💜 Hope 💜

Sound of the Mountain 🗻

They sat around the table, enjoying the meal and in true Lisa-style. Lisa couldn't stop asking Jungkook about his singing. Jungkook was quite entertained by Lisa and all her questions, some very straightforward and some a bit on the silly side, but Jisoo kept quiet for most of the conversation, half of which she didn't even listen to. She was unnerved everytime Jungkook eyes fell on her and she couldn't keep her thoughts straight, never mind to follow a conversation.

Jungkook was laughing at something Lisa said and Jisoo had to catch her breath when she looked at him. The laugh lines around his eyes and his mouth emphasized the rabbit that is always hidden beneath his smile. It was only when his eyes locked with hers that she realised he was talking to her.

"Sorry, what?" Jisoo shuttered, trying to compose herself.

Jungkook's hand was on her shoulder, his fingers lightly pressing into her skin. His laughter subsided a bit and with a concerned look in his eyes he said, "You didn't hear a word I said. Are you okay?" He asked and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm fine," Jisoo said a little too aggressively, trying to hide her self-consciousness, "my mind was somewhere else. What were you saying?" She tried to avoid his eyes.

Jungkook leaned back in his chair, a frown between his brows, "I said, if you want, you can go sit by the fire on the veranda. Lisa and I will do the dishes seeing that you did the cooking." His eyes were fixed on Jisoo, trying to get a read on her, but she was so closed off. He couldn't even see the title.

"I didn't know celebrities know how to do dishes," Jisoo replied but regretted it immediately and quickly added, "you go sit by the fire, I'll help Lisa. It's not like you didn't help with the cooking."

Jungkook shook his head and smiled, "What is it going to take to convince you I'm not such a bad guy?"

There was a light in Jungkook's eyes that made Jisoo feel he could see right through her. Would he be able to see her heart beating in her throat? She jumped up and said, a red glow in her cheeks, "Well, if it's that important to you!" She turned around and walked out onto the veranda. But if she thought that would get rid of Jungkook, she was mistaken.

He appeared behind her and without a word he added more wood to the fire and handed her a blanket. Jisoo took the blanket and sat down, wanting to say thank you but he disappeared back inside before she could. She preferred not being alone with him, he made her feel like she wasn't in control, and being in control was something she mastered over the years, especially her emotions. And this man, he was calling every nerve in her body on alert.

Deep in thought, Jungkook walked back inside. He picked up the dishcloth and started drying the plates. Lisa looked up from the dishes and smiled at him, "You know, I've known Jisoo since we were kids and you, my friend, are the only one I've ever met that has been able to get some kind of reaction out of her."

"Whether that's a good thing or bad thing is debatable! She drives me crazy. I don't know what to make of her." Jungkook continued to dry the plates, a frown plaguing his forehead.

Lisa took her hands out of the soapy water and looked at him, "Why Mr. Jeon! It seems like she's getting a little under your skin?"

"It's just something about her...." Jungkook sat down the plate in his hand.

Lisa watched him closely, "Come on, admit it, you like her! I see it in the way you look at her!"

Jungkook looked at Lisa, it was true, he did like Jisoo, but why did he? A twenty seven year old man suddenly felt like a school boy telling his best friend about his first crush!

Lisa sighed, "Sit down my friend," She pulled out a chair for Jungkook and sat down as well. "Jisoo and I have been friends since high school and I can tell you this much, she's been through a lot in her life. Everything she's gone through, every emotion she feels, all the stress that are weighing on her, she keeps it all inside. Over the years she has built up so many walls around her, she doesn't even talk to me about it. If there is one person that deserves some happiness, it's Jisoo. So, if you like her and I think you do, be careful with her. As strong as she seems on the outside, she's very fragile on the inside, at the moment especially."

Jungkook didn't know what to think. This wasn't part of his plan, a couple of days ago he wanted nothing more than to be alone but now, all he could think about was Jisoo. When he closed his eyes, all he could see is the image of her face.

Lisa finished with the dishes and the two of them went outside. Jisoo was sitting on the bench looking up at the stars, the starlight reflected in her eyes and Jungkook couldn't tear his eyes away from her.

"All done?" Jisoo asked looking at Lisa, still trying to avoid Jungkook.

"All done." Lisa replied, sitting down on one of the chairs. "Wow the stars are so bright out here. No wonder you were staring at them, Jisoo."

"Yes, something so comfortable about the stars and the sound of the mountain." Jisoo said with a feeling of melancholy, looking up at the stars again.

Jisoo's words stirred something in Jungkook. "There's a song in those words, 'getting comfort from the sound of the mountain'." He picked up his guitar that he brought out earlier and played a couple of chords.

"Oh, I love your music." Lisa said. "But I suppose you realized that when I had my fan moment."

Jungkook smiled, "Just a little bit." and he indicated with his finger and his thumb. His eyes moved away from Lisa and lingered on Jisoo.

Lisa knew this was her cue and said, "Well you guys, even though this is such a beautiful night to sit by the fire and look at the stars, I think I'll rather turn in, I'm pretty tired." She faked a yawn and stretched.

"You can't be tired!  You slept the whole time while we were making dinner!" Jisoo knew exactly what she was trying to do and didn't want to give Lisa the satisfaction of orchestrating for her and Jungkook to be alone again. And the last thing she wanted was to be alone with him, again.

As if he was reading her mind, Jungkook said, "Scared to be alone with me Jisoo? I don't bite you know."

Fire blazed in Jisoo's eyes, "Why would I be scared to be alone with you?!" She said and pulled the blanket tighter around her. She was planning on going to bed as soon as they were done with the dishes, but now she'll have to forget about that idea.

"Well, it's like they say, the more you sleep the more you want to sleep." Lisa hugged Jisoo and with a 'good night' to Jungkook she disappeared into the cabin.

The sound of the crackling fire intertwined with the nocturnal music of the mountain insects, stretched between them as the awkwardness surrounded them.