...

Lisa takes a deep breath before knocking on the door. After a second, Taehyung's face appeared behind it.

"Aah..." He looked at her with wide-eyes before bowing slightly. Lisa returned the gesture.

"Sunbaenim, I'm looking for Jungkook?" Her voice can't get any smaller than this! She had never spoken personally to the rest of BTS members before. The memory of Jungkook asking her to one day come by their dorm to meet his hyungs came into mind. Taehyung opened the door wide and she could see the other 5 members, but no Jungkook.

"Hyung, where uh...where did Jungkook go?" Taehyung asked Namjoon, who's just staring at Lisa. In fact, all of them are staring at her, surprised that she would take the risk by showing up to their dressing room after the event to find Jungkook.

"Hyung!" Taehyung calls out again, and Namjoon jumped a little in his seat.

"I don't know. Lisa-si, maybe it's better if you come in before anyone noticed you," Lisa blinked and nodded slightly before stepping in. Taehyung closed the door behind her.

She looks around. The room is bigger than Blackpink's one. Maybe because it's to cater to 7 people and another 7 stylists. It could fit for another 7 makeup artists.

"Jungkook said he needed the comfort room. He'll probably come back soon. Take a seat," Namjoon explained.

"Ah, thank you. Sorry, I tried calling him but his phone seemed to be switched off," She smiled politely, feeling awkward that the entire room is silent. "I'm sorry to intrude, I can come back –"

"Hi, Lisa. I'm Hoseok! It's really nice to finally meet you in person," Hoseok came forward and bowed. "I've always wanted to greet you up close!"

Lisa immediately bowed back as Taehyung pushed a chair behind her, gesturing her to sit. Her heart is racing, nervous to be greeted personally by all of them like this. "Sunbaenim, of course I know your names," She laughs nervously. "I'm a big fan,"

"Aah really? I'm a big fan of you too!" Hoseok cheered, making the room burst out with laughter and each of them started joking around with each other.

"We're all big fans of Blackpink," Yoongi said a matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, especially Tae,"Jimin teases Taehyung who just stood frozen beside Lisa, looking like her bodyguard.

"Yahh –" Taehyung tensed even more.

"That uh...it means so much to hear –"

"Hey Lisa, do you think your agency will allow you to do a dance collab with me?" Hoseok ignored the maknae's jokes and dragged his chair closer to her.

"I can try to ask,"

"No, no Lisa, don't ask, seriously," Namjoon butted in, rolling his eyes at Hoseok. "She'll get into trouble –"

"So Lisa, are you gonna make our little Jungoogie happy again?" Jin's question brought silence to the room and Lisa shifts in her seat. "What, it's an honest question!" Jin defended when Namjoon threw a death glare to him.

"Um...I'll try my best, sunbae," Her small voice brought all the eyes back to her. She must've been the color red by now.

...

Lisa huffs out when she reached the fourth-floor staircase. That's so tiring, how did I managed to run up here with him the last time? She shook her nerves off before opening the door, hoping that she'll find him here. She can't think of anywhere else to look for him. She had waited long enough in BTS' room just now that they even had to send Taehyung to the comfort room to check on what took Jungkook so long. Apparently he wasn't there. She didn't know how or why, but her first instinct is to find him here.

She opens it and there he is, sitting at the far end, facing outside the glass-less panel. Her heart sank at finding him alone here – at the place where she had first brought him. This is it. The moment where she felt that trust came rushing back in. My first love...my forever love.

Jungkook's eyes widened when he felt a presence and upon seeing who's sitting beside him. The face that he longed and missed. Lisa looked straight ahead, looking so soft and beautiful - not minding the way Jungkook is staring at her. Briefly he wondered if he's imagining things.

"Your members are nice," She suddenly spoke. "Hoseok-sunbae's really friendly, and Jimin too. I think Taehyung-sunbae's a bit serious. It's really hard to see him smile. Is he always that serious or is it just with me?" She turns to face him. He didn't say anything, still shocked to find her there beside him. "Probably just with me," She faced back to the view, embracing the cold air, breathing it deeply. "I think they like me already,"

Jungkook's heart fell at the what she said and tears welled up his eyes.

"What's not to like?" His voice came out croaky, supressing his sob. Please God, let this be real...

She looks back at him with a sad smile. "Your fans don't like me," She looks down to her knotted fingers. What she had read online broke her heart over and over. She was reminded of her own fear when they were together, the insecurities she felt were just at her doorstep. She decided then that she would not get involved with anyone – not while she's an idol anyways. There are too many hateful words thrown at her – mean things, nasty things that almost made her believe every single word. But what Jisoo had said earlier brought a new light to her perspective. And she can't deny the fact that her heart belongs to him, try as she might.

She spent the entire show recalling what Jisoo had said and asking herself of what she really wanted. She managed to catch a glimpse of Jungkook while they were seated during the show, and she couldn't take her eyes off him during the group's performance. Near the end of the show, her eyes caught Yeri's. The girl smiled warmly at her and she smiled back. For some reason, she knew then that Jungkook had been telling the truth.

"Your fans don't like me too," She looks up to Jungkook, his face shows that he knew exactly what she meant – and it pains him too.

"Oh come on, I think majority of Blinks are Army too –" Her words are cut off when Jungkook pulled her in a kiss. His lips are soft and tender on hers, and his palms cup her cheeks as if they had missed her for a long time. Lisa felt like her heart pounding hard. It's like their very first kiss all over again. The tingles and shivers ran over her body.

After what felt like an eternity, he pulls back and stares at her intently. His eyes is filled with regret and what – vulnerability?

"Are you really here Lisa?" He whispered as she saw a tear fell across his cheek. It makes her teared up too. Abruptedly she slaps his chest to avoid crying again. We should really stop crying over each other!

