"Wow, the new CEO is really something, huh?" Chaeyoung remarked before she shoved a handful of Lucky Charms into her mouth, "She's too overprotective, but then again, I understand her point." She said, almost incomprehensible.

Lalisa tilted her head, "How can you say so?" She'd just arrived home from eating dinner at Jeongguk's place and it was safe to say that everything went well. They ate the food that he made (Lisa loved the vegetarian Pad Thai) and shared a kiss or two - much to her delight. "I mean, she indirectly threatened me."

"Mino and I met the other day," Jennie said from beside her, "He said some sasaengs found their apartment - which, I remind you, is five floors above us - and left death threats at their door."

"What?! Why did they do that?" Lisa asked, eyes wide. That was just too much. If the sasaengs knew their apartment as well, they'd be done for.

"Because of the scandals, Lis. Specifically, the Seungri one. I don't want to go into details but that was just..." Jennie shook her head, "Anyway, it's best for us to be monitored at all times. For our safety."

Jisoo took a sip of her milk before saying, "Manager Jung told me that some investors started pulling out funds, which is why our company is slowly going bankrupt."

"That is just unbelievable. What will happen to us now?"

Lalisa shrugged, "More security. More rules."

"I think it was the right decision to extend the dating ban, too - no offense, Lali." Jennie held out a hand, "I mean, fans online have been saying that it was you with Guk the other day. The hate on our SNS and YG's have increased twice."

"I don't really check SNS anymore. What'd they say?"

"That you're just using him for clout because our company's going down." Her member replied with a sigh, "I told you this before, Lis. You'll get hated on just because of a single situation."

"I know, unnie. Maybe I was just overthinking, anyway. Maybe the CEO didn't really threaten me like I thought she did." She scratched her head, "The CEO really loves the company, huh?"

Chaeyoung nodded, "Yeah. I can see that. She's willing to do anything just for it."

"But YG Entertainment's name is already trashed. I don't know what she can do about it." Jisoo pursed her lips, and leaned her head on Jennie's shoulder, "I'm really sleepy."

Jennie snorted, "Weak shit."

"You did not just call me a-"

"But I did."

Lalisa and Chaeyoung only shared a laugh as their unnies started bickering back and forth.

▪️

JUNE 27, 2019

Lalisa woke up to the sound of her phone ringing.

As she opened her eyes, she expected to see rays of sunlight creeping into her room but was greeted by the darkness instead. She absentmindedly reached for her phone from her bedside drawer and answered the call without looking at the called ID.

"Hello?" She asked, eyes heavy because of sleep.

"Darling," The voice said, making her sigh, "Wake up."

"Jeon, if you want to drag me out and come with you to the convenience store, I can't. I'm still sleeping." She replied, hugging her pillow tighter.

Jeongguk chuckled, "No, stupid. I'm not dragging you to the convenience store."

"Then why did you call?"

"Let's go on a road trip."

This made her eyes snap open, "A road- what? Guk, it's literally-" She stopped to check the time, "-four in the morning. What has gotten into you?"

"I don't know, but come on. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Please." He pleaded, "Besides, I'm already outside your apartment."

She gasped, "What?! You must be joking."

"But I am. Now get your ass down here."

"Guk," She whined, "I can't. The CEO increased our security and we would have individual body guards now. I'd be dead if they realize that I'm not in the apartment."

He snorted, "I know that. Your unnies would cover up for you. I already talked to them during the dinner the other day."

This guy, Lalisa thought, "Okay, fine." She sighed, "What should I bring?"

Jeongguk laughed on the other line, "Three casual clothing, one pair of pajamas, your essentials, and a camera."

"Pajamas? Where are we going, really?"

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," He replied, "Now get ready. I'm already hungry."

▪️

Lalisa watched as Jeongguk finished a bottle of water.

She'd found him a while ago inside a Ford truck that was parked outside her apartment complex. If it wasn't for the slightly open window and a whiff of his perfume, she wouldn't have known it was his.

"So, where are we really going?" She asked for the nth time as she took a sip of her coffee, "Tell me the truth this time, Guk, or I'm gonna jump out the car."

Jeongguk chuckled and replied, "Okay, in all honesty, I don't even know."

