Since that night she met with Dori, Runa had been questioning everything her father had said or done up until this point. She decided that although she couldn't fully trust the word of a man as crazy as Dori, she'd at least consider it but keep her head about this.

It was more than possible that what he was saying was true and wanted to unnerve her, or maybe in the moment he was too horny and said anything that popped into his conniving mind just to get a piece of pussy. Luckily, when she told Jungkook everything, he only gave her a heavy sigh and said that they weren't going to say anything to her father about this.

Considering that what she did would piss Min-Su off and he'd name-call and scold her for an hour about it, Jungkook decided that she learned her lesson when he ignored her for about two days. It wasn't petty, it was necessary and as soon as she apologized for withholding the truth from him and putting herself in danger, he finally spoke to her again.

She couldn't decide what was worse. The things that Dori said to her, his hands greedily touching her body, or Jungkook not uttering a single word. All three were quite bad, but at least Jungkook saw her side of things. He didn't like Min-Su much either, but he dealt with the occasional disrespect because that was his boss and he was staying in his home, although that was an obligation because of his job.

He didn't want to fight with the man, even if he sometimes fantasized about the many ways of killing him, and if anyone knew they'd certainly point a finger and call him a traitor. Other than the man being the biggest crime lord in history, he was a straight-up misogynistic asshole and Jungkook loathed the way he spoke to Runa.

Just that disgusted look in his eyes had the bodyguard's hands twitching to pull out both guns and shoot him until there were no bullets left. He was starting to realize how possessive he's gotten about her, that the stunt she pulled the other night simply didn't piss him off just because she didn't tell him, but because she could've gotten hurt.

As soon as he saw her on top of Dori, it was like he went into beast mode and his instinctive action was to pull a gun on the leader. Seeing his bare chest and the way he was panting, that dark look in his sharp eyes and the flush of his skin had Jungkook spiraling. He'd never gotten so close to losing control before, and he was angry at that fact.

Unfortunately, Runa was right. Although that was more than a common thing to happen, he despised how much he was starting to care, how he often admired her from afar unconsciously. His expression may have remained stoic at all times, but he felt like he was smiling sometimes and had to double-check in a mirror to make sure he wasn't showing it.

When he'd watch her do her makeup, the same routine as always as she browsed her collection of jewelry, bat her lashes at him, and silently asked him to help put a necklace around her neck. He knew almost everything about her, whether she told him verbally or he was too enthralled by observing every little detail about her, he was starting to think that he was going crazy.

No way that after 35 years of living on this Earth, he ever expected to know someone so well. That's why he followed her to Dori's because he saw she was creating a devious plan in her mind, and that was confirmed when he waited in the shadows and saw her Porsche driving to the gates.

He could predict her sometimes because of how organized and schedule-oriented she was. It was another trait he liked because her attitude towards situations was often the same as his. She had her ways of doing things and was stubborn as hell. She was a young, feisty woman that didn't take shit from anybody and had an unspoken control over the people around her.

They were under her thrall, too busy admiring her beauty to realize how easily they were taken advantage of. Her sweet face hid the devil inside, she was conniving and sick, and what made her even more dangerous was the fact that she could buy anyone, anything, at any time.

"But I have to try something. We're getting nowhere and it seems that everybody has been lied to, like my parents put on a show and...I mean he could've possibly killed her."

Her heart drops in her chest at the thought, it makes her blood boil and he could see she was upset about that. But then it made him think of something.

"That might be possible. He said she died during childbirth right? He could've lied. Maybe she was alive when she had you and he hired somebody to kill her so his hands would be clean."

She hated how true that sounded, it made her stomach twist at the thought of her father doing something like that. It was bad enough that she had to live every day not knowing a single thing about her mother. Not even what she looked like. It made her feel melancholic, a heavy weight on her chest. She missed someone she had never even met.

"That might be true, but I have to say something."

"I don't like that idea. The last thing we need is your father thinking he's a suspect in anything", Jungkook replies, keeping his voice low because Min-Su's office was just down the hall.

Thinking about it further, she nodded her head in agreement.

"Ok, I won't. I honestly don't think I want to be in the same room as him anymore", she says while they walk into her room and he shuts the door behind them.

"I can't blame you for feeling that way. It's understandable."

He leans against the wall and watches as she sits down at her desk and puts her feet up, looking at the ceiling and he knew there was a lot in her mind. It was clear in her eyes that this whole situation was getting messy and the lies were starting to pile up, causing a block of doubt in her mind.

"Why don't we go out?", he suggests, figuring that since there wasn't much she could do right now he could at least try to distract her from the problems that dizzied her mind.

She swung her chair to face him, and he saw how visibly exhausted she was, "Where?"

Jungkook thinks for a moment and then remembers one of her favorite things to do, "Why don't we go to the mall? Maybe some retail therapy is what you need."

Immediately he feels much better when she looks the slightest bit relieved at the suggestion, liking that idea and hoping it worked to get this stress out of her mind for a while.

"You want me to drag you around while I shop for clothes?", she raised a brow, thinking that no man would ever suggest going out shopping because many of them didn't like to do that.

