𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 - 𝐥𝐤

chapter twenty four: garden

"Hyung!" Jungkook screamed at the top of his lungs. They were in the backyard, a space Yoongi preferred to call "the garden," where they had been passing the time over a few bottles of soju.

"What?" Jimin said, a smirk on his face. He knew how excited and giddy the younger man was feeling.

"Hyung, it's Lisa! I can't believe it!" Jimin rolled his eyes. Since the siblings had gone out to explore the city, Jungkook had done nothing but blabber about her.

"Okay, Jungkook, I think you've had enough. Let's get you inside; I know you're drunk." Jimin stood up and picked up the empty soju bottles—three of them—placing them behind some bushes with the others. He brought the red cups and the ice bucket inside.

"Come on, let's go," he said, nudging the younger man, who just couldn't stop smiling.

"You're crazy, and probably drunk, so let's go inside, Jungkook. This isn't funny anymore," Jimin said in an authoritative tone, which made Jungkook open his eyes.

"I'm fine, hyung. I can manage myself. You should go in now." Jimin sighed and let him be.

"Yeah, right. Just don't stay up late," the elder said before leaving.

Jungkook stared at the night sky, closing his eyes. All he could see were stars, and the moment he did, an image of her flashed in his memory. He smiled like an idiot, happy that her face—her features—was so beautiful.

He felt her presence so close when he opened his eyes. He must be drunk, he thought. He closed his eyes again and even slapped himself, but then he heard a low chuckle.

"Ah, Jungkook, you must be drunk," he said to himself.

"Maybe?" Lisa smirked at him. His entire system was caught off guard. He was talking to Lalisa Manoban herself.

"You're real?" he blurted out. He didn't know what to do. Should he introduce himself? Shake her hand? Avoid eye contact? He was completely clueless.

Lisa just laughed. "Of course. Why would I be fake?" She took a seat beside him, only a few feet away. The girl he had been searching for for almost ten years was now sitting right next to him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Oh, I mean, what are you doing here in the garden? At this hour?" he quickly rephrased his question.

"I just don't feel like sleeping yet, so," Lisa shrugged. It was the truth.

"Did you just get back?" he asked. She hummed in response.

"Where's your brother?"

"He'll be back in a bit, so you could say I'm waiting for him," she said with a matter-of-fact tone.

"Where did he go?" He tried to sound casual, but he knew he was just bombarding her with questions, making him sound creepy.

"You never run out of questions, do you?" she said with a grin. He bowed his head, feeling shy and embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled under his breath. Lisa just nodded to herself.

"What are you doing out here at this time?" she asked. Jungkook took a deep breath before answering.

"It's a habit." It truly was.

"How could I forget?" Her answer caught him off guard, again.

"Wh—" He couldn't form words. He was completely puzzled.

"Well, I was right all along," she said with a smile. "You're still just as dumb." She laughed to herself.

Wow, he missed that. He missed her laugh.

"Kookie, you've never changed." She smiled brightly at him, and at that moment, all he wanted to do was melt and scream from happiness.