Chapter Text
"Let me get this straight," Ricky ran a hand through his hair, "you are telling me this- this child will be my bodyguard?"
The said child, standing 6 feet tall beside Jiwoong, stiff and fiddling with his fingers behind him spoke for the first time since being in Ricky's presence, "I'm...I'm twenty one-"
"He's twenty one!" Ricky pointed an accusatory finger at him as he directed his words to Jiwoong. "Don't tell me you could only find him fit for the job. You can't possibly let him take care of me! Isn't that illegal? Like, what is it, child labour?"
Jiwoong simply sighed at the tantrum Ricky threw.
"I did contact some before but they have worked with those who want to bring you down so I can't really take the risk. Besides, Gunwook is perfectly fit for the job, irrespective of his age."
"Well, I don't think so," Ricky said with a huff, crossing his arms, leaning back on the sofa with one leg over the other. He gave Gunwook a once over, taking in his stained hoodie and faded jeans which seemed to physically hurt his eyes.
“Look at him, he looks like someone who would be stalking me, not protecting me.”
Gunwook hunched his shoulders, giving Jiwoong a glance before shuffling his feet a little to hide himself partially behind him.
“Ricky-”
“Having no bodyguard is better than having a child as a bodyguard.”
“He used to box, he's fit for the job.”
“He's fit for school actually,” he turned his gaze to Gunwook, “shouldn't you be studying instead of playing bodyguards for fun?”
The words weirdly came sharp, making Gunwook open his mouth to speak but stopped as Jiwoong beat him to that.
Right, he should just let Jiwoong do the talking.
“He's short of money. That's why he is willing to take this offer, for his tuition fees.”
“So this is a charity house now,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Just give him a-”
“I said no.” Ricky firmly said, narrowing his eyes at Jiwoong and making him close his mouth again.
Jiwoong, growing frustrated with each passing moment now, rubbed his temples and then gave Ricky a pleasant smile. “Fine. He's the only candidate there is, but if you aren't pleased, you are welcome to request Seobin to cancel my trip so that I can resume with my tasks.”
Gunwook's eyes widened at that, he promised him the job, how could he just…not do it now? What would happen to his tuition fees?!
Ricky let out a groan, flashback of the time when he wanted to check out a club and Jiwoong had to accompany him but Seobin showed up out of nowhere in his sleepwear to threaten Ricky to stop overworking his husband came to his mind as he shooed them away with a shudder.
“I can't believe you are using the husband card right now,” he muttered.
“Well?” Jiwoong tried to keep his smile business-like but couldn't help it, a corner of his mouth rising into a small smirk.
Ricky sighed, glancing at Gunwook, head down so that Ricky could only see his cheeks and slightly pouty lips.
Just how was he going to be able to handle being a bodyguard . He looked like he would say sorry if he bumped into an inanimate object .
Did he have another choice though?
“Fine,” he grumbled.
Jiwoong clapped his hands once, “great, I'll take my leave then.” He walked across the room towards the exit. “Behave for these 10 days, please,” he said once he was halfway out of the door, “and Gunwook, call me if he doesn't listen to you.”
With that the door was shut leaving the two men alone in the living room.
Gunwook suddenly felt himself feeling self conscious while the porcelain doll guy stared at him intensely as if studying him.
“How much?” Ricky suddenly asked and Gunwook shifted his eyes from the guy's three inch high heels to his eyes, slightly smokey eyeshadow adorning them. The eyeliner seemed to be making his eyes look more sharper.
“Huh?” dumbly voiced.
“Your tuition fees. How much is it?”
“Uh....why- why do you ask?” Gunwook furrowed his eyebrows.
Ricky sighed with a slight roll of his eyes, “I will pay for it, of course, and you leave me alone and once Jiwoong's back, lie to him-”
“I'm sorry but I can't do that.”
“Excuse me?” Ricky's brow shot up at the interruption. He was doing this guy a favor by giving him money in exchange for absolutely nothing and he was denying?
He just wanted to be left alone, under no taunting from Jiwoong for a few days but instead the elder had made Ricky a babysitter. He wouldn't allow it. He just wouldn't.
“I mean...thanks for the offer but I can't just take your money and leave.” Ricky was looking at gunwook weirdly now and so he quickly added, “and besides Jiwoong hyung told me to send him updates about you everyday.”
“Of course he did,” he said in an undertone.
“I also don't want to lie. He offered me the job-”
“I'm your employer, not him.”
“Still.” Gunwook deadpanned. He was desperate for a job and a 10 day job that paid him enough to pay his tuition fees and rent, he wasn't very keen on letting it go. Yet, he wanted to earn it, not just take it without paying back with anything, that's just how he was taught since young.
