chasing girl wonder

burn the ice

After going around the hotel with Sorn, the Marketing Manager, and the Head of Security, Lisa's family, together with Roseanne and Tiger JK hung out at Poipu Surf located on the first floor of the Breathe Hotel for late afternoon snacks. Sangmoon joined them but seated at a separate table with headphones on. In their rounds, Roseanne managed to let Tiger JK in on the gist about what happened at the bathroom, and that Lisa would share the rest of the details. Tiger JK smiled at her trustfully, thanking her for her honesty and apologizing that she had to endure that pressure from Young-ae.

"It's cute that you call her Cub," Roseanne said while they were headed to the second floor where the spa was located.

Tiger JK cackled. "Well, I'm Tiger, so my kid's Cub. It's always been how I called her."

Roseanne decided not to get inside the spa, thinking their presence would ironically disturb the ones looking for a relaxed afternoon. Tiger JK said the same thing, and so they sat outside the lounge to continue their conversation. "Why are you called Tiger? Just curious."

"It started at my first job. I was winging it as a stockbroker, so people started calling me Tiger." Tiger JK laughed at himself, shaking his head. "I just added the JK so it wouldn't be a household name that people would dub as some gangster." He stroked his beard and hissed. "Because I look worse than today when I was younger."

Easily getting on with Tiger JK's light air around him, Roseanne laughed with him. "What's Lisa like growing up?"

Tiger JK looked up as if reminiscing about the early days. "Are you two good friends? I sense that you're a good kid. Just wanted to be sure you're not that evil wench's spy or something."

Gaping, Roseanne felt shy at her directness, realizing people were not aware of her friendship with Lisa. It was not like she had to tell everyone. It was just a bit of a weird connection that Lisa happened to be related to Suzy's family and how she ended up getting entangled with the family drama. "How—how do I prove that I'm Lisa's friend?"

"You already did when you told me about the bathroom shenanigan. Just being protective of Cub." Tiger JK chuckled. "Why do you want to know what she was like growing up? Lisa doesn't often talk about her past."

"Oh, we can forget about it, Tig. Sorry. I guess I was just... wondering about what you said last night," Roseanne said, fiddling with her thumbs. "How she never allowed herself to feel the slightest happiness. Like, ever."

"Cub's super stubborn, but real talk, who knows if she's laughing like crazy in her own room, right?!" Tiger JK said, snorting at his own joke.

Roseanne raised her shoulders. "That's a fair point."

"Did you just call me Tig too?"

"Oh, that's how Lisa calls you so..."

"Alright. Only the two of you call me that way. That's pretty special, then. Anyhow, no, she's just stubborn about," Tiger talked with his hands, "her little sister's death that happened over two decades ago. Man, I love to see that kid happy even just once."

"I'd think cooking makes her happy."

Tiger JK bobbed his head. "It does and I've seen her happy once when she perfected a consommé after twenty or so tries. Hahaha!"

Roseanne wrinkled her nose. "Oof. That's a tough one to make."

"And she was only fifteen when she did that!" Smiling, Tiger JK shook his head lightly in utmost admiration.

"Wow." Roseanne chuckled. "Maybe she needs to cook up something new—a challenge for her so we get to see her smile again, like, the real kind."