"What?! Then where are you heading to?" She looked around at their surroundings, but they seemed to be still in Seoul.

"Wherever this truck will take us." was his simple reply, "Long drives are a thing right now, you know."

She groaned, "You better know where you're going, Jeon."

"Of course, darling. It's Jeon Jeongguk you're talking to." He checked his watched and asked, "Lali, do you wanna eat breakfast at the beach?"

"Breakfast?" She repeated, "At the beach? That actually sounds cool. Let's have McDonald's."

"What are you, five?" He received a slap on the arm for that.

They drove to the nearest McDonald's, Jeongguk ordering a sausage McMuffin and her a bacon egg and cheese McMuffin, along with a 20-piece chicken nugget (the both of them were on a diet but meh). Immediately, they drove to Eurwangni Beach in Incheon, the drive just 40 minutes from Seoul.

"Be careful with your disguise, Guk." She reminded him as they got out of the car, "We don't want to hide in another dumpster, do we?"

"Yes, ma'am." He replied as he locked the doors and followed her to the shore.

Though it was relatively dark as it was past five am, there were already several people in the beach. The both of them tried to steer clear from them as much possible and found a spot near the waters.

"These sweatpants are absolutely not sand-friendly," She uttered as she sat down a few feet away from the sea.

He cackled, "You should've worn a bikini, then. That would've been better."

"You and your mind," She took her McMuffin out of the bag and took a whiff, "Wow, smell that?"

"Smell what?"

"A ruined diet, that's what." She took an enormous bite and moaned because of the taste, "Last time I ate a McMuffin was eons ago."

"Can't relate," He grabbed a nugget and ate it in one go, "Jimin and I used to sneak out and eat these and then work out for two hours after. Works everytime."

"That's unfair," Lalisa scooted a little closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder, "Is this okay with you?"

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind a steamy make-out section in the waters right now."

She retracted her head in disgust, "Let's just watch the sunrise in peace, shall we?" But a make-out session wouldn't be bad... She thought.

Jeongguk shrugged and took out his Bluetooth speaker, "Not without some tunes." Love wave by Lovewave started playing, making her close her eyes automatically because of the sound, "Her voice is calming, huh?"

She nodded, leaning back on him once more, "I feel sleepy now." In a blink, he moved away from her, causing her to fall on the ground, "Hey!"

"What? You said you were sleepy," He said nonchalantly, "Wait, wait," He told her, grabbing his camera from his bag, "Stay in that position."

Lalisa rose slowly from the ground, finger combing her hair to remove the sand, "Huh? Why?"

"I'm gonna take a picture of you." She did as she was told and didn't move, "Three, two, one..." She heard a small click and went closer to him again.

"Let me see- woah. That's a good shot." The photo was wonderful and better than what she expected - it was her silhouette in front of the various colours of the sky. Jeongguk smiled at his camera before turning it off and facing her again.

"Come here, darling." He said as he opened his arms. She settled inside them, leaning her head on his chest, "Give me a nugget."

"That's so romantic." She rolled her eyes and grabbed two, putting one in his mouth and the other one into hers. Jeongguk suddenly went forward and kissed her nose, making her squeal.

Her eyes caught sight of the horizon and she tapped his arm so he could see it, too. He turned his gaze towards it, seeing a mixture of yellow and orange beneath the dark blue of the night.

"That's beautiful." Lisa's breath caught as the sky slowly transitioned into cotton candy pink, the sun peeking through the horizon. She watched in awe as it slowly ascended, the sky becoming a deep neon blue as the light washed over them.

"Yeah," Jeongguk replied, breathless. His eyes, however, was not fixed on the view before them. Instead, it was fixed on the woman in his arms. She looked ethereal - a soft smile etched on her face as her eyes were locked on the rising sun.

The wind gently blew her hair, making him reach out his hand and place a strand beneath her ear, "Hmm?" She turned to him, still smiling. Wow.

"Nothing." He muttered, eyes still glued on her. He could faintly hear the music in the background as she stared back at him.

"Is there something in my face?" She frowned, "Can you get it?"

Clearing his throat, he turned away and grabbed his McMuffin, "No, there isn't any."

Lalisa huffed, "Wow, way to ruin the moment, Junglebook." He turned back to her, face confused, "I was waiting for you to kiss me."

