Enthralled || Liskook

Chapter 61

Lisa's mother is talking with her colleagues from the Sports Bureau. When Lisa arrived, she said hello to her mother first and followed Yoongi inside the hall. 

Lisa clutched the strap of her bag, a nervous habit that flared whenever she felt out of place. 

She stole a glance at Yoongi, his face uncharacteristically somber. 

A simple portrait of Mr. Kang dominated the room, a stern-faced man with kind eyes that seemed to hold a lifetime of unspoken stories. 

Wreaths of white lilies and chrysanthemums overflowed from stands around the perimeter, the scent heavy and cloying. 

Lisa's heart ached. The snippets of conversation she overheard painted a picture 

of a family fractured by loss. 

Two daughters, one gone too soon, leaving a child behind. A son-in-law and a handful of apprentices, the weight of grief and responsibility settling heavily on their shoulders. 

Yoongi dipped a pen into the inkwell at the entrance, his movements deliberate. He signed the book, then offered the pen to Lisa, his touch lingering on hers for a fleeting moment. A silent question hung in the air: had she seen him yet? 

Lisa scanned the room, a cold knot forming in her stomach. The sea of faces blurred, none of them the one she desperately hoped to find. 

Disappointment pricked at her, a sharp counterpoint to the somber mood of the hall. 

Lisa's thumb hovered over her phone screen, the familiar glow of a beacon in the muted light. 

Should she send a message, a simple “I'm here” to Jungkook? But a voice, warm and familiar, cut through her thoughts. 

It was ParkJimin, his presence a comfort in the unfamiliar space. 

A group descended the stairs, Jungkook at the forefront, Namjoon by his side. Both were clad in black, a stark contrast to the colors of life swirling around them. It had only been three days since she'd last seen him, a fleeting glimpse after his early return from the Open. 

Yet, his form seemed gaunt, a hollowness etched into his face that mirrored the loss of weight clinging to his frame. His once well-fitting shirt hung loosely, a silent testament to his inner turmoil. 

Lisa’s gaze met his, and a sharp pang shot through her chest. It felt like a physical blow, a blade twisting in her heart. 

Jungkook's steps faltered, the world seeming to slow its pace around him. All eyes turned, a silent vigil, but no words, no gestures to break the heavy weight of grief. 

As he paused, Namjoon and the others behind him mirrored his stance, the weight of responsibility settling on their shoulders. 

Lisa held her breath, trapped in a scene unfolding in slow motion. 

There, just a meter away, stood the man she ached for. 

Jungkook's mind, usually a whirlwind of plans and decisions, was a barren landscape. The weight of the past few days, the endless arrangements and pronouncements, had left him numb. He looked at his girlfriend, the one person he longed to confide in, yet words failed him. 

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until Yoongi stepped in. His voice, a gentle nudge, broke the spell. 

"If there's anything you need, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask." 

Jungkook offered a grateful pat on Yoongi's arm. The silent gesture spoke volumes, the help in keeping Lisa calm over the past two days, ensuring her smooth arrival and safe return, was enough.