“Listen kid, i will handle Jiwoong when he comes back, he won't even-”
“I want the job,” Gunwook said, raising his voice a decibel. He saw Ricky's eyes widen slightly and he cowered himself in panic. “I...I'm just...really desperate for a job, please. The uni will make me drop out if i don't pay them in two weeks and there's literally no one that wants to pay a twenty one year old-”
“Kid-”
“-that much amount in advance and I don't wanna drop out and join back in after, like, six months, that's so much assignments and backlogs and I'm supposed to start my inter-”
“I understand-”
“-intership next month, if I drop out of university– god, I don't even want to think about it– how am I supposed to pay my rent, and, and tteoki-!”
“Park Gunwook!” Ricky shouted and Gunwook fell silent, slightly out of breath due to his rambling.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, he was done for. He just yapped about how desperate he is for the job Infront of his employer, he already lost the job, he will have to drop out now and then he will never be able to do his internship and will work a whole lifetime in a convenience store making a-
“....so can you start today?” Ricky was asking when Gunwook halted his thoughts.
“Sorry?” he questioned with shock.
“Can you start today?”
“Yes! Yes, I can...I can start right away.” Gunwook smiled brightly, relief washing over him.
Ricky stared at him for a second later before standing up and disappearing into his room, Gunwook thought he saw Ricky smile-or smirk?- but he might just be imagining it.
He glanced around, the grey walls with only a few framed art pieces hanging over them, the marbled floor and the cream white couches. They looked expensive yet inviting, as if he could sit on them and read a book comfortably. The kitchen had black slabs and cabinets, with minimal utensils in sight. The house was astonishingly clean, considering how there were no servants in sight.
Just then the door beeped open and a man entered, his eyes falling on Gunwook immediately, “oh, you must be Park Gunwook, the new bodyguard?”
“Uh, yes, that's me.”
“I'm Sung Hanbin, " he walked over and offered his hand for a greeting, “I'm Ricky's secretary. Jiwoong told me to update you about Ricky's schedules for the next 10 days.” He gestured to the couch, “let's take a seat and talk?”
Gunwook nodded, sitting at the edge awkwardly as Hanbin began to open a few documents and spreading them on the centre table. He told Gunwook about the usual schedules Ricky followed, going to the company and the store, reminding Gunwook that he would have to assure security in advance among the other 'bodyguard duties' he had to attend to.
He was also made familiar with a small business trip to Los Angeles where Ricky was soon to open another shop. Suddenly Gunwook was slightly dazed by all the information, feeling like he wasn't really prepared enough. But it was too late to back out now, it wasn't like he could even afford it.
“I guess that's about it,” Hanbin said at last, “I will be around you probably all the time in the office so I will remind you and help you out.”
Gunwook nodded with a small smile.
“Any questions?”
“N...actually, yes, I do have one,” Gunwook said, hoping he would not be judged for this. Hanbin seemed kind, way kinder than Ricky at least. “What...what should be my dress code?”
Hanbin eyebrows furrowed together, “...dress code?”
There's a pause, as if Hanbin was thinking Gunwook was about to say he's kidding, but he didn't so Hanbin said, “there's no dress code, I think, whatever feels comfortable for you to move in. But-”
Hanbin's eyes flicker to the hoodie and the dark red converse with a small hole at the pinkie and then back at Gunwook’s confused face with a hint of embarrassment. “uh, I mean, in the office everyone wears formal so, you can just wear a tee and blazer though.”
“But I don't have a blazer,” Gunwook replied with honesty.
Hanbin stared at Gunwook, his mouth now slightly ajar in disbelief, “you don't have a blazer? Not even one?”
“I do- but back at home, not...not right now. I'm still studying so I didn't really...think that I would need a blazer.” Gunwook fiddled with his fingers, looking down so as to not see Hanbin's twisted expression.
“...university,” Hanbin mumbled, he pressed a smile onto his face and asked, “which– which year are you in?”
“The third.”
Hanbin stood up, shoulders tightened and his lips thin, the forced business-like smile still on his face, “just a minute, I will just...have a quick chat with Ricky.”
Then he turned on his heel and the door slammed shut behind him, disappearing into the same room.
Gunwook picked up the file Hanbin had told him to read whenever he was free, containing all the details he should know about Ricky, and began to read, ignoring the high pitched shouts of Hanbin from inside the room.
No dress code his ass.
Gunwook wanted the earth to open up and eat him whole. He should have known not to wear a hoodie even though that's the only type of clothes he has right now and he wasn't going to wear just a tee in this weather.
Turns out, when you wear informal clothes inside an office, and a well reputed office at that– wait scratch that.
