Crushed And Bond

Chapter 1: A Return to Seoul

Bangkok, Thailand

7 years later

The soft glow of the smartphone screen illuminated the dimly lit room as a small figure huddled in the corner of the couch, tiny fingers tapping away with practiced precision. Seven-year-old Jiyeon , her dark eyes wide with curiosity, focused intently on the screen as she captured her mother's every word.

Across the room, Lalisa paced back and forth, her voice echoing through the room as she spoke in hushed tones into her own phone. "Yes, I understand. I'll be arriving in Seoul tomorrow morning," she murmured, her tone clipped and businesslike.

Unbeknownst to Lalisa, every word she uttered was being captured on film, a silent witness to her plans and intentions. Jiyeon, hidden from view, held the phone aloft, her heart racing with nervousness at the prospect of her mother's impending journey. She knew her mother had left Korea because something had happened back then but she did not know what had happened.

As Lalisa continued her conversation, unaware of the tiny filmmaker in her midst, Jiyeon couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Her mother, with her air of quiet determination and unwavering strength, was a force to be reckoned with.

But behind the facade of confidence, Jiyeon sensed a flicker of uncertainty in Lalisa's voice, a hint of vulnerability that she rarely showed to the outside world. It was a side of her mother that Jiyeon had only glimpsed in fleeting moments, hidden beneath layers of stoicism and composure.

As Lalisa hung up the phone and turned to leave the room, Jiyeon quickly hit the stop button on her recording, her heart pounding with dread. She knew that her mother's journey to Seoul held secrets and mysteries that she could only begin to imagine, but she was determined to uncover them all.

With a sad smile, Jiyeon tucked the phone into her pocket and layed down in the couch, her mind buzzing with thoughts at the prospect of the adventure that lay ahead.

Little did Lalisa know, her daughter's innocent recording would become a key piece in the puzzle of her return to Seoul, setting into motion a chain of events that would change their lives forever.

____

When Lalisa entered the room again, she saw her daughter cooped up at the end of the couch laughing loudly watching her favourite cartoon. Lalisa fell into a trance as she observed her daughter. 

When she flew abroad to Thailand after the unfortunte tragedy, She was completely broken, neither her family nor Jungkook was there to console her. She thought she was completely alone, fighting her war in loneliness, but then her daughter entered her life, illuminating it, making it brighter. Her presence gave her a reason to fight. Lalisa lived for her daughter.

As the evening sun cast a warm glow through the windows of their cozy apartment. With a soft smile, Lalisa settled beside her, wrapping an arm around her daughter's shoulders.

"Hey, Yeonie," Lalisa began, her voice gentle and soothing. "What are you watching?"

Jiyeon looked up, her eyes brightening at the sight of her mother. "Just some cartoons," she replied, though her tone lacked its usual enthusiasm.

Lalisa's brow furrowed in concern. She could sense the tension in Jiyeon's small frame, the unease that lingered beneath the surface. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice laced with gentle concern.

Mia hesitated, her gaze flickering uncertainly. "Mom," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "are we really going back to Seoul?"

Lalisa's heart squeezed with empathy as she saw the worry etched on her daughter's face. She pulled Jiyeon closer, tucking her against her side. "Yes, we are," she replied, her voice steady and reassuring. "But don't worry, sweetheart. We'll be okay."

Jiyeon leaned into her mother's embrace, seeking solace in the familiar warmth of her presence. "But what if..." she started, her voice trailing off as uncertainty gripped her once again.

Lalisa gently lifted Mia's chin, meeting her gaze with unwavering reassurance. "Listen to me, Ji," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I know things might seem scary right now, but I promise you, we'll get through this together. You and me, okay?"

Jiyeon nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible above a whisper.

With a tender smile, Lalisa pressed a kiss to Jiyeon's forehead, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "That's my brave girl," she murmured, holding Jiyeon close as they embraced the uncertainty of the journey ahead, together. 

"Mom, can i ask a question?" The young girl looked up to her mother with her eyes signing with curiosity.

"Hmm," Lalisa hummed.

"Will we meet Dad?"

___

As Lalisa and Jiyeon stood in the middle of their living room, surrounded by open suitcases and piles of clothes, Lalisa couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. She glanced over at Jiyeon, who was carefully folding her favorite stuffed animal into the depths of her backpack.

Her mind buzzed at the question her daughter asked earlier. She did not answer her, she kept quiet because she herself did not know whether they will meet Jungkook or not. But one thing was sure, she wasn't ready to face him.

"Mom, I am done."Jiyeon's voice broke her up from her trance.

"Mee too, let's go eat dinner now, we have to wake up early tomorrow for the flight." Lisa stood up, Jiyeon following her mothers footsteps to the kitchen.

____

The familiar skyline of Seoul greeted Lalisa as her plane descended toward Incheon International Airport. It had been seven long years since she last set foot in this land, and yet the city felt both foreign and achingly familiar all at once.

As she stepped off the plane and into the bustling terminal her hand holding her daughter"s hand securely, memories flooded back with each passing face and familiar scent. She could almost hear the echoes of laughter and chatter, the vibrant energy of a city that never slept.

But amidst the nostalgia, there was a knot of apprehension tightening in Lalisa's chest. She had returned to Korea not as the celebrated surgeon she once was, but as a woman haunted by the ghosts of her past. The accusations, the betrayal, the whispers of scandal – they all lingered like a shadow, threatening to engulf her once again.

With a determined set to her jaw, Lalisa pushed aside her doubts and made her way through the crowded terminal, her hand still being held by her daughter.

 She had a mission, a purpose that drove her forward with relentless determination. She would uncover the truth behind the tragedy that had destroyed her life, no matter the cost.

Outside the airport, a sleek black sedan awaited her, the driver holding a sign with her name printed neatly in bold letters. Lalisa slid into the backseat ,Jiyeon entering before her, the leather upholstery cool against her skin, and gave the driver the address of her hotel.

As they navigated the familiar streets of Seoul, Lalisa's thoughts drifted back to the events that had led her here. The accusations of negligence, the scrutiny of the media, the swift and merciless judgment of her peers – it was a nightmare she couldn't escape, no matter how far she fled.

But now, as she returned to the city that had once been her home, Lalisa refused to be defined by the mistakes of her past. She would clear her name, expose the truth, and reclaim her rightful place in the world.

As the car pulled up to the entrance of her hotel, Lalisa stepped out onto the bustling sidewalk, Jiyeon following behind her,taking her mother's hands onto her own to seek warmth in this foreign land. It may be familiar to her mother but it was completely strange to her. Her resolve hardened like steel. The journey ahead would be fraught with challenges and obstacles, but she was ready to face them head-on.

With a steely glint in her eyes, Lalisa and Jiyeon squared their shoulders and marched forward into the heart of Seoul, determined to uncover the secrets that lay buried beneath the surface and rewrite the narrative of Lisa's destiny.

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( a/n: It is 1 am in the morning and I am tired. BTW, hope you enjoyed. And do express your feelings in the comments. Vote and share, Bye ;) )