It had been three weeks since their short encounter at the stairs. Three miserable and confusing weeks for Jungkook. Miserable for him to realize every day that he's now single and adapting to the new routine that does not include texting or calling his girlfriend – or should he say, ex-girlfriend. Confusing because instead of missing or longing for her, he found himself thinking about Lalisa's soft voice and that damn mesmerizing eyes! It's almost all he could think about whenever he had a bit of free time for himself!

'Empathy is very rare nowadays. I can't even say that I have it...but if you heard it from where I was standing, you'd probably understand where I'm coming from when I say this. It's not your fault that she made that choice. Don't forget that,'

Those words...the most kind and heart-warming he had ever received from a stranger - kept replaying itself in his ears.

He tried to ignore the funny feeling he gets inside whenever she'd crossed his mind, and he kept justifying to himself that perhaps he's still in denial or shocked over the break-up. His members knew about it too, so they tried their best to talk to him about it. But Jungkook never mentioned about Lalisa Manoban, the girl who had been in his mind more than the person he thought he loved. Did he really love her then?

Is it normal to think about someone else when you're in love with another?

He should be sad – pissed even, but he wasn't. He recalled the night many times – not much about the break-up but more on when Lisa had left him to himself in the dark. The last words that she said had made a difference within such a short time! Instead of feeling the pain he had felt just minutes before, he stood there staring at the door for a good while, hoping that she'd come back and say more.

Then he breathed in the cool air by the window panels, rewinding the moments when she was standing in front of him, mumbling about and looking flustered all the while. Cute. When her bangs swiftly parted to the side, blown by the wind and the way her hands automatically reached up to fix it back in place. So beautiful. The subtle and awkward way of her distancing herself until she reached the door. Perhaps it was the dimmed lighting that enhanced her features. She looked and sounded like a dream.

He could tell that she wasn't like the others. She didn't take the situation for granted. Jungkook's not one to brag, but he's aware of how popular he is among female idols. He'd catch them stare at him during events and shows, some of them would even be bold enough to come up to him backstage and greet him along with unnecessary topics to start a conversation.

That's how his now-broken relationship started anyways. She had lingered around long enough to stamp her presence. His members would constantly tease him whenever things like these happen – even after he got a girlfriend. He never paid much attention after that, because his eyes were already glued on one.

Come to think of it, it all started the same night when he first saw Blackpink performed. Only now he can recall how the anticipation of seeing Lisa that night was cut short by the constant eye-locks from the other girl. When they all gathered backstage and preparing to leave after the event, she had approached him and boldly asked for his phone number. He got teased by his hyungs a lot that night.

He did get to see Lisa up close a few times after that though. It was always very short encounters as he had purposely crossed her path. Knowing from Taehyung how she's friends with Bambam, he actually made a move to stop his friend in the sea of idols at another event after, just so he could catch Lisa's eyes. He remembered thinking how she really do look like a living barbie. Petite, long legs, round eyes and cheeks...and hell of a beauty.

Now try as he might, he couldn't remember ever talking to Blackpink's maknae before the night of the breakup. He rarely see them at events and they are fairly new, being debuted only eight months ago. But he had properly greeted and congratulated her members once or twice at backstage before. Of course, she was with them, but she's always behind them, politely bowing to him and his group. The more he thought about it, the more it doesn't make sense why she would help him! Because it always seemed like she's trying to stay away.

Is she not a fan of his group? That can't be it, everyone's a fan of BTS nowadays. They'd set records and benchmarks. It's quite understandable if another boy group hates them, but the girls...no, he could see the blushing cheeks and fluttering eyes whenever he smiles at them. But never her. Or maybe he was too 'pre-occupied' to realize it. Maybe she's just the same as other girls but he just never bothered to see. Well she's not a shy person, that's for sure. He checked!

Yes, the three weeks of thinking about her had turned him into an online stalker. He'd spent days watching and re-watching Blackpink shows and whichever news outlets he could find, trying to get a glimpse of who Lalisa Manoban is. He'd seen her being friendly with the boys from iKon and Winner. It bothered the hell out of him, though he wasn't quite sure why.

He even created a fake Instagram account when he found out she has one! He's now one of the millions of random people on it to be following her. Funny thing is, he found out that there are many fans who shipped them together – editing pictures of him and Lisa side by side, claiming how they have so many similarities. It's weird that he never heard of this before.

"Yah, Jungoooo!" Yugyeom's loud slur brought him back to reality. "Why're you spacing out again? I'm telling you man, get over her!"

"Yeah, forget her, Kook! There are more girls out there – much more prettier, who'd kill to date you! You're Jeon Jungkook of Bangtan, you can pick whoever you want!" Jaehyun continued. That's a bit of an exaggeration, no?

Jungkook chuckled and shakes his head. If only they'd known how far he was from thinking about the break-up! He wasn't about to tell them either, knowing that the sole purpose of their hang out tonight is to help him 'get over it'. Jimin had called his 97 liners, asking for their help to get through to him, probably thinking that the issue was the reason of Jungkook distancing himself whenever he got the chance to.

