Lisa froze for a second. Then, memories rushed into her mind. She remembered that because she skipped a grade, she didn't start grade 10 until two weeks into the new semester.
Lisa's grades on the middle school entrance examination were one of the highest in the city. Therefore, various prestigious high schools offered her admission.
Finally, she chose the best, Seoul international High School because it was close to home, and the education quality was good.
Back then, when she arrived at the school, the school prepared a banner and the principal himself went to greet her. The school gave her a full-ride, 3-year scholarship.
They even paid for her food and accommodation, and she made it onto the headlines of their local newspaper.
Back then, Lisa's mother and Uncle Watanabe were both incredibly proud of her.
Lisa, on her first day of school, heard all sorts of rumors about Jungkook.
She heard that he was an arrogant individual with countless fangirls. However, he looked at the girls, who were in love with him, like they were idiots.
She also heard that Jungkook was extremely germophobic since he always kept people at arm's length.
At school, he had his own desk and maintained a strict distance between the rows. He even had his own table during mealtimes.
This, of course, was because JC donated a huge sum to the school, so Jungkook received special treatment.
He existed like a god, and even the principal had to treat him with respect.
And that was until Lisa appeared in his life...
Lisa didn't pay attention to any of the unspoken rules. She was a ditzy girl who accidentally kicked a soccer ball right into Jungkook's face.
Our handsome boy was almost disfigured...
During lunchtime, Lisa accidentally slipped on her feet and spilled an entire bowl of vegetable soup right onto Jungkook.
Most importantly, Jungkook never got mad at her.
Some of the super jealous girls secretly gossiped that Lisa was doing it on purpose and was playing push and pull with him to spark his interest.
They all thought that she wanted JC's heir, but no one knew how fearless Lisa was back then.
She didn't care about Jungkook. Even if it was someone more powerful, she would still ignore them.
She had a lot of attitude and would even fight against little punks when outnumbered 1 to 4.
She was so fearless that she would beat up the big boys from another class just to protect her class's reputation.
She also had the ability to ditch school and not study, but still get the highest grades in their year.
She was arrogant enough to disregard anyone, even if that person was the heir of JC.
"Ahem, don't include me. I treated you like a passerby. I wasn't your fan back then." Lisa dry-coughed.
"Do you know what I was thinking about when I first met you?" Happy memories flooded through Jungkook as he smiled and asked Lisa.
Lisa smiled, "You must be thinking, 'how did this little brat get in?'"
Lisa was only 14 years old when she began attending High School, making her the youngest in their year.
The age restriction there was 17 simply because schoolwork was too hard, and the school was afraid that younger kids wouldn't be able to keep up.
However, Lisa was different. She got a perfect mark on her middle school examination, so school made an exception and offered her admission.
Back then during an interview, Lisa also said something preposterous.
A reporter tried to provoke her by saying, "So what if you have got a perfect grade? I got 90% on some of the tests for my middle school examination as well. Truth be told, there's not much of a difference between 90% and 100%."
Lisa's reply was audacious and shocking.
She said, "I got 100% because there are only so many points on the test. However, you got 90% because that's all you can get. There sure is a difference."
The reporter was flabbergasted at Lisa's reply.
Jungkook was deeply attracted by her when he saw this interview...
He raised his hand and placed it on Lisa's shoulder. Enunciating each word, he said, "When I first saw you on TV, I thought, 'I'm going to make this girl my wife for sure'."
Lisa didn't expect that Jungkook would say that, and her entire face turned bright red.
As Lisa was spacing out, Jungkook gracefully lowered his head and kissed her...
Lisa had a high IQ and a high EQ, but she had one flaw.
When she was with Jungkook, she would sometimes lose the ability to think. This was also why Jungkook successfully got her to become his girlfriend back then.
She always thought that everything that happened was destiny. No matter how rational and perfect she was, she easily fell apart in front of Jungkook.
Therefore, when Jungkook kissed her, she wanted to resist, but she couldn't summon any strength. Or maybe, her body was just being honest about not wanting to push him away and wanted him and his unique scent to be forever hers.
When the students were on break, the school often broadcasted songs to help them relieve stress.
As if it was right on cue, music flowed onto the field...
"Going back to the starting point again, seeing that innocent face of yours in my memory. It's hard to believe that today is finally the day.
The old photo hidden under the table, linking countless memories together. This boy is going on a final date with that girl today.
Going back to the starting point again, standing dumbly in front of the mirror. Clumsily tying up a red necktie.
Combing my hair to look like an adult and putting on a handsome suit. Thinking that when I see you later, you must be prettier than what I expect.
I really want to go back to those years when we were still young. Back to the classroom when I am sitting in front of you, purposely teasing you so you would gently scold me.
The pairing arrangements on the blackboard, are you willing to separate them?
No matter who sits with whom, i will still love you.
All the heavy rain that we missed those years, all the romance that we missed those years.
I really want to hold you tightly in my arms, to hold onto the courage that I never managed to possess.
I used to dream about conquering the world, to only realize in the end that every little thing in my world revolves around you only.
