Love Me If You Dare

Chapter 14

Every household is busy preparing for the New Year celebrations.  The streets are filled with people who are rushing around,running errands and getting their last minute shopping done. Everyone is looking forward to the family reunion dinner on the last day of the year. 

    Lisa's mother is a typical, traditional mom, and a very diligent one. There’s a lot of cooking and cleaning to be done before New Year’s eve.  Together with Lisa and Jennie, the three of them worked hard for three whole days.  Finally, everything is ready.

    New Year's Eve.

Since the first firecracker was set off in dawn, the sound of these little explosions has not stopped.  You can hear it all around the city.  And it will keep going until late in the night.  After lunch, the family goes to visit Lisa’s grandmother.  

    The extended family gathers.  The adults sit around to chat and enjoy a drink or two. The energetic children playing the backyard.  After dinner, Lisa and Jennie escape the crowd.  They hide in Grandma’s room and play with their smart phones.  

    New year blessing texts clog Lisa’s inbox. She scrolls down the list and notices one from Jimin : “To the mighty Ms Lisa, please allow me to send my greetings and blessings to you on this special day -  May you become more beautiful each day. "

  -  Mighty? Interesting choice of adjective.

    Lisa smiles and responds to his text.  She hesitates, then she sends Jungkook a simple “Happy New Year’ message too.

    The sky is dark.  The sound and sight of fire crackers fill the town. Dazzling displays bursting in the sky.

 - I wonder how Jungkook is spending his New Year’s eve. Lisa thinks to herself.  Will he spend it like any other day?  Eating his fish quietly, accompanied by Miri.  Is Jimin with him?  But surely, Jimin needs to spend tonight with his own family. 

   The phone rings. It’s Jungkook.

    They have not been in contact since Lisa declined the assistant position. Lisa picks up the call. : “Hello.  Happy new year.”

    Jungkook asks: "What are you doing?"

    Lisa is baffled : “Uh… Nothing much.”

    Jungkook : “Then do you want to come over and collect some fireworks? They are of no use to me.” 

    It must be a gift.  He is not the type to spend money on fireworks. From Jimin? The police?  

    Lisa smiles and says : "No thank you.  You can enjoy them yourself."

    Jungkook says coldly : “I have no interest in a bunch of solid that creates  foul smell and bright patterns.”

    Lisa : "...... Well, my sister and I will come around soon."

    -

Before receiving Lisa’s text, Jungkook was sitting in front of a warm fireplace, wrapped in a thick blanket, reading a book. The TV is turned on, but he is not watching it.

    After he put down the phone, he threw a blanket aside and walked to the storage room.  He took out two full boxes of firework.  They were gifts from Jimin, B City Police Department, Ministry of Public Security Office …… He left them next to the front door. 

    -

        Lisa borrows a car from one of her uncles and drives to his house.  As they are driving towards Jungkook’s house. they can see a lot of people standing on either side of the river with their fireworks. The water in the river reflects the colourful fluorescent rays from the displays.