Firstly, the guard won't even let you enter.
Gunwook was told to park the car while Hanbin and Ricky rushed upstairs for a meeting and when Gunwook had tried to enter, the guard didn't let him, despite telling him several times he was the new bodyguard. He had to beg him to call Hanbin– in the middle of the meeting– and let him enter.
Secondly, people stared at you, trying to get you out because you look homeless. He asked around a dozen people for directions to the conference room yet they just kept him roaming in circles. He wanted to cry by the end of it when he finally found (correction: collided with) Ricky as he was coming out of the room.
All Gunwook got was a sharp look from Ricky and then a pitiful one from Hanbin following behind him.
Atleast now, word was spread that he was in fact the new bodyguard. The stares were not as much as they were before but it was boring. So frustratingly boring.
He imagined it to be somewhat like in the movies, filled with action and some tasks and just...something!
But here he was, standing outside the door, opening doors for whoever was entering and exiting out of politeness, occasionally playing games on his phone. The fact that it was past lunchtime and Ricky didn't seem to even bulge to get some food bothered Gunwook to no extent.
Maybe he would just starve. He made a mental note to buy some protein bars to munch on occasionally.
The rest of the day passed by slowly, with nothing serious to do as all Ricky did was sit on his chair and read some papers, sign some contracts, scold some employees, glare at Gunwook and drink too much coffee.
Wanting to somehow make use of his time, he pulled out his phone from his pocket along with the earphones, sticking them to his ear as he began to see the recording of his first class he missed.
Back and forth, he switched between the notes app and the recording to jot down the terms and definitions the professor was reading out of a 97 slide powerpoint presentation in a very uninteresting manner. At the end of the recording he quit taking short notes and simply listened to the recording. He rubbed his eyes, a yawn escaping his lips and eyes tearing up.
Looking back inside to find Ricky and Hanbin still working, when it was way past the office hours, he gave himself the liberty to close his eyes, just for a while.
He wasn't going to sleep or anything, just...rest his eyes...for a few minutes...
“Do I have to go to dinner with that excuse of a human being? Can't Hao go instead?” Ricky questioned, grimacing at his scheduled dinner with Minhyuk, the CEO of a skincare brand who had been on Ricky's head to collaborate with him.
“No,” Hanbin answers, “he needs your signatures, not Zhang Hao's. You have been avoiding it for months now, c'mon.”
“Fine, fine,” Ricky rubbed his temples, a yawn escaping his lips a moment later.
Hanbin noticed and said, "It's late, we should wrap it up for today. I'll go and tell Gunwook to start the car-”
“Is he sleeping?” Ricky interrupted to question, his eyes fixated on the figure outside the door, body and head leaning against the wall with closed eyes and a hung open jaw.
“He, uh- yes, I'll wake him up.”
Ricky gestured to Hanbin to go ahead with a sigh. He watched as Hanbin shook Gunwook awake and the younger wiped his mouth, nodding to what Hanbin said and then rushing out.
Hanbin went in a different direction as Ricky assembled all the paperwork and headed out.
He met Hanbin halfway downstairs, a coffee in a disposable cup in his hands.
“How’s the store in LA coming along?” Ricky asked.
“It’s coming along well, the furnishings are done and they are expecting to receive the courier of the products by tomorrow.”
Ricky hummed as they made their way to the parking lot. “And the flight tickets?”
“Already booked-”
Hanbin was unexpectedly taken aback and paused as they heard a loud screech and honking.
“Nothing happened to the car!” Gunwook’s voice broke through the screech as he pulled up in front of Ricky and Hanbin, rolling down the tinted windows.
“A cat suddenly like, came in front of the car and it refused to move so i tried to go from beside it but it jumped and-”
“I don't want to hear it,” Ricky replied in a firm tone, tired eyes glaring at Gunwook to shut him up, which seemed to do the trick.
Hanbin opened the door for Ricky and as he was settled, handed over the coffee to Gunwook to which he thanked gratefully.
Ricky clutched his seat belt, chanting to god in his mind as he felt threatened by his own bodyguard.
Life just surprised him in new ways.
The whole ride was silent, Gunwook driving with caution that was visible on his face by his furrowed eyebrows and shifty eyes and as soon as they reached back home, Ricky went to his room and Gunwook was left with no further instructions.
The coffee with triple espresso shots that Hanbin had given Gunwook seemed to do the trick, he was wide awake and had enough energy to last till he finished his lectures.
So, with determination brimming under his eyes, he opened his bag that had been abandoned behind the couch since morning and took out his laptop and books and got to studying.
Ricky stared at the ceiling, the ticking of the clock ringing in his ears.