But then she remembered that was his job. Even so, it felt odd for him to make that suggestion. He knew she liked shopping and it did help boost her dopamine but still...the fact that he was thinking about her feelings made her feel warm, regardless of the inner turmoil that still lingered. He had an uncanny effect on her.

"I'll hold your bags. And don't worry, I'm wearing my gloves so carrying your stuff won't cut off my circulation", he waves his hand, showing her that indeed he was wearing his black leather gloves as he always did.

She rolls her eyes at that comment, "I'm not an excessive shopper like that."

The only thing he had to do to make her laugh was raise a brow at that statement because they both knew that was anything but true.

So she puts her hands up in defense, "Alright alright, I just get a little too excited when I see anything leather. But I swear, I'm seriously not that bad. I only get stuff if I want it, if I'm dying to have it."

Jungkook just shakes his head at her, "Well no matter how much you get, I think it would be best to get your mind off things...even if you get way more than necessary."

She gapes in offense, "Jungkook stop bullying me! You know I'm not that bad...you're just being a tease. Per usual."

He resists the urge to snort at her pouting lips and dismisses her statement with a shrug, "Just saying. I'll let you drive the car today."

She stands up at the speed of lightning and runs out of her bedroom happily, completely forgetting her troubles as she makes her way down the stairs with him following behind, "Hell yes! I won!"

After she kicked off her slippers and put on a pair of black combat boots to match her simplistic but stylish outfit, Jungkook followed her into the garage and was amused by the innocent gleam in her eyes once they fell onto the purple beauty that was her Porsche.

"Not for long, Runa. Don't get too excited now. I'd hate to have to snatch those car keys from your baby hands."

To say she was surprised was an understatement, and as he said that when he got in the passenger side of the vehicle, she gaped at him and he continued looking ahead. Did he just-

"Are you threatening me? Did you just say I have baby hands? Do you know what these hands can do?!"

Jungkook found her reaction dramatic but he knew how she was and side-eyes her, "Get driving, or else I'll throw you in the trunk."

She huffs, grumbling under her breath and starting the car, "You're lucky you're my bodyguard to be talking to me like that. Rude."

She liked hearing him sound anything other than nonchalant, although he still had that vibe, sometimes he sounded a bit different. He was surely a complex man, she didn't think that she'd get close to him ever but as soon as they arrived at the Westfield World Trade Center, one of the most popular malls in New York, she made the effort to sneak her way in his life.

He saw what she was doing. How she'd ask him if he wanted to go suit shopping, or what he liked to eat here, or if he'd ever been here at all. Of course he had, they had the best selection of things he was interested in. Nothing more than perfectly tailored suits, and of course where he got his iconic leather trench coat.

"Hey, maybe I should get one too. So we match", she beams brightly, clearly excited by the sight of so many shops and the smell of food in the air.

And to that, he sighs for the tenth time, "That's weird. Don't be weird, Runa."

"How is that weird? What if I want one..."

"Then by all means get one. But don't get it to match me, that's ridiculous."

"Why? I think it's cool. If we matched, everyone would see us as-"

"A couple", he cuts her off with a sharp look and she falls silent as he leans up against the wall and watches as she scans the rack of clothes.

"People would assume we're a couple and that's the last thing I want. Couples wear matching outfits, not bodyguards, and..."

She turns to him, expecting him to finish that sentence and it piques her curiosity as to what he was going to say, "And what?"

He just shakes his head and continues looking around, "Nothing. Get it if you want, but stop bothering me. You're lucky I even suggested you come here just to make you feel better. Or else you'd be drowning in your sorrows, wouldn't you?"

She keeps silent and picks out a pair of leather pants to try on, also grabbing the red halter top that would match perfectly with it along with her cherry red pumps that she had in her closet.

"So you don't want me to talk to you?"

"Not unless it's important and about business, you don't need to attempt to build a relationship with me. I see what you're doing Runa, your manipulation tactics won't work on me. I've seen it all."

Upon hearing that she snorts, "Cocky are we?"

"It isn't about being cocky, it's a fact. You know who I am, you know my past and what I used to do. Don't think for a second that you can win, because you never will."

"Jungkook, it isn't about winning for me. I just would feel more comfortable if I knew who you were as a person. Not just some shield protecting me from danger. I can't resist talking to you because you make me comfortable, and although you don't care about me, I care."

Something in the way she said that, how she looked at him sternly but spoke so passionately made him go silent for a moment. But only for a moment before he clapped back.

"You shouldn't care."

A sigh of defeat leaves her lips and with him following behind, she walks into the changing room in the back to try on the clothes while he waits outside. After purchasing the items, she didn't utter a single word just like he wanted.

They continued going down the hall and occasionally stopping at a shop that caught her attention, and she was a quick shopper. In and out within at least ten minutes and she only got a few things, which he of course carried.

He realized that maybe he shouldn't have been so harsh, that getting close to her wouldn't be as bad as he thought, and although he had never been close to anyone in his life, just for once he should see past the possible negative side of things and take a chance with somebody.

"What should we eat?", she asked quietly while they walked into the food court and looked around at the people bustling around and eating at the tables.

