Enthralled || Liskook

Chapter 58

Berry chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. Witnessing Jungkook's relentless pursuit of Lisa was her personal Mount Everest, the story she'd boast about for years to come. 

Lisa, a solitary figure, leaned against the wall, his gaze tracking Jungkook's every move. He greeted teammates, his voice friendly yet reserved. This was his second time backstage, but the atmosphere crackled with a different energy. 

Last year, he was a mystery, a whisper of a name known only to a select few. Today, the faces surrounding him held a mixture of respect and a touch of fear, the faces of men he'd faced on the field, men he'd conquered. 

Jungkook, his signature baseball cap tucked under his arm, finally peeled away from the throng and headed straight for Lisa. 

She sank against the cool wallpaper, head tilted back as he neared. He brushed a hand through her hair, the touch lingering before a gentle kiss grazed her forehead. Silent congratulations for reaching the semi-finals. 

“I was here last year..." Her voice softened as she slipped a hand into his sweatshirt pocket. "I want to see you play again, the fans chasing after you." 

A young player behind Jungkook grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "Fans are waiting outside, glued to the live feed, champ." He switched to English. "Hold off on the usual exit for a bit." The player winked at Lisa, a knowing glint in his eyes. 

Jungkook offered a small smile, leaving the response unspoken. He preferred the image the local fans held of him right now, the victorious competitor. Now, he was just another face in the crowd. 

~~~~~~~~

Taehyung's unexpected surge to the semi-finals overshadowed everything else. That night, the celebratory dinner at RedFish felt like a muted afterthought. 

Lisa followed them, drawn by the promise of a night out and the whispered legend of RedFish's hidden jazz scene. 

The bar itself was unremarkable —worn wood, American diner booths, flickering neon signs. The real magic, they said, lay in the music, passed down by word of mouth like a secret handshake. 

But as the band launched into a rendition of "Yellow," a discordant note hung in the air. Was it the unexpected song choice, or the way the melody seemed to mock the raging blizzard outside? 

Lisa found herself mirroring Taehyung's movements, seeking refuge in a separate booth. Gone was the easy intimacy of the backstage, replaced by a tense silence punctuated only by stolen glances across the crowded room. 

Dawn broke, painting the sky a pale, indifferent gray. 

Lisa asked her cousin about the game last night. Thankfully it was aired at 3 A.M in Korea. She told her cousin to keep it a secret. 

Taking a small sip, she met Jungkook's gaze. "Silence can speak volumes, doesn't it?” 

“What are you getting at?" he countered, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. 

"Tell me about that night,” she pressed, leaning forward. "The truth." 

Ever since witnessing his Korea Open interview, a seed of doubt had sprouted within her. 

Jungkook, the man known for his quiet demeanor and off-the-charts EQ, had somehow navigated a media storm with just a dozen well-chosen words. It was admirable, undeniably, but a nagging voice whispered that the performance might have been for public consumption. Now, she yearned for a glimpse of the man behind the carefully crafted persona. 

Jungkook leaned across the bar, his voice a husky whisper. “It is all the truth, every word." 

He caught the flicker of doubt in Lisa's eyes, then a wry smile tugged at his lips. "Come," he murmured, his hand sliding around her waist as he gently coaxed her off the stool.