"Bam, stop playing with your phone and help your bro out!" Yugyeom exclaimed. Jeez, only an hour in and the guy's already drunk! Mingyu too!

"Yeah, hang on, my friend is asking for help," Bambam said, his eyes fixed to his phone.

"Oooo...who's the friend Bam? Introduce her to me!" Jaehyun tried to grab the phone out of his hand but failed.

"Pabo!!" Bambam laughed. "How'd you even know if it's a girl?"

"If it's a guy, you'd always say his name, even if we don't know who he is. How long have we been friends man? Do you think I don't know you?" Jaehyun held a palm on his chest, pretending to feel hurt as Bambam continued to ignore him. "So who is it?"

"Lisa," He shrugged. The mention of her name brought Jungkook's attention.

"Blackpink Lisa?" He asked, leaning forward. "You're talking to her now?"

"Psh, of course he is – he's always talking to her! Funny that you're even asking, where have you been?"

"He was busy being in looove –" Mingyu butted in mockingly, which earned a smack on the head from Yugyeom.

"You know what you need, Kook?" Jaehyun patted his shoulder, but Jungkook couldn't focus on what he's saying as his attention is on Bambam's frowning face.

Is she okay? What help does she need from him? Is she in trouble? What does Jae mean by that - how often do they speak to each other? I know they're friends, but how close exactly are they?

Questions came to his mind one after the other like a bursting pipe. It frustrates him, for some reason, wanting to know but couldn't ask. Not in front of all his friends at least. Bambam's frown deepens as his phone rings. After signalling to everyone on the phone call, he stood up and got out of the private room, probably to find a quieter place to talk. Jungkook just watched him leave, wondering if he could pretend to need the restroom to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"Yah! Are you listening?"

"Hmm?" He turns to Jaehyun's annoyed face.

"Tsk, you're really whipped over this girl, huh?" Jungkook felt uneasy at the remark, afraid of how true it is. "I said, you need a rebound. Get yourself a distraction. Just take out all those numbers back, choose one,"

Is that it? Is that why he hadn't feel as bad as he should? Is Lisa a distraction for him?

"Hey, do you think she's okay?" Jungkook whispered to him.

"Who?"

"Lisa. Bam seemed pretty worried,"

Jaehyun stared at the guy, studying his face and realizing something. "No way! What in the hell –"

"What?"

"Well, that was quick! And Lisa - I didn't think she'd be your type, man!" Jaehyun leaned back and frowned at him. "I mean, looking at your ex, I would assume you'd be into someone like Rosé, yeah probably – but Lisa?" His voice is getting louder that Jungkook had to shush him down. "So Liskook is true then?"

"No, no, of course not! I was just worried about Bam," He shrugs the guy off and drink the remaining soju in his glass. "Wait, what the hell is Liskook?"

"Where've you been Kook - everyone knows about Liskook! It's the fans' ship name for you and Lisa. It's all over youtube and shit!" Jaehyun flailing his arms around, frustrated at Jungkook's clueless eyes. "Anyways, you sure you're not...you know,"

Jungkook rolled his eyes.

"Cus I can tell you, Kook, you'd be disappointed. You won't get her if you wanted to. Pick someone else -"

Jungkook sneered at his friend's statement. "What happened to I can pick whoever I want?"

Jaehyun laughed sarcastically. "You can, just not her,"

"And why the hell not? Is she taken?"

"Tsk, no. But I can tell you that she won't even spare you any second of any day," He looked bitter as he rolled his eyes, making Jungkook laugh out loud.

"Oh man! What, the great sweet-talker Jaehyun couldn't get her attention, huh?"

Jaehyun smirked. "Well at least I got her to reply to me four times! Shit – Mingyu still haven't got any reply since day one! That girl's so hard to get – did you know she ran off when I called out to her at KBS the other day? It's like I'm some kind of a freakin disease or something, fucking embarrassing –"

Jungkook laughed even harder. "How'd you guys got her number anyways? Bam gave it to you?"

"Hell no! You think that guy's gonna just hand over his precious best friend to any of us? Ask Mingyu how many times he asked for it before, he never budged! Nahh, I got it from our choreographer. He did a piece with Lisa before," He sips the drink from the bottle in front of him. "I'm telling you, Kook. I don't know...maybe she's a lesbian or something –"

"Or maybe she called out on your bullshit –" Jungkook laughed again. Somehow he felt good to hear how Lisa didn't pay any interest towards his friends.

"Hey, I'd like to see you try –"

"You sure about that? Cus I'm Jeon Jungkook of Bangtan, you know. It could be a piece of cake for me," He raised one eyebrow cockily.

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is,"

Jungkook knew how to push his buttons, and he did just that. Jaehyun is known among them to be the player of the group. He knows how to sweet-talk the girls, and with his handsome boy-next-door looks, none of them could've had a clue on how he'd be breaking their hearts shortly after. It must've been frustrating for him to not get the attention he wanted. But if Jaehyun couldn't get through to Lisa, there's a high chance that Jungkook won't be able to as well.

But surely you can't pass up this opportunity to get her number and try? Yes...they did, at the end of the day, had shared a brief moment together.

"How much?"

...