SET IN STONE• (part-1)

Chapter:4

He was smart enough to guess that his parents probably did something unscrupulous to Lisa's family.

Mr. Jeon felt very uncomfortable under his own son's gaze.

A minute later, Mr. Jeon lowered his eyes. His reply seemed like an attempt to dodge the subject.

"It was such a long time ago, why would you bring it up again?"

"All I need is a 'yes' or 'no.' I want an answer."

As he spoke, Jungkook's expression became frighteningly cold.

"Kook, we did it for your own good. It's all in the past anyway. Just…" Jungkook shot up to his feet before Mrs. Jeon even had the chance to finish.

"I knew it."

He had already gotten the answer he needed from his mother's tone. Having expected this all along, Jungkook got up. Without another word, he walked upstairs to his room on the second floor.

"Kook, eat before you head upstairs to rest," Mrs. Jeon called out to her son's retreating figure, concerned for his well-being.

However, instead of a reply, all she got was a chilling view of her son's back.

"Honey… Kook… he… could he still be hung up on that damn girl? It's been so long, and now he's finally home. Oh, I hope nothing else goes wrong. What do you think?" Mrs. Jeon was left somewhat shaken by her son's attitude.

It had been seven years, and her son was finally back in the country. She really didn't want things to get as bad between them as it had been before, all because of a woman.

"Never mind it. He's a grown man now and can make decisions by himself." With that, Mr. Jeon picked up his chopsticks and began to eat angrily.

*

Jungkook went back to his room. Picking up his cell phone, he dialed a number.

"Check something out for me as soon as possible," he said and then promptly hung up.

Then, he slowly unlocked one of the drawers and took out a yellowing photograph.

There was a girl in the picture with a ponytail. She was extremely pretty and had distinct facial features. He thought her smile could heal anyone, including him. Her smile was his reason to live.

The fact that she was wearing a baggy school uniform didn't make her any less beautiful.

"Doll, I've missed you so much."

He spoke in a low, hoarse voice like a man who was hopelessly in love.

His memories traced back to the scene in the photograph, taken seven years ago.

Blue skies, white clouds, school grounds, and… the girl he loved.

*

The next morning -

Lisa got up early and boarded the bus to the hospital where she worked. After she finished attending to her own duties, she grabbed the pork bone soup she had made that morning and went to find Kai. She wanted to explain to him what had happened yesterday.

At the Outpatient Ophthalmology Department -

When Lisa went in, she found Dahyun, one of the nurses, carefully bandaging the wound on Kai's forehead.

"Geez, how did this happen, Doctor Kim? How can you be so careless?" Dahyun's voice was artificially high-pitched, in a way that made people uncomfortable.