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
Tick
He clicked his tongue just as his stomach growled in hunger and jumped off his bed.
He peeled off his face mask, regretting having to waste another one and changed into a new pair of slacks and a black button up. Throwing over a coat he opened the door and walked across the living room–
Only to jump up in shock as Gunwook suddenly popped up from in front of the sofa.
A scream ripped out of Ricky's throat, making gunwook jump as well.
“What the heck are you doing here in complete darkness?!” He shrieked, as the lights switched on. “What are you, a nyctophile?”
“A nycto- what?” Gunwook slightly shook his head, “I was just...studying.”
Ricky frowned and took a few steps ahead to find a laptop and some books spread across the floor.
“You were studying on the floor?”
“Uh, well,” Gunwook rubbed his nape, “it's more comfortable…and I didn't know if I could sit on the couch-” a low grumble cut Gunwook off as he turned pink and covered his stomach.
Ricky stared at Gunwook for a moment too long before saying, “come with me.”
“Wha– sorry?”
Ricky didn't reply as he walked upto the door, Gunwook on his tail as he followed him.
“Where are we going? At like, 3 a.m?” Gunwook questioned. “Isn't it unsafe to go so late? What if-”
“Don't you ask too many questions?” Ricky interrupted, making Gunwook go silent.
They walked in silence as the cool night tickled under their sleeves, a slight shiver going up Gunwooks spine.
“Is this your first job?”
Gunwook looked up at the unexpected question, Ricky's eyes searching his. His face was bare of any makeup, no sharp eyeliner marring his lash line or anything on his lips, bare yet glowing. His bangs hung low, the ends touching the eyelashes. He didn't look like he had looked earlier, intimidating and cold.
A snap in front of Gunwook’s face brought him back to reality, to Ricky's question. “Did you just zone out on me?”
He turned away, rolling up his sleeves as he felt the temperature rising. “It, uh- sorry, no. No, it's not my first job. I worked as a waiter for a while then a barista and i was also babysitting for…” he looked up, a finger under his chin as he recalled the time, “for 3 months, and then I was a dog walker for a while but he bit me and though his owners were sweet about it and paid for my vaccines, the dog died so, yeah, I didn't become a dog walker again. Then I worked some cleaning jobs and oh-!”
“Ok ok," Ricky interrupted with a sign. “I shouldn't have asked,” he sighed as the convenience store door opened and he disappeared to the instant noodles aisle.
He scanned all the options before deciding on the mildly spicy one.
“You eat instant noodles?” Gunwooks question brought Ricky's attention to the younger.
“Uh, yes? Why, is that a problem?”
“No, I mean, I didn't expect you to eat anything that's not, like, made by a Michelin chef or something. Aren't all CEOs like that?”
“Aren't you watching way too many kdramas?” Ricky shot back, almost finding the bodyguard's innocence humorous.
A small pout formed on Gunwook's mouth and Ricky couldn't help but stare at them for a moment too long.
As soon as Gunwook turned his eyes back to Ricky, he cleared his throat, turning his gaze away.
“Any toppings you would like?”
“Yeah, cheese and..oyster sauce.”
Ricky stared at him with disgust all over his face, “oyster sauce? In noodles?”
Gunwooks eyes, however, lit up. “It tastes amazing, seriously! You should try it!”
“No thanks, I choose to remain sane.”
Ricky picked up the cheese and oyster sauce, much to his distaste, from the aisle and headed towards the cash counter, while Gunwook microwaved the noodles.
Taking a seat, Ricky pulled his coat closer as he stared out of the window. It had been a long time since he had come outside at night. Jiwoong always denied him in case of break ins or attacks but gunwook was maybe dumb to not think about it first but Ricky wasn't complaining. Even for 10 days, if he was able to get a taste of freedom, he was happy to be entertained by his excuse of a bodyguard.
Speaking of the devil, Gunwook came towards Ricky, balancing the two steaming bowls of instant noodles on his hands, the palms covered by his sleeves.
“I already let it set for 3 minutes,” Gunwook started, “so we can just dig in.”
Ricky nodded as Gunwook squeezed the oyster sauce into his noodles and started to stir it with a grin on his face. He brought up the noodles to his mouth and as soon as it entered his mouth, he dropped them back into the bowl.
“Shit, it's hot!” He fanned his tongue as he spoke.
Ricky scoffed, passing him a glass of water, “of course it's hot. What's the hurry, did you not eat today?”
“No.”
“So- wait what?” Ricky's eyes went wide. “You didn't eat the whole day today?”
“No…” Gunwook looked at him with no thought behind those big eyes.
“...why?”
