|| AT THE HOTEL, Next day ||
*Third person's POV*
"How are you feeling now?", Peter asked with worry wrapped in his voice.
Keeping her eyes still closed, Annie barely whispered, "Better.."
Jin was right there, standing by the door, watching them & wondering,
'How can I leave for Seoul after what just happened?
...
..
I should've reached sooner. Had Peter not reached on time..... or, worse, what if she was not able to call me?May be I sh...'
"Jin..."
"Jin..."
"Hm? Oh, sorry. Were you saying something?", he asked, branching off of his thoughts.
"Yeah. I'm going to see the police. To talk about Zack. They'd probably drop by later, to ask Annie some questions about him", said Peter.
Jin nodded.
"Okay then, I'll leave her at your disposal. Take care of her"
"I will", Jin assured Peter.
"You better"
After Peter left, Jin walked towards Annie & sat by the bed.
Feeling a gentle hand on her head, Annie opened her eyes to find Jin staring at her affectionately. She weakly smiled at him.
"You okay, kitten?", he asked her, combing his fingers through her hair.
"I think so... do you... think... he'll come back?", she asked bitting her lip.
Jin fell silent for a second, not knowing how to reply without scaring her.
"He might. But you don't need to worry. The police is working on finding him. Moreover, you have me & Peter by your side. We'll protect you", he said holding her hand & giving it a light squeeze.
Annie brought the hand Jin was holding, closer to her chest & closed her eyes. She inhaled sharply, breathing in Jin's scent,
"It's so soothing in here".
"Mhm, you take rest. I'll bring something for you to eat", Jin said, getting up from the bed.
Annie frantically held his hand, "No, please don't go!". She pulled him, making him partly fall on the bed.
"Don't leave. Please"
"Hey, it's okay. He cannot come here. I'll be back in no time. Plus, Namjoon is there in the next r..."
"No! Please. You don't know him. I don't wanna..... Please. Stay"
Jin's eyes softened at the woman before him.
He lied down next to her, pulling her close, gently running his fingers along her hair. She snuggled against his broad chest.
He delicately pressed his lips to her forehead, pouring all his emotions into the kiss.
Finally.
Finally, she felt safe.
.
.
After few minutes, her breathing was down to even. Her chest rose and fell, as she mumbled, "mm..aa..waav..yuuu", against his chest.
"Hm?", Jin peered at her peaceful face & smiled, "Are you purring now, little kitten?"
Instead of answering, still in deep sleep, Annie nuzzled against his chest, making him laugh out loud.
"You so are..."
He hugged her tight & gradually dozed off feeling partly responsible for what happened to her.
********
|| Morning, 8am ||
Jin woke up in the morning, panic-stricken to the thought of losing Annie.
He wanted to smash Zack's face for touching his woman, for abusing her. He felt a tightness in his chest, looking at Annie lying in his arms, her head resting on his chest, 'What if something happened to her?', he thought. He felt so frustrated.
*knock knock*
"Yes?"
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah"
Namjoon unlocked the door, opening it slightly.
He peeked in, asking, "How is she doing now?"
"Sleeping. Fine, I guess?"
"Hmm. What about you?"
"I...uh..don't know. I need your advice on something"
"Sure. Did you guys eat?"
Before Jin could answer, his stomach grumbled loudly.
"I'll take that as a no!", said Namjoon laughing. "I'm ordering something then. Let's talk over breakfast?"
"Yeah. I'll be there in few minutes, but I think I'm gonna let her sleep a bit longer"
"Sure"
******
Jin sighed, running his fingers on Annie's face, light as feather, one last time before leaving the bed.
He walked into the living room rubbing his eyes.
"Sit. Have some", Namjoon said while pouring a glass of orange juice for him
"Thanks"
"So? What do you wanna talk about?"
"It's about Annie."
"Hmm. What about her?"
"I am worried. Staying alone is unsafe for her right now."
"Yeah. What did the police say?"
"They're looking for that sc*mbag", Jin said clenching his teeth, visibly annoyed.
"Hmm. So, have you told her yet?"
"What?"
"That you're leaving tomorrow?"
"...No. I..uh..was going to. Today. But..."
"You have to let her know, Jin. You can't stay here forever. She deserves to know that"
"I..I think I'm gonna stay a bit longer. Maybe a week more?"
"You're hiding your identity, you know that right? Extending your stay won't solve your problem. What after 1week? Things are not gonna end well like this, Jin."
"I know, but.."
"Jin, I can give you my advice, but the ultimate decision is yours", said Namjoon getting up his seat.
"Where are you going?"
"To get ready. You better get going as well. I hope you didn't forget about the concert?"
"No, I didn't"
"Good... *exhaling deeply* Look, I know you're worried & that's obvious. Also, I'm happy for you that you found Annie. But as the leader of the group, I won't accept mistakes Jin. Don't mess up the concert", Namjoon stated sternly before disappearing into his room.
"Haaah", Jin sighed in frustration. He knew what Namjoon said was right but he couldn't gather the courage to inform Annie that he was supposed to leave. Not after what happened last night.
"Ugh. Why everything has to be so complicated?"
******
.
.
Annie opened her eyes to find Jin packing his bag, "Wh..where are you going?", she asked sitting up straight.
"Hm? Oh, good morning", he left his bag & came towards Annie, kissing her forehead, "I've to run an errand for a friend. You don't worry, Chang's here. I've asked him to look after you for a while. He's in the living room, call him if you need anything. Also, Peter will be coming in few hours. You can relax. This hotel has pretty tight security"
"Um..when will you return?"
"I might be late. So, don't wait for me. Eat well & take some rest.
.
.
