As the weather gets colder, running becomes harder, not only because Lisa has to ditch her tank top and shorts for sweatpants and long-sleeved shirts, but also because it's harder to block Chaeyoung's thoughts to wander in her brain as she ran without the guilt related to her new single status kicking in.
She retorts to bringing her headphones along when she can and chatting with her teammates when she can't.
But it isn't easy -not thinking about Chaeyoung- even if Lisa knows she shouldn't.
She doesn't want to think of Solar as collateral damage, but it's kind of true. It's certainly true enough that Lisa feels guilty about it all, nevertheless. She doesn't want Suzy to get involved in this, too.
Lisa thought she was a better person, really. It seemed like Chaeyoung brought out the worst in her.
The best, too. There are a million things to prove it.
So, Lisa runs.
She runs until it feels like her lungs bleed and melt into her ribcage, until her legs feel like lead with each step, until she's the only one emerging from the path and her coach pat her on the back with a smile.
"That's a good time, Manobal, don't lazy off too much this winter break and we might get you to nationals, yet."
She's too busy trying to pull air back into her lungs to think of saying anything back.
Running becomes harder, but it's still easily the simplest part of her life.
She hears a whistle from behind as she straightens out.
"Nice going there."
She turns to find BamBam jogging through the finish line.
"Thought you'd never catch up, Bam."
"Cold, Manobal, real cold." BamBam says, smiling at her like she was 'one of the boys'.
It's nice. Lisa never used to be 'one of the boys', before college. So she smiles back, "Only the truth, bro."
He laughs, a full belly one that echoes in the empty field, "Like you aren't glad I quit basketball to run with you."
"Those guys never deserved you in the first place."
She enjoys the way BamBam smiles at that, slow and sweet, and he really was one of the best guys Lisa had ever met.
"Anyway, I was thinking of grabbing a bite with Mina, if you wanted to come."
"And crash your date?" she teases, nudging his shoulder with hers, "You sure?"
He laughs again, "Not a date, but yeah."
Before she can think of anything to say back, she hears her name being shouted from the bleachers and a slim blonde jogging their way.
"Hey." she greets, when Chaeyoung is close enough she doesn't have to shout to be heard.
"Hi."
"What are you doing here?"
"I..." Chaeyoung's eyes keep flying from BamBam to Lisa, and back again, "I just wanted to take you out for lunch."
"This the girlfriend, then?" BamBam grins, wrapping his sweaty arm around her before she can shove him away, "She's way out of your league."
"Bam!" Lisa flashes him a glare because he knows who Chaeyoung is. He knows it well.
Chaeyoung doesn't know, though, so she stutters her way through excuses, "We're- She's not my girlfriend."
And Lisa would almost think her tone is sad if she didn't know better.