“Because- Jiwoong told me to not get you out of my sight and you didn't leave for lunch or dinner so I didn't either.”
Ricky sighed, shaking his head slightly, “are you dumb?”
“I, I just did as i was instructed to-”
"How can you look after me if you don’t look after yourself?" Ricky asked, and Gunwook immediately fell quiet, his hand gripping the paper cup as he glanced down, surprised by the shift in Ricky's tone. He sighed again, saying, "Next time, make sure to eat during lunch," then paused to clear his throat, "and you can eat in my office if you’re so eager to keep an eye on me."
"But I don’t like eating alone," Gunwook mumbled softly.
But Ricky heard him loud and clear, and his eyes softened a bit.
After a long pause he opened his noodle container, took a bite, and said, "Then get me lunch too."
"Huh?" Gunwook looked up at him, puzzled.
"Get me lunch too, and I’ll eat with you. Okay?"
"Oh, yeah, sure! I’ll do that." A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Now hurry up before it gets cold," Ricky said, taking another bite.
Gunwook nodded, shoving a big mouthful of noodles in and slurping them up. He noticed Gunwook’s cheeks puffing out, a tiny pout forming as he chewed, his face nearly buried in the bowl. In no time, he devoured the noodles while Ricky watched, particularly captivated by his cheeks. He just couldn’t help but stare, lost in thought.
In that very moment, Gunwook glanced up, a noodle playfully dangling from his adorable lips, his chubby cheeks on full display for Ricky to see.
And a little voice in his head squealed, he's too freaking cute!
Ricky slapped himself mentally and stood up, his chair tumbling backward as he cleared his throat, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. In a flash, he dashed out of the store.
"Ri- sir! Wait—your noodles!" came the call, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and the jingle of the convenience store doors as Gunwook sprinted after Ricky.
All Ricky could think was– shit...
Gunwook had just come back from his apartment after a much needed shower and change of clothes with 2 protein bars in the back pocket of his jeans when he realised, for the first time since becoming the bodyguard, he would finally have something like in the movies.
That's exactly why he was waiting on the staircase as a man, around his height, in all...all-blue? attire (thieves sure are more fashionable now) was standing in front of Ricky's doors, mumbling something to himself.
"What if he isn't inside though? No no, he should be inside, he was here yesterday, I can't believe no one told me." The man brought his hand to the passcode machine, sliding it up as he put in the password with no second thought.
How the hell was the password leaked?
Gunwook made a mental note to himself to ask Ricky to change the password the first thing after he's done with the thief.
The man hesitated for a split second before he opened the door and walked inside. Only now was gunwook aware of a bag in the man's hand, bright pink with a...cat's image on it...?
No, he shouldn't get diverted with the design, there could be some tracking device in it. Or some drugs. Or some bombing device.
Gunwook caught the door before it closed fully and welcomed himself inside silently. Following the man's footsteps, he maintained a careful distance and as soon as he turned, Gunwook kicked his shin, making him stumble on the floor.
“What the-”
Gunwook pinned the man down as he shrieked, hands cuffed by gunwook on his back, locking him to the ground.
“Who are you?!” The man shouted.
“I'm- wait, I should be asking you that, Gunwook replied calmly, ignoring his racing mind. “Who are you?”
“I'm the owner of this house!”
“You- what...?” Gunwook's grip loosened slightly and the man took the chance to free himself, turning and grabbing Gunwook's hair. And pulled hard.
Gunwook winced, in turn, pulling the man's hair too and in another second the positions were changed, both the men laying side by side with interlocked legs.
The man gasped, eyes widening and he let out with gritted teeth, “leave my hair!”
“Uh- no?”
“No?! Do you know how much time it took me to set them?! What if Hanbin walks in and sees me looking as if I'm auditioning for 'Raccoons: the musical'?!”
“I...I don't understand-”
“You-” he scoffed, “just you wait, you thief-”
“Ricky!”
Gunwook stared at the man in utter confusion. Either this man was tricking gunwook into letting him go or gunwook was in deep, deep shit.
“-Ricky, come out right this instant-”
The door to Ricky's bedroom slammed open to reveal a sleepy Ricky in his silk pajamas, his eyes half open and hair all messed up. “What is going on so early…”
Ricky rubbed his eyes to focus on the two men laying on his floor, the pink box and the contentments in it thrown at a distance. His eyes moved back at forth between the confused expression of Gunwook and fuming one of–
"Zhang Hao?"
“You know him?” Gunwook questioned.
“What kind of question-!”
Ricky sighed as Hao shrieked again.
“Gunwook, he's my cousin.”
Gunwook’s blood ran cold, his grip loosening as he stared at Ricky and then Hao.
