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O N  T H E  S U R F A C E  
 

The next few weeks had been pretty normal except for some days when Yeona would refuse to go out of her house. If it were only for a day it would not be alarming but there were times we would not hear from her for three days.

Today was one of those days. The last time I saw and heard from her was two days ago and I had nothing much to do and was just on stand-by. However, earlier this morning, I received a call from her parents who were in Stockholm right now for business, asking me to check on her. 

That was why; I kept knocking on the door now and had been simultaneously pressing the doorbell to get her attention. The door remained closed for the next five minutes or so until she finally showed up before me.  

“What do you ing want?!” She was immediately fuming. 

If looks could kill, I would have been shot dead right away.

I looked at her entire appearance. Bare-faced, her eyes look tired like she had not gotten a good sleep for days. She was wearing a long black nightgown, thankfully the neckline wasn't showing her cleavage so I could still talk to her without being distracted. 

“Nothing much,” I answered nonchalantly. “I’m just checking if you’re still breathing.”

“Well, I am, now get lost.” She hissed before she attempted to shut the door. 

On reflex, I blocked her from completely closing the door. Of course, what I did aggravate her. 

“What else do you want?” She groaned. 

“You don’t have some man in there, do you?” I blurted out, not knowing what else to ask. “Is it not the reason why you have refused to go out for days now?”

“Why do you care?" Her forehead creased. "Is it your job to be updated with who I sleep with now?”

Her question screamed sarcasm; it could break a glass for being too sharp. 

“It is, especially when I notice that men surrounding you are either erts or have ulterior motives,” I replied firmly, staring straight into her eyes. “So, that makes it kinda my responsibility.”

As if she knew I was right, she did not answer, swallowed, and just looked away.

“You love your job so much, don’t you?” She smirked at me. “Don’t you have someone else to pester? Like some unfortunate woman who has to deal with you?”

"I probably would have if I didn't have to check on you,” I stated. “And if I were you, I would not call her unfortunate.”

The way she rolled her eyes at my response was so blatant. I didn’t make a comment on it when I happen to look at her face. She looked unusually pale. I was a hundred percent sure she needed some sunlight.

“Look,” I said to get her attention. “Try to get some sunlight, you look pale.”

“If going out means I get to be followed by ten men, then no thanks I’d rather turn into a white paper inside my house.”

She was too stubborn and it wasn’t surprising anymore. I could only look at her. And probably because I didn’t say anything at all, she proceeded to shut the door before me.

I just scoffed thinking how difficult of a woman she is to deal with. Turning around, I exchanged looks with Kangjun and Siwoo and signaled them to come closer and guard their post once more.

I started to walk away and head to the elevator when I recalled her mother’s words when she insisted on taking the phone from Mr. Kwon earlier. 

“She wouldn’t answer our calls.” She said in evident worry. “And it only means that she’s trying to shut everyone and everything else again.” She paused and the silence made me hear her light footsteps. “She had moments like this since the kidnapping attempts started. She would lock herself in her room and would have nightmares. I’m sorry Baekhyun, I know this isn’t your job, but please check on our daughter for us. We could not do anything since we are miles away. And there’s absolutely no one we could trust aside from you.”

“What do you want me to do, Ma’am?”

“Please keep her company.”

“Ma’am you should know your daughter well and you probably know she dislikes seeing me around.”

“This isn’t just about you.” She trailed off. “And she might come out strong and intimidating but she’s just like all of us, she needs someone she can lean on at times like this.” 

I feel like I didn’t have a choice.

“I would not ask for much Baekhyun…. Just make sure she eats right. I don’t want to hear news of her passing out because she’s intentionally not looking after herself.”

I suddenly felt a heavy weight of responsibility falling on my shoulders.

“Tell me you will at least try.” She asked once more in the most motherly tone.  “Please.”

I thought about it hard and after a few seconds, I exhaled and gave in to her request. 

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
Just when the elevator doors were about to close, I pressed the hold button and went out to walk back to her unit. Kwangju and Siwoo were both startled to see me coming back as I signaled them to stand a few feet away while I try to deal with the situation. 

Standing in front of her door, I did the thing she hated the most again. I pressed the doorbell about five times until I received a message from her. 

Red:
off.
2:19 PM 

I typed in my reply quickly. 

Me:
I have the whole day to deal with this doorbell. It’s either you open the door or I’ll break this thing Kwon Yeona.
2:19

And just like that, I started to press the damn doorbell again. Hmm, I might have done it seven more times before she was in front of me again. Looking like she’s ready to kill me. But that’s not something new anymore.

I walked inside her house without saying anything as she followed me in her angry footsteps. 

“What do you think are you doing?” 

I heard her but chose to ignore her as I made a turn to where her kitchen was. My eyes darted to the counter and the dining table to check for any signs of food but there was none, so I headed to the fridge to see if she had food stored in there at least. To my surprise, the fridge was empty.

For some reason, I suddenly feel annoyed that she wasn’t taking care of herself. I exhaled loudly before I turned to her who was already staring at me unbelievably. 

“Your mom’s right,” I said. “You’re not eating.”

Her eyes grew wide at the mention of her mom. 

“Do you plan to starve to death? When was the last time you had a meal?” I interrogated.

“What are you doing?” She asked me the same question once more. 

I stared at her for a little too long trying to understand what was going on in that mind of hers.

“I am doing my job.”

She openly scoffed at me. 

“Is it a bodyguard’s job to ask me whether I’ve eaten?”

Damn it she’s so frustrating.

“Your Mom asked me to check if you’re eating,” I answered plainly.

“Oh, god.” She rolled her eyes before leaving her spot. “Just get out of my house Baekhyun.”