His brows rose up in surprise, "What? Why?"

"Don't you watch movies? In times like this, the male would take the female into his arms and kiss her as the sun rises." She grumbled on and about, "Ugh, you just had to-"

In a heartbeat, he was able to bring his face closer to hers and kissed her (just a smack, nothing else). He pulled away almost immediately with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Happy?" He asked, looking down at her tomato red face.

"Yeah."

"Race you to the water?" Jeongguk's eyes lit up as he grinned at her, "Loser gets to drive the entire day."

"What?" She asked incredulously, watching as he removed his shoes, "I don't want to- hey that's not fair! I don't even know how to drive!"

"Not my problem!"

She watched in annoyance as he ran towards the water and struggled with removing her own shoes.

"Jeon fucking Jeongguk!" Lalisa screamed as she followed, "Come back here, you dumbass!"

▪️

"Talkin' under pink skies, I think our hearts are starting to show..." Jeongguk sang as he sped through the streets of Ansan.

He and Lisa had left the beach around 6:30 AM after messing around in the water. The both of them got wet all over that they had to stop by at a public bathroom and change into their dry clothes (much to the latter's irritation).

His eyes turned to the girl beside him, smiling softly at her sleeping state. She even looks gorgeous with her eyes closed. He thought.

Slowing the car, he parked it at the side of the road and grabbed a blanket from the backseat. He carefully placed it on Lisa, covering her entire body so she won't get cold.

"Sleep well, darling," He murmured, kissing her forehead and settling back into his seat.

"Shut up, I love you, you're my bestfriend..."

▪️

"I miss my cats," Lalisa pouted as she looked out of the window. It was past 7 now, she'd just woken up from a good sleep a few minutes ago, "I miss my children."

Jeongguk nodded his head as Joji's NO FUN played in the background - not hearing her words, "Yeah, I drive around on my own, I'm rich but my AC broke..."

"Hey, Junglebook, you listening?" She turned the volume down.

"Mmm, yeah?" He turned his head slightly to her, eyes not leaving the road, "Didn't hear you."

"Never mind." She scoffed.

"Hey, I forgot to ask you last night," He started, "But what did the CEO discuss with you that you were late to dinner?"

"Oh, that," She hugged the blanket tighter, "Nothing much... just about the change in our contracts and YG's falling stocks and stuff."

"What did she say about your contract?"

"Extended dating ban... more security... a personal bodyguard."

"Woah..." He mused, "Are you sure there's no bodyguard following us right now?"

Lisa stopped, "What?"

"You said you had a personal bodyguard, right? Where is he then?" He asked again.

"I don't know..."

He snorted, "Just kidding. I was just messing with you."

She let out a breath, "What the fuck, Guk. I thought someone followed us for real."

"No, no, I made sure no one did," He assured, "So, I guess that means less dates?"

"We only have barely a month left so we don't need to worry about dates - I think." Jeongguk let out a long breath, catching her attention, "What?"

"You know, whenever I think about the remaining month, I get sad - don't know why." He admitted.

Lalisa crossed her arms, "Don't tell me you've fallen for me already, Jeon? That's why you're feeling that way?"

"What? Psssht." He tried to laugh but it came out as a nervous chuckle, "Do you want to get ice cream?"

She guffawed, "Yep, keep changing the topic, Guk - and yes. I'd love some ice cream."

Lowkey by Niki suddenly started playing, brightening Lisa's face, "I love this song!"

Jeongguk scrunched his nose, "You do? Wow, I didn't even know you had taste."

"Me? No taste? Gosh, Guk," She stared at him with disgust, "You are literally missing out. Put your phone on vibrate, let's catch a vibe, babe!" She sang on top of her lungs.

"Ah, that's too noisy." He made a show of covering his ear with one hand. She's cute, he thought anyways.

This encouraged her to sing even louder, "Be as quiet as you can, 'cause if anyone sees, they'll just blow shit up."

"Is this our theme song or what?"

"I'll just let ya know bedroom's vacant-"

"Well, better damn right it is."

"No one's gotta know, just us and the moon 'til the sun starts wakin'," Lisa started using her phone as a microphone and closed her eyes tightly while she sang.

"Up's the only direction I see," He finally sang, "As long as we keep this."

