Starlight Encounters

Can't Wait

"Some traditions were made to be broken"
                                                                                                                                          

Word Count: 1024

The digital clock on Jungkook's nightstand blinked 11:42 PM, its red glow taunting him. He tossed and turned, his mind racing with thoughts of tomorrow's engagement and, more importantly, of Lisa. Sleep was a lost cause.

With a resigned sigh, Jungkook kicked off his superhero-printed blanket and sat up. "This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I'm a grown man. I can totally handle one night away from her."

Five minutes later, he found himself tiptoeing down the hallway towards Lisa's room, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

Reaching her door, Jungkook raised his hand to knock, then paused. What if she was already asleep? What if she got mad at him for breaking tradition? What if—

The door suddenly swung open, revealing a slightly frazzled-looking Lisa in her favorite oversized t-shirt adorned with a sleepy sloth.

"kook?" she whispered, eyebrows raised in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

He flashed her his most charming smile. "Would you believe me if I said I was sleepwalking?"

Lisa rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward. "Sleepwalking with your eyes open and straight to my door? Try again, Romeo."

"Okay, you got me," Jungkook admitted, leaning against the doorframe with an exaggerated sigh. "I just couldn't bear the thought of spending one more minute apart from the love of my life, the light of my days, the—"

"Alright, alright," Lisa cut him off, fighting back a laugh. "Get in here before you wake up the whole house with your dramatics."

Jungkook didn't need to be told twice. He slipped into her room, immediately flopping onto her bed and spreading his arms wide. "Ah, much better. Your room smells like you. It's intoxicating."

Lisa shut the door and turned to face him, arms crossed but eyes twinkling with amusement. "You do realize this goes against every engagement tradition, right? We're supposed to be apart the night before."

"Pfft, traditions," Jungkook scoffed, propping himself up on his elbows. "I'm more of a trendsetter, babe. Besides," he added with a wink, "I don't play by the rules."

"Oh really?" Lisa arched an eyebrow. "And what would your mother say if she knew you were here?"

Jungkook's eyes widened comically. "She'd probably lecture me for an hour about propriety and then make me write 'I will respect tradition' a hundred times on a chalkboard." He shuddered dramatically. "Let's keep this our little secret, shall we?"

Lisa couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. She moved to sit beside him on the bed, shaking her head fondly. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Impossibly charming? Impossibly handsome? Impossibly—"

"Impossibly full of yourself," Lisa finished, poking him in the ribs.

Jungkook caught her hand, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss. "Only because you fill my heart to bursting, my dear."

Despite herself, Lisa felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Smooth talker," she mumbled.

"I try," Jungkook grinned, then his expression softened. "But really, Lis. I just... I couldn't sleep. Kept thinking about tomorrow, about us, about how lucky I am."

Lisa's mock exasperation melted away. She leaned in, resting her forehead against his. "I know what you mean. I was having trouble sleeping too."

"Yeah?" Jungkook's eyes lit up. "So, you missed me too?"

"Don't push it," Lisa warned, but there was no heat in her words. "I was just... excited. Nervous. Happy."

"All of the above," Jungkook nodded sagely. "Plus a dash of 'wow, I can't believe she actually said yes to spending her life with this goofball.'"

Lisa laughed softly. "Well, you're my goofball. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just enjoying each other's presence. Jungkook absently played with a strand of Lisa's hair, while she traced patterns on his palm.

"Hey," Jungkook said suddenly, sitting up straighter. "I've got an idea."

Lisa eyed him suspiciously. "Why do I feel like I should be worried?"

"No, no, it's good, I promise!" He hopped off the bed, extending his hand to her with a flourish. "Dance with me?"

"Dance?" Lisa blinked. "Now? There's no music."

Jungkook shrugged, undeterred. "So? We'll make our own. Come on, future Mrs. Jungkook. Let me sweep you off your feet."

Lisa hesitated for a moment, then took his hand with a resigned smile. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love it," Jungkook countered, pulling her close.

They swayed together in the middle of Lisa's room, illuminated only by the soft glow of her bedside lamp. Jungkook hummed a tune under his breath, some pop song they'd heard on the radio a hundred times.

"You know," Lisa murmured after a while, her head resting on Jungkook's shoulder, "this is nice. Breaking tradition a little."

"See? I told you I'm a trendsetter," Jungkook said smugly.

Lisa lifted her head to look at him, her expression mock-serious. "Don't let it go to your head. I still expect a proper proposal tomorrow, mister."

"Oh, don't you worry," Jungkook assured her with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I've got it all planned out. Skywriting, flash mob, trained dolphins—the works."

"Jungkook!" Lisa gasped, half-laughing, half-horrified.

He chuckled, twirling her around. "Kidding, kidding. Mostly. You'll just have to wait and see."

As they continued their impromptu dance, Jungkook couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly Lisa fit in his arms. Tomorrow, he'd make it official in front of their friends and family. But tonight, in this quiet moment, it already felt like forevaer.

"Hey, Lis?" he whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I love you. Like, a whole lot."

Lisa smiled against his chest. "I love you too, you big sap."

"Enough to let me stay here tonight?" Jungkook asked hopefully.

Lisa pulled back, fixing him with a stern look. "Nice try, Romeo. But you're going back to your room in..." she glanced at the clock, "ten minutes."

"Ten minutes, huh?" Jungkook waggled his eyebrows. "Whatever shall we do with such precious time?"

In response, Lisa stood on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. When she pulled away, Jungkook's eyes were wide with pleasant surprise.

"Well," he said, a bit breathlessly, "that's certainly a good start."

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Jungkook and Lisa savored their stolen moments together. And if Jungkook ended up staying a little longer than ten minutes... well, some traditions were made to be broken.

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