Chapter Ten - Mine

The sunlight slowly drapes over the room, soft and golden, casting long shadows against the messy sheets and scattered clothes. I shift under the covers, instinctively turning toward warmth, toward him.

His chest is rising and falling steadily, and I bury my face into it, breathing in his skin. It smells like the night before, like sweat, cologne, and something distinctly him. I don’t want to move. I just want to stay like this, wrapped in his scent, his warmth, his everything.

He stirs, just slightly, like he feels me pulling him closer.

His fingers find their way into my hair, gentle and slow, threading through the strands like he’s memorizing me in silence. His lips press against my forehead, soft, unhurried, grounding. The kiss is more than affection. It feels like a promise whispered without words.

“Mmm…” his voice is husky, still thick with sleep. “Sleep more,” he murmurs, arms wrapping around me tighter. “I’ve got you.”

For the first time in a long time, I let my guard fall. No elegant poise, no careful words, just me, tangled in the sheets with Kwon Ji Yong.

--

GD POV

I look down at her, still asleep, lips slightly parted, cheeks soft against my chest.Damn, she’s really out.

Must’ve knocked her out last night.I chuckle quietly, a smirk pulling at my lips as the memory flashes through my mind, the way she pulled me closer, whispered my name, completely undone.Elegant, polite Mi Yu?Gone.Last night, she wasn’t elegance. She was wild. Mine.She’s so peaceful.So beautiful like this.No mask, no pretense, just her.

I brush a few strands of hair from her face and keep stroking her head gently.She stirs.Her hand, still resting on my waist, grips tighter, like her body knows not to let me go.

God, I’m so screwed.I’m really falling.Not just attracted. Not just obsessed.Falling.

And maybe... I don’t ever want to get back up.

She blinks a few times, eyes adjusting to the light, then peeks up at me from beneath the blanket.

“Morning,” I say, my voice still raspy from sleep.

She gives me that silly smile, the one that makes my chest squeeze like an idiot.Damn, she’s cute. Too cute.

Then suddenly, she sits up, gasping softly as if reality just hit her like a truck.She snatches the blanket, clutching it tightly to cover herself, wrapping it around like a fortress.

I stretch, lean back on my arms lazily.“I already saw everything yesterday though…” I say casually, watching her with a half-smirk.

She freezes. Speechless.I can see her brain buffering, elegance mode rebooting.Her spine goes straight, chin slightly up, as if she can somehow reverse time and turn last night into a business meeting.

But the blush climbing her cheeks betrays her.Still elegant. But exposed. And I love it.

“Should I bow too?” I tease, tilting my head, pretending to be formal.

She throws a pillow at me.Grinning.God.She's cute.

I pull her gently back into my arms, wrapping her in the warmth of the morning, burying her head against my bare chest.

“Did you enjoy it yesterday?” I murmur into her hair, my voice low, teasing.

She doesn’t say a word, but I feel it.That little smile curling against my skin.The way her nose nudges slightly into my chest as she tries to hide it.

She nods.

I close my eyes for a moment, memorizing the shape of her against me.Soft, warm, surrendered.

I’m learning her piece by piece,She likes being touched.She likes when I take control.She likes being seen, completely, and not judged.

I like her.Like this.Soft or strong. Quiet or chaos.Whether she’s in control or letting go, she’s mine, either way.

I stroke her back slowly.No rush.No need to speak.

I just hold her.Because right now, this is all I want.

--

We’re at the airport now.Mi Yu is sitting beside me, legs crossed, elegance mode activated.Her eyes glued to her phone screen, scrolling through what looks like an office chat.Her eyebrows furrowed, like she’s trying to solve a nuclear crisis.

She doesn’t say anything, but I can sense the storm behind that serene expression.Queen mode, still elegant,but barely holding on.

I sit beside her, quietly, not trying to interrupt.But I do gently start brushing her hair with my fingers.Like a cat.A very handsome, supportive cat.

Meanwhile…

My team?Literal circus.

Tiger hyung is arguing with the stylist over what ramen brand to eat later.The main dancer is sulking because someone skipped the store.One makeup noona just screamed,

“I TOLD YOU I WANTED THE GARLIC BREAD FROM TERMINAL 2, NOT THE DUMPLINGS FROM TERMINAL 1!!”

Someone's suitcase fell over and hit another person.Now two of them are fighting with face masks on.They look like two angry pandas slapping each other.I keep stroking Mi Yu’s hair, pretending I hear none of it.She glances up at me briefly, then back at her phone.She’s still graceful, but I can see the corner of her mouth twitching.

"I swear I will burn their heads once I'm done with my leave," she mutters, aggressively elegant as always, still typing.

I grin, leaning back like I’m offering the most casual proposal ever,"Leave again then. Come with me to every tour concert."

She pauses.Stops tapping her phone.Turns her head slowly like a drama scene in slow motion.Eyes squinting in suspicion, but lips twitching like she’s about to lose it.

"You almost got me," she says, then…bam.That face.

The rare, secret Mi Yu face.Cheeks puffed, nose slightly scrunched, and lips curled into this ridiculously adorable pout.Oh.Damn.I swear, if anyone else saw this, I would sue for emotional copyright.

I can't help it, I reach over and pinch her cheek."Damnnn you're cute," I say, totally whipped, completely doomed.

She exhales, a dramatic sigh full of war and deadlines.“Seems like I’ll go back to my war again, after this paradise.”

I tilt my head, raise a brow, “Am I the paradise then?”

She doesn’t answer immediately, just smiles, that smile.The kind that makes me forget I’ve got a stadium of fans waiting somewhere.