"Whatever you want", he replies plainly, not caring since he wasn't too hungry and he could see the side glance she gave him.

She looked upset, but he didn't say anything as she walked to one of the stands and ordered some food. As soon as it was ready, she took it over to a more quiet area where fewer people occupied, a booth in the corner and he sat next to her, very close as she ate.

"You're upset aren't you?", he voices out, feeling the tiniest bit of guilt for being such an asshole even when that's all he's been his whole life.

A cold-blooded killer who had no regard for anyone else's feelings and took lives without losing a wink of sleep. And yet right now, he could feel an odd sort of heaviness in his chest when they made eye contact and he stared into her doe eyes that were narrowed into slits.

"Wow Einstein, how'd you figure that one out?"

She stuffs more food in her mouth and chews angrily, and he notices her puffy her cheeks look. It's a little cute, but before he can even realize what he just said in his head, he speaks up again.

"I don't mean to be rude to you or hurt your feelings, but you must understand I'm not used to this. All I've done all my life is kill and use people. I might be highly knowledgeable in the interest of human behavior, but I barely feel like one myself. I've never been close to anyone, I've never cared for anyone or anything. So excuse me for being blunt, but I don't think it's a good idea for us to get close."

"That's the most illogical point you could ever make. If anything, out of all the opportunities you could've had, don't you think there's a reason why we met? That you're meant to protect me and I'm supposed to be someone important in your life? Maybe the someone that you could...I don't know...learn to care about?"

"Runa, I don't believe in fate. Things happen because we make them happen. I'm supposed to protect you because you're important, that's my job."

She rolls her eyes in clear offense, "If you say it's your job one more fucking time I swear to God..."

He shrugs it off, "It is what it is, Runa. I'm your bodyguard and nothing more. I understand that in some way since you feel safe with me, you'd want to confide in me and would expect that to be reciprocated. But that's not how this works."

She looks at him for a moment and says something that ultimately makes him give up on staying behind the walls he's created within himself. She had won him over. She won. And he let her.

"Don't you see? You're so consumed with work that it's all you think about. You live it, you breathe it, and you don't feel lonely because it's all you've known. But aren't you bored? Aren't you tired of living your life the same way you always have? Aren't you sick of nothing changing and having no excitement in your life? Because as someone who feels the complete opposite of how you do, I want to understand you. Maybe...maybe for once I could trust someone fully and care for them."

"You have that with Dong-Wook. And I'm not your father, Runa. I never will be."

"I don't want you to be my father. I want you to be my friend. And Dong-Wook won't always be with me like you. You never know, something could happen to him and who would I trust then? Who would I go to for advice? Certainly not my dad."

It stung that he thought she saw him as a father figure. Not that that would be a bad thing, but Dong-Wook had that role since day one taking care of her as his own. She wanted to be his friend, she wanted him because he was a mystery and she always loved those. Even if she got consumed by it.

"Jungkook, I just want us to be friends. Is that so bad?"

He stays silent, contemplating as he watches her continue eating and it makes her flinch in surprise when he tucks her hair behind her ear since it fell in front of her face when she was trying to eat. It made her face warm up from just the slight brush of his fingertips on her ear and she looked up at him with expectant eyes. He wasn't sure why he wanted to do that, but he had a feeling that maybe she was right. And that scared him a little, something he's also never felt in his life.

"Fine, I give up trying to argue with you."

Upon hearing his accepted defeat, she smirked and leaned back against the booth, keeping her eyes on him and whenever she shared his gaze, it was like he was all she could see. Nothing else was around her and his pitch-black eyes sucked her into a void.

"So...you admit in some way that you do like me at least? That you don't necessarily think it would be so bad to be friends with me?"

Her sweet smile almost makes him snort, he resists the urge and cocks his head to the side. His gaze was something not many could handle, and so she earned some of his respect for speaking up to him and having the confidence to look him in the eye as she spoke.

He hated cowards who shy away because it made him think they had something to hide. But her, she was bluntly and unapologetically honest much like he was. She didn't care about what others thought and if she wanted something, she was going to stop at nothing until she got it. In this case, it was him.

"You're tolerable, which is a lot coming from someone who doesn't like anybody."

"Do you like Dong-Wook?", she inquired, curious to hear his response.

And he picks up the chopsticks, getting a piece of chicken and he stuffs it in her mouth, making her glare at him for feeding her like she was a child and her blush was amusing to him. Again, he didn't know why he did that but he just wanted to, he wanted to see her reaction and she liked it.

"Just a bit."

To say Runa was ecstatic was putting it lightly. Now that Jungkook seemed to be at least the tiniest bit more open and accepted her request of becoming friends, which had been her wish all along, when he reminded her that he had yet to give her a birthday present, she was internally giggling to herself and kept bugging him on the way home as to what it was.

When they walk inside the Kang Residence, she follows him into the basement as he leads her to the last door of the hall and opens it. When she sees what it is, her mouth drops open and she runs in to hold it in her arms in pure shock. She could not believe what she was feeling, one of the only things she's wanted since she was a little girl and her father never let her.

"You like it?"