Holy fuck. I'm losing my job in less than 24 hours.
So this was how Gunwook found himself on his knees with his head held down in the middle of the living room with Zhang hao and Ricky sitting on the couch in front of him, having apologized a hundred times already and gotten lectured by Hao, now aware of Gunwook being Ricky's bodyguard, regarding how he should have known who he was along with all those who are in Ricky's circle because he can't go around pinning people to the floor and accusing them of being some intruder.
Also no intruder would be carrying around a pink lunch box and wearing pastel coloured designer clothes (which is valid).
“What are you even doing here?” Ricky questioned, grimacing at hao.
“What, I can't come to see my cousin now? I even brought you food.” Hao scoffed as he replied, taking offense.
Ricky rolled his eyes at him, “ya sure, you came to see your cousin and not his secretary, right?”
Hao only gave him a side eye in response. “Anyways, speaking of your secretary…”
“Here we go again,” Ricky mumbled under his breath and rolled his eyes.
“Where is Hanbin? I heard he came to pick you up yesterday.” Hao looked around the house, as if hoping for the 6 foot tall man to bounce out from behind a wall doing 'peekaboo'.
“Yeah, he only came yesterday to give Gunwook the-” he turned to see Gunwook, still sitting on the cold floor in a pitiful state, “you can stand up now-” then back to Hao, “the details regarding my schedule. And since he didn't know the way to the office and store so…”
“Ah…” Hao nodded his head slowly, disappointment visible on his face only for a split second before he smiled back at Ricky, taking the lunch box from the table beside him and setting it on his lap. “That's alright, I will just give him this in the office.”
“Huh? What about me?”
“What about you?”
“Didn't you bring that for me?” Ricky questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“Since when do you eat a proper breakfast instead of a horrible bitter coffee?”
“Since the time you woke me up before my alarm and I actually have time to eat.”
“Then go make yourself something.” Hao simply responded, making Ricky groan.
“Nevermind,” he said in an undertone and stood up, heading towards the kitchen to make himself a coffee instead.
As Ricky left, Hao's gaze landed on Gunwook, standing stiffly at the corner.
His hawk-like eyes scan Gunwook from head to toe, taking in the black hoodie and the ripped jeans he was wearing accompanied by his dirty converse, one of which had a hole at its toe. He glanced back at his face, big eyes and an awkward smile plastered across his lips.
“How old are you?” Hao couldn't resist asking.
“Me? Oh, twenty one.”
Hao's eyebrows shot up, “twenty one?” Then snapped his head towards Ricky, walking towards them with a large cup of black liquid. “Your bodyguard is twenty one?”
“Yeah,” Ricky replied nonchalantly as he sat himself down.
Hao turned back to Gunwook, “shouldn't you be, like, studying right now? Do you go to some college?”
“Yes,” Gunwook replied, “I'm studying physiotherapy but at the moment I'm taking online courses.”
“Physiotherapy? How come you are here as a bodyguard then?”
“Oh...uh, I was-”
“ He needs money ,” Ricky interrupted to say in mandarin. “ If he doesn't pay his fees in a month, he will have to drop out and apparently this is the only job that pays him enough that quick.”
“Well, I could already tell he's broke,” Hao answered with a short glance at Gunwook's shoes. “But you, I didn't know you had it in you.”
“What? Helping out someone in need-”
“No. Simping for your bodyguard.”
Ricky almost choked on his own spit as he froze. “What? Me simping over- what?!”
“Oh, c’mon, don't deny it, he's exactly your type,” Hao wiggled his eyebrows at him as he said.
“I- no, he isn't- from where did you even get that ridiculous idea?”
“He is! Look!” He pointed a finger at Gunwook, who stood still, not understanding a word that was being exchanged between the two. “He's taller than you, for once, and look at the width of his shoulders and his hands are double the size of mine, so yours, too, and his eyes are so big. Doesn't he remind you of a puppy?”
Ricky sighed, smacking his lips as he spoke nonchalantly. “First, stop pointing at him, he looks terrified of you. And he's my bodyguard, my employee, who I met literally yesterday.”
“One day is enough to fall for someone. Look at me and Hanbin, it was love at first sight.” Hao made googly eyes at the thought.
Ricky scoffed. “Oh please, I'm sure Hanbin feels violated by you. And I'm not as desperate as you.”
He cleared his throat as hao began to open his mouth to protest. “Besides, I'll get rid of him in, like, three days.”
Hao quirked up an eyebrow, “isn't he supposed to be here till your LA trip?”
