32. Back

"So, Appa, Jimin wasn't a bad guy. He did it to protect me."

My dad nods his head and smiles. "I knew he was a good kid."

I look at him unsurely. "So can he be my bodyguard again?"

"Does he want to?" When I'm hesitant, Appa laughs. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll want to. But if he doesn't, I'm getting you another bodyguard. What happened the other day is proof you still need protection."

I nod. "Yeah. I know."

+++

Jina squeals. "Kyung Mi, this is the perfect situation! You're getting a bodyguard with a side of boyfriend."

I glare at her. "We are so not dating, Jina."

Eunji chuckles. "You sure about that? He's super hot, he's your soon-to-be bodyguard, it's the perfect setup for that boyfriend we've been trying to get you."

I shake my head. "I told you, he basically commanded me to stop liking him when he said we couldn't be together."

They both look at me. "You know he's just playing hard to get? He didn't give a reason you couldn't date each other because he didn't have one." Eunji says, inspecting her nails. This is too easy for her, too simple.

My emotions, on the other hand, are tied in a knot right now. "That can't be the case. Jimin isn't the type to mess with people's emotions. On purpose, anyway." I mumble, heart aching.

"Speak of the Devil." I say, looking at my phone to see that he's calling me. Hesitantly, I answer.

"Kyung Mi, are you about done talking to your dad now?"

I look at my friends as guilt pours through me. "Yeah, I finished talking to him a while ago. I'm with the girls at my apartment now."

"You should've told me! What if you got jumped on the way there?"

"Jina picked me up." I hiss. "I went a year without you, so I've learned to be careful." I can tell my words hurt him by his sharp intake of air, but he hurt me first.

"Look, either I'm going there or you're coming back here. I'm not leaving you by yourself again."

"You don't have the right to patrol me! It's not like you're my bodyguard anymore." I can't help but say the words. I'm angry at him, not only for rejecting me, but for being so precious to me and protecting me regardless of not having to. He's so good and I want him to be my bodyguard but I don't know if I can be just friends with him.

He pauses before saying, "I thought that's what you wanted. At least that's what your father told me before re-hiring me."

I freeze. He knows. "That's why I called you, actually. To tell you I'm glad to work for you again, but-"

"Goddammit, Jimin, I'm just angry at you for rejecting me, okay?"

He sighs as the doorbell rings. "Let's talk in person."

+++

The girls wait outside my room as I close the door. Turning around, I see Jimin looking at me with a guilty expression.

"You don't have to pity me, Jimin. I acted immature when you told me we shouldn't be together, but I have to deal with it like an adult." I fall onto my bed.

"No, you're right. I'm sorry for not explaining it to you." He sits down next to me close enough that our thighs touch. My face gets a wave of heat at his proximity; has he really always smelled like fresh laundry with hints of pine? I can't believe I never noticed before today.

"Kyung Mi? You good?" I get out of my trance to see Jimin looking at me, and I think my eyes widen at seeing his face up close; I achingly notice how smooth his lips are, the faint dust of red on the tips of his cheeks, and the twinkle in his eyes that contrasts their dark color. I quickly look away before he can catch my blushing state.

"Yeah, my mind kinda wandered there for a sec." He hums in response.

Dammit, why does he have to be so gorgeous?

He bites his lip as he stands up and looks at the floor. "Anyway, I should've told you the reason I can't date you right now." He looks back up at me and tries but fails to hide a shy smile. I can't help but smile back. "I know this sounds cliché, but it's really not you. It's me."

I start to protest, but he stops me by putting a hand up. "If I'm being honest, I want nothing more than to be your boyfriend. I want to shower you with affection and be there for you the way no one else can."

I take a step towards him as I ache to touch him. "But a bodyguard can't do that. A bodyguard has to be on alert, always, and can never let their guard down." He reaches his arm out holds my cheek with his warm hand. "I would get distracted if we started dating. And I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to you while I was distracted."

"Do you get it know, Kyung Mi?" He asks softly.

I nod, gulping, as my heart explodes.

I'll just have to accept the fact that he won't be more than my bodyguard.