𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 - 𝐥𝐤

chapter twelve: it can't be

Jungkook grabbed his third bag of chips for the hour, growing tired of waiting for his hyung. "Be there in twenty" had been an hour ago, and it was now nearly eleven o'clock.

He placed his laptop on the table before closing it. While waiting, he had gotten through all the emails and sponsorship offers. He decided to turn on the TV, and luckily, his favorite comedy series was on—a perfect way to pass the time. He was laughing so hard he could barely breathe until a commercial break started.

He got up to grab a glass of water as an ad came on: a pastel-themed commercial with flowers everywhere and on the models' faces. Jungkook didn't pay much attention at first, but then one model caught his eye: the blonde. He couldn't shake the feeling that she looked incredibly familiar. Her big eyes, her bangs—everything about her. The ad ended. It couldn't be his childhood friend, Lisa? He immediately dismissed the thought. There were too many people who looked like her in the world, plus, Lisa wasn't blonde. The commercial was for a new cosmetics company, and it was a successful ad, with models who were instant eye candy. Jungkook simply shrugged the thought away.

He had just gotten back to the couch when the door opened. "Jungkook!" Jimin shouted.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "You're a rich, famous model with the highest talent fees, and you can't even check the time, you dumbass," he said, laughing as Jimin scrunched up his face.

"I was in a meeting, okay? It's a great opportunity I couldn't pass up," Jimin said, sitting down on the couch and setting down a bag of takeout food. "And I got tangled with the paparazzi, so I'm sure I'll be all over the articles now." Jimin sighed, exhausted. He took off his shoes and jacket, slouching on the couch. Jungkook just let him be.

"Care to tell me why?" Jungkook asked, pulling food out of the brown bags and placing it on the table: lamb skewers, pizza, and a veggie salad just for Jimin. Jungkook waited for his answer as he got a tub of ice cream and some chips from his own snack bar. He was a boy who never minded a lot of food.

"I was caught leaving the YG building with a model, who, apparently, is my new collaborator. You know I'm under the YG label, right?" Jungkook nodded. "So yeah, this model is an independent soul, but it wasn't her first time there. She was asked to model for YG's new cosmetics and clothing line." Jungkook hummed, busy with his food but still paying attention.

"She's a big name in the modeling industry, and I'm just worried the media will interpret the wrong thing." The issue was clearly stressing him out.

Jimin grabbed a handful of his own food and decided to change the topic. "So, how's your soul searching?"

"Soul searching?"

"I mean, soulmate searching," Jimin laughed.

"Come on, hyung, get to the point."

Jimin was taken aback. "Really, Jungkook? How's your search for your summer friend?"

"I told you, I'm here for business." Jimin didn't seem convinced.

"Promise?" a grin plastered on Jimin's face.

"Fine!" Jungkook whined.

"What was her name again?"

"Lisa."

Jimin was puzzled. "No surname?"

"Told you I forgot to ask," Jungkook said, scratching the back of his neck as Jimin laughed at him.

"Let's get over it, hyung. Who's the model you were referring to?" Jungkook finally asked.

"Ah, Lalice," Jimin said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "One of the biggest names in modeling, and now I get to work with her."

Jungkook fell silent. Lalice. The name rang a bell. Jungkook fished his wallet out and took out the old picture. "Anything wrong, Jungkook?"

He didn't need to say a word. He showed Jimin the picture he always carried with him.

"Does she happen to look like the girl in that photo?" Jungkook asked, nervously gulping.

"Yeah, she's quite close to Lalice. Wait, is that a fifteen-year-old you?" Jimin laughed, but Jungkook remained silent.

"Hey—" Jimin started, but then it all clicked. The picture Jungkook had been carrying for years was of him and the very friend he'd been searching for.

"It can't be."