Third person's POV.
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Lisa’s boss calls her to his room that afternoon. He is supposed to attend an automobile conference at Hongdae tomorrow but due to some family matters, he is unable to attend the conference and suggests Lisa to attend on his behalf. Her boss is also supposed to be there, but he has fallen sick and Big Boss Kim has offered to take his place since he has nothing on.
Lisa is a little touched. “Me? I…. I … can go?” Usually, only high-level reps attend such conferences. Plus, H City is a famous tourist spot and it will be fun trying out their local delicacies if she really has the chance to go there on a business trip. Hee-hee……
Old Wang looks at her seriously. “What do you mean can you go? Who else in Sales do you think is suitable to represent me?”
“How about people from the Marketing Department?”
Old Wang spread his hands. “Well, if you are not keen, I can pass the opportunity to the Marketing people.”
Lisa quickly stops him from picking up the phone. “No, wait! That is not what I mean. I am just touched that Boss Wang thinks that I am worthy of the opportunity. If you think so, how can I reject?”
So the matter is settled and Old Wang informs their administrator to book the plane tickets for Lisa. He also allows Lisa go home one hour earlier so that she can prepare for the trip. When she reaches home, Jungkook has not yet return but in her eagerness to share the news, she decides to call him.
“Hello Jungkook ?”
“Hi Lisa.”
Wherever he is, it is a very noisy place and there is the sound of some machinery rattling in the background. “Where are you?”
“I am at the supermarket.”
In the background, she hears a female voice asking Jungkook if he wants to eat a sweet. The voice is very gentle and contains a hint of mischief. At his “No thanks”, Lisa stills. “Who is with you?”
ಠ,_｣ಠ
Jungkook did not reply and the female voice seems to get a little louder as she giggles. “Why are you not eating? I seem to recall that you love sweets.” The voice grates on her ears and a sour tinge creep into Lisa’s next words. “Wow, who is so mysterious that you cannot tell me? Let me guess, is it the Holy Mary or is it the Jade Mother of Heaven?”
“It is Jennifer.”
At her silence, he asks. “Lisa, is anything the matter?”
Her reply is a bit stiff. “Just calling to let you know that I am home and you better come home pronto to fix my dinner!”
“Ok, I will be back soon.”
By the time he hangs up, Jennie has finished paying for her purchases and the cashier passes her a big bag full of stuff which Jungkook helps to carry out of politeness. Thanks to the hot weather, both of them are soon covered in perspiration after they leave the shop. Jennie takes out a tissue to dab her forehead and after a pause, turns to Jungkook and tries to help him wipe his forehead.
He avoids her touch and good manner held him back from saying anything mean. Jennie can see the displeasure plainly in his eyes and she did not press as she gives a tinkling laugh. “Is that your girlfriend who called just now?”
Although Jungkook knows that it is not true, he likes the sound of the word “girlfriend” and smiles, neither confirming nor denying her words.
Jennie places her hand behind her head and looks down at her toes. She is wearing a white dress today, matched with a pair of brown heels; with her long hair flowing behind her, she looks like goddess and attracted many admiring glances – except from the man standing next to her. Smiling, she says: “Thank you very much for your help today. If not for you, I would have been at a loss on what to do.”
“I am sure you will be fine. After all, you are not a mental retard.”
Jennie flinches and bites out. “In any case, thank you.”
“You are welcome.”
“Can I buy you dinner as a show of appreciation?”
“I am afraid not.” Jungkook looks at his precious Eco-light powered watch. “I need to go back and fix Lisa’s dinner.”
A/N: (Jungkook Sure do loves he's Eco-light powered Watch)
His protectiveness triggers her jealousy – so he is that obedient towards other woman? Keeping her feelings in check, she smiles at him warmly. “You can call her to join us. Afterall, it is more fun when there is more people.”
Jungkook thinks that it is a possible option and decides to ask Lan Shan for her opinion. As Lisa is still a bit upset, she sounds a bit stiff when she takes the call “Hello?”
“Lisa, what do you want to eat?”
Thinking of making things difficult for him, Lisa bites out. “I want to eat lobster!”
