Abnormal

10

"Did you eat him at all?" Namjoon asks as we stand in the further back of the library.

I nod.

"Only a bit."

He sadly sighs.

"Come, might as well buy some food before we go home." He closes the book he decides to check out.

"I don't know what I'm going to do about this, Namjoon. I really don't."

"You'll be fine, Jin. I'll make sure of it." He says before we enter a shop.

"Welcome!" A young fellow behind the counter grins.

"I'm Jeon Jungkook, what can I help you gentlemen with?"

"Hello, I'm Namjoon, this is Seokjin." He introduces me as I look around at the shelves.

Some full of herbs and seasonings to loaves of bread, vegetables and all.

"You're the new commander and new doctor, right?" A voice from the kitchen's window yells out before I see another brown-haired male.

"That's Taehyung, my business partner," Jungkook says.

"We're just looking around. But my friend may need some things to help flavor his...particular meats."

Jungkook raises his eyebrows with interest.

"Well, besides your usual seasoning I usually recommend adding some basil and oregano, onion, garlic-"

"Don't forget to add red wine to make it tender!" Taehyung yells from the kitchen.

I nod with interest as I wonder if that was what made me not like how my victims have tasted.

My thoughts suddenly go away when the entrance is open.

"Lavana!" Jungkook goes from behind the counter to hug her.

My hands instantly twitch when he wraps his arms around her.

"Oh, hello Dr. Jin." She shyly smiles before glancing at Namjoon.

"This is my friend, Commander Kim Namjoon."

"Pleasure to meet you." She bows.

"Pleasure is all mine." He returns the bow.

"Did you want me to help you pick some ingredients?" Jungkook persistently asks her.

"Oh no, you already seem to be helping them. I'll just let myself stroll around to see what I might take." She smiles before walking past us.

While Namjoon decided to partake in a conversation with Jungkook and Taehyung, I follow Lavana.

"I'm relieved to see that you're not wearing a corset," I comment before she shyly smiles.

"It actually feels nice to breathe properly." She says.

"I wanted to apologize, Dr. Jin." She frowns a bit.

"What for?"

"J-Jimin told me he confronted you about our appointment. I apologize on his behalf if he was too harsh with his words."

I smile while shaking my head.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Lavana."

"I know but I just...I feel like I should do something for you in return for his behavior." She sighs.

I resist the urge to bite my lip when my eyes stare at hers.

"Actually, there may be something you can do for me."

That pounding in my chest happens again when she smiles more.

"Anything. Name it."

"Are you a good cook?"

****

"Wow. I've never seen such a piece of meat so perfectly red." She mutters.

"Where did you get it?"

I nervously clear my throat.

"It was a departure gift from a friend before I left my town."

She nods before going over to the heated pan.

The searing meat sounds too familiar as I smell the garlic and onions.

Her humming makes the atmosphere more relaxing before she sears the other side and add some of the red wine.

She sits with me after covering the pan and lowering the heat a bit and setting the timer.

"Dr. Jin?"

"Yes?"

"I don't mean to pry but I noticed that you live alone."

I sadly smile.

"I don't have a wife and child if that's what you're referring to."

"I-I'm sorry." She shyly looks down in her lap.

"It's alright." I lightly wave it off while looking at her hands.

That tingly feeling in my own slowly returns as I want to touch them again.

"Is something wrong?" I notice her glance out the window.

"I-I'm sorry, I just want to make sure I don't get home late." She nervously smiles.

I catch a hint of fear in her eyes though.

"I'm assuming Mr. Park didn't react well to your appointment with me?"

Her hesitation radiates off of her.

"H-He told me to stay away from you." She mutters.

I simply stare at her.

"And what made you come to my home with me?"

"Because of Jimin and how he must have treated you." She tampers with the fabric on her dress while avoiding my eyes.

"Jimin...He told me that you were persistent to tell him how you touched me." She shyly glances at me.

"I think any man would."

"That's not the case for me at all." She sighs.

My slight confusion shows.

"What do you mean?"

"Many women and men in our town...have a specific vision on how a woman should look in terms of her body." Her frown deepens.

"M-My body doesn't fit their standards."

"Do you want to know what I think?"

She lightly giggles. "You're the doctor, do share."

"I think you're perfect that way you are."

I try to not smile as she looks a bit stunned by my words. 

I think a smile or even the slightest chuckle would make her think I was playing a cruel joke on her.

"Judging from your expression, I'm assuming not even Jimin has told you such."

"H-He prefers to let his actions speak louder than his words." She rubs her arm.

My hand slowly forms into a fist.

"Let me ask you this, then."

She looks at me.

"What does doing physical harm to you seem like?" My words come out more spiteful than I intended.

"D-Dr. Jin, Jimin doesn't-"

"Lavana, I understand it is an emotional subject...but please do not insult my intelligence. I know those bruises were not from simply wearing corsets too tightly."

Her nervous silence worries me a bit before she flinches when the timer rings.

I guess having her back turned to me so I can't see all the fear and hesitation in her eyes calms her a bit.

But I can still see how tense she is as she checks the food.

My body feels as if it moves on its own when I take up the courage to hold her.

Her heart is racing as she quietly pants.

"Dr. Jin-"

"I know you're scared to leave him...But I'm more scared of the thought of you staying with him." 

I hold her tighter when her little sobs come out.

"I don't want to leave." She brokenly admits.

"I keep hoping if I stay...if I keep showing him how much I love him i-it'll finally stop."

I deeply sigh before turning the stove off.

"Lavana, look at me." I gently turn her to me and hate how much torture I see in her eyes.

"I may not know you very well or what your relationship with Mr. Park was before he started hurting you."

"But I do know that any man, that loves his woman, would not let anyone or anything harm her...that includes himself."

She shivers as I cup her cheeks in my hands. They feel so soft and warm in them.

"Maybe," She nervously looks me in the eye.

"Maybe, it's time to find a new love."

I didn't even realize I had leaned in until her lips barely brush against mine.

"I-I have to go!" She quickly moves away from me before rushing out the door.

"Lavana!"

My legs were out of my control as I run after her.