Slowly Falling | LK Adaptation

Chapter 46

Lisa put the paper plane in her handbag and walked out of the airport with Jungkook.

There were a lot of neatly arranged taxis parked outside the building. Jungkook dragged her suitcase along and asked: "Is your car in the airport?"

"No, I came by taxi." Lisa looked up at him, then coughed. "I thought about your question just now. I'm really tired after running around buying things abroad, so I just want to go home and rest. Let's talk next time."

Jungkook bit his lip, feeling a little lost. However, she was right. She had been working hard abroad these past couple of days. He's seen all the moments she had posted online. Eventually, he nodded and said: "Alright. Have a good rest today."

So Jungkook flagged down an empty taxi and opened the backseat door for her. "Get in, I'll stow your suitcase away."

Lisa's suitcase was 28 inches long and was filled with the treasures she acquired from abroad, so it was cumbersome. He helped her put her luggage in the trunk of the taxi, then went back to the door to talk to her.

Lisa was sitting in the back seat. Jungkook looked like he wanted to tell her something, but in the end, he kept his mouth closed and didn't attempt to get in the taxi. Lisa suppressed the smile threatening to break out, and said: "Where are you going? I'll give you a ride."

Jungkook stammered: "Ah, I-I have to go to work."

"Well, then come in. Don't delay the people behind us."

He hesitated for a second, then stooped down to get in the car. After telling the driver the address, the car descended into silence. Jungkook seemed a little nervous, with his hands squeezed into fists on his knees.

But Lisa didn't speak, seemingly unaware of the awkward atmosphere. In the end, he glanced at her and said: "Lisa."

"Hm?"

"My mother is willing to talk again."

Lisa froze for a moment, then nodded. "Oh, that's great."

"Un...Thank you."

She smiled. "What are you thanking me for? You were the one that took care of her all these years. It's just that you were a little too tolerant and accommodating."

"Yes." Jungkook then said: "And I decided to take the postgraduate exam."

Lisa wasn't surprised. The words he had written on the paper plane indicated that he had made a decision. She asked him with a smile: "And your mother agreed?"

"I haven't told her yet. She just started to talk; I didn't want to push her too hard." He explained. "I'll tell her in a couple of days."

"What if she still doesn't agree?" Lisa asked.

Jungkook replied: "I believe that I can persuade her. My mother isn't an unreasonable person." If she still insisted on opposing him, Jungkook can only find some other way to get her to slowly accept his decision. Lisa was right. He didn't want to run away anymore. He doesn't want to stay a coward for the rest of his life.

"And..." As he continued, his mood became tense once more. He closed his fist and solemnly turned towards her. "I want to apologize again for what I said to you before. I was wrong."

Lisa looked at him and casually asked: "Where were you wrong? Are you talking about our break up?"

"Yes."

"Do you think I was partly at fault?"

"No, no, you did nothing wrong." He was the bad one. Jungkook lowered his eyes and whispered: "Lisa, I'm a man. Back then, I worried that I wouldn't be able to give the person I like a good life. I thought the least I could do was to save you from a lifetime of hardship."

He was barely able to take care of himself. How could he even think about falling in love? And don't even mention marriage. Any ordinary girl would be afraid to consider him, let alone someone like Lisa. The last thing he wanted to do was drag Lisa down.

The car was silent once more. After a long time, Lisa asked: "And now? Are you still afraid?"

Jungkook's eyes became gentle and warm as he gazed into her eyes. "Now, I believe that loving someone means striving to become a better person for them. But...are you willing to wait for me?"

Just give me a little time.

Lisa could no longer keep up her indifferent facade. She turned away to look out the window, as she didn't want Jungkook to see her expression. "...I'll think about it."

Jungkook saw her expression reflected on the glass window and couldn't help but smile.

The taxi driver first dropped him off at the station, then took Lisa home.

Lisa ate on the plane, but it wasn't very filling. However, when she finally arrived home, she wanted nothing more than to take a bath and sleep. She didn't even bother to tidy up. Maybe she just walked too much these past few days, but she ended up sleeping for hours. She only woke up because her cellphone started ringing.

The caller was an unknown number. Lisa stared at the screen. After a while, she picked up: "Hello?"

"Hello? is this Miss Manoban? Your order has arrived, please open the door."

She was confused. Did she manage to order some takeout while sleepwalking?

"Just a moment."

Lisa put on her coat, shuffled into some slippers, and went to open her front door. Sure enough, when she opened her door, there was a takeout brother outside.

"Here's your order, have a wonderful meal." The little brother handed the bag to her, then hurried away. Lisa put the food on her dining table and looked inside the containers.

Two dishes, one soup, and a bowl of warm white rice. It was all of her favorite dishes.

