Lisa was as exhausted as a dog. She panted heavily, unable to even speak when her teammates all came over to hug her. Tzuyu gazed at her from the side while leaning on her crutches, an odd grimace on her face that was tone between elation and annoyance.
When Lisa went to hug Tuzyu, Tzuyu did not brush her off.
Coach Park came over from the coaches stand and reminded them, "Gold medallists interview. The reporters are waiting".
"Oh right!" The few girls clapped their heads. They had forgotten that the winner would be interviewed as they never thought that they could have won.
Faced with the black camera in front of the reporter, everyone was extremely nervous. When the reporter asked them question, they would all glance at Lisa and wait for her to answer.
Lisa was bold and not shy at all. Her replies were slick and confident.
The reporter asked, "How does all of you think you did today?"
Lisa replied, "Still fine, we merely executed what we practiced during training".
At the side, Coach Park scoffed silently, you're took kind. I don't see you achieving such results during regular tarining.
The reporter continued, "Your performance today was fantastic, especially for the last two laps. The entire audience was greatly roused by your performance".
Lisa replied, "Honestly speaking, my contribution is limited. I only leveraged on the edge that my teammates gained for us. The result of the relay was due to our collective effort".
The reporter commented, "RCU has improved greatly from last year".
Lisa said, "Yes, that's due to our school's excellent leadership, our coach's guidance and our extensive training and research. We will improve even further with time".
Teacher Lee asked Coach Park secretly, "Eh who taught her this?"
Coach Park shrugged, "Who knows...."
The reporter was amused at Lisa's eager and practiced replies. She continued asking, "After winning the gold medal, who do you wish to thank most?"
Here! The moment's here! Sitting in front of the television, Principal Manoban could not help straightening up when he heard this question.
Go on, thank your father, me.
Though filled with envy and annoyance the four grandparents all pretended to disdain his preening look.
At this moment, on the television, Lisa's big doe eyes gleamed. She beamed towards the camera. "I wish to thank Jeon Jungkook!".
Principal Manoban, "...."
That bastard!!!!
All four elders looked at him with eyes filled with sympathy and schadenfreude. Then, then started to discuss who Jungkook was.
Lisa seemed to recall her promise to her 'sponsors'. She added quickly, "And also my Dad, Mom, both grandpas and grandmas!"
Nevertheless, this was not enough to mend Principal Manoban's completely broken heart.
At the other end, when the reporter heard how Lisa thanked so many people at once, she dabbed her temples awkwardly. Lisa nudged her teammates after she finished speaking, "Go on, a thank you speech!"
Her teammates started thanking people with reddened faces.
The reporter felt that it was way too amusing how this bunch of girls managed to make the interview seem like a party.
Shortly after the interview, Lisa and her teammates changed and went up to the podium.
After this, she dashed out to find Jungkook.
She received her father's call on her way there.
She knew that he called to scold her before he even said word. Thus, she immediately apologized, "Daddy, I'm sorry, let Jungkook have this tiny competition. I'll thank you next time when I win an International competition! I promise!"
"Lisa, I have something to tell you".
"What?"
"Reasonably speaking, you have the freedom to date whoever you want. Your mother and I have no right to restrict that. However, Jeon Jungkook, he....I think I must let you know what kind of person he is before you consider if you want to get together with him".
....
Jungkook stood underneath the midget crab-apple tree the night before. He was nervous as he thought of what he was going to tell Lisa and her possible reaction. He started pacing beneath the tree and when he turned, he saw her walking towards him.
He flashed a smile at her.
Lisa did not smile. When she drew closer, she watched him with reddened eyes.
Jungkook's bunny smile faded. There was an ominous feeling in his heart.
"Jeon Jungkook, I didn't know that you hate me so much". Lisa said.
Jungkook felt as if a basin of ice water was pored over him.
____
Lisa did not eat dinner with the excuse that she was not feeling well. She returned to the hotel and lay on her bed, lost in the thoughts. Coach Park guessed that Lisa might have overexerted herself and helped her to pack some food. The two male teammates who assisted Tzuyu back helped to bring the food over.
After they left, Tzuyu looked at how Lisa lay blankly on her bed instead of chatting her head off. She felt a little strange, "Hey, aren't you eating?"
"No" Lisa replied listlessly.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. I just feel that I'm such a failure as a person".
"...."
Tzuyu was shocked by her statement. She found it tough to believe that she actually managed to hear something like this from coming from Lisa. Tzuyu pinched her elbow and confirmed that it was not a dream when it hurt.
She put her crutches by the side of her bed and stared into the dark, hazy night. She murmured quietly, "You know, there's actually a lot of people who are envious of you".
Tzuyu's voice was too soft and Lisa did not hear it. She continued to sprawl on her bed melancholically.
Lisa thought back on various events of the past. She remembered the solemn promise they made to each other, the numerous letters she wrote without receiving a single reply and the countless unconnected calls. She was so silly. How could she have believed that a friendship could be so decisively ended by 100,000 yuan?
