𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 - 𝐥𝐤

chapter three: are you for real?

Jungkook finally awoke from his deep slumber at lunchtime the next day. He felt weak and his body was heavy, likely from jetlag. He'd stayed at Jimin's penthouse because it had been a long night already, and he needed a good rest.

Jimin never hesitated to twist the guest room's doorknob and roll Jungkook off the bed. "Jungkook, wake up. Don't you dare sleep on me, or I'll kick you out and charge you for your stay." Knowing Jungkook, he knew he would get up right away. And he was right.

With hooded, sleepy eyes, Jungkook sat up and flashed a smile at the elder, who just smacked him on the back of his neck.

"Get up, the food's waiting. Be down in two minutes, or I'm really going to kick you out," Jimin said, leaving the room without another word.

Lunch at the table was fun, filled with shared stories of things they'd missed. The catching-up was going well.

"Have you told the others you're back yet?" Jimin asked, taking a sip of his water.

"Not yet, I'll tell them later," Jungkook replied.

"Why did you come back? You didn't even leave any word behind," Jimin pressed. Jungkook's breathing got heavy, and he sighed.

"I—I came back for good, for business. Yes. For business," he said. Jimin stopped cutting an apple and looked at him in disbelief. Jungkook took a slice and shoved it in his mouth.

"Business? Or your little summer crush?" Jimin laughed. Jungkook smiled, admitting to himself that he really did come back in case he might see her again.

"Both?" he said.

"But honestly, are you for real? You said you haven't seen each other in ten years, and in that time you've still been trying to find her? You're unbelievable." Jimin was exaggerating again.

Jungkook took a faded photo out of his wallet and studied it. "I just don't lose hope that easily, hyung. I still hope I can see her one day and that she'll remember me."

Jimin's frown softened. He couldn't detect a hint of a joke in Jungkook's aura, so he walked over and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You know I'll always support you, no matter what you're going through."

"Stop it, Jimin, you're making me cringe," Jungkook said, though he secretly liked it when his friend acted so brotherly.

"You're in Korea, use your honorifics," Jimin said, a playful jab. "Anyway, have you at least caught her name? You know, your little Thai crush."

"Oh, her?" Jimin nodded, curious and eager to know the answer. Jungkook had told him everything about her except her name.

"I don't know her name, but I know her nickname." Their nicknames were written on the back of the photo he was holding.

"Lisa."