Between The Bars | A Lizkook AU

14.

He stares unwaveringly at the small canvas before him, recalling one of the sweet nights that they've spent together. Briefly he wondered - for the millionth time - how could he ever swapped all these delicate and wonderful memories with something so alien...so new and so...so temporary. Did he hit his head and got amnesia within those 2 months?? Perhaps it would be a better scenario if he did. 

"I normally let the customers keep their own painting. It's already included in the fees. But this girl - she insisted to leave it here. If I'm not mistaken, she said she'll draw new ones since she'd learned how to paint," The owner said, also staring at the canvas in Jungkook's hands. 

His grips tightened. 'New ones'? That's a painting of him! Sure, it didn't have his face - but he knew that silhoutte is his and the lone street is where they had that conversation. Did she meant she's letting him go by leaving this painting here? Does 'new ones' means she's going to paint someone else??

The thought starts roaming in his mind and within seconds, he felt anxious again. "Ahjussi, are there anything else that maybe she left? Or told you about? Do you remember?" The old man's eyes wandered around - recollecting the memories from last month. 

"I can't remember much. Like I said, I have a lot of visitors," 

Jungkook nods. Of course, he can't force the man to recall on much. The fact that he still remembers Lisa alone is already an accomplishment by itself.

"What I do remember are those words she said...and herself," The man continues. "She came in looking a little lost. When I told her there's still an empty slot, she looked relieved and relaxed a little. She was quiet at first - following every steps carefully. It's not until the session was done that she smiled and laughed. I always go around and talk about the paintings they've done. I saw this and I asked her - I told her that her strokes are nice. It's a bit rough, but I can still see the outcome clearly so I asked her to practice and she'll get better. Then I asked her what this painting is about. She said it's about a boy who said she shines like the moon - brighter than any stars,"

He can't help but sigh a smile. 

"There was this look on her...and I felt like it would be intrusive for me to ask. She seemed like - like she was thinking about something really hard,"

"Did she um...did you see if she was crying?" Please say no, please say no -

The old man shook his head. Oh, thank God! "She was very memorable - that girl! The session ended and the customers were leaving, but she stayed. I was cleaning up and - and she helped me! I said 'no, no, you don't have to do that!' but she kept saying it's okay! She asked me if it's okay if she stays for a while. I made her hot tea and I think - ah yes, she said she's waiting for someone to pick her up -"

"Someone?" Someone who??

"Yes, yes!! She stayed for a while - not more than an hour I think - then a car came and stops right in front," The man gestured out on the street. "She got up and thanked me. When she got out the door, I noticed that she forgot this painting. So I chased her to give it, but she insisted for me to keep it. She said she'll practice and make new ones,"

"Ahjussi, did you - by any chance - saw the driver? Is it a woman or a man?"

"Aahhh...a man! I saw when she opened the door - it's definitely a man!"

Jungkook's heart drops within a second! A...a man...a man picked her up...she'll make new ones...

"Son, are you okay?" The voice echoes and Jungkook looks around the small space - his eyes are roaming wildly as if it's searching for something - for what, hope? He felt suffocated and the beatings inside his chest thumps louder and harder. "Son?"