Oh right, it was not a true friendship anyway. It was a one-sided friendship at most.
She started to recall memories from back when they were even younger. At the earliest point, she had indeed hated Jungkook. Rather than pure hatred, what she felt was closer to envy. He was the world's smartest, most obedient and outstanding child. No matter what he did, he was always better than others and all the teachers and parents would always praise him. Since they were deskmates, people would always compare the two of them. One could imagine how she held up in those comparisons. Even when she wanted to go to Disneyland, he was her greatest obstacle.
She had really done lots of terrible things to him.
He probably developed a deep dislike for her from that time.
Actually, she no longer hated him as time went by and had even treated him as a good friend. Perhaps there was something honestly wrong with her character. Or perhaps, she was accustomed to behaving in a certain way regardless of whether it was right or wrong. Once something became a habit, it was tough to realize that anything was wrong and change for the better without any external interference.
However, what happened was fact and she had no excuse.
The more Lisa thought about it, the more dismayed she became. She pulled the blanket up over her face and curled into a ball underneath it.
____
The next day, the entire RCU speed skating team returned to school.
Lisa stuck to Tzuyu's side with the excuse of taking care of her. She did not speak to Jungkook nor toss him a single glance. When they checked in, Jungkook wanted to help her pull her luggage but she kept both her and Tzuyu's luggage in front of her and pushed them along as she walked.
Jungkook looked at her silent figure and felt his heart ached.
How did things turns out this way.
What am I going to do.
Oh her crutches, Tzuyu observed Jungkook secretly and asked, "What's up with the two of you?"
"Nothing". Jungkook shook his head.
____
On the way back, Lisa maintained her silence with Jungkook. Jungkook felt like she was driving him crazy. Most people sensed that there was something wrong between the two of them but no one dared to ask about it.
When the speed skating team gathered for dinner that night, Jungkook stopped Lisa on her way to the retaurant.
Lisa was with a few teammates. Those teammates had warmly locked their arms with Lisa's like a bunch of sisters. However, when they saw Jungkook stopped Lisa, all of then scattered like the wind, leaving only her standing in the original spot.
Great, the status that she had built with a gold medal was worth nothing against Jungkook's face.
"Let's talk" Jungkook said.
Lisa looked up at him, at his brows, nose and lips. The tiny mole by the side of his nose was concrete proof of how she had bullied him. After staring at him for a while, she suddenly spoke, "I'm sorry".
Jungkook startled.
"I'm sorry" Lisa repeated. Her gaze dimmed as she lowered her head. She said, "I always bullied you in the past, to the extent of scarring you childhood. I'm really sorry for what I have done. I....I didn't mean to cause you any actual harm. Later on, for so many things, I did them out of habit. But I'm not going to excuse my behaviour with a child's ignorance....I, I don't know what I'm saying...." Lisa clutched her head in frustration.
A long time ago, Jungkook had hoped to hear Lisa apologize to him. However, now that she actually apologized, he left beyond terrible hearing it. The way her head hung and the way she apologized to him sincerely made him feel an acute, gapping distance between the two of them.
"I don't want to hear an apology" Jungkook blurted.
Lisa was at a loss of how she should face him. She ducked her head and tried to escape but Jungkook suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Don't apologize to me. I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry, Lisa, for tricking you".
When Lisa raised her head and looked at him, he saw that her eyes were red.
"Jungkook, I honestly feel quite awful" She said.
Looking at the tears in her eyes, Jungkook felt as if there was a needle piercing his heart. Every breath he drew hurt. He tightened his grip on her hand and whispered, "Tell me, what can I do to make you stop feeling so awful?"
Lisa lowered her head, attempting to tug her hand free and shake him off. "Let go of me first".
"Tell me first".
"Jungkook, don't be like this, stop pressing me!" Driven into a corner, Lisa raised her voice.
Passers-by glanced over, alarmed by her shout.
Jungkook could only let her go.
____
Over the next two days, the two of them did not have any contact. Chaeyoung felt that her King was like a blade of parched grass, wilted and listless in her actions.
Tsk, Tsk, such is love!
On the third day, Lisa received Cha Eunwoo's call.
"Sister-in-law, Jungkook is drunk and acting out at the bar right now. Can you come and keep him in check? If he gets arrested by the police, it would leave a record and he might get expelled".
When Lisa heard this, she immediately changed and prepared to head out.
Looking at how she bustled about, Chaeyoung asked, "My King, where are you doing?"
"Out for a walk"
"Bring an umbrella, it's raining outside!"
"Okay".
....
When Eunwoo put down his phone, Jungkook looked at him and asked, "How am I drunk and acting out?"
"Oh, Bro, you're not? Right, I'll call sis-in-law right away and let her know that our bro Kook here is, not, drunk, at all". Eunwoo spoke, he reached out for his phone on the table.
Jungkook stopped him.
Eunwoo gave a frigid smile. "Look at me, a damned single dog being so concerned over another person's relationship. How many sins have I committed in my past life for heaven to treat me this way".