--

Mi Yu POV - Back to the office

"Claire, can you come here?" I say over the phone, trying to keep my voice flat and professional, Oscar-worthy performance.

Moments later, a knock.

"Yes?" I say, sipping my coffee like I own the entire building.

Claire walks in, confident but slightly suspicious."That thing. The thing I asked you to do yesterday. Can you bring it to me now? I need to review it," I say seriously, flipping a pen between my fingers like a corporate villain.

Claire pauses. I see her brain buffering."Nee..." she nods and leaves, but not without furrowing her brows hard enough to cause a wrinkle crisis.

As soon as the door closes.I break.I cover my mouth, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

From outside, I hear her low whisper to intern,"That data. The one I asked you about yesterday. Do you have it??"

I can feel the intern’s panic through the door.Moments later, knock knock.The intern walks in holding a giant map like she’s holding a bomb.

"This is the data you asked for, ma'am," she says, clearly sweating inside.

I open the map, staring at it like I’m reviewing classified government secrets.

"Tell Claire to come in."

Claire walks back in, she looks like she’s ready to submit her resignation.

"What is this?" I ask, stone cold.

"That… uh…" Claire stutters, looking at the intern like maybe she can teleport them both out.

"Honestly, Claire. Can you tell me what exactly I told you to do yesterday?"

Her face collapses like a Jenga tower.

Then I burst out laughing, wheezing.

"I didn't tell you to do anything! I’m just messing around!" I laugh hard, wiping a tear from my eye.

"YAAAAAA!!!" Claire yells, half-laughing, half-ready to fight me."I almost had a heart attack! Ha Ni, I'm sorry about that"

"Go, Ha Ni-ya, go back to your work," she says, patting the poor intern like a traumatized puppy.The intern bows quickly and flees like we’re possessed.

Claire glares at me while trying not to laugh."I'm gonna get you back for this."

"Try me," I smirk.Oh, office chaos. Nothing better.

“You’re laughing too much these days,” she says, tilting her head with a smirk. “I really like this version of you.”

I giggle, caught off guard. “You do?”

She raises an eyebrow, smug. “Thanks to the King of K-POP, obviously.”

I burst out laughing, nearly knocking over my pen holder. “Please. Don’t start.”

Claire grins wider. “What? I’m just saying… it’s giving main character energy. Soft giggles. Secret smiles. Glowing skin. High-functioning chaos. Someone’s in love.”

I wave her off. “Enough. Go home. Tell everyone else to go home too. I need to review all these reports.”

She rolls her eyes playfully. “We live in the same place, remember? I’ll head back in a bit. What do you want to eat? I’m picking up something.”

I lean back in my chair, dramatically rubbing my temples. “Ugh… I don’t know. I don’t even have an appetite. Too much work. I took a week off and came back to this mountain of disaster. It’s like...” I throw my hands up and make a “mind-blown” explosion gesture with a sound effect, “...ppppffffftttttt!”

Claire laughs, backing out of my office. “Got it. I’ll just surprise you with something that doesn’t taste like burnout.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, already turning my attention to the endless stack of papers.

A few minutes later, the office begins to empty. I hear Claire’s voice outside telling the team to wrap up, the sound of chatter and chairs scooting fading gradually.

Silence.

I look at my computer, then at my overflowing inbox, then at the signed brand contract on my desk with Kwon Ji Yong printed in bold.

I sigh and lean back in my chair again.

“…Should I just stop all of this and become his moral support groupie?” I mumble to myself. “Like. Full-time. Schedule holder. Backstage hug dealer. Professional forehead-kisser receiver?”

I spin slowly in my chair, staring at the ceiling like the answer will fall from it.

And then my phone lights up on the desk.

GD:“Are you tired? I’m thinking of kidnapping you tonight. Just saying.”

I smile.

Maybe moral support isn’t such a bad career change after all.

I video call him

He props up his phone, I can see he’s somewhere cozy, maybe his hotel room, hair a little messy, dim lights behind him. That smile. That damn smile. He’s resting his chin on his hand now, staring at me like I’m the only thing he sees.

“I miss you,” he says again, softer this time, with that pouty-cute expression that makes my whole chest tight.

“Me too,” I whisper, trying not to smile too much. But I’m failing. Miserably.

I place my phone on the table and continue reviewing documents, pretending to be productive, but I know he’s still watching me.

“You eat yet?” he asks, adjusting his camera so I see a little more of his lazy position, he’s totally slouched, legs up, like this is our 357th call, not our 17th.

“Not yet. Claire’s buying food.” I flip a page and pretend to read it, but my eyes drift back to the screen.

He nods. “Good. Don’t skip meals.”

“When will you be back in Korea?” I ask casually, still marking something on the paper.

He thinks for a second. “Umm… tomorrow? Why?”

I don’t answer. I just look at him, full-on cute face, slightly tilted head, eyes soft, lips curved into a small smile. Dangerous. Highly dangerous. I know I look insane right now, but I don’t care.

He bursts into a quiet laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Aigoo… what kind of face is that? You’re seriously sending me heart attacks over Wi-Fi.”

I finally chuckle too, covering my face for a second.

“I can’t believe this is you now,” he teases, “Elegant Team Leader Mi Yu, melting like marshmallow on video call.”

“Shut up,” I laugh, tossing a pen lightly at the screen. He catches it dramatically with his hand, like he’s there. “You’ll be back tomorrow, right?”

He nods.

“Then bring me tteokbokki.”

“I’ll bring the whole cart.”We both smile again.God, I’m in trouble.