I followed her until she went to her bedroom. The blinds were still shut, it was dark and lifeless in there. For a second there, I saw what her mother was so scared of. This must not be the first time she had done this. 

I didn’t know if she was aware of my presence behind her when he threw her body on her bed and covered herself with a blanket. 

“Yah. Kwon Yeona.” I called. 

She did not respond.

“Are you trying to kill yourself?”

She ignored me again. 

“YAH!!!” I yelled, unable to control the building anger inside me.

The volume of my voice must have alarmed her but it was the only thing I could do to get her attention. She sat up and glared at me before getting off the bed to stand in front of me and without a warning, slapped me.

My cheek stung as we held each other's angry stares.

“Who gave you the ing right to yell at me like that?” She asked with gritted teeth, her face red.

“Are you trying to kill yourself?” I asked, ignoring her question. 

She looked away and let out a short, sarcastic laugh. 

“I don’t have to explain anything to you.” She replied as she attempted to leave her spot. 

However, I stopped her by the arm.

“Don’t get me wrong,” I spoke, making sure to meet her eyes. “I don’t care if you’re trying to punish yourself or what the …” I paused for a second to inhale. “But I risk my life for you every time I show up next to you and the same goes for the other 10 men that make sure not a single person with the wrong intention lays a finger on you.”

She seemed speechless the next second. parted but no words came out. It was just then I noticed that I was holding her arm tightly and let go of her.

“Just leave me alone.” She said in a small voice as turned around.

I did not move a muscle and watched her sit on her bed. 

“I am not going to kill myself…” She trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper. “If that is what you’re so worried about.” She added in a more composed manner when she looked in my direction once more. 

I just continued to stare at her. 

“Just tell my mother I have been eating well.” She stated. “Then your job is done for today.”

I smirked at her suggestion. Damn it, this woman. 

I knew I could just walk out of here and tell her mother what she just told me but I could not bear to just watch her. She looked so fragile right now. And I don’t ing want to be subjective about this but I could not find the guts to just leave her like this. She is my responsibility after all. 

“I told you…” I spoke as I walked toward her and held her wrist once more, making her stand up and walked her out of her room. “You need some sunlight, you look like a ghost.”

I could feel her resisting as we reached the hallway going to her main door.

“Yah, I haven’t even taken a shower yet, let me go.” She whined trying to break free.

“You’re not gonna die if you go out without taking a shower.” I reasoned out as I continued to tag her along.

“Byun Baekhyun,” She called, her voice louder than before.

I stopped and turned to her, our faces close.

“There’s nothing you can do to change my mind Kwon Yeona, you are going out of this ing house,” I added before I started to walk us both ahead.

And yet, I could still feel her trying to get my hand off her wrist. When unsuccessful, I heard a loud exhale from her.

“BYUN BAEKHYUN I AM NOT EVEN WEARING A BRA!!” She screamed when I was about to open the door.

I stopped on my feet, letting her go, and blinked a couple of times before I turned around to look at her clothes. She’s still wearing the black nightgown earlier. My eyes easily darted to her chest.

She distracted me by pushing me by the chest and then covered hers by crossing arms over it.

“Ugh.” She groaned. “I hate you.”

I cleared my throat, feeling a little embarrassed.

“I’m just going to wait for you outside.”

She threw me a glare before she turned around.

“Damn, I hate this ing job.” I hissed before I opened the door.

To my surprise though, Kangjun and Siwoo were right next to the door. They even seemed like trying to suppress a laugh as if they just heard Yeona screaming that she wasn’t wearing a bra. I cleared my throat once more.

“Go get ready, she’s going out,” I told them, making sure they notice the authority in my tone.

“Yes, Cap.” They chorused.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

I could not believe I had to wait for her for another fifteen minutes and I was too close to knock on the door once more when she got out. This time, she was wearing a matching grey hoodie and sweatpants and a pair of white sneakers. For the first time, she looked like an ordinary person.

Good thing, I was not dressed in my uniform today. I just wore my jeans, one of my black leather jackets, a white inner shirt, and a black cap.

“What?” She asked me, sounding irritated.

“Nothing,” I answered. “Let’s go, you took so much time changing.”

She just rolled her eyes at me which was good at least, I didn’t have to say anything afterward.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

When we got to the lobby of her apartment building, I noticed that it was drizzling. I looked at the sky as soon as we stepped out and it was cloudy.

“Way too much sunlight huh?” She remarked, mocking my statement about her getting some sunlight. “Let’s just go back…” She said as she turned around and attempted to get inside.

Of course, I was quick to block her.

“The rain is good for you too,” I told her.

“What?” Her eyes grew wide at me.

“Well, you had not showered right?” I copied her facial expression.

I was not aware if I had said that a little too loud that she seemed alarmed that people might have heard. I just scoffed at her reaction as I took my black cap off and made her wear it which of course earned a protest from her but I held her head while wearing the cap so she couldn’t remove it as I led her to our ride.

The way she looked at me unbelievably when we stopped in front of my black motorbike. I was aware that she was still giving me the look but ignored it by giving her the other helmet.

“I am not going anywhere riding that.” She spoke.

She did not move, of course, so I had to take the cap off her head and replace it with the helmet.

“Yah, Byun Baekhyun, didn’t you hear me?” She added, trying to take the helmet off once more.

My patience was running thin as the wind blow a bit colder. So, without any word, I scooped her legs off the ground. Of course, she protested by yelling at me but I could not be bothered.

I made her sit before I hopped in as well.

“For a bodyguard, you lack basic manners toward your client, do you know that?” She nagged. “You’re so rude.”

I only smirked as I put on my helmet.

“Where do you want to go?” I asked her, ignoring her question.

“I didn’t wanna leave my house, remember?”

I could perfectly imagine her eyebrow raising as she said that. I wore my ea