RETURN OF THE FEMALE KNIGHT

25. Now Shall We Eat?

"When you look at me with those eyes, I want to give you everything."

"...!"

His gaze was like a net in the air. Lalisa couldn't move as if she had been ensnared. She calmed her voice as much as possible, trying to avoid his intense stare.

"Thank you for your kind attention, but please don't spend such a large amount of money on future meetings."

The two didn't even meet for a date, and she couldn't stand this much extravagance.

Despite the seriousness of Lalisa's tone, Jungkook only grinned.

"I'm just returning what you said. You do care a lot about useless things."

"But–"

Lalisa was about to refute, when she was interrupted by the sound of musical instruments tuning on stage. The performance would soon begin. Not wanting to disturb Jungkook's first time at the opera, Lalisa stopped speaking. Jungkook recognized her silence.

"We'll have the rest of the conversation after the performance is over. "

"...Alright."

She pressed her lips close. She didn't know where to look, so she slid her eyes towards the stage. She was worried about Jungkook sitting next to her, but as she wordlessly watched the performance from her vantage point, she realized that the box seats were indeed an ideal space.

Although stage was brightly lit before them, it was unlikely that she could be spotted from where she was sitting. The chairs were pulled away from the balcony and hidden in shadow, and the box itself seemed to be in a blind spot to the crowd below. There were a few other boxes located in the opera hall, but it was not easy to see them from there either. Jungkook had in fact been paying attention to the small details when it came to Lalisa's request to not been seen together.

She suddenly remembered what Jungkook said the last time they met.

— In my way, it is true that I care about you.

What he said at the time was not untrue. Jungkook had done more than enough for Lalisa, and he was so dedicated to her that she even felt a little uncomfortable sitting with him in this dark, narrow space.

Every single move he made, every little breath he breathed, she noticed. Her chin was propped on her hand as she watched the opera in apathy, and she stole a sidelong glance in his direction. For some reason she couldn't concentrate on the performance.

*

*

*

The curtain finally dropped on the opera stage. Jungkook had been watching the performance with an indifferent expression throughout. Lalisa spoke to him curiously.

"How was it?"

"It wasn't as good as I expected. And you?"

Actually, it was a performance she had been wanting to see, but now she couldn't remember what it was about. She had been unable to concentrate.

"It...it was enjoyable."

She lied. Unaware of her feelings, Jungkook smiled.

"If you liked it, then I am satisfied."

Lalisa suddenly felt as guilty as a child.

"Then let's go to the opera often in the future."

"...But you said you didn't like it."

"But you said you liked it."

He answered without hesitation, and she was left dumbfounded by his reply. She couldn't understand why he was trying to entertain her apparent tastes.