'm so, so hungry!" Chaeyoung whispered with a serious pout, it made Lisa giggle a little.

"I feel that mentioning the big bowl of noodle you had an hour ago wouldn't prove any point at all, so we'll just grab two each,"

"That's why you're my soulmate, baby!"

They dropped by to join Jennie and Jisoo, greeting the Red Velvet members with the plan of heading back to their room. Chaeyoung is already fidgeting, impatient to munch on the sandwiches in their hands.

"Oh, Lisa, can I talk to you for a moment?" Yeri asked, immediately gaining a bunch of questioning looks from the group.

Lisa can't help but frown in her smile. She never spoke with the group's maknae personally before. Of course, they'd greet and exchange a quick how-are-you's before, but nothing more than that. Nevertheless, she followed suit to move to a corner, a bit farther than the other idols.

"How's everything?" Yeri asked with a smile.

"Um, okay I guess...how about you?" Lisa returned the friendly gesture.

"I'm okay too," Yeri looked down to her knotted fingers.

Is it just her or the atmosphere feels way too awkward now? Lisa looked briefly at her group members, who didn't seemed to mind anymore and are now busy chit-chatting with their friends. "I um...I don't know how to say this, but um...I just wanna thank you for, you know, not telling anyone,"

What on earth is she talking about? Telling anyone about what?

It was when Lisa studied how Yeri's face suddenly blushes pink and her eyes avoiding hers that she understood what she meant. So it's her. Lisa found herself lost for words. She knew it would be someone among the idols, but she never thought it'll be someone so close to Blackpink. Granted, she wasn't that close to them, but her unnies are close to her own.

"And thank you, for trying to help him. He told me that you guys are friends now. It was a misunderstanding, really...I hope you didn't think too badly of me. I was just confused, but I think we'll be able to sort things out – me and him," Yeri suddenly reached for her left hand and squeezed it. "I really, really appreciate that you didn't tell anyone. And I'm so sorry that we kinda put it on you, it must've stressed you out a lot. He told me you've been nothing but encouraging, being there on his bad days. I'm really sorry that you had to do that,"

Lisa felt her chest tightened. The grip on her hand felt unwelcomed but she couldn't move it out of the hold - the conscience in her is fighting so badly to stay in place.

So Jungkook had told his ex about her. He told her that Lisa knew. He told her that Lisa's a friend – a friend who's helped him through the bad days. The bad days...all these while...the past four months had been nothing but bad days for him. And Lisa had merely been someone who cheered him up to get through it.

He told his ex about her but never once told Lisa about Yeri. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like crying. So he's getting back together with his ex then?

"Yeri-ssi, don't worry about it, it's nothing really," Lisa pulled back and bowed her head slightly, afraid that Yeri would feel the tremble in her hands. "I'm glad I was able to help. I hope everything works out fine for both of you. And don't worry, I'm not in any position to judge anyone's problem. And I wasn't stressed out either, so," She plastered a smile while she muttered all these. "I um, I have to go, Chaeyoung's really hungry," She showed off the sandwiches in her right hand, giving out a cheeky smile as an act.

"Oh, of course! Thank you again, Lisa. If there's anything you need -"

"No, no, don't worry about it!" She bowed repeatedly, nerves building up as well as her tears. In a swift, she turned her heels back towards Chaeyoung and her members. She pinched Chaeyoung's arm slightly and signalled her to leave, so they did just that.

...