JULY 16, 2019

Jeongguk lied.

He said he'd be there for her when she needed him... but he wasn't.

Whatever Lisa thought that might happen after their little scenario at the rooftop was gone - shattered, blown by the wind.

They didn't get back together - to sum it all up. Instead, they drifted apart, both losing communication and in the process, losing what they had (at least, that's what she thinks so).

Although, she should've known that the CEO wouldn't let her go that easily.

CEO Hwang had all their phones monitored from SNS down to texts to phone calls. Lisa had no choice but to delete Jeongguk's number and block it, along with any form of communication that they had, forcing her to cut all ties with him.

To say that she was fine was big fat lie - because she wasn't. The days after their break up had caused her to lock herself up in her room, the action taking a toll on her physical and mental health.

But, like always, her members were there for her.

Her self-wallowing only lasted for three days before they got impatient.

Jennie almost broke the door of her bedroom simply by just kicking it multiple times until it fell ("Here I come kick in the door was your line yet here I am," were Jennie's first words when she saw her). When they dragged her out, she was taken to the kitchen were a variety of food were laid out - all prepared by Jisoo.

Lisa didn't really talk to them after that, just answered with a yes or a no, but they understood. At night, Chaeyoung would go to her room and sing her to sleep - which, yet again, brought back a certain memory of a certain boy singing to her a long time ago.

From then on, Lisa tried to take her mind off things by shopping. It was Jennie that suggested it and had practically forced her to do so. It became a coping mechanism that her members didn't mind even if she brought home countless bags of clothes, shoes, and jewelry (that she didn't even need).

So here she was again, walking in another mall in Myeongdong with her personal bodyguard in tow. Lisa had to admit - the bodyguard wasn't bad at all. He was a bit shy and eccentric, but it was fine. She could take it.

She was standing outside her fifth shop now, eyes trained on the clothes inside and contemplating.

"You can stay here," Lisa finally decided, turning to him, "I'll browse through some stuff and maybe buy a few. You can place the bags on the floor if you find them too heavy."

Her bodyguard was indeed struggling as he tried to hold fifteen bags altogether. Lisa felt bad for the guy but she needed to get rid of him for a moment.

He nodded and she took this as a cue to enter the store.

As Lisa entered, she went to the shirts section picked a few that best suited her taste. She was all about oversized shirts now so she got three, then a dress, and tiny earrings that she could wear in her newly pierced ear.

The saleslady led her to one of the fitting rooms on the other side of the store and Lisa thanked her as she said, "I'll be assisting another customer for now, miss. If you need me, I'll just be outside."

Lisa gave her a smile and watched as she left. She turned to one of the fitting rooms when suddenly, a hand covered her mouth and dragged her to another stall - all in a matter of seconds.

Fuck, I should've brought the bodyguard.

She struggled from the attacker's hard grip as she saw him closing and locking the door in one breath. Her fist was already clenching and as soon as he let her go, she swung-

But stopped mid-air.

Because the person that was standing in front of her... her attacker... was no other than Jeon Jeongguk himself.

"Guk?" Lisa muttered, eyes darting around his face - not quite believing that it was him, "Guk.. is this really you?" It was impossible. This could not be him. No.

"Darling," The endearment made her heart ache, "Who else?" The same playfulness, the same voice. It was like nothing had changed.

Lisa blinked, confusion etched in her face as she tried to process things in. Jeongguk. He's here. He's really here.

The next thing she knew, her eyes were stinging and she was kissing his face all over and she was hugging him - so tight that he couldn't breathe. It's him it's him it's him it's him, she thought happily.

"Can you let me breathe for a second?" Jeongguk tried to say while chuckling, hands still holding her waist, "Although I want to die like this, I feel like it's not my time yet."

She laughed, releasing him and cupping his face, "How are you? Are you eating well? How did you know I was here? Did someone follow you? Did you see my bodyguard outside? How did you know I'd be-"

Jeongguk silenced her with a kiss, one that still managed to made her knees weak and turn her feet into jelly. Her hands pulled him closer, loving the way her lips and his were moving against each other.

He pulled away, resting his forehead on hers and murmured, "God, I miss you."

"I miss you too, Junglebook." She smiled softly, still closing her eyes.

"As much as I want to spend more time with you, darling, I can't," He sighed, earning a frown from her, "Your bodyguard is outside. He'd be wondering why you're taking so long... so I'll just make this quick."

"Guk... what are you-" She stopped in surprise as he pulled out a velvet box from his back pocket. He handed it to her, a smile plastered on his face, "What's this?"

Her hands gently opened the box, revealing a ring with a diamond in the center - the most exquisite ring she'd ever laid eyes on. The sight of it made her heart clench.

"Guk..." Lisa started, closing the box, "Guk, I can't-"

Jeongguk's hands held hers, "It's yours, Lali."

She shook her head, "Why are you being like this?"

"Because you mean everything to me," A corner of his mouth was tilted up, "Because I love you."

What did he say?

Shock was an understatement for what she felt that moment. She couldn't speak, couldn't find the right words. All she did was stare at him, eyes wide and tears already forming.

