“Helen,” Hoya was standing next to a curtain in the security guard’s resting station, behind the university’s theatre stage.  He was holding a clump of women’s clothes in his hands, “How can you be a security guard?  You should be a model…not this.”  He adjusted his weight to the other foot and glanced at the other people in the room.  There were a few women but they had to weigh twice as much as Helen; other men sipped coffee out of Styrofoam cups and paid no attention to Hoya.

“Believe it or not,” Helen pushed one leg into her gray Madacorp uniform, “I wasn’t really given a choice.”  She pushed the other leg in.

                “What do you mean?”  Hoya turned his head towards the curtain and could see the outline of her body as she moved around, dressing herself.  He looked away, embarrassed.

“The job I have now,” she wriggled her arm through one sleeve, “I’ve been with the same company since I was 14.  Leaving now doesn’t really seem…possible…or realistic.”  Helen’s eyes floated to the gold embroidery that decorated the lion insignia on her shoulder.

Hoya didn’t like her answer; he shifted his weight again, shaking his head even though she couldn’t see him.  “It just doesn’t seem right.”  Their conversation fell silent as Helen looked at herself in the mirror of the dressing room.  She glared at herself and felt a pinch of anger beginning to boil deep in her heart; it ached with increasing pain.  Helen pushed the curtain aside and Hoya stood upright.

Helen reached out to take her clothes from him but Hoya pulled back at the last second.  “Why did you have so many bruises…the first time we met?”  His question was blunt.

Helen knew what he meant.  He was confused as to why, if she’d been working all this time, why she didn’t have more bruises but instead her arms were healing and looked healthy.  “It was a…”  Helen froze; usually no one asked her about her work and she wasn’t used to lying about her day-to-day activities.  She honestly wanted to tell Hoya about her mission; it was the mission that landed her in Infinite’s van that night after their Sesame Player recording.  She looked Hoya in the eyes, “It was a rough day.”  Helen put her hands on top of Hoya’s as he held her rolled up clothes.  He let the fabric glide, slowly, through his fingers as he watched Helen.  There was a secret hiding behind those eyes, but it surprised Hoya to see how badly she was hiding it.  It was in that moment he could tell Helen was keeping something from him and it was something she sincerely wished she could talk about.  The silence and lies were causing her pain and it was the only thing Hoya could see when he looked at her.

Jungryul had been waiting across the room, leaning on a doorway, as he watched Hoya and Helen talk.  He had intended to approach the two, but hesitated when he saw how serious their conversation was.  Jungryul was taken aback when he saw Hoya reach out and grab Helen’s arm before she could leave; he saw the surprise on Helen’s face.

“Don’t.”  Hoya held her wrist loosely but his voice was stern.  “Don’t do that.”  Helen looked at him, confused; Hoya pulled her closer to him, moving a hand to her waist and letting his mouth hover next to her ear.  “Don’t keep things from me.”  His voice was smooth and husky; Helen shivered and a tingle raced down her spine.  She didn’t pull back or make any motion to move.

Helen’s adrenaline was rushing through her veins as she breathed heavier, her corneas constricted and her heart beat quickly.  She assumed it was her body’s normal response – a fighting response to being in such close quarters with anyone but Jin Hyun or Jungryul.  However, Jungryul knew the difference as he watched the two become closer; he saw a different scenario playing before him: Someone was finally brave enough – confident enough – to step up and take responsibility for Helen.  She had always needed someone to look after her – Jungryul was not strong enough and Helen knew it; therefore, she’d grown up always protecting herself by herself.  She never made him feel guilty for his lacking presence though; she’d explained before, “You’re not my real father, Jungryul, you shouldn’t have to take on this burden.”  Jungryul sighed, hearing her voice, remembering the day she said that to him; it was the day she had finally decided to join Madacorp – she was 14. 

Jungryul watched as Hoya used confidence he’d never exerted before as he tightened his grip on Helen.  He pulled her closer to his body; he could barely feel her body heat against his own chest.  Helen’s shoulders relaxed and for the first time Helen reached up and hugged Hoya.

Hoya instinctively put his hand behind her head and wrapped his other around her waist.  “I wasn’t confident enough.”  His words resonated in his brain.  Hoya tilted his head towards her, taking in the scent of her hair as he rubbed small circles on her back with his thumb.  Helen melted in his grip.  It was obvious the two needed each other’s company but for different reasons.  Hoya needed Helen to teach him not to be afraid of making the first move; to not worry about rejection or loss but to simply act how he felt in the moment.  Helen needed someone to finally take proper care of her – someone who wanted to protect her and not because of a forced situation – like her relationship with Jungryul.

“Alright!” a security guard clapped his hands together, gaining everyone’s attention.  “Let’s get started!  Ajumma and Ajusshi are already checking in!”

Hoya waited until Helen had left the room with the other guards before turning to leave the room himself.  He was shocked to see Jungryul standing in the other doorway, nonchalantly but with a knowingly look on his face.  Jungryul smirked and took his leave, first.