“Please hold on a second while I check something.” Jennie turns towards Su Luo. “If dinner consist of Australian lobster, is it alright?” Jennie nods woodenly – this woman really thinks they are that chummy yeah? and Jungkook turns back to his phone. “It is like this: Jennie wants to buy us dinner and is inviting the both of us to dine on Australian lobster. Do you want to come over?”
“Puuh!“ Lisa spits out her derision by instinct before she realizes what she just said. “Hmmm, that is not meant for you.” At his indulgent laughter, she gets indignant. “What are you laughing at!”
“Nothing, I just find that you are quite adorable.”
Despite this coming from across the phone, Lisa blushes. Patting her face, she replies. “In any case, tell that woman that I dislike her so I am not going.”
“Ok, I will pass on your message.”
Finally feeling better, Lisa smiles. “Go ahead and enjoy your dinner but remember not to over eat. If there really is lobster, you can bring some home for Schrodinger.” And charge it to that woman, heh-hee-hee!
^_________^
Jungkook is confused. “I’m sorry? Where am I supposed to go?”
Lisa replies sourly. “Didn’t you say that you are having dinner with a beautiful woman?” Deep down, she likes to stop him if it is possible, but she isn’t anyone to him and her hand does not have the reach.
Jungkook shakes his head. “If you are not joining, I am not going too.”
“Why?”
Jungkook finds her question a little ridiculous. “Who is going to cook for you if I go?”
His words dispel all her earlier unhappiness while Jennie stews quietly at all the love-dovey talk. This man – all his warmth, his passion, it should belong to her! How can she take it lying down now that another woman is stealing it away!
When Jungkook hangs up and turns to her, she quickly mask her feelings with a smile. Although the smile is a bit forced, she comforts herself that it doesn’t matter since Jungkook is no expert at reading expressions anyway.
Jungkook : “I am going back for dinner. There is no need to thank me; take it as my apology to you. Lisa also ask me to tell you that she dislikes you.”
=_=⟵ Jungkook's Face while saying it
Jennie bites her lips and maintains her lovely-maiden look. “I know.” Still, no matter how adorable she looks, Jungkook has no time to bother about her and passes her bag back to her. It is running late and if it gets any later, he doubt he will be able get any fresh lobsters at the supermarket.
Although the bag is not heavy in Jungkook’s opinion, it is actually too heavy for Jennie in fact. As she heaves the bag home, her lovely maiden image gets dented somewhat and it is really thanks to a helpful man who rescued her image by helping her carry her purchase all the way back to her apartment.
As for Jungkook, his luck seems to be holding when he reaches the nearest supermarket. Lobsters are a slow-moving items and supermarkets do not usually keep a lot of stock but thankfully there are 2 live lobsters left at the supermarket. One is big – around 1.5kg while the other is smaller around 1 kg.To prevent Lisa from overeating, Jungkook decides to buy the smaller one.
When he reaches home, Lisa is very happy to see him, but she nearly jumps out of her skin when she sees something wriggling in his shopping bag. “My goodness! What is that?”
Jungkook feels a little helpless. “You did say that you want to eat lobster right?”
“But…but…. I was just kidding!”
Looking at the unhappy, tightly-bound lobster, Jungkook starts to feel a little unhappy as well. “Don’t you like it?”
“No, no, of course I like it. But …… this thing is expensive and costs a few hundred dollars per kg!” In her mind, she can see Jungkook tapping several hundred dollar bills on a lobster head and her heart feels so twisted at the waste.
Jungkook is relieved that she is only worried about the money and mutters to himself as he walks into his apartment. “I can afford it.”
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“Nothing. Come over and let us discuss how we shall cook it.”
Since the money has already been spent, Lisa decides that she will just have to savor the lobster. When she follows Jungkook to the kitchen and sees that the lobster is bound, she lost her fear of the creature and starts to play with it. When Schrodinger strolls into the kitchen, he too decide to join the party and both woman and cat had a pretty good time.
^_________^⟵ Lisa
(=^･ｪ･^=) ⟵ Schrodinger
“Lisa, do you want to eat lobster sashimi?”
“No, I don’t like raw lobster.”
“How about we steam it, or bake it with cheese?”
“Hmm, I think we should steam it.”
