Enthralled || Liskook

Chapter 62

Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut, the back of his hand pressing down a surge of possessiveness. 

Over a year had passed since they'd officially become a couple, yet they'd only shared a mere 28 days together. He meticulously presented a flawless facade, masking the frustration, lethargy, and self-doubt that gnawed at him. 

Lisa, barely out of college at 22, hadn't witnessed the complexities of his true self. 

Placing himself in Lisa's parents’ shoes, a knot of worry tightened in his gut. At her age, marriage would raise red flags. 

Lisa drifted off first, the long flight and jet lag finally catching up with her. Jungkook remained awake, the silence heavy with unspoken thoughts. 

A jarring knock on the door ripped Lisa from a dream. Jungkook's eyes snapped open, mirroring her startled reaction. 

“Yoongi called Namjoon," Jimin's voice filtered through the door, a forced cough preceding his words. 

"Namjoon wants you two up. Don't dawdle. Just got back myself, and Lisa’s family is waiting." 

Jungkook glanced at his watch, the realization sinking in. Night had fallen, a stark contrast to his expectation of a lazy afternoon wake-up. 

Jimin's parting chuckle held a knowing edge before his retreating footsteps faded away. 

The door clicked shut. Jungkook rummaged through a box in the corner, pulling out a bottle of water to unscrew and quench his dry throat. 

Darkness had seeped in, a stark contrast to his expectation of a lazy afternoon nap. Lisa, surprised they'd slept so late, rubbed her shoulders and padded towards the window, seeking a breath of fresh air. 

The view revealed a large iron gate anda neighboring two-story building. "This place is much bigger than the old North City," Lisa sighed after a moment of taking in the scene. 

"There used to be just that second floor,” Jungkook responded, flicking on the light. "Namjoon took over when I quit. Everything you see out there? His credit." 

This wasn't news to Lisa, his cousin had mentioned it too. Namjoon was young when he shouldered the responsibility. 

"Can't just chase passion and dreams forever,” Jungkook muttered, a hint of emotion in his voice. "He should've gotten that arm surgery ages ago but kept putting it off for the sake of the club. His prime years were wasted juggling Busan Club. He could've achieved so much more." 

A genuine desire flickered in his eyes. He wished Namjoon could have a few free years, just playing the game he loved, a way to compensate for his decade of tireless dedication. 

"Why did you take over Busan Club now?" Lisa finally voiced the question that had gnawed at her since their return. 

"Honestly, I wasn't keen at first," Jungkook admitted. 

"There's the whole respecting the teacher thing, but Namjoon and I have different philosophies. He wants to use star power to expand the industry, while I dream of cultivating a cultural atmosphere for Nine Ball, similar to snooker in the UK. When I returned to South Korea, I planned to go solo, but after a couple of talks with the teacher, he surprised me with his support. ‘Just do it,’ he said. Those were his exact words." 

Kang Jaewon's temperament most closely mirrored Jungkook's own. The teacher's quiet persuasion held the most sway over Jungkook, ultimately shifting his perspective. 

~~~~~~~~~~

With Yoongi's insistent urging, Jungkook ushered Lisa downstairs, cutting their conversation short.