I wanna stay in this dream, don't save me

_

Yang Moon's Point of View :

I paste a smile on my face and internally count to ten instead of doing what I really want to do, which is take this pen and stab Soyang's smug face in the eyeballs. I swear, the other woman who works reception here at the massage parlor is such a bitch. I don't know what she has against me, but I remind myself that I won't be doing this forever. Somehow, I'm going to save up enough money to get out of here. Maybe I just need to get out of the city, period.

I close my eyes and picture a little green lawn with no neighbors in sight. Well, maybe one or two houses. I just don't want to be caged in on all sides like I am here in my apartment in the city where I have to smell all the nasty-ass food everyone in the building cooks at all hours of the day and night.

I don't need anything big or fancy. Just a small little cottage will do. It doesn't even have to have a white picket fence. I'm not that picky. I just want my own little place. Maybe I can learn to grow my own food and be sustainable on my own. Yeah, that would be super.

For the moment, though, I'm grateful for this job because at least I make enough to have my own place without having to have a roommate. I don't make much more than that. I'm pretty much scraping by paycheck to paycheck, so I don't know how I think I'm going to save up enough for my little dream cottage out in the country, but first things first. Survival.

Everything else will come eventually. I can't give up. Hope is what has gotten me through my entire life.

You would think all of my hope would be crushed by now, growing up parentless in an orphanage, but I've always held on to a bit of hope. Oh, it's not hope in the goodness of humanity. I've seen firsthand how shitty humans can be. Now I'm holding out hope in myself that I can overcome my challenges. So far, I have, and I'm damn proud of myself for it.I don't let anyone get too close because that only leads to disappointment. But I don't think I'm as jaded or bitter as many of the kids who grow up without parents. I still see the good in the world. I think.

I'm getting ready to close. I'm the last person left at the shop, and it's my job to close up two nights a week. I get up to go lock the door before I return to the desk to shut down the computer and close out everything.

As I walk to the door, I mutter under my breath, "Fucking Soyang, always acting like she's better than everyone. She can kiss my ass."

I slam the lock into place and yank the blinds down with a little more force than necessary. My mind keeps racing with thoughts of how much I hate this place, how much I hate these people, and how much I hate feeling trapped. But I remind myself, I'll get out of here. I have to. For my own sanity, I will.

Returning to the desk, I let out a frustrated scream, punching the counter. "I am so sick of this shit!" I shut down the computer and grabbed my things, ready to escape this hellhole for the night.

When I turn around from locking the door, I gasp and jump back as a man towers over me.

Hold the fuck up, who the fuck is this creep? Holy crap—

My eyes trail up, up, up until they meet his. His eyes are dark, contrasting with his jet-black hair, which is stylishly full and waves back from his face.

The man is huge and obviously muscular. The light button-up shirt under his suit coat barely contains his hard chest. His thighs are like cannons, and oh my god, I try not to look, but my eyes can't help skimming over the clearly well-endowed package between his legs.

His mildly tanned olive skin tone speaks to a Mediterranean ethnicity. When he opens his mouth and speaks, "Hello, sugarplum," his voice is deep and smooth as velvet. It slides over me sensuously. 

I stare up at him like a deer caught in headlights before I finally shake my head and get my wits back. What the hell is wrong with me? This man just appeared out of nowhere, and I'm alone with him in a darkened office. Why aren't warning bells going off in my head? Instead, I'm standing here ogling him, amazed at how hot he is.

"How did you get in here?" I snap. "Who the fuck are you?"

He ignores the first question and only answers the latter. "Jeon Jungkook."

"We're closed," I say with a shaky voice, taking a cautious step back toward the desk.

He doesn't miss a beat. His eyes never waver from me as he closes the distance between us. "I know. I came to see you."

"Me?" I squeak, wincing at how I sound like a frightened mouse. I clear my throat and try again.

 "Do I know you?"

What a stupid question. Jeez, butt head.

Of course I don't know him. If I'd ever seen a man like him, there's no way I could forget. His image is already burned into my retinas. "No, but I know you, sugarplum." He reaches out slowly, as if I'm an animal he doesn't want to spook, and gently cups my cheek.I slap his hand away, anger bubbling up. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? You can't just sneak up on people like that!"

He doesn't flinch, his gaze still fixed on me. "I've been watching you, Moon." 

My blood runs cold. "You've been what?"

"Watching you. Following you. You're mine, and I don't let what's mine get away."

Panic surges through me. "You're fucking crazy. Get out of here before I call the cops!"

He steps closer, invading my space, and I feel my heart pounding in my chest. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

I scramble for something, anything to defend myself with. "Stay the fuck away from me!" But did he listen to me? Hell no. He just fucking cupped my cheek with those damn big hands. I can't believe I let myself lean into his touch. I'm not one for being touched. Didn't have loving parents giving me hugs or boyfriends either. Saw too many other orphans craving affection, ending up screwed.

Hold the fuck up, Moon.

I don't know if it's just him or the damn absence of touch in my life that's got my skin tingling, but I swear, it's probably just him.

He strokes his thumb over my cheek. When I open my eyes, his gaze is burning into mine like a damn wildfire.

Then his phone chirps and I can tell he's pissed at the interruption. He pulls it out, frowns at the screen, then looks back at me, regrets flickering in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, but I have to go now."

His hand cups my cheek again. His face inches closer, lips almost brushing mine. I can feel his breath on me as he whispers, "Be good girl, until next time."

Good girl? Is he fucking serious?

"Next time?" I blurt out, but he's already walking away. I stand there, body trembling, just staring after him.

What the fuck did I just get myself into?

When he reaches the door, he turns back and orders me, "Lock this back immediately."

It's like I'm in a trance. I immediately move to obey him.

He nods at me in approval, his eyes blazing down into mine through the glass one last time before he turns and strides over to a waiting vehicle. He gets in the backseat, and I watch in a daze as the darkened vehicle pulls away from the curb, my mind still reeling.