The both of them exchanged a knowing look before singing, "Low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low-key..."

"You ain't even gotta lo- lo- lo- lo- lo- lo- lo-love me," She did a bunch of finger hearts that made him cringe.

"Us in a king-size, keep it a secret," He continued while looking at the rear view mirror.

"Say I'm your queen, I don't wanna leave this," She followed, putting a hand to her heart.

"Low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low-key." They both finished the chorus.

Lisa flipped her hair sassily, "Clearly, I did better than you."

"Yeah," He agreed, "You sound great."

"I know, right?" She smiled proudly and sat up straighter, making him chuckle.

"Yes, yes. Now let's go buy ice cream and take a little stroll on the park."

▪️

By the time the finished wandering around a nearby park at Suwon, it was already almost 11 am.

They did a little photo shoot session at the park and jogged around (it was Jeongguk's idea and she protested, but it did nothing to stop him). She found that it was difficult to argue with him when it came to fitness related things.

Now, they were out of the park and were walking down the streets to find a restaurant to have lunch in. Lisa wanted fried chicken, so Jeongguk was doing his best to search for any.

They ended up on Chicken Maru, located at the Suwon Chicken Street just a few blocks away from the park and their truck.

"I guess it's eat anything you want day today, huh?" Jeongguk commented as they waited for their order.

Lalisa sighed contentedly, "Yes. I actually feel like I'm in heaven right now."

"It's a good thing I took you out, then."

"Do your members know that you're here?" She asked, eyes focused on the waiter coming to the table with their food, "Thank you."

"Of course they do," He answered, "We don't have any schedules today, anyway, so it's all good."

"What did they say about me? During that dinner."

He took a cheese flavoured drumstick, "They said I was a lucky bastard."

"Good thing you're aware of that."

▪️

The rest of the afternoon went pretty well. Lalisa didn't want to leave the car so they opted for a movie marathon in the backseat using Jeongguk's iPad and watched the Fifty Shades of Grey series (it was both their idea).

It was uncomfortable at first, because the both of them were partly teenagers with raging hormones enclosed in a small space with a movie filled with numerous sex scenes. Lisa would be lying if she said she didn't feel the sexual tension between them, but she didn't comment on it.

The movies were good, anyway.

They were now at an isolated spot beside the road where they watched the sunset minutes ago from the cargo bed of the truck. Jeongguk had placed the comforters and pillows inside the car on it, making a makeshift bed.

When she'd asked him where he learned it, he only replied, "Pinterest, duh?

While Jeongguk was busy taking pictures of the darkening sky, Lalisa munched happily on her dumplings and her box of Chow Mein. He bought Chinese takeaway a while back with four bottles of soju for the both of them, as well as packets of chips.

"Don't I get any, darling?" He asked, referring to the food she was eating as he viewed the photos on his camera.

She took this as a cue to put a dumpling inside his mouth while rolling her eyes, "Don't you have hands or something?"

"I do but it's a hundred times better when you do it," He chewed on the food and took his own dinner from the bag. "I ordered spring rolls and wonton, by the way. Check inside."

"What else did you get?" She asked, eagerly opening the bag, "Tofu?"

"Yep."

The both of them had a peaceful dinner - with Jeongguk occasionally taking pictures of her while she was chewing on a spring roll because apparently, she looked like a bunny.

It was 7pm when Lalisa decided she wanted to drink.

"Isn't it too early?" Jeongguk asked, opening a bottle of soju and handing it to her.

"Is there a schedule for drinking?" She replied, taking a sip but immediately regretting if afterwards, "Crap, drinking it straight from the bottle is way different than drinking it from a shot glass."

"If you don't like it, I'll drink that if you want." He took a sip from his own.

"Jeon, I only took one sip. Where's the fun in that?" Lisa rolled her eyes, "Besides, it's not like I'm a lightweight or something."

That statement was proved to be false, however, when 10 minutes later, Lisa turned to him, her face beet-red and eyes droopy, "I'm drunk."

Jeongguk snickered, "What, really? You said you weren't a lightweight."

"Shut up," She sighed, taking another sip, "The good thing is, I give really good advice when I'm drunk."

"Are you serious?" This gave him an idea - a risky one at that.