MARCH 25, 2019

The Han River was quiet tonight.

Jeongguk had his elbows on the railing of the river, earphones on and staring at the water. He didn't do well at practice today - his voice had become raspy from yesterday's live rehearsal and he hadn't been able to take a proper vocal rest ever since. It made him frustrated.

Namjoon had tried to comfort him but he wasn't having it. Their comeback was days away and he seemed to be not ready for it. What if they fail because of him?

He shook his head at the thought.

Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he checked the time. It was 10 in the evening yet Lalisa stopped texting him an hour ago and he wondered what had happened to her.

Their conversations were something he looked forward to everyday, and he's becoming quite attached to the girl. He didn't want to admit it but that was the truth. They text every morning, every afternoon, every night, during lunch, during the breaks - whenever they have free time.

They talk about various things like how he had his first heartbreak or how her audition went when she signed up for YG - basically never ending topics. He had listened to her problems and she had listened to his. They both found a friend in each other and he was glad for it.

10:06 pm

JEONGGUK

darling where

are you?

He tapped send and returned the phone back to his pocket.

Minutes passed, no reply.

Maybe she has practice or something. He thought and just shrugged it off.

A moment later, he thought he saw blonde hair from his peripheral vision. He turned and saw a blonde-haired girl walking with earphones on and wearing a fur coat with various colors. Her hair was tied into a low messy bun and she was staring straight ahead without a care in the world. Is it her?

Licking his lips, he called out, "Hey."

The girl turned to him and by just looking at her eyes, he knew she was Lisa. Her eyes widened as she saw him and hurriedly walked over to where he was.

"Jeongguk," She spoke, her voice unclear because of her mask, "What are you doing here?" Her eyes darted from left to right, checking if there was someone looking at them. The Han River is known as the place where idol couples meet, and they were no exception (even if their relationship was fake). Fortunately for them, no one was around.

"Just thinking." He tilted his head, "How about you? You didn't text me."

Lisa scoffed, "You were expecting me to text you, huh." She went next to him and put her hands on the railing, too. "I was busy."

Jeongguk sighed, "Me too. I'm so tired, I can't even sing properly right now." He looked at her bare face and asked, "What brought you here, darling?"

"I don't know. I needed air." She replied and looked at her hands. Last time he saw her was their breakfast date a week ago, but she still looked beautiful as ever. Wait, no.

"You mean to say there's no air in your dorm?"

She suddenly smacked his head to which he shrieked, "Not literal air, Junglebook. I needed space to think and our dorm is not the exact place for that. My members are noisy as hell."

He rolled his eyes, caressing the spot where she smacked him, "Yeah. Well, whatever, just continue to think about stuff over there. I'm going to get some snacks." He was about to leave when she grabbed his hand.

"I literally just got here, and you're going to leave me?" She asked, disbelieving, "I need a brooding buddy, you know."

"Come with me then. You can talk about those stuff while eating." He replied, knowing the dangers of staying too long at the river. "This place isn't exactly safe for idol couples like us, especially from two worldwide famous groups." He added the last part as a joke (but it was true).

"Stop being so cocky, yeah? Let's go to the nearest convenience store."

They ended up at the nearest GS25 and found the place to be almost empty, as there were still four customers eating inside and outside. Their disguises made them a bit odd, but Jeongguk thought, fuck it.

"Baby, what do you want to eat?" He asked as he entered the store. Lisa was about to reply when he added, "Except for me, of course." He winked.

Lisa let out a groan and replied, "I am not in the mood for that, idiot." She looked around at the store and her eyes lit up like a child. "Let me pick."

They walked around and chose a variety of food - spicy chicken feet, boiled pork, Jeongguk's favorite black bean noodle, white noodles, two triangular gimbaps, a lunchbox, sandwiches, and of course, water.

"Hey," He started, staring at all the food at their table, "You're allowed to eat these?"

Lalisa frowned, "Aren't you?"

He licked his lips, "I mean, I am, but aren't girl groups not allowed to eat that much before a comeback? Like, they put you on an intermittent fasting or something."

"That's very sexist of you." Lisa scoffed and mixed her noodles, "But yeah, that usually happens - not for me, though. I have fast metabolism." She proclaimed proudly and brought the noodles up to her mouth.