So decided, Jungkook hefts up the lobster and smacks his knife decisively on its head. That’s the end of the lobster and Schrodinger looks at him as if he is some kind of hero.
Dinner is an immensely enjoyable event that night. The lobster is fresh and coupled with Jungkook ’s garlic sauce, the taste is simply exquisite. Looking at Lisa obvious enjoyment of her food, Jungkook is very pleased with himself and gives himself an imaginary pat at the back for having the foresight to choose the smaller lobster.
After dinner, they load the dishes in the dishwater before going for a stroll. The sun is setting and the growing darkness provides a comfortable cover for people who do not wish others to see their guilty expressions.
Lisa clears her throat and asks with seeming casualness. “Why did Jennie look you up today? I just can’t figure it out.”
“She is working at my school at the moment as an assistant tutor.”
An assistant tutor in one of the Top 2 schools in the country is nothing to scoff at. Although Lisa is no academic, she is aware that assistant tutors will usually move on to become full-fledged lecturers and even if she dislikes Jennie, she can’t help but sigh in envy. “She is quite capable isn’t she?” To many people, Jennie’s job is a few notches above a car sales woman, and Lisa is not above feeling envious, even jealousy over her occupation.
Jungkook shakes his head. “I think she is only average. Her results have never been exceptional and even after years of studying abroad, she has not been able to come up with any impressive thesis……” Aware that he is criticizing someone behind in her back, Jungkook stops his unhonorable critique aruptly.
If she is average, what about me? Lisa grimaces inwardly to herself – some topics really cannot delve too deeply. For once, Jungkook notices her abnormality and asks. “Do you not like it when I am friends with her?”
The moment he said the words, Jungkook realizes he is actually anticipating her answer. This type of hopeful, uncertain feeling is new to him and he has no idea why he is feeling like this. Lisa is not expecting to have her feelings outed so bluntly and lowers head guiltily while she says softly. “What has it got to do with me?”
The night wind stirs up the leaves on the ground, and blows away Jungkook ’s hopes, leaving only disappointment in its wake. Both become uncommunicative after this and they continue their stroll in silence, without noticing the troubled face of the other.
On the way back, Lisa tells Jungkook . “I nearly forgot, I will be going on a business trip tomorrow and will not be back for the next 3 days, so please don’t cook my dinner.”
Jungkook is a little surprised. “Why the sudden trip? Where will you be traveling to?”
Lisa tells him her trip and his voice drops a notch when she has finished. “Which means to say that you will be going with your Boss to H City and will be spending 3 days with him?”
“Yes.” She gives start and touches the back of her head. “Hey, although you are not wrong, you need not say it as if we are going on a rendezvous.”
“So? Isn’t it just like a date?” As he is worried, Jungkook is speaking faster than usual and his tone carries a hint of menace.
(ರ ~ ರ)
“No, it is not a date, it is a conference. Con-fer-ence.”
In Jungkook ’s view, there is absolutely no reason to involve a sales person in an automobile conference but he does not wish to spoil her mood. Keeping his unease at check, he treads carefully.
“Are you keen to go?”
At her “Of course!”, Jungkook can only swallow back all the words that he wants to say.
When she asks if he wants her to bring back anything from H City, Jungkook does not give her any face. “If there is anything I need, I will be able to buy it here. Even if it is not available in our city, there is always the online shops. In short, I do not need you to bring something for me from thousands of miles away.”
Lisa pouts. “Hmph! That only makes me more determine to bring back something for you.”
Jungkook did not sleep well that night. Whenever he closes his eyes, he will see Lisa and Taehyung walking Together, visiting the local shops holding handsin the busy streets of Hongdae…..
In his eyes, he believes that all these are possible. Lisa is not the loyal sort and is probably on the same level as Schrodinger when it comes to loyalty. Whoever that offers them food, they will follow the person.
Besides, Taehyung is no gentleman either. If he harbors any unruly thoughts towards Lisa, who knows what can happen? 3 days,3.1 km over kilometers away….. there is too much room for possibilities and if something did happen during this period….. he is afraid that his reach is not going to be long enough to prevent anything.
At that last thought, there is no way Jungkook will be able to sleep that night.
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