As they exited the mansion, Emi's personal driver, Mr. Hwang, stood by the sleek black car, holding the door open. Emi slid into the back seat without sparing Jungkook a glance, her irritation bubbling just beneath the surface.
Jungkook followed silently, settling into the seat beside her. The space between them felt suffocatingly small, despite the luxurious expanse of the car's interior.
"So," Emi said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Are you going to follow me into the bathroom too? Or do I get some privacy?"
Jungkook didn't flinch. "Your safety isn't something I'll compromise on, Miss Emi. Where you go, I go."
"Unbelievable," she muttered, crossing her arms and staring out the tinted window. "What's your deal, anyway? Do you just enjoy bossing people around?"
"No," Jungkook replied coolly. "I'm just good at my job."
Emi rolled her eyes. "Of course, you are. Let me guess, former military? Secret agent? Or are you one of those brooding types with a tragic backstory?"
Jungkook's gaze shifted toward her, his expression unreadable. "I'm here to protect you, not entertain your assumptions."
Emi opened her mouth for a sharp retort but stopped when the car lurched to a sudden halt. Her heart leaped as the driver swore under his breath.
"What's going on?" she demanded, her voice tinged with alarm.
Jungkook's demeanor changed instantly, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Outside, a black van had pulled across the road, blocking their path.
"Stay in the car," Jungkook ordered, his voice steady but commanding.
Before Emi could argue, he opened the door and stepped out. His movements were swift, precise, like he had rehearsed this scenario a hundred times before.
"Jungkook!" she shouted, leaning forward, but Mr. Hwang held her back.
"Miss, please stay down!"
Jungkook approached the van with measured steps. Two men stepped out, their postures hostile. One of them smirked, clearly underestimating the bodyguard.
"This doesn't concern you, pal," the man sneered. "Hand over the girl, and no one gets hurt."
Jungkook tilted his head, his expression as cold as ever. "You've made a mistake."
In a blur of motion, he disarmed the first man with a single, fluid strike, his movements a mix of lethal precision and raw power. The second man lunged, but Jungkook dodged effortlessly, countering with a sharp blow that sent him sprawling.
From inside the car, Emi watched in stunned silence, her earlier annoyance melting into something uncomfortably close to admiration.
In less than a minute, it was over. The men lay groaning on the pavement as Jungkook brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve and returned to the car.
He slid back into his seat, calm as ever. "We'll take a different route," he said, nodding to the shaken driver.
Emi stared at him, her heart pounding. "What the hell just happened?"
"Your life isn't as safe as you think, Miss Emi," Jungkook replied, his tone softening slightly. "This is why I'm here."
For once, Emi didn't have a snarky comeback. Instead, she sat back, her mind racing with questions she wasn't sure she wanted answers to.