As he grumbled, a fashionably-dressed and polished-looking lady drew closer. She was actually quite beautiful and had a good figure with a pronounced waist and legs. The lady stopped in front of them and asked if she could buy them a drink.
Jungkook told Eunwoo quietly, "Your chance to get attached is here".
However, Eunwoo threw his arm over Jungkook's shoulder instead, "Gurrl, you know, I'm the only man for him".
The lady left tactfully.
Jungkook shook off Eunwoo's hand "Changed your mind on being single?"
"I like girls who are genuine and down-to-earth. The girls from our school are pretty great. This....Is a little too much, hahahaha".
....
Eunwoo saw Lisa immediately when she entered the bar. He quickly reminded Jungkook, "Sister-in-law is here. Quick, pretend to act out".
"How?"
"Don't you know how drunk people are like? Wait, I heard you Southerners don't get drink. Is that true?"
"Nah" Unable to pretend to act out, Jungkook decisively slumped onto the table.
Eunwoo waved his hand and Lisa walked towards him. She saw Jungkook sprawled across the table.
"He just quietened down", Eunwoo explained. He scanned the surroundings. "I didn't dare to risk triggering him".
Considering Jungkook's strength....Lisa could almost believe it.
She patted Jungkook shoulder gently and called him, "Jungkook? Jungkook?"
Still lying on the table, Jungkook's face was turned to the side with strands of black hair covering his forehead. When he heard Lisa's call, he slowly opened his eyes. His clear, bright and gem-like pupils were slightly unfocused and showed traces of confusion that one usually showed at having just woke.
Looking at how docile he was, Lisa had the urge to rub his head.
"Jeon Jungkook" Lisa nudged his shoulder again in an attempt to fully wake him up.
Jungkook straightened up from the table and leaned back against the chair. He answered with an "Mm" and started at Lisa's face.
"Jungkook, follow me back".
"Mm".
Lisa held his wrist. Jungkook was like an extremely obedient baby who did whatever she told him to. He followed closely as she pulled him towards the exit.
At the door, Lisa bent over to pick up her umbrella. She opened it and walk down the stairs.
She did not pull Jungkook along with her. He stood at the door and looked at her back, feeling a little aggrieved.
Lisa turned her head back. "Are you done pretending to be drunk?" After saying this, she no longer looked at him, turned and left.
The rain was not heavy but countless puddles had formed on the road. Lisa looked down and stepped carefully to prevent her shoes from being soaked. She was immersed in this task when a pair of arms suddenly circled her from behind, pulling her into an unexpected embrace.
Lisa got a shock. "Hey!"
He held her fast. Behind her, he used his chin to brush against the curve of her neck. His breath, tinted with the scent pf alcohol, was scalding hot as he exhaled next to her shirt collar.
Then, he whispered, "Lisa, you scoundrel"
"Jungkook, you lunatic. How am I a scoundrel?"
"A scoundrel is what you are. You were a scoundrel since young and an even bigger scoundrel now that you've grow. How in the world did I fall in love with a scoundrel like you".
Being confessed to out of the blue, Lisa felt both mad and amused. At the same time, she was overwhelmed with a bittersweet feeling and at a loss what she should say.
Jungkook was still criticizing her, "And you even apologized. If you're really sincere in apologizing, you should pledge yourself to me in order to make up for everything".
"Jungkook, why are you being so irrational...Ouch!" She let out a shocked cry.
Jungkook had bitten her ear. Though he did so very lightly, ears were sensitive and the sensation of a hard object pressing against her ear was somewhat foreign. After Jungkook bit down, he even used his tongue to lick. His soft but firm and lightly moist tongue seared the skin on tip of her ear. The sensation caused Lisa's breath to catch in her throat.
Lisa's face instantly reddened while her heart pounded. She ducked her head and tried to dodge but he lowered his head and chased her movements while continuing to lick her ear.
"Stop, stop, stop, stop...." Lisa's voice shook lightly.
"Tell me, aren't you a scoundrel" Jungkook said, the scent of alcohol strong as he exhaled.
"Jeon Jungkook!"
Jungkook finally drew back his head and stopped teasing her. However, he did not let her go and kept her firmly nestled in his arms.
"Jungkook" Lisa breathed slowly and tried to recollect her thoughts. She asked, "Do you really find me quite hateful?"
"Sometimes, I do find myself hating you".
When Lisa heard this, her nose soured.
"But most of the time, I find myself uncontrollably liking you. I like you. I really like you. I get jealous of Yeonjun, jealous of Jaehyun. Whenever you talk to other other boys, I will get jealous". As Jungkook spoke, he used his chin to nuzzle Lisa's neck again. There was faint sadness in his words. "It makes me feel like I'm sick".
Lisa felt her heart ached. She rubbed her nose and said, "In that case, You're not allowed to hate me anymore. You can only like me".
"In that case, be my girlfriend".
"Okay".