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Goeun has lost count of how many cases they’ve handled in the past. There were just so many evils in the world, she didn’t feel like there was a need to remember every detail of it. But her memory was reserved for something far more interesting–the characters Dogi played for each mission they encountered.
There was just something interesting about how he had the ability to act out every single character perfectly. She even liked it whenever he dressed up so handsomely. The first time she went on a mission in disguise, she realized how hard it was to act in front of those kinds of people. She admired his strength for not bursting into anger and killing all of them. She wasn’t the best at hiding her true feelings. And maybe it was the same for her feelings for him.
Still, she liked to see herself in different skins as much as she liked seeing Dogi. She could dress up pretty, be in expensive clothes for a while. Maybe even feel like the cute teenager she once was. She enjoyed it. Not only because of that, but also because of the compliments and validation she got from Dogi. He would always say she did well during missions, say she looked pretty, and sometimes, whenever they switched positions, she liked hearing him worry through her in-ears.
Although someone else might not be enjoying it. Dogi's patience for Goeun was longer than his lifeline. He never really disagrees with whatever she said or did, but it never occurred to him that other people would dare to snatch her away from him. The fact that she spent most of her time inside the van made him complacent about so many things. One of those is that their target had the chance to hit her. Goeun was a pretty woman. He would definitely agree that she gets prettier every day.
And so, he almost breaks the mouse when he hears the man ask for her number, with an audible different intent. Though he didn’t really have control over how she would react, he hated seeing her smile so brightly in front of other men. It was part of their plan to make the guy fall for her so they could get revenge for their client. But the way his knuckles faded into white as he looked intently into the screen wants him to punch the guy’s face with a smug look plastered on it.
As the day ended, Goeun had opened the van and sighed. She removed the heavy earrings she was wearing, placing them on the table before she stretched her arms. “It seems like you're enjoying undercover, Goeun-ssi.” Dogi comments, looking at her tired figure, and grabs the instant coffee he bought for her. “Don't even get me started, Gisa-nim. I only like it because I get to act as a rich chaebol. And the dress looks pretty.” Dogi smiles, his eyes checking the outfit she was wearing. All of that beauty and not for him? His heart breaks a bit.
“Goeun-ssi looks pretty today.” He couldn’t help but compliment her again. At least he got to see her so pretty. He thinks it was enough for him to dream about before he drifts off to sleep. A shade of pink rushed onto Goeun’s cheek upon hearing his comment. She wouldn’t admit it to him, but she loved hearing compliments and reassurance from him. She acknowledged other people flattering her, yet it felt different when it came from him. “Oooh, Kim Dogi-gisanim, are you feeling jealous because the guy asked for my number?”
She responded with a tease. It was this time that Dogi had a bit of shame plastered on his face, his fingers reaching to scratch the itch on his lips. How would he even respond to that? He couldn’t say that he wasn’t jealous because he never lied, but it was embarrassing for him to admit it. Goeun could only giggle upon seeing his reaction. She always found it cute whenever the man became speechless because of her. That was the very least she could get from him. They could flirt all day if it was part of their mission, but he gets awkward when it wasn’t.
When they reached their apartment, Dogj switched off the engine and allowed her to get off before he parked the car. Goeun proceeded to go up the stairs, punching in the passcode to open the door to his house. Dogi never told her the password; she found out on her own, and even without hacking. It was her birthday. She only discovered it when during the time he locked himself in his house and didn’t show up to work few days in a row. She felt frustrated that she couldn’t do anything to help him when he was always there for her when she needed someone to pull her out of the darkness.
She heads to the kitchen, placing her phone on the counter before she opens the fridge to see what they could eat for dinner. Dogi soon followed, helping her take out some of the side dishes he had made. “Gisa-nim, can you teach me how to make these, too? You’re a really good cook.” Goeun says while she was preparing the plates on the table. “If Goeun-ssi wants to learn, then I’ll teach her. But, I can also always cook for you whenever you crave it.” She giggles at his response. “It’s like I have a personal chef.”