All the heavy rain that we missed those years, all the romance that we missed those years.
I really want to tell you that I have never really forgotten.
The night sky was filled with twinkling stars and the promise we made in a parallel universe.
If we can meet again, I will hold you tightly in my arms this time. Hugging you tightly...never letting you go...."
Song named 'Those Years' was playing at the perfect moment, fitting the atmosphere between the two extremely well.
Lisa was a woman with complex emotions, and, at that moment, she was extremely moved.
She thought back at her and Jungkook all those years ago and couldn't help but wrap her arms around his broad shoulders, hugging him tightly. Finally, the feeling of being home washed over her entire self. It was crazy how he made her feel so secure. With him, everything felt so good, better.
His lips and his scent, his broad frame and his tender caresses, all felt so familiar yet so different. The difference was, then they were youths and now they were adults.
His every touch spoke to her, in a way only her body could understand. As if his touch was imprinted in her heart, never to erase and never to forget.
They've already missed out on seven long years... how many more 'seven years' were left in their lives?
Jungkook's heart was filled with butterflies. Since they reunited, this was the first time Lisa hugged him.
That gentle kiss lasted for 3 minutes and 50 seconds, the same length as that song.
Finally, Jungkook held Lisa's hand in his as they walked out of the campus in silence. Neither of them talked again until they got home.
Once they were home, Lisa felt a little sleepy, so she took a hot shower in her bedroom.
However, as soon as she left the bathroom, Jungkook basically pounced on her, pushing her down onto the bed.
"Kook..." Lisa was a little nervous.
"Doll, I don't want to wait anymore..."
Then, Jungkook gently tugged at Lisa's bathrobe until it fell off, his warm palm tightening around her pale shoulders.
"Kook, I think we should take things slo..."
Jungkook's tongue invaded her mouth before she could finish her sentence.
This kiss was no longer gentle like the one they shared at school.
It was an aggressive invasion, leaving her no room to think.
Lisa's mind went blurry and heavy; she couldn't think about anything else but him.
Jungkook seemed to have control over everything...
They've been married for a while now but didn't do much else except kissing.
Naturally, Jungkook wanted to because he had always been clear about his feelings towards Lisa.
However, Lisa was struggling to admit her own feelings, because she didn't think that she would be able to spend the rest of her life with him.
She was still thinking about divorce and didn't want to give him too much hope.
Lisa believed that if a woman gave both her heart and body to a man, she would lose for sure.
She needed an escape route, so she always tried to keep that line drawn between them.
Jungkook looked at Lisa through the small ray of moonlight that shone through the crack between the curtains. She was under his body, and he felt a sense of impulsivity taking over. He had never felt like that before.
He knew, at that moment, lust had taken over his rationality.
Just as Jungkook was about to continue, Lisa's phone ruined the moment by ringing suddenly.
Jungkook wanted to reach out and smash the phone onto the ground, but Lisa got to it first.
She pushed Jungkook away gently and got up awkwardly. She picked up her phone and walked towards the door.
Jungkook's expression was horrible...
"Hey, Chae."
"What's wrong? You sound weird."
"No I don't." Lisa was feeling a bit guilty.
"I don't believe you. I've known you for so long, don't try to trick me. Oh wait, were you and Jungkook doing stuff that is inappropriate for young children to see?" Chaeyoung snickered.
"You seem to be over your break up, I'm assuming that you're not killing yourself over it anymore?" Lisa didn't know what else to say.
"Of course, who do you think I am? I am the invincible and pretty Park Chaeyoung. I just flew back into the city and have two days off. Let's hang out tomorrow and go on a road trip. I want to go to a farm outside the city to fish and then go on an excursion, what do you think?"
"Tomorrow? I can't tomorrow, it's my mom's birthday. How about the day after tomorrow? I will probably be free then."
"Oh right, I forgot that it's Auntie's birthday tomorrow. Okay then, let's make plans for the day after tomorrow."
After hanging up, Lisa returned to her room, embarrassed.
Jungkook leaned on her bed, smoking a cigarette.
"Um... Chae asked if I wanted to go on an excursion with her, haha," Lisa explained.
"Tell Chaeyoung to get her ass over here. I promise I won't beat her to death," Jungkook growled angrily.
"Um... ahem, um, it's late, goodnight."
"Are you kicking me out?" Jungkook asked, glancing at Lisa.
"Isn't this supposed to be my room?" Lisa asked helplessly.
"Aren't you supposed to be my wife?" Jungkook asked back.
Lisa was speechless...
"So you don't plan on leaving?"
"You need to compensate for what happened just now. Tonight, we're sleeping on the same bed. Of course, if you think your bed isn't big enough, we can sleep in my room instead," Jungkook tapped the ash off his cigarette and said presumptuously.
Lisa was furious, but she couldn't find a reason to say no.
The truth was, she understood his frustration. If it weren't for Chaeyoung's phone call, Jungkook would have gotten his way with her.
He was so close to tasting her; she should be glad that he wasn't going crazy...
