Neighbor Next Door

3

They leave on the 14th, which is Friday. Turns out, Lisa's hometown is only 3 hours away from Seoul. Chaeyoung wonders as the lawyer's Range Rover sprints on the expressway, if it's too late to cancel her plan?

Lisa doesn't like music, that's the first thing she learns about the lawyer in the first five seconds when they get inside the car.

Her radio is shut, and she trades nothing except the white noise of her breathing. Chaeyoung isn't sure why she's anxious.

Usually, she's the quickest to fall asleep in a ride like this. But suddenly it feels inappropriate to do that today.

"Are you okay?" Lisa asks. It doesn't help Chaeyoung that much that she sounds scared too.

"It's okay if you want me to turn back,"

She keeps her eyes on the road but Chaeyoung notices the shaky of her hands around the wheel. Someone only shakes like that if they are terrified. Or embarrassed.

Chaeyoung knows Lisa is nowhere afraid of her. But embarrassment is something else. "I'm fine," Chaeyoung smiles widely.

"It's just, I'm not used to driving quietly like this," she looks at the radio then sheepishly asks if she can turn the volume on a bit. "Unless it's broken or something..."

"It's not broken," Lisa says. "It's just, I like to drive in silence,"

"Oh," Chaeyoung frowns. "That's weird,"

"It's not weird," Lisa replies. "It just means, I like to be on my own ..." her voice thins at the end before she puffs her cheeks and asks Chaeyoung to proceed.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been selfish," She apologises shyly. "I mean, it's already a great favour I'm asking from you to come with me..."

"No worries," Chaeyoung pulls her phone out. "Do you mind if I connect it to my playlist? We can jive together if you know the lyrics,"

"Sure," Lisa presses the button and the radio comes alive. Another click, and it's connected to Chaeyoung's phone at hand.

"I usually listen to rusty old songs. They make me feel calmer," The doctor explains as she proceeds to hit the play button and a voice begins to sing in the background.

"You know this song?" Chaeyoung asks her excitedly. "It's from Full House"

"Full House?" Lisa tugs her eyebrows. Then, briefly, she gives Chaeyoung a confused look. "What is that?"

"You are kidding right?"

"No,"

"No way you don't know Full House!"

Chaeyoung covers her mouth in full surprise. "It's the famous k drama"

"I don't really watch them growing up," Lisa explains. Her face slowly turns into tomato shade. "My mum won't let me,"

"Is it safe to say she's a bummer?" Chaeyoung asks and Lisa shrugs. "I think she did what she thought was the right thing," The lawyer explains. "Three of us are successful thanks to my mother,"

"Well, my mother let me watch lots of things growing up," Chaeyoung breaks into a story session. She turns just in the right angle so that she can see Lisa. "But that doesn't mean she's a bad mom, you know. I'm still a doctor today,"

Lisa nods her head. "I assume our mothers are different"

"Yep," Chaeyoung pops the p. Another song plays in the background as Lisa speeds. "My dad is a retired police officer. Did I tell you about that?"

"No," Lisa clears her throat. "I had no idea joyful Mr. Park was a policeman,"

Chaeyoung giggles. "He was in the service until recently. Now, he's practically lounging at home. Sometimes, you can find him at the clinic where he'd be helping as the admin,"

"I see. So, are you planning to take over the business after this?"

"I don't know. My mum expects me to. But I guess I want to do something else"

"Really? Like what?"

"I probably want to be a Youtuber"

"What?"

"Yep," Chaeyoung laughs. "I really want to be a Youtuber. But then when I was 17, I saved someone by performing CPR on him while the ambulance was rerouting and it wasn't the best thing I wanted to remember but it's kind of the driving force why I want to be a doctor. I want to save people,"

"You're a doctor now," Lisa smiles briefly. "I guess you've achieved your dream. I'm happy for you," She turns to look at Chaeyoung and the blonde won't lie if she feels a little bit at the edge of getting a total heart attack. How can someone be so sinfully attractive like Lisa?

"But I still keep my old dream with me," The doctor rummages through her bag and pulls out an action camera. "Jennie got this for my birthday, three years ago and I haven't found the right time to use it. I guess now is the right time," She giggles before turning the power on and begins to record a very flustered Lisa.

"Don't do that," Lisa begs. One hand swatting the camera away while the other stays fixed around the wheel. "Don't record me," She blushes but Chaeyoung ignores her. "Come on, say hi to the camera,"

"I'm shy," Lisa says. "Come on. Just a simple hello will do"

Lisa considers for a second before nodding her head. Eyes on the road.

"Annyeong. It's Attorney Lisa Manoban,"

"Yah, this is not a criminal investigation" Chaeyoung points out. "Just introduce yourself normally,"

"Alright," Lisa swallows. "Hi," She makes a small wave at the camera. "I'm Lisa Manoban"

"And I'm Park Chaeyoung," The blonde copies the precise action. Then, both of them are laughing as the camera continues to roll. "Today, we're heading to ... I'm not sure you have told me about ..."

"Chunhae" Lisa supplies. "It's my mother's family seat,"

"Family seat..."

Chaeyoung wonders for a moment. She isn't sure what that means so she looks up once again at the driving lawyer. "My mother is from Chunhae," Lisa describes. "Her whole family line has always been there,"

"I see. Then you can just call it your hometown. Stop using big word to confuse me, attorney,"

"It's not" Lisa tries to defend herself but later brushes it off with another smile. They talk about something else, although it ends up only Chaeyoung talks the most while Lisa listens. But it feels fun. Almost at home.