"Stop," Eyes glossy, she added, "Stop that."

He chuckled, finally embracing her. She felt his chin on his shoulder as he said, "It's true, Lis. It has always been."

He continued, "So... maybe," He pulled away, linking their hands, "When our paths cross in the future, when I'm better..." He looked in her eyes, "And when you're out of that company... maybe we can start over again."

A tear fell on her cheek and he wiped it away using his thumb, "Until then... I'd try to take care of myself and continue to be healthy, like you asked me to."

"Guk," Her voice cracked, "You're so stupid."

He kissed her forehead, "I know, darling, I know."

"You're so stupid," She repeated, "But I love you, still."

Now it was his turn to be confused.

Lisa scoffed and kissed him on the lips again before cupping his face, "I always will."

Jeongguk's eyes softened as he caressed her cheek with his thumb, "Don't meddle with other boys, yeah? Just me."

"As you wish, Junglebook," She licked her lips, "Hey... I'm sorry for everything that happened. I really am."

He shook his head, "No, no, it's fine. I always knew it'd end up this way," Then, one of his hands went to his nape, scratching it, "Actually... I have another thing to tell you."

She sniffed, "Go on."

"About your nudes..." Oh, Lisa almost forgot about that. The nudes that started it all. "I- please don't kill me, please, but I... I already deleted them a long time ago." He cleared his throat, "Specifically after your birthday."

The revelation took her breath away. "You... what?" She couldn't believe it... he deleted them already? "So all this time we were in a fake relationship... they were gone?"

Jeongguk nodded, jaw clenching.

"But..." She didn't know what to say, this was too much. "But how... why did you do that deal with me if you were just going to delete it?"

"Because I already liked you beforehand," He admitted, eyes not meeting hers, "And... all those dirty jokes that I've made about jerking off to your nudes and other things: they weren't true. I'm sorry for lying."

Lisa didn't know how to react so she just pursed her lips and said, "I- okay. I don't... I don't really know what to say."

His mouth twitched, "Yeah, it's kind of awkward but um..."

Suddenly, her phone rang. She instantly fished it out from her pocket and her eyes turned wide as she saw the caller ID, "My bodyguard's looking for me."

Jeongguk's face was immediately clouded by sadness but he covered it up by smiling, "Of course. It's time for you to go."

She couldn't hide her disappointment as she sighed and encircled her arms around him, wanting to be in his arms for the last time, "I'll miss you, Junglebook."

"I know, darling," He kissed her hair, "I'll miss you more," He pulled away to examine her face, features softening, "I love you."

Her eyes glistened once more as she kissed his nose and replied, "And I love you."

"We'll see each other soon, okay?" Jeongguk put a strand of her hair behind her ear, "Until then, we'll figure out ways to talk to each other without your company finding out."

Lisa's brows scrunched, staring into his eyes. "How can you be so sure?"

He winked at her, "I'm Jeon Jeongguk, remember?"

"Shut up." A smile was on her face as she went back outside, holding all the items she picked from earlier.

After she paid and left the store, Lisa couldn't help but glance back, to see Jeongguk standing at the entrance, hand raised as if to wave at her.

"Who are you looking for, miss?" The bodyguard asked from beside her, making her turn her head back to him.

"No one. I just thought I saw someone I know." She replied, biting her lower lip. "Let's just go back home, yeah?"

The bodyguard just nodded.

▪️

That night, Lisa couldn't help but open the ring that Jeongguk gave her.

She laid on her bed, admiring the ring in the moonlight. Her cats laid next to her, doing their own business as she held the ring in her hand, extending her arm to see way it shined and glimmered in the light. Wow, Jeongguk. You are one surprising bastard. She thought, snorting.

Lisa grabbed the box from the bedside table to return the ring when she caught sight of something that she hasn't seen before. How odd. She was too preoccupied a while ago that she wasn't able to notice it.

There, on the upper half of the velvet box and under, a sentence was written.

I'll wait for you. JK

Upon reading it, she scoffed and rolled her eyes.

Who would've thought that because of two nude pictures and one accidental text message, both of their lives would be entwined with each other?

Perhaps, this was meant to occur. If she didn't go to the sauna that day with Chaeyoung, if she went shopping with her instead of staying home... maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe they wouldn't have met.

Her eyes turned to her cats, who were now looking at her intently, seeming to be judging her - again.

"See," Lisa chuckled, caressing Leo's fur, "Mommy told you this was safe."

thank you all for supporting NUDES! i first published this story back in october 2018 yet i only updated it this february 2020 (i'm sorry for the almost two years delay lol). the amount of reads that this reached is crazy and i cannot believe that we've gone this far :")

thank you for those who voted, who read, and who commented in NUDES. i can't mention you all one by one but please do know that you guys inspired me to continue this story and for that i am grateful.

anyway, thank you for the nth time for supporting NUDES! all the love always, caly. 💛

P.S sadly, there won't be a sequel. it's an open ending and it's up to you if you think JK and Lali got back together.