Excluding her parents, there was probably only one person who understood her tastes so clearly.

Lisa picked up her phone and messaged Jungkook.

Lisa: Did you order takeout for me?

Jungkook: Ah, I figured you would want to take a nap as soon as you got home. So I thought I would buy you dinner and wake you up at the same time.

Lisa: "...."

What an accurate guess. Are all smart people this good at guessing things?

Jungkook: What's wrong? Is the food not to your taste?

Lisa: No, I just didn't want to eat anything from unknown sources, so I figured I'd ask.

Jungkook: The restaurant has good reviews, and I often deliver food from this place. Their food tastes delicious.

Lisa: But isn't it more convenient if you delivered it yourself?

Jungkook: I was afraid you wouldn't want to see me.

After Jungkook sent this message, he immediately followed up with another: I'll bring you some lunch at noon tomorrow.

Lisa: You think I want to see you tomorrow?

Jungkook: Should I wear a mask?

Lisa smiled.

After finishing the food Jungkook had ordered for her, she dragged the big suitcase she had abandoned in the living room and began to put things away.

She lamented the fact that she wasn't able to have fun and play during her visit to North Korea. She just ran around, carrying numerous bags of shopping. Lisa resolved that the next time she went shopping, she would find someone to carry her bags for her.

----

The next morning, Jungkook got up early to prepare breakfast. However, when he went out of his room, he heard something moving in the kitchen. He stood by his bedroom door and listened for a while. Someone was cooking.

He walked into the kitchen, and sure enough, someone got up even earlier than him and started cooking.

"Mom?" Jungkook called out in surprise when he saw mother Jeon. "Why did you get up so early?"

Mother Jeon had a spoon in her hand and was stirring some porridge in a pot. She said: "I thought I'd make breakfast for you."

These past couple of days, Jungkook would take the time and have a good chat with her every day. After a while, mother Jeon managed to talk more and more smoothly. She looked at him and said: "Go and wash up. I'm almost finished here."

Jungkook was worried about her body, but after some thought, he smiled at her and replied: "Alright. Take your time."

Mother Jeon used to be quite a good cook, but she hadn't cooked anything in recent years. She was a little rusty, but it didn't affect the overall taste. After three years, Jungkook was finally going to taste his mother's cooking again. His heart didn't know what to feel.

"Well? I haven't lost my touch?" She didn't know if it was because she ate Jungkook's cooking for the past three years, but mother Jeon felt that her cooking wasn't as delicious as her son's.

"No, mom's food is the best." Jungkook answered.

Mother Jeon couldn't help but laugh. "When did you get so eloquent? Is it because you're finally dating someone?"

Jungkook became somewhat bashful, but then mother Jeon's expression turned serious. "Jungkook ah, I didn't have a very good attitude towards Lisa before. See if you can invite her to come home sometime, I'll cook dinner as an apology."

Jungkook replied: "Don't worry, mom. Concentrate on recuperating first and just take things slowly."

She smiled. "I stayed home all these years, ah. And it's not like I'm doing any heavy lifting. Although my physical strength isn't what it used to be, I can still cook a meal."

She looked at Jungkook and saw that he had bowed his head to drink his porridge instead of replying to her. It was quiet for a moment, then mother Jeon asked: "Did something happen with you and Lisa?"

Jungkook lightly replied: "Un, I mentioned breaking up with her, and Lisa hasn't forgiven me for it."

Mother Jeon was stunned. But she didn't ask why he tried to break up with Lisa.

She knew it was because of her.

Jungkook put down his bowl and looked at his mother. "Mom, I've decided to take the postgraduate exam. I've also decided to pursue Lisa again. I don't know if I can give her a good life, but I'm going to do my best."

After he said this, mother Jeon put down the spoon she was holding and looked at her son. After a long while, she said: "Do what you want to do. Mom can't and won't stop you."

Although he had strengthened his resolve, he hadn't expected mother Jeon to accede so easily. He had heard her heart-breaking cries outside the operating room. His father's tragic end had hit mother Jeon hard, and Jungkook hadn't expected her to willingly chance it a second time.

"Mom..."

She looked at him in the eye and smile. "To be honest, I really don't want you to walk the same road your father did. This line of work is really tough. But then, I think about Lisa's words. She's right; I shouldn't imprison you. I don't want you to regret your life when you grow old, especially if its a regret your mother caused."

Years ago, she taught some children in her dance group. The children loved to dance, but some of their parents were strongly opposed to it. There was a little girl who secretly took her class, but in the end, she was discovered, and her parents literally dragged her away from class.

She had once tried her best to urge the parents to understand their children, but somehow, she had become the very thing she had tried to oppose.

"Mom doesn't want the memories of your mother to end up being filled with hate."