"Can we start over?" Nikolai asked.
"Uhh...we can what?!" Jin asked in disbelief, did he just hear that? from Nikolai's mouth nonetheless!
"I don't like repeating myself...this is your chance, you asked for one remember?" Nikolai said while Shamelessly wiping his teary face with Jin's shirt.
"My brain made an error right now...what kind of chances are we talking about?!" Jin asked, his arms loosened a little around Nikolai, as Jin found it difficult to comprehend Nikolai's words.
Sniffing one last time, Nikolai broke their hug and sat upright on the bed, Jin followed his client and sat on the bed as well.
"Your sister is right...I knew that you were as much as a victim as i was, but hating you was what fueled me for 7 years, to be the person I am today." Nikolai said, "I might sound dramatic, but i'm honored to be one of the reasons why you made it to stardom, even if I was the villain in your storyline, I'm glad to see you shine." Jin replied.
"It is dramatic but as an actor, rest assure that I can top you when it comes to drama.
it wasn't all rainbow and cupcakes in my story... making it to the top wasn't a cakewalk because Unlike so many other stars, I wasn't born rich or came from an artistic background, or attended prestigious institutions.
Bur later on in life, after highschool to be specific, I got supported by two people that were both artistic and Rich...My success was a strike of luck at its best if you consider the circumstances.
And despite that I spoke vaguely about my past before highschool, to the public and the media...the public especially my fans, they found inspiration out of me and my story afterwards as a nobody becoming a somebody.
I made a huge success these few years, a success that many dream of! *Sighing* but I never feel like I deserved it.
I didn't feel that much happiness from my own achievements like a normal person would...in fact if anything! my success made me feel more cornered.
I forgot who I was, and I couldn't distinguish myself from the actor anymore." Nikolai said, "Isn't it common to feel this way among artists? My sister's therapist said that success and depression walk on the same path." Jin replied.
"Yeah, my therapist said something like that too...it's all a part of being on top, part of the glory of a Superstar." Nikolai said.
Jin was taken back by his sudden Honesty but it warmed his heart to see Nikolai Opening up to him, " You have no obligation to confide in me, so thank you for telling me what's troubling you, it means Alot." Jin replied smiling.
"Damn...communication is key for real." Nikolai said, "I still do hate you though." He added.
"I can see why you hate me.
Honestly I hate myself too, I should have told you myself about the bet before Moses did, even if your reaction could've been the same." Jin replied.
"I still wish you told me yourself Jin...maybe I would've considered that your feelings were honest towards me at that time."
"Unless we find a time machine Niko...I think that all I can do is look back on the past, and avoid doing what I did wrong again."
"You better be careful this time, I can't risk been tricked by you again." Nikolai said, "You still haven't explained what kind of chance you want to give me yet." Jin inquiried.
Humming his nod, "Hmm~ you're right! I should explain this very well, so a misunderstanding wouldn't happen." Nikolai foxily replied, before he jumped on Jin.
"...!" Jin was taken again by surprise by Nikolai when he pinned his back to the bed, and the client just casually sat on his bodyguard's stomach, "You're such a bad bodyguard Jin! Why let me overpower you so easily?" Nikolai said while faking an annoyed tone.
As if Jin's heart wasn't already beating like crazy in his chest from having Nikolai sit on him like that, he hid his blushing face with his already trembling hands, feeling embarrassed.
Nikolai could feel his heart react to the sight of a shy and blushing mess Jin, he was thinking that Jin was being too cute for his own good, it made Nikolai's heart beat faster too.
But Jin's reaction also made Nikolai's sudden confidence grow bigger, he decided to tease Jin a little more before going back to being serious.
Arching his back and putting more pressure on Jin's body, "Why are you being so shy? was Seong-min right when she said you're a virgin?...kinda hard to believe, you're so smashing to be This way." Nikolai said.
Suddenly, Nikolai was startled when something poked him from the back, glancing behind him, his own face heated up when he realized that he gave Jin a boner.
Freaking out a little, Nikolai tried to rise from that position but his knee tripped on the bedsheets, causing him to fall face flat on Jin's Big chest.
Jin felt the sudden pressure on his chest, so he removed his hands that hid his face behind to see what happened to Nikolai, but Jin's blush only intensified as he saw Nikolai's face buried in his chest.
"Niko...Are you alive?!" Jin Asked nervously.
Without lifting his head, Nikolai gave Jin a thumbs up.
...Few minutes Later...
Both of them sat properly on the Bed, each hiding his lap under a pillow.
"You... should probably take care of...That." Nikolai said slightly pointing at Jin's pillow.
Still blushing "It doesn't matter, why would you tease me if you couldn't handle it too Niko...You're in the same shoes as mine now!" Jin asked pointing at Nikolai's pillow.
"Idk! I guess I...I found it fun to tease you untill it backfired at me." Nikolai replied feeling flustered again.
"You're surprisingly honest today Niko, am I dying or something?!"
