The silence in the car was thick, broken only by the soft hum of the engine as Mr. Hwang took a different route. Emi's thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and a reluctant curiosity about the man sitting next to her.
She finally turned to him, her voice quieter than before. "Who were those guys? And how did you—" She stopped, realizing she didn't even know how to phrase her question.
Jungkook's gaze remained fixed ahead. "They were amateurs. Likely hired to scare you or deliver a message."
"A message?" Her voice rose, the earlier calm evaporating. "What kind of message?"
"Your father has enemies," Jungkook said bluntly. "You're a convenient target."
Emi flinched at his directness. "So that's it? I'm just…bait in some power play between my dad and whoever hates him this week?"
Jungkook didn't answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his tone was quieter but no less firm. "Your father hired me to ensure you don't become a casualty. That's all you need to focus on."
Emi scoffed, leaning back against the leather seat. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one they're after."
For the first time, Jungkook turned to look at her, his dark eyes unreadable. "Miss Emi, I take every threat against you personally. If you think I'm here for the money or the thrill, you're mistaken. My job is to keep you alive. Period."
Something in his tone made her pause. She searched his face for any hint of emotion, but he was as stoic as ever.
"Fine," she said finally, crossing her arms. "But don't think this means I'm going to make it easy for you."
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Jungkook's mouth. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
The car pulled into the driveway of a different estate, one of the family's safe houses. Jungkook was the first to step out, scanning the area before motioning for Emi to follow.
"This isn't my home," she said, hesitating.
"It's secure," Jungkook replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Emi frowned but followed him inside, where a team of security personnel awaited instructions. Jungkook wasted no time, issuing commands with the kind of authority that made Emi realize he was more than just a bodyguard—he was a leader.
As she watched him, a mix of frustration and curiosity bubbled inside her. Who was this man her father had hired? And why did she feel like he was hiding as much about himself as he was protecting her from?
The door clicked shut behind Emi, and Jungkook lingered in the hallway for a moment, his eyes scanning the perimeter through the windows. Everything seemed secure, but he knew better than to trust appearances.
He let out a quiet breath, loosening his tie slightly. It had been a long day, and Emi's resistance wasn't making his job any easier. She was fiery, stubborn, and far too naive about the dangers surrounding her.
Naive doesn't mean weak, he reminded himself. Her sharp tongue and defiant attitude were proof of that. It was something he had to respect, even if it made her a difficult charge.
As he moved toward the living room, his mind replayed the earlier confrontation with the thugs. Amateurs, yes—but amateurs with a message. Jungkook hated loose ends, and this job had more than its fair share of them.
He settled into one of the chairs, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. His eyes drifted to the security monitors on the wall, each showing a different angle of the estate. The flickering images were a constant reminder of why he was here.
This wasn't the life he had envisioned for himself. Jungkook had walked away from the military years ago, determined to leave the violence and chaos behind. But somehow, he always found himself back in the same cycle. Protecting someone. Fighting off threats. The only difference now was the paycheck—and the stakes.
He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening as memories surfaced. Faces of people he couldn't save, moments where he'd been too late. This time, he wouldn't fail.
But Emi was…different. She wasn't just another client to be escorted from point A to point B. She was headstrong and reckless, the kind of person who would walk straight into danger just to prove she didn't need help.
That made his job harder—and infinitely more important.
The sound of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see Emi standing in the doorway, her arms crossed.
"You always sit there brooding, or is that just for show?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jungkook straightened, his expression unreadable. "Just doing my job, Miss Emi."
She sighed, stepping further into the room. "You can drop the formalities, you know. It's weird."
His gaze followed her as she flopped onto the couch across from him. "Formality helps maintain boundaries," he replied coolly.
"Boundaries," she repeated with a scoff. "Right. Because you're so good at keeping your distance."
Her words held an edge of challenge, but Jungkook didn't rise to it. Instead, he studied her, noting the tension in her posture despite her casual tone. She was scared, even if she wouldn't admit it.
"You don't have to like me," he said finally. "But you do have to trust me."
Emi's eyes met his, and for a moment, the fire in her gaze dimmed. "Trust is earned," she said softly.
Jungkook nodded, a faint trace of understanding passing between them. "Then let me earn it."
She didn't reply, but the way her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly told him he'd taken a step in the right direction.
As Emi turned her attention to the TV remote, Jungkook leaned back in his chair, his mind already calculating the next move. Protecting her wasn't just a job—it was a promise. And Jungkook never broke his promises.