Loving The JEON

CHAPTER 107:-

This isn't what I expected. I had in my mind's eye a stark white room with a black leather chaise longue; my inner goddess might have felt more at home then.

Looking relaxed and in control, Dr. Flynn takes a seat in one of the winged chairs and picks up a leather notepad. Jungkook crosses his legs, his ankle resting on his knee, and stretches one arm along the back of the couch. Reaching across with his other hand, he finds my hand on the couch rest and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

"Jungkook has requested that you accompany him to one of our sessions," Dr. Flynn begins gently. "Just so you know, we treat these sessions with absolute confidentiality - "

I raise my eyebrow at Flynn, halting him mid-speech.

"Oh - um... I've signed an NDA," I murmur, embarrassed that he's stopped. Both Flynn and Jungkook stare at me, and Jungkook releases my hand.

"A non-disclosure agreement?" Dr. Flynn's brow furrows, and he glances quizzically at Jungkook.

Jungkook shrugs.

"You start all your relationships with women with an NDA?" Dr. Flynn asks him.

"The contractual ones, I do."

Dr. Flynn's lip twitches. "You've had other types of relationships with women?" he asks, and he looks amused.

"No," Jungkook answers after a beat, and he looks amused, too.

"As I thought." Dr. Flynn turns his attention back to me. "Well, I guess we don't have to worry about confidentiality, but may I suggest that the two of you discuss this at some point? As I understand, you're no longer entering into that kind of contractual relationship."

"Different kind of contract, hopefully," says Jungkook softly, glancing at me. I flush and Dr. Flynn narrows his eyes.

"Lisa. You'll have to forgive me, but I probably know a lot more about you than you think. Jungkook has been very forthcoming."

I glance nervously at Jungkook. What has he said?

"An NDA?" he continues. "That must have shocked you."

I blink at him. "Oh, I think the shock of that has paled into insignificance, given Jungkook's most recent revelations," I answer, my voice soft and hesitant. I sound so nervous.

"I'm sure." Dr. Flynn smiles kindly at me. "So, Jungkook, what would you like to discuss?"

Jungkook shrugs like a surly teen. "Lalisa wanted to see you. Perhaps you should ask her."

Dr. Flynn's face registers his surprise once more, and he gazes shrewdly at me.

Holy shit. This is mortifying. I gaze down at my fingers.

"Would you be more comfortable if Jungkook left us for a while?"

My eyes dart to Jungkook and he's gazing at me expectantly.

"Yes," I whisper.

Jungkook frowns and opens his mouth but closes it again quickly and stands in one swift graceful movement.

"I'll be in the waiting room," he says, his mouth a flat, grumpy line.

Oh no.

"Thank you, Jungkook," Dr. Flynn says impassively.

Jungkook gives me one long, searching look then stalks out of the room - but he doesn't slam the door. Phew. I immediately relax.

"He intimidates you?"

"Yes. But not as much as he used to." I feel disloyal but it's the truth.

"That doesn't surprise me, Lisa. What can I help you with?"

I stare down at my knotted fingers. What can I ask?

"Dr. Flynn, I've never been in a relationship before, and Jungkook is... well, he's Jungkook. And over the last week or so, a great deal has happened. I haven't had a chance to think things through."

"What do you need to think through?"

I glance up at him, and his head is cocked to one side as he gazes at me with compassion, I think.

"Well... Jungkook tells me that he's happy to give up... er - " I stumble and pause.

This is so much more difficult to discuss than I'd imagined.

Dr. Flynn sighs. "Lisa, in the very limited time that you've known him, you've made more progress with my patient than I have in the last two years. You have had a profound effect on him. You must see that."

"He's had a profound effect on me, too. I just don't know if I'm enough. To fulfill his needs," I whisper.

"Is that what you need from me? Reassurance?"

I nod.

"Needs change," he says simply. "Jungkook has found himself in a situation where his methods of coping are no longer effective. Very simply, you've forced him to confront some of his demons and rethink."

I blink at him. This echoes what Jungkook has told me.

"Yes, his demons," I murmur.

"We don't dwell on them - they're in the past. Jungkook knows what his demons are, as do I - and now I'm sure you do, too. I'm much more concerned with the future and getting Jungkook to a place where he wants to be."

I frown and he raises an eyebrow.

"The technical term is SFBT - sorry." He smiles. "That stands for Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Essentially, it's goal oriented. We concentrate on where Jungkook wants to be and how to get him there. It's a dialectical approach. There's no point in breast-beating about the past - all that's been picked over by every physician, psychologist, and psychia-trist Jungkook's ever seen. We know why he's the way he is, but it's the future that's important. Where Jungkook envisages himself, where he wants to be. It took you walking out on him to make him take this form of therapy seriously. He realizes that his goal is a loving relationship with you. It's that simple, and that's what we're working on now. Of course there are obstacles - his haphephobia for one."

Oh jeez... his what? I gasp.

"I'm sorry. I mean his fear of being touched," Dr. Flynn says, shaking his head as if scolding himself. "Which I'm sure you're aware of."

————————————————