“I don't need a bodyguard, I have said it countless times, and certainly not one who is a child. I'm the CEO of a cosmetic brand, not some goddamn politician who people hate and send hitmen to kill.” He rolled his eyes,
“Well,” Hao had his eyebrows knitted as he said, “you never know who might hold a grudge against you. And how are you going to get rid of him exactly?”
Ricky smiled, leaning back on the couch, his mind whirling as he came up with the scheme. “You will see.”
“You are horrible, you know?” Gunwook heard Hao say as he entered the office with the cup of coffee Ricky had asked for for the 3rd time as he brought it steaming hot but by the time Ricky picked it up, it was already cold.
He feared he would actually throw a tantrum if he didn't drink it in time now.
He placed the drink on the table and stood there for a moment, waiting for Ricky to acknowledge him and drink the damn coffee.
Ricky didn't even look up at him, reading some document in his hands. Hao sighed and said something in mandarin and they exchanged a few words before Ricky rolled his eyes and finally picked up the coffee, taking a sip.
With his eyes still on whatever documents he was reviewing, he asked, “did you call the store for a security check?”
“I…,” Gunwook thought hard, did he inform Gunwook he had to go to the store today? Was it in his schedule? He forced a smile, “Yeah. I did call to check, when are we heading out?”
“Get the car, I'll be there in five.”
Gunwook bowed and dashed out of the door, phone in his hand as he scurried to find the number in his saved contacts. He couldn't believe it just slipped his mind. Just the second day and he was already slacking.
He dialed up the store, inquiring about the security protocols and they must have cussed Gunwook out for only calling them, like, half an hour before Ricky was supposed to be there but that wasn’t their priority right now, it was making sure their boss didn’t get any chance to scold them.
Gunwook pulled out the car and Ricky was downstairs within minutes with Hanbin, legs crossed as he settled at the back, one hand scrolling through his tablet.
Gunwook kept his hand firmly on the wheel, eyes glancing between the road and the rear view mirror.
"The toner line is doing better than we expected,” Hanbin began, “we might need to reorder this week again. The influencer we sent the PR kits to posted an unboxing this morning– already at 500,000 views.”
Ricky hummed.
“If this keeps up, we are taking a 10% sales bump by the end of the quarter. Maybe even more if the weekend rush is good.”
Ricky's tone was flat as he answered, “ten percent is the floor. Not the ceiling. Don't be-”
A bump in the road jolted the car slightly, Gunwook gripped the wheel firmly, his eyes back on the road rather than on the rear view mirror, on Ricky.
Ricky's voice was sharp as he snapped his head up, “can you drive like you have actually passed a test, Gunwook?”
“Sorry sir. Just…a small pothole-”
“Then avoid it. And drive a little faster, will you?”
Gunwook nodded. Hanbin shot him a sympathetic glance before continuing, “and…yeah, the flagship store requested a layout update, the lighting doesn't flatter the testers at the front display. We can-”
“Tell them to send photos. I'm not approving redesigns because someone's mirror selfie looked off.”
“Oh, alright. Will do.” Hanbin crossed something out on his tablet, Ricky checked his phone for the tenth time since he had entered the car.
Gunwook entered a busier street, Ricky reached forward suddenly and tapped the back of his headrest. “Slow down. If someone crashes into us, you will be scraped along the pavement first.”
Gunwook clenched his jaw, trying to breathe through the pressure building in his chest.
It was just his second month of driving, but there was no way he was telling Ricky that, he wasn't going to go lighter on him even if he knew.
He could see the storefront from here, just a few more turns and they would reach there. Then maybe he could hide inside some quiet corner or closet and scream into it.
Almost there. Just a few more minutes of mental endurance.
The showroom doors swung open with a soft chime, and the staff inside scrambled like they'd just seen a ghost. Or worse– Ricky.
"He's here," someone whispered, vanishing behind a shelf of neatly arranged serum bottles.
Gunwook entered first, scanning the space, his hand never leaving his earpiece that seemed like it was just there for show. All he could hear was the store's security whispering to each other.
The showroom smelled like citrus and rosewater, all very soothing—which was ironic, considering the storm that had just walked in behind him.
Ricky strode in, crisp and calculated, his coat draped over one arm, tablet still in hand. His eyes swept the layout once and landed immediately on the front display.
“Who approved this?” he asked, voice icy.
One of the store managers, a young lady, stepped forward hesitantly. “The district visual team, sir. Based on last month’s—”
“Last month’s trends aren’t this month’s revenue,” Ricky cut in. He turned to Hanbin. “Take a picture of this and send it to Mina. Tell her I want three new layout mockups by tonight.”
Hanbin was already snapping photos, nodding. “On it.”
Gunwook hovered near the door, his job technically done, but his instincts told him he wouldn’t be let off that easily.