Finally, Lisa decided to compromise. She simply answered, "Deal."
This was her first time sleeping in the same bed with Jungkook. It felt weird, sleeping in his embrace.
This time was different from the last, because, last time, he snuck in during the middle of the night.
This time, they laid face to face.
Although seven years ago, they already enjoyed the sweet taste of making love, they were so young back then and had too much to drink that night. Neither of them could remember exactly what happened that night.
Embarrassed to look at Jungkook, Lisa ended up turning her back towards him.
Jungkook took that opportunity to hug her waist from behind, pulling her into his body.
This made Lisa more nervous than ever.
"Jungkook, I'm telling you. Don't touch me where you're not supposed to, I'm ticklish," Lisa warned him.
"Don't worry, I won't, because I'll end up suffering more than you."
After quietly sleeping next to each other the entire night, the next day after breakfast, Jungkook went to work, and Lisa went to the mall.
She spent a few thousand wins on a dress for her mother and ordered a cake. Then, she took the cab to her mom's.
As soon as she arrived, she smelled the delicious aroma of food. Her mother's yard was filled with close neighbors.
"Lisa, you're back!" The neighbors all greeted her.
Her mother turned around at the mention of Lisa's name. She looked at her with a stern face, "You don't have work today?"
"No, I was transferred to another department, and the hospital gave me three days off."
"Ohh, you were transferred? To where?" their neighbor, Auntie, asked enthusiastically.
Lisa answered with a smile, "To the hospital laboratory, all I do is draw and run tests on blood."
"That's good, it's much easier. I told your mom to tell you not to work at the OB/GYN department, it's too much responsibility. The pregnant ladies there are such prissy pants. If you don't take care of them the way they want, they'll pick on you. It's good that you were transferred."
"Yeah, it's relatively easier, and I don't have to work night shifts anymore."
"Hey, Lisa, why didn't your boyfriend come with you?"
The neighbors were really gossipy; some of her mother's friends were nosy and couldn't help themselves from asking.
"We broke up."
"What, you guys broke up? I thought you were getting married? Why did you break up?" To no one's surprise, the middle-aged women all became interested at the sight of gossip.
Lisa felt awkward and didn't know what to say.
Then, she saw Haruto walk out into the yard. He took the cake in Lisa's hand and said, "Young people nowadays usually break up because of incompatible personalities."
(a/n- I was so happy to see Haruto and Lisa's interaction recently and he called her noona y'all... I ain't crying but you are😭😭 they are sibling goals literally)
"Isn't he a doctor? That's a good profession."
They all thought that it was a shame Lisa broke up with Kai.
"How is it good? He's still an intern and might not even be given a permanent position at the hospital. Plus, that dude's personality was not compatible with my sister's at all. When they were talking about marriage, he mishandled so many details. The two of them decided to end their relationship peacefully."
"Oh, I see. So that's what happened," Haruto answered well for his sister, and the middle-aged women finally stopped pestering for more details...
After a while, their mother served the food.
There were eight dishes, and the cake that Lisa ordered earlier was placed in the middle.
In addition to their mother, Lisa, and Haruto, there were three other middle-aged women, of which Auntie Song was closest to their mother.
As for the other two, Lisa didn't really like them.
Not because they weren't rich; rather, it was because they were typical narrow-minded cheapskates.
They liked taking advantage of others, gossiping about other families and were complete wallflowers. They looked down on people with no money.
Auntie Song's son was thirty years old and single, and she herself was kind of well off. She owned two properties, and a storefront in the city and her son worked at a bank. He went on blind dates dozens of times, but they were all unsuccessful. Most of the time, it was because they thought that the woman's family background wasn't good enough for them.
"Mom, happy birthday." Lisa took out the dress she bought for her mother.
After seeing the brand, Auntie Song asked, "My gosh, isn't this from Kye? That's not a cheap brand. How much did you spend, Lisa?"
"Not much."
"How much is not much?" another one of the middle aged woman probed.
"A little over fifty thousand."
"That is a lot, you only earn so much a month, right? Tsk tsk, I can't believe you would buy a dress so expensive."
That middle aged woman's words reeked of disdain.
Lisa's mother looked at the dress and casually said, "That's why daughters are better. She earns two grand a month but is willing to spend double to buy me a dress. Too bad someone's son earns more than enough to buy this dress but still has yet to buy his mother anything."
That woman was embarrassed by this and immediately shut up.
Apparently, a while back on her birthday, her son didn't even call her. He probably forgot about it. Her son had graduated from a university in Singapore and worked at a foreign-owned enterprise, so he earned more than enough to live a luxurious life.
"Not bad, my friend. You've got a great son and daughter. Haruto's still in school but managed to save up enough money to buy you a pair of shoes. You didn't raise them up for nothing." auntie Song added.
At that moment, the other middle-aged woman, said with her big mouth, "It would be better if Mr. Watanabe was here, you'll have a whole and happy family. It's too bad that..."
Upon hearing Uncle Watanabe's name, Lisa's eyes became moist, and she felt her throat clog up.