"Jin, we met again two days ago...why are you acting like I'm the same Nikolai you knew."
"Why are you acting like I'm the same 'Jin' you knew 7 years ago then?"
"Okay, using my own logic against me...evil but Clever." Nikolai said sighing in defeat.
"So now." Jin cheerfully spoke, "Can you explain what you were supposed to explain earlier?" he added asking.
"I don't like the idea of Having a bodyguard, and Andrea pretty much forced us to be together again so let's 'Be' Together again." Nikolai said, "Be together...you mean as in date again?" Jin asked.
"Fake dating...for now, Jin."
"Why?"
"To bait my attackers of course!...since people don't know who you are or that you're my bodyguard yet.
You posing as my boyfriend, would be the perfect bait to lure whomever is after my life to come closer.
They attacked me when I was with Andrea, making sure I know thanks to that attack, that anyone involved with me would get harmed as well.
A bodyguard might make them step back for a while, but a boyfriend would make them wann target him in order to get to me easily." Nikolai replied explaining his idea.
"Fake huh...so I'll become your boyfriend again just for show, so you and I can catch whomever is targeting you?" Jin said, "Yeah, exactly." Ned confirmed while he waited to receive Jin's reaction to his proposition.
"Fake as in, it will end at some point, isn't that right Niko?"
"Until Andrea comes back in action.
According to the hospital, Andrea will have weeks Infront of him before he's fully recovered, although he's leaving the hospital soon...he won't be able to keep an eye on me all the time."
"What about his men Niko? I wonder why Mister Andreoli got me to do this job when he had all those men besides him, they could protect you from anything."
"Andrea doesn't like his men nor to be surrounded by them...he wanted his past to stay in the past but his family insists on him have those men around whenever he's in danger.
And their loyalty is for Andrea only, so there's no obligation on them to protect me, not when most of them share Salvatore's opinion of me...that I am a liability to Andrea." Nikolai explained.
"What about Mister Andreoli himself, won't this plan cause him problems?"
"Probably, but we will explain to him once he's out of the hospital what we're planning, I'm sure he'll get on board and wouldn't mind as long as we're faking it."
"So are you two really dating?"
"No Jin...I wish but Andrea and I aren't dating, because I'm simply not in love with him."
"Ah, I get it...Anyways, why do you hate the idea of having a bodyguard?" Jin asked.
"Because I don't like the idea of another human being taller and bigger than me, dressed in a black suit and shades on, following me everywhere I go and making my daily life uncomfortable." Nikolai replied.
"You're targeted for murder! you need a Bodyguard Niko."
"I know Jin, it's just...that I value my privacy, Alot."
"As if I won't be intruding on your privacy by dating you again?"
"If you agree to pretend to be my fake boyfriend Jin, we'll only pretending outdoor and in front of the public...behind closed doors we're gonna be separated as usual." Nikolai explained.
A little disappointed, "I figured you'd say that much." Jin said, "If it makes you feel better, when we're outside, we can do stuff boyfriends do...like, kissing and holding hands." Nikolai replied.
This did make Jin feel better, "I do have one request and I'll get on board with this after." Jin said, "Ok, I think you deserve this much, but only one request and it's gotta be something I can do." Nikolai responded.
"Can we at least try to be friends again I mean let's pretend to be lovers outdoors...but indoors, can we try to be on good terms?" Jin asked.
Sighing, "That's exactly what I meant by staring over." Nikolai replied making Jin smile cheerfully before he stood to go to his mattress.
"Where do you think you're going?" Nikolai asked, "To my bed?" Jin replied clueless, "Lay with me, just for tonight as an exception." Nikolai ordered him.
With a big smile on his face, Jin simply nodded with his head and joined Nikolai on the Ned again.
...Next day....
A fully dressed Nikolai gasped just as he sat down to eat breakfast, "What is that?!" he said in utter shock.
"Your breakfast? spinach omelette and strawberry milk shake?" Jin said cluelessly.
"Not that you idiot! I'm talking about you!" Nikolai said, "Me?" Jin was still not grasping the situation.
"God may forgive you for being gay but no one will forgive you for that outfit." Nikolai said.
"Eh? my outfit? what's wrong with my outfit?"
"Everything darling."
"Am I underdressed or something?" Jin asked, "More like not dressed at all!...Jin, you're literally just wearing a long sleeve black shirt with black pants.
the outfit is fine for staying inside or hanging out with friends, but we're going to a movie set with lots of fashion whores there that you don't wanna become their gossiping material." Nikolai replied.
"You're being mean, why should I care about what other people say?!" Jin argued, "Oh dressed like this? in this heat, in this summer? they gonna have a field day with your ass!
But as a fellow queer man, I cannot allow such a disaster to happen on my watch." Nikolai replied.
"Fine, what do you suggest Niko?"
"Since it's pretty early in the morning, we still have plenty of time, so Let's go shopping and give you a Little makeover Jin!
Just Leave it to me to make sure that you're going to be, the hottest new celebrity boyfriend in all of the tabloids."