Section 2.2: Must respect the client’s decisions

‘I don’t need your help,’ Bom said coldly.

Top watched her walk off to her room.

Her words didn’t have any effect on him.

After all this was just a job to him.

“I must respect her decisions.”  

***

Top pulled the soft quilt over his body as he was getting to sleep. To his satisfaction, the bouncy bed was twice the size he uses at army camp. Trapped underneath the warm layers of blankets he dozed off.

“I’m getting paid to do nothing,” Top smiled to himself.

“Choco! You get to sleep with me today!”  Bom’s excited voice broke the beautiful silence.

Echoes of Bom’s voice travelled to Top’s room.

Even though their rooms were divided with a wall, he could hear her- loud and clear.

“Yah! Choco!” Bom laughed while tried to calm the erratic dog down.

He couldn’t help but notice how sweet and caring she sounded. Unlike the icy person he interacted with before.

Are they even the same people?

Who was this person?

Unintentionally, he kept ears dropping her conversation with Choco. She sounded like a little child. She talks to Dongwook in a completely different tone. Whenever she was with Dongwook, she would always sound very mature and serious.

Who would’ve thought she had a playful side?

Top shut his eyes once again as he slowly drifted into dreamland.

***

Top woke up at 4am. It’s just how his body clock works. He walked towards the bathroom and along the way he could hear Bom whimpering.

“I’m so sorry mom. I’m so sorry dad.” Bom cried.

Top peeked inside her room to see if she was awake or not.

It turns out she was just sleep talking.

Top turned away and headed back to the bathroom.

She wasn’t assaulted or hurting physically.

He wasn’t her psychologist.

He wasn’t her friend.

Her problems were her business.

***

Getting up wasn’t hard for Park Bom anymore. First, she got off at the left side of the bed. Then she picked up her white stick. Slowly but surely, she enters the bathroom like an elderly woman.  After several attempts she would eventually find her toothbrush and toothpaste.

Top stood behind and monitored her daily routine. 

After realising that she was coping on her own, he left to his room.

Bom walked downstairs to the smell of freshly cooked eggs and bacon. Her uncle always placed her food in the same place at the table, to make things more convenient for Bom. Her uncle placed an extra plate besides her.

“So your bodyguard is not going to eat with you?” He asked.

“I don’t know.” She replied back.

So did Top listen to me? Is he not going to guard me anymore?

“Well, I left him some food. I’m off to work. Take care Bom.”

***

“Choco!” Bom called for her dog. Choco ran into her owner’s arms, allowing Bom to strap the leash on Choco.

“I’m going to buy you a nice dog house and food today,” She her beloved dog.

Choco was too eager to get out and dragged Bom out of the house. Bom had to pull the leash back to ensure Choco wasn’t going too fast.

Using her white stick she could differentiate the roads. Although this wasn’t the neighbourhood she grew up in, she vaguely remembers where the pet store was.  Relying on the map pictured in her mind, she finally ended up at the pet store.

She used her shoulder to push open the door.

“Excuse me, I would like to buy a dog house and some dog food,” Bom called out.

“We don’t sell that here dear. We’re an antique store.” A grandma responded.

“Oh sorry. Could you tell me where the pet store is?”

“It’s on the other si