She just couldn’t let go of her feelings that easily. From a different perspective, Dogi was a perfect man. He was smart, caring, protective, knew how to cook, and most importantly, she loved how he always spoke softly to her. A sudden notification rang from her phone, reaching out to take it. “Oooh, Kim Dogi gisa-nim, it seems like I have a date. The guy’s asking me out again.” She proudly shows her phone screen, wanting his praise that their mission was going well.
It was unknown to her that something inside Dogi had popped off upon reading the one-liner message. He had to be objective. It was for their mission, nothing more. But the thought of her going out on a date, another man being all touchy with her. He felt his blood boil from jealousy. He couldn’t even do those things. All because he was a coward.
His eyes landed on her lips. It was stained pink from the makeup she was wearing. It was plump and beautiful, almost tempting. He wasn’t a strong man when resisting temptation. Dogi takes a step, and another until he reaches her. His hand took the phone from her hand, replacing it with his before he leaned down to kiss her lips. He could feel her body going stiff under him, yet it soon melted under his touch. He loved the feeling of her lips. Sweet. He slightly tilts his head and holds her head in place, thumb softly caressing her neck as he sucked on her lips desperately.
She didn’t stop him or push him away. It was never in her expectations that Dogi was a man full of bravery when it came to her. There were many times she tried to confess to him, yet somehow it never really got through to him what she wanted to say. Maybe he pretended not to understand, or he just didn’t see her that way. But those thoughts all unexpectedly shatter the moment he holds her. Like he was afraid he would put too much pressure and hurt her. Her hands rested on his shoulder, opening her mouth to further allow him to take over her.
She waited for this, and it seems like he did too. She could feel the desperation from the way he pushed deeper, but hesitation came through his actions. When he pulled away, he immediately let go of her hand, eyes scanning to check her expression. “G-Goeun-ssi, did I hurt you anywhere?” He nervously asked, stuttering with his words.
“Gisa-nim, do you like me?” Dogi’s eyes widened in shock at her straightforward question. He had not prepared anything for his confession, not even what he would say. He didn’t want to sound like an idiot, especially not in front of her, yet the only thing that was keeping him from being one as he stood in front of her was his own mouth. He never imagined there would come a day when he would be honest about his feelings.
“I’m only going to ask you once.” She pushed further, trying to see if he would take the bait. And he did. “I love you, Goeun-ah.” His brain finally spits out the word from his mouth. “It feels heavy whenever I see other men flirting with you, thinking they’d have a chance. I hate it. I hate it so much, I’d just want to pull you out of the mission and let you just help me from inside the van.” He let his mouth run through all his thoughts. All of it he’s been keeping, like an idiot.
Before he could say anything, Goeun’s lips were back on his, and this time, she was the one kissing him back. Her hands slid through his nape, decreasing the remaining distance between them. He soon loosens up under her touch, enjoying the softness of her lips. Dogi’s had his fair share of kisses during his teenage years, but nothing came close to the warmth this gave him.
“Serves you right. Do you know how much I held back whenever people would flirt with you during missions? I wanted to poke their eyes for even looking at you.” Goeun received a short chuckle from the driver, his hand landing on her cheeks, caressing them softly. “I only have my eyes for Goeun-ssi. So I hope Goeun-ssi only has her eyes for me as well.” Dogi says, giving her lips a small peck.
“You have a weird way of confessing, Kim Dogi gisa-nim.” Dogi could only chuckle in response. He had loved her from the moment he felt the need to protect her. The moment his eyes saw red, whenever someone made her cry. His hesitation was because he thought that they hadn’t really had enough time for romance. He wanted her to heal from the wounds of her past, and he wanted to heal, too.
A thought that never really entered his mind was that they could be together and at the same time, heal together. So that was what he wanted. He wanted to be there for her, to hold her whenever she felt sad, to wipe her tears when she cried. It felt like he was given a whole new purpose to live. To live for her.