"Yah, you just kissed me! What do you mean am I here? Do you just kiss whoever that sits beside you –"

He pulled her in and kissed her again - more urgent and rough than before. She could feel his lips forming a smile in the kiss. She loves him so much - she could never lose this feelings for him!

"Don't ever leave me like that again," He pleaded as he rests his forehead on hers.

"I won't if you don't hurt me like that again,"

"I'm so sorry baby. Please forgive me,"

"I already have,"

"Can you promise me something? Whatever that comes along the way - regardless of how big or small, can you please talk to me about it?" She understood what he meant. He'd been trying really hard, she can see that. How foolish of her to have kept him waiting for so long. Perhaps they could have skipped the daily heartaches if she were to just give him a chance to properly explain.

"Okay," She whispers back.

"Say you promise,"

"You promise," Lisa leaned back and scrunched her nose.

"Baby," Jungkook sulked and Lisa laughs, her hands itched to pinch his cheeks.

"I'm kidding! I promise," This feels surreal. His shy smile and the way he looks at her in this tender night - "I have a confession," She grabs his hand and let their fingers intertwine. "I bought you a birthday present but I lost it,"

"Wow, I'm hurt. How are you claiming you love me when you lost my birthday present?" His other hand splayed open on his chest.

"I – well, I dropped it somewhere when I heard about your stupid bet - so if anything, it's your fault,"

"Now you're blaming me for losing my birthday present? Oh wow," She's gonna hate me for this but seriously, how can I pass up this opprtunity?! Especially the way she's looking right now...

"No – I wasn't –"

"You're so cute when you get nervous like this," He laughed and pulled out the necklace hanged around his neck from his shirt. "I have it here," He plays with the ring.

"Yahh, you jerk –" She slapped his shoulder, pulling her hand back and crossing it across her chest. Even in this dimmed lighting, he can see her cheeks blushing pink.

"Can we start over?" He holds out a hand. "Hi, I'm Jungkook. I've been looking at you for a while now...I think you're beautiful and I really, really think we'd get along well. Can I have your phone number? Maybe we can get to know each other better?"

"You already have my phone number," It was sweet but she hissed, still mad that the guy had teased her. She was really upset that she lost it - I can't believe he had it all along!

"I deleted it," Now it's Jungkook's turn to feel nervous.

"You deleted my number? How could you –" She gasps.

"Well I promised you in the room before that I won't bother you anymore, and the only way to do that is if I don't have your phone number,"

"Jeon Jungkook!" Lisa shouts.

"Lalisa!" He shouted back louder in response, surprising her. "So what do you say? Do I get your number?" He gave his most charming smile and handed out his phone. Lisa just rolled her eyes before taking it.

"I'm gonna marry you one day," He whispered softly while Lisa focused on keying in her number.

"Hmm?" Lisa looked up, not catching what he had said. Quickly he shook his head. He must've looked stupid with the stupid grin on his face but he couldn't care!

"This may seem a bit forward, and I might be pushing my luck here – but do you wanna come over to my place later...spend the night together?"

"Wow, you're really on top of your game tonight aren't you?" She smirked and gave him back the phone.

Jungkook lets out a little laugh. He adores her. He will never let her go, no matter what! She's everything he had never dared to dream of. Her enthusiasm, her personality, the way she speaks and the way she laughs, the way she makes him feel nervous and confident...how she trusted him enough to even be here at this second, the way she loves him even when he was a coward and hurt her for it - her whole being – it's like she was just meant for him and only him.

"I haven't seen you for what felt like ages. I miss you so much. I just wanna hold you close to me. Come home with me,"

Home. Lisa looks away, pretending to think hard. He could ask her to do anything with him, she'd do it in a heartbeat. "Well, call it your lucky night then,"

...

THE END.

...

FOR REAL.

...

Hi guys!

Hope everyone's safe and sound! Thank you so much for reading. Thank you for the votes and comments too! I can't express how grateful I am for all the support so...group hug!!!

Sorry for any spelling or grammatical errors that I didn't notice. And I'm sorry too if you feel that it's too short - I'm really bad writing long-winded stories! I would like to add that this is my frist time writing an IDOL AU, and I tried my best to make the plot some-what relatable and easy to imagine. I'm not sure if it worked or not, appreciate if you can let me know!

TENDER IN THE NIGHT explores the reality of falling in love for the first time. I myself had gone through it and I believe most of you had. It was a beautiful experience, but also the most heart-breaking to compare. That's why I feel there's a quote saying 'you'll never forget your first love'. It's because you feel everything for the first time.

Lisa's character of keeping and bottling her thoughts and emotions inside all the time made it easier to write, because that's how we feel when we're confused or scared of losing something. We overthink, we overfeel and we tend to keep to ourselves instead of voicing things out, simply because we're scared of being judged or being left. Jungkook, on the other hand, had been in relationship before - and eventhough it's his first time of feeling the love, he's quite used to relaying his feelings and doubts. Being in a relationship and being in love are two different things but of course, it's always better to have both (as Lisa said!).

For those who had never fallen in love before, I hope you'll find it soon and get to keep it for a long, long time. If you feel strongly for a person, and the other shows the same efforts (or more) to you, do try your best to not be swayed by what others think and say. Keep your mind and heart open to any possibilities of challenges, and choose wisely on your battles. They say the key to a healthy relationship is communication, so I hope you know what and when you should stand your ground and speak up.

Anyway, I'll be publishing a new one soon :) If you have time, do read FEELS LIKE HOME hehe. Take care and stay safe always! Love your heart and everything about yourselves okay?

Thanks again guys! xoxo