Jeongguk stared at her as her eyes rolled backward, "That good, huh?" She nodded, "Just wait until we finally fuck each other. Your pupils won't be returning anytime soon." He smirked.

"Nah, I think they'd rather just stay there and watch how lame you are in bed." She countered and took a bite of the chicken foot.

"Let's see then." He replied and took a slice of boiled pork. "Wow. This shit is legit."

"Let me try." She said. Unconsciously, Jeongguk took another slice and brought it up to her mouth, to which she accepted. The gesture surprised him, but it didn't seem to faze her. "Tastes good?" He asked, she responded by nodding.

He stared at her as she opened the infamous Inkigayo sandwich. "Really? An Inkigayo sandwich?" He asked disbelievingly while she took a bite of it.

"Hey," She chewed, "For idols who only comeback once a year, this sandwich is rare as hell. Cut me some slack."

Jeongguk snorted, "How's that going for you, by the way? Did you talk to your CEO?"

Lisa scrunched her nose, "No. Not yet." She analyzed the contents of the lunchbox, "However, the managers told us we won't be recording any songs after this comeback, which means our next comeback would be next year. Exciting, huh?"

He could sense the sadness in her voice, but he didn't know how to comfort her. They were eating for God's sake, he didn't want to hug her in the middle of a meal. It was just too awkward. "Is that why you went for a walk?" He asked instead.

"Mhm. It seems like a stupid reason but whatever." She waved off her hand, "Anyway, why did you send me food the other day?"

He looked away. The fact that he had sent her that made him embarrassed, not because he sent lunch to the Lalisa Manoban herself, but because of the effort he had to make just so she could get the food (he had to murder his pride to convince Jinhwan). They were just fake dating, but why the hell did he go to different lengths just for her? She's a friend, he convinced himself, friends do that.

"Yeah." He admitted, "I thought you were hungry."

"I was." Lisa replied, opening her water bottle, "Thank you so much, that meant a lot to me." She gave him a small smile, to which he returned.

"It's no problem. You're my girlfriend, after all." He winked.

"I'm kind of getting used to this dynamic, to be honest." She said out of a sudden. "It's... cool. You're supposed to be my boyfriend but you became my friend instead. That was unexpected."

"I told you, no one can resist me." He responded cockily. "Although, you might be wondering why I asked you to fake date me rather than do something else."

"Because you needed someone to realize how much of a jerk you are?"

"That and another." He took a slice of egg from the lunchbox that they shared, "My hyungs and I played a game a while back." She stared at him, "They told me that if I would be able find a girlfriend within the year, they'd buy me a new computer - a fancy one at that." He leaned back, "If I don't, however, I'd buy each of them the said computer, and it's expensive as hell."

Lalisa squinted her eyes and said nothing. "Okay." She shrugged, unfazed. "That's good. You're practical, I like it. You shouldn't waste your money on something that's unimportant."

"You're... not mad?"

"Why would I be?" She asked, "You seem to like me, and I'm starting to like you, so what's the problem in that?"

"Wait a minute..." He stopped. "You like me?" He couldn't believe it. She likes him? You're friends, that's why, he thought. She didn't say love, just like.

"As a friend." She clarified and bit her sandwich. "However," She tilted her head, "Why me?"

"Why you?" He repeated, to which she nodded. "I don't know. I think it was destiny."

Lisa laughed, "Kiss my ass."

"I will, if you'd let me."

"Why did you think it was destiny?"

"At the same moment I was looking for a fake girlfriend, you suddenly sent me your nudes." He smirked at her, "I was horny that time, too. So, I was able to find a girlfriend and satisfy my sexual needs in one sitting. Two birds with one stone."

Lisa grabbed a slice of pork and held it in front of him, "Open your mouth, baby." She said sweetly.

His heart fluttered. He knew he shouldn't feel this way as the consequences were severe, but then again, he thought, fuck it.

He opened his mouth and suddenly, she shoved her chopsticks in until it reached the back of his throat, causing him to choke.

"Oops, sorry." Lisa snickered and took a sip of her water.

And here I though she made my heart flutter. He thought, coughing with tears brimming in his eyes. Fucking hell.