As if on cue, Ricky held out his coat without even looking. Gunwook took it reflexively.
“Where’s the lighting panel?” Ricky asked.
“Near the back, sir,” the lady offered.
“Show me.”
Gunwook followed as Ricky marched toward the rear of the store, dodging product stands and confused customers. As Ricky examined the lighting setup, squinting into the overhead spots, Hanbin caught up, talking a mile a minute.
“We could angle the warm lights forward to soften the display glow. Maybe even use diffusers—”
“No. Warm tones will drown out the line’s undertones,” Ricky replied. “Install dimmable LEDs with neutral white. If we’re selling premium skincare, it should look premium. Not like a mall food court.”
Gunwook tried to blend into the background, coat still draped over one arm like a doorman at a luxury hotel.
Then Ricky turned slightly, eyes flicking to him. “Gunwook.”
“Yes, sir?”
“There’s a man loitering by the lip tint display pretending to test the product. He’s wearing a windbreaker and hasn’t picked up a tester in three minutes. Get him out of my store.”
Gunwook blinked. “Alright." He turned. Then turned back to face Ricky again. "But sir– how do I even–”
Ricky raised an eyebrow at him. No words.
Gunwook moved quickly, maneuvering through shelves and startled shoppers until he reached the man in question. Sure enough, the guy stiffened when Gunwook approached.
“Sir,” Gunwook said with a polite but firm voice, “this section’s under restock. I’ll need to ask you to step out.”
The man muttered something and shuffled toward the exit, avoiding Gunwook’s eyes.
Once Gunwook was on his heels, moving towards Ricky again, he himself was coming outside with Hanbin.
"...get the car. I don’t trust Gunwook to drive me back," Ricky said as he reached the door where Gunwook stood still, taking his coat from him.
Gunwook handed over the keys to Hanbin, standing behind Ricky as they walked towards the underground parking. No words exchanged.
Ricky slowed down his pace, walking at a distance, eyes fixed on his phone screen, but every few seconds, his gaze flickered to the back of Gunwook's head.
They reached a dimly lit part of the lot–
And the silence broke.
Tires screeched. Doors slammed.
“What the-” Gunwook jogged up to Ricky's side as some men– three of them– stepped out of the vehicle in black overalls, gloved hands reaching beneath their jackets.
Gunwook had to act. And fast.
Ok. I can do this. I can. You used to box, Gunwook, you can do this.
First: protect the client.
Gunwook shoved Ricky behind a concrete pillar, with a shaky voice, “stay down.”
Second: Correct stance-
The first attacker lunged and–
Nevermind. Third: Defense.
Gunwook caught his wrist mid-swing, twisting hard and landing a kick to his shin, sending a knife skittering across the floor as he cried out.
The second charged with a kick to his stomach, sending him a few steps back and he scanned the lot– no weapon.
He ran towards him, hand outstretched with the weapon and Gunwook ducked– slid forward and past his legs in a tight arc, slipping beneath the attacker’s legs.
He turned– too slow. Gunwook was already on his feet. Picking up a potted plant, he bashed it on the attacker's head.
“Sorry-” he squeaked at the bleeding man.
Heavy, hurried footsteps behind him hit him like a warning but he barely had any time to swing before Gunwook's roundhouse kick knocked him to the ground too.
He panted, clicking his earpiece, “send backup.”
His eyes scanned the lot– and then froze on Ricky.
A man moved as soft as a mouse behind Ricky's silhouette, dark as a shadow, the blade glinting under the low light.
Gunwook panicked, “No-”
He sprinted. The attacker was inches behind Ricky now, knife poised, arm lifting–
Gunwook didn't think. Launching himself on the attacker, the blade cut through Gunwook’s shirt, his sleeve tore– and pain shot through his arm.
A car screeched– “Ricky! Hurry inside!” Hanbin barked.
Ricky had his eyes wide open, shifting between Gunwook and the car, still in his place.
The attacker rolled over, now on top of Gunwook and swung the knife at his head. He was quick to stop his momentum– grabbing his forearm till the blade was only inches away from his face, teeth clenched in strain.
He tried to hook his legs under the man, an attempt to get him off him but before he could– the man's muscles seized. A sharp grunt. And he falls limp to the side.
Gunwook stared at him– then at Ricky standing in front of him with a taser in his hand.
Before he could process, Ricky grabbed Gunwook, helping him up and rushing to the car.
Two of the men were starting to stand up again as they got inside and Hanbin slammed the gear, peeling out of the lot.
Ricky sighed, guilty eyes shifting to Gunwook– his bleeding shoulder.
Shit. It wasn't supposed to go like this. This wasn't the plan.