Oh, and, Peter has already informed your hospital that you'll be taking a week off"
"A week? I can't do that. I'll be joining from tomorrow"
"No, a week it is"
"I cannot let my personal issues affect my profession. I'm not hurt anywhere. Just a bit tired. I'll be joining from tomorrow"
Jin had a very hard expression on his face by now. In no way, he could imagine risking Annie's life.
"Don't make me repeat myself kitten. You are taking a week off & it's final", he stated firmly, before leaving the room.
*****
*Annie's POV*
My life currently feels like a ride on a roller coaster.
While it was rising high, filling me with endless excitement, I should've known that the next moment it was about to fall deep.
Zack was the last thing I expected from my life at this point. I thought he was gone for good. I wonder how he found me? Moreover, why is he even here? I just don't get it.
Just imagining what could've happened, gives me the chills.
He was about to kill me! Damn, that psycho!
With Zack gone from my life for over 5years, I'd literally forgotten what fear feels like. Especially after I met Jin.
.
.
.
I don't know what time, but when I woke up, I saw Jin packing his bags.
Is he, leaving?
"Where are you going?", I asked him.
Run an errand for a friend, he says? So he still won't open up to me?
I thought we're close now, but he's still hiding things from me.
Who is he? What does he do for a living? Do I even know the real him?
I had a lot of questions in mind, but for now, I decided not to pry.
"Um.. when will you return?"
He said not to wait for him, he'll be late.
What is this feeling? Wh-why am I feeling sad?
He never promised me that we'll always have dinner together, then why?
But he came by everynight to pick me up. For the past 2weeks, we've been dining together. Am I....?
No! Why, why shall I expect?
He doesn't even tell me what he does.
"Peter has already informed your hospital that you'll be taking a week off"
A week? Is he kidding now?
"A week? I can't do that. I'll be joining from tomorrow", I informed him matter-of-factly.
"No, a week it is", he stated without even looking at me.
What? Ughh.
"I cannot let my personal issues affect my profession. I'm not hurt anywhere. Just a bit tired. I'll be joining from tomorrow", I spoke in the same tone, to make him understand that I take my own decisions.
He dropped his shirt in the bag & walked towards me, looking straight into my eyes.
Unlike the Jin I'm used to seeing, he had a very hard expression on his face.
He cupped my face in both his hands & rubbed my cheek with his thumb.
But, on contrary to his tender actions, the words that came out of his mouth were stern enough to stop me from saying anything further~
"Don't make me repeat myself kitten. You are taking a week off & it's final"
It was too much for me to bear right now. I averted my gaze looking downwards.
He sighed, getting up from the bed & left the room, carrying his bag with him.
"Jerk!"
.
.
.
It was almost five in the evening, when I received a message from Jin saying~
"I am sorry Annie. I know what you might be thinking. I don't mean to boss you around. It's your life & you're absolutely free to do whatever you want. But for now, I'm worried & it's too dangerous. Also, I promise I'll tell you everything about myself. I just need a little more time"
After battling with myself, whether or not to reply, I finally did, saying,"You know, you behaved like a jerk"
"I know & I'm sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you."
"Just do your work & come back soon. I miss you"
"I miss you too kitten"
I kept my phone aside & started stuffing my mouth with the cream buns Peter brought for me.
"You like 'em?", he asked, smiling at me.
I nodded with a wide grin.
*****
||At the concert, backstage, 5.30pm||
*Third person's POV*
"Hyung! What's taking you so long?", asked Jimin, peeking into Jin's dressing room.
"Damn! I forgot to bring my accessories for the concert. I left them at the hotel"
.
.
.
"What? How can you be so careless?", the Manager freaked out at Jin.
"I'm sorry, I'll go & get it quickly"
"No, you stay here. The concert starts in 30mins. I'll ask for alternative arrangements. Meanwhile, I'll go & bring them"
*****
|| At the hotel ||
*Manager's POV*
I quickly took out the card key Namjoon gave me & unlocked the door.
"What the.... who are you people? How did you get in here?", I practically yelled in astonishment, "SECURITY!!"
"Hey, wait", said a tall man walking upto me, "I can explain"
"Well then, I suggest you speak fast"
"Uh, Jin is..um..dating my friend here. She was attacked last night, so we decided to bring her here cause it's not safe for her, out there."
"Dating? What nonsense?", I spouted.
"You can call Jin or his roommate, if you want to confirm. Also, their friend Chang is here with us, he just went out to grab a few things"
"Very well, just give me a minute", I immediately called Namjoon to confirm.
To my utmost surprise, he accepted whatever the man said, without any sign of protest.
Now I get it, why he has been missing his rehearsals. Also, forgetting his accessories before the concert? He's completely out of his mind.
"I have confirmed. Sorry for the trouble, I came here to collect certain essentials for Jin", I said politely, not wanting to cause a chaos right now.
"Sure", the man said.
I took a quick glance at the girl after collecting Jin's accessories & hastily left the hotel.
.
.
.
When I entered the backstage, it was almost time for them to hit the spotlight.
I ran over to Jin, handing him everything he forgot.
He looked at me, expecting a reaction.
No, I'm not going to give you one. I know exactly what to do.
"Hurry up now, it's almost time. 2mins at max", I informed all the 7 members at once.
After the concert started, I went to the dressing room, for I had to make an important call, to settle matters before they get out of my hand.
******
To be continued..
******
Hi guys!
I know I'm not quite regular with the episodes but I hope you keep reading them & let me know how can I make them better.
And, please, take care of yourselves. Wear a mask whenever you're going out & keep a hand sanitizer with you all the time. Wash your hands before you eat anything. Stay safe & healthy.
Saranghaeyo ♥︎♡︎
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