keep it real with me ➵ taelice [hiatus]

[2] and they were ROOMMATES

Lisa and Taehyung still kept in touch even after he had graduated and left the campus to focus on the company and its subsidiaries he was supposed to inherit from his father.

Their mission to push Jungkook and Chaeyoung together was a complete, yet a disastrous, success. They have been dating for a year now, even after the havoc they have caused on their first, second, and third dates. Lisa was a witness, along with Taehyung of course.

They hid behind menus at a restaurant she can barely afford to keep an eye on the two, yet Taehyung was insistent and kind enough to pay for their meals which was totally out of the blue. Taehyung reasoned out though, that it would be weird if they sat there without anything on the table. Lisa promised to pay him back.

She never did.

Sometimes it bothered her, sometimes she thinks she's been leeching off of Taehyung's fortune in those getaways they used to go to when they were both wide awake at three in the morning. Most of those times were rooted from being sexiled by Jungkook and Chaeyoung. He had nowhere to go. Poor chaebol.

But Taehyung always reassured her that he liked treating her, and that she deserves it.

It was adorable—how Taehyung would always be outside her class every tuesdays because that's when they have free time together; how Lisa brings him his coffee whenever he has a late night class. It went on for the whole semester until Taehyung had to graduate and Lisa was left behind for two years more.

It's funny, to be honest. They acted like a couple yet their relationship was purely platonic in their eyes. Once, they had talked about being more than friends but they only cringed and laughed at the crazy and disgusting idea. It was Taehyung who started it.

It was a fun semester they have shared, and it was never the same the moment he had left the grounds of university. They met casually once a month but it had never compared to before.

Lisa misses him, and it sucks. It sucks so bad.

On the day of Lisa's graduation, Taehyung was there because her parents could not make it. They were Australia, trying to expand her father's restaurant.

And it was okay, it was okay as long as Taehyung is there.

He surprised her with a large bouquet, an odd combination of sunflowers and lilies—sunflowers because it was her favorite and lilies because… Well because Taehyung calls her lili and he likes to add that detail.

Sadly, Taehyung had to go for a family dinner after the ceremony.

Lisa and Chaeyoung packed up their things from the dorm. The last box in hand, Lisa looked back at the dorm they had stayed in for four years of their lives and sighed happily.

"I'm going to miss this place." Chaeyoung's voice resonated from her old room, still loud for Lisa to hear. Truly, this place held so much memories for the both of them. Memories that will last for a lifetime.

"I ain't going to miss the lack of food here, though." Lisa commented and scrunched her nose once Chaeyoung was in view.

"Shut up." Chaeyoung chuckled and with that, they closed the door behind them to open a new one that was waiting for them.

After staying for a month in her parents household, she decided to find herself a place that she can call her own. She loved the cozy vibe and homey feeling of the house no doubt, but she craved for independence. She wants to figure things out on her own.

That was why she and Taehyung were in the fourth apartment of the day, Lisa still not fully satisfied with the place.

She was choosy as fuck.

"This is getting annoying, Lili." Taehyung murmured when the real estate agent was out of sight. She had called him in the middle of the night to ask him to accompany her today. He had cleared his schedule to help her find an apartment yet here she was, never fully cooperating. She was truly feeling sorry for him.

"I'm sorry Taetae, I just want it to be perfect." She pouted. "If only Chaeyoung did not move in with Jungkook, we could have still been roommates."

Yep, Jungkook bought them an apartment. She remembered how Chaeyoung was screaming and crying in her ears when Jungkook surprised her with a key to their new life together. It was heartwarming, yet it was also the time when her plans have crumbled right before her eyes.

They were supposed to get an apartment together!

Now that that's out of the few options she has, she was now stuck with colorful brochures and addresses of possible homes yet none of them really struck her.

"But you aren't anymore. If you were to ask my opinion, the second one we visited was the best one yet."

"Well, good thing I didn't ask for your opinion." She responded. And oh, the glare Taehyung gave her.

Good thing she was used to it.

Three more apartments had gone yet Lisa was still unhappy with all of them. They sat in Taehyung's new living room in a grand yet clean apartment he had just bought a few months back.

"I can still call up agents if you want." Taehyung suggested while taking a sip of his favorite wine. He loosened his tie as well.

"I've bothered you too much already, I can find one soon, I hope." Lisa sighed and sank on the carpet she was sitting on, her head falling back on the seat of the sofa. She closed her eyes in disappointment that none of the seven addresses fit her taste.

She wanted an apartment that feels cozy and warm, just like her parents house; she also wants it to be fun and bright like the dorm she and Chaeyoung used to share; she wants to be near the studio she's working at; and of course, she needs one that will fit her budget.

To summarize, it's impossible.

Might as well move back to Thailand or something. She's hopeless.

"Do you think Jungkook will be mad if I asked him to move in with them. I heard they have a guest room."

"Right, you'll regret that. You're going to be sexiled at least four times a week, and then what? You'll come here and bother me."

"Why don't I live here then?" She asked with humor toned in her voice. It was meant to be a joke, yet Taehyung did not catch it. He suddenly sat up straight and loud, making Lisa open her eyes in surprise. Taehyung settled the glass that were between his fingertips on the coffee table, his gaze on Lisa.

"You know what? I think that's a great idea." His boxy smile were wider in just seconds. "It makes sense, Lili! Your studio is right around the corner from here and based on what I have experienced, the heater I got is quite warm and I got all those fluffy blankets you keep on gifting me EVERY christmas, and you have me! I'm a fun guy, you know? It would benefit the both of us too, it gets lonely here when I'm alone-"

"Get a dog you lonely man. I don't want to feel like I'm just hanging out with you for your money because I am not. I can't just accept your offer when you've already given me so much, mad man."

"Well, if it will make you feel better, I'll make you pay rent so you would never think that you're 'leeching' off of my fortune or whatever that was you keep on saying. And we can get a dog!"

"You just want me for my tying skills."

"That, too."

Taehyung did make wonderful use of Lisa's tying skills everyday instead of giving her five ties on a sunday morning for her to tie his ties for the rest of the week.

They did get a dog (and a cat, too) far after she had moved in after Taehyung's fruitful convincing and insistence.

And that was how they became roommates.