Chapter 15 - I'll protect you

Chapter 15 - I'll protect you

I've been running now for about 15 minutes, looking for Jonghyun, with no success. As I reached the park, it was already starting to get dark and I was out of breath. I looked around, hoping to see him and spotted a familiar person sitting on the bench.

I neared the bench, trying to catch my breath before I talk to him, and tapped on his shoulder. "Jonghyun?" I asked with a hint of nervousness. He turned around and faced me, showing a smile yet I wasn't able to return his friendly expression. "Yes, Soo Min," he said. Do you know why I wasn't able to reply to his smile?

His eyes. They showed pure sadness.

"It's not what it looks like! We were just talking and then he ruffled my hair and got closer to me. I was shocked and didn't know what to do but I swear, I felt nothing, I forgot about him. I am over him, so please believe me" I said while looking at the ground. I was actually talking really fast, so I wasn't sure if he had understood everything I was saying.

I looked up to see Jonghyun smiling at me but, this time, a sincere smile. He took his hand and patted my head while I looked at him confused. What is going on?

"Why are you explaining this to me? I mean, we aren't going out so I don't see a reason why you would explain that to me" he said. "I-I don't know" I replied instantly.

Actually, I do know. I don't need to lie to myself anymore, I think that I knew about my feelings for a long time now, I was just not admitting it.

"But why did you go away?" I asked. "I didn't want to interrupt you guys," he said we started to walk. "Really? You seemed sad right now" I said in a teasing tone. "NO. I was not" he denied and I just laughed.

"Let's go home," I said and we walked back home, having different types of conversations. By the time we had reached home, it was already dinner time. Hana and my mother were cooking and Kyungsoo and Oliver were playing cards. When we entered, Oliver looked up to me and we made eye contact. In a matter of seconds, I looked away and joined my mother in cooking.

"Mrs. Lee, do you know how great I am in cooking? I can help you make food" Jonghyun said and took and apron. "Son, it's great to see you once in a while. Soo Min has told me a lot about your cooking skills, I am sure it will taste good" she said and Jonghyun started to get the ingredients ready for the soup.

"Oh really? She talks about me at home?" he asked and looked at me, who was washing dishes and I just smiled at him. After making food and introducing Jonghyun to Oliver and Hana, we sat down at the table to have our dinner.

Hyorin sat next to Jonghyun and gave him a glare, to which he glared back, and there was me, sighing, because of their childishness. When will they ever stop fighting? Just about when we were about to finish our food, Jonghyun asked something surprising.

"Mrs. Lee, I know this is sudden, but can I stay here for some days?" he asked and Hyorin dropped her fork while I looked at him wide eyed. "What? No way" Hyorin said but nobody gave her attention. Instead, we all looked at my mother, waiting for her answer.

"Why not my son, but we don't have an extra room left," she said and thought. Well, that was true. We had 7 rooms in this house, one for my grandparents, one for my parents, one for Hyorin, one for Kyungsoo, one for me and another one but we had turned it into a storeroom some time ago. Hana was sleeping with Hyorin and Oliver with Kyungsoo.

"Oh I know, why don't you share a room with Soo Min?" she asked and I was about to spit out the water from my mouth. "Mom he is a boy!" I said and tried to squeeze some sense into her. "It doesn't matter, nothing is going to happen anyway," she said and chuckled.

Was my own mother telling me that I am unattractive as a woman? I can't believe it. That's the first time I've seen my parents act so foolishly. "Mom, you are not understanding the situation. I am a girl and he is a boy" I explained. "I know and I believe that Jonghyun is going to do nothing with you and you won't be sharing a bed, just a room," she said and the others looked speechless.

"But...But...But..." I tried to come up with something. "No buts. Get ready for sleep now" she said and we all stood up. We all went to our rooms and Hana went to Hyorin's room and Oliver in Kyungsoo's room. I looked at Jonghyun, who seemed surprisingly fine by sharing a room with me.

Jonghyun went to Kyungsoo's room to get some PJs, while I was in my room, putting a mattress on the floor and trying to make a comfortable bed. By the time Jonghyun came in, I was already in my shorts and t-shirt, but he couldn't see what I was wearing because I was cuddled up in my blanket. I had already turned off the lights, except for the small night light which showing its dim brightness.

"You can sleep on my bed," I said. "No way. I am the one who is disturbing you, so I should sleep on the mattress" he said. "No, I am not disturbed by you at all and you are the guest, so you should get the comfort, that's called hospitality," I said and sighed. "And I am already on the mattress, so it's fine" I added

He came towards me, kneeled down to come at my eye level, and took my arm. "Come on, go to your bed," he said and I shook my head. "You're so stubborn," he said and picked me up bridal style. "W-What are you doing?!?" I asked shocked.

He dropped me on the bed and laid down on the mattress. "You are the stubborn one," I said and giggled. "You know, this hairstyle suits you," he said and I blushed. I was looking at the wall and I couldn't see his face and I was sure that he couldn't see my face, for which I was glad for.

"Thanks. I have two questions for you" I said and he interrupted me. "Wait. Can I come on the bed as long as we talk? I dislike not seeing your face while talking; I will go back when we will sleep" he said and I permitted.

Seconds later, I could feel him next to me, our shoulders were touching and both of us were looking at the wall. Did I mention that my face was heating up? "What do you want to ask?" he questioned. "Well, you said that you have something to tell me on the phone," I said.

"Forget about that, the right time hasn't arrived for me to tell you this," he said. I was actually really curious to find out what it is. "And what exactly are you doing here?" I asked my second question. "I have no schedule planned for the upcoming days," he said and more questions started to build up in my mind.

"So you just decided to stay here?"

"No, I was just planning to visit you"

"So why did you suddenly decide to stay?"

"I thought you just had two questions; that is definitely more than two"

"Just answer"

"I have to...."

"Finish the sentence, you don't expect me to understand what you want to say with and unfinished sentence, do you?"

"I have to protect you"

I turned my head towards him and looked at him bewildered. "What?" I was hoping that the small night light didn't make him see my tomato red face.

"You heard me. I have to protect you"

"Protect me from what?"

"From him"

"Why are you gritting your teeth when said 'him'? Do you mean Oliver?"

"Yes him"

"You gritted your teeth again"

"I don't like him"

"Why?"

"He has a girlfriend yet he tried to get close to you. I wonder if your friend, Hana, would be fine with it after hearing about it"

"I don't think that he did it on purpose"

"I don't trust him. I will find out in the upcoming days by myself"

He turned his head towards me too and now we were facing each other. "You should sleep now," he said and I pouted. "I don't want to," I said. "I'll sing a good night song for you," he said and I prepared myself for his song.

"I'll sing 'End of a day' for you," he said and started to sing. His soothing voice was beyond perfection. I closed my eyes and felt the song and my eyelids started to get heavy. And soon I fell asleep.

Little did I realize that Jonghyun was still next to me. And I also didn't know that he had fallen asleep next to me until the next morning.

And why his arms were wrapped around my waist and why my face was pressed against his chest were questions I didn't know the answers of.

End of Chapter 15