Your Perspective

💋

There is blood that mixes with the water raining above me. I stand in the hot water, bathe away the hurt that clouds my physical and emotional state. I stare numb. I make no sound. All I hear in my humming eardrums is the music of the water, and Jin's muffled voice outside my door.

He is on his phone. First, he calls his friends from hometown to cover for him again. Second, he calls the driver who waits outside. The second conversation is a blur for me as I start to cry again, cupping my hand to my mouth, trying not to sniffle out a cry.

What happened comes in flashes. It comes and goes and I try to move on quick from it, even if it just happened two hours ago. In my line of work, in the horror stories I have heard and lived, all that happened tonight was nothing in comparison to what I had already lived. But it still hurt. It still ate at my soul. Why did it hurt so much?

There is a soft knock on the door. I jump, blinking away the droplets that drape my face. My eye is starting to swell and blacken from the harsh hits given to my cheek, my lip cut, while the other wounds dance in taboo areas of my body.

"Come out soon?" His voice is softer than the silk I'm normally provided. Jin's words are cautious, treating me like a ticking time-bomb ready to explode alone any minute.

I say nothing. I turn the water off as a response. He shuffles away from the door to give space and I hear the hesitancy in his steps.

I move into the clothing that Tea lends me. She was the first face I saw when I came to, then Jin. I had jumped upright on the bed, thrashed my gaze around to see if the monster was near. When I felt and heard nothing but their soothing voices, I finally grew weak with a calm.

Jin didn't touch me the entire time I was relaxing, restoring, and being reassured. I'm thankful he didn't. I didn't need another man in that moment, good or bad.

Moving into joggers and a long sleeved tee, my hair is wet and I try to tame it lazily before stepping out with my towel. My eyes meet the man's that waits with worry in his eyes.

Jin is in the center of my room and I walk towards him.

The sweetness I missed is back, it somewhat feels foreign since care is strongly laced in his gaze. No man has looked at me with such eyes in years, I look away, staring st the towel in my hands.

His hands stretch out. "I'll take it," he says, gentle with his words. He urges for the towel to be given and I cave. Too tired, too lazy, I don't want to argue or resist any help.

He takes my towel, travels towards the bed and places it down. I notice my bed already has new sheets as he walks away from it, another fabric in hand. Jin holds his jacket from the previous night. He hands it over, "I'm taking you out. It'll get cold."

I don't refuse in taking the jacket. He watches me while I wear it, I look to the ground, feeling his warmth and scent stronger than ever. I want to thank him but my mouth doesn't work this hour.

"We'll head to the hospital first," Jin says softly. I look up shocked at that and his smile is reassuring while explaining, "I've got lies and expenses covered." I relax over the look in his eyes, he wants to take care of me in this moment and I see it.

Normally, I wouldn't want pity and would argue. But right now, in pain and numb in all ways, I again, don't want to refuse help.

I nod.

His hand stretches to the door. I walk in front of Jin who is gentle-men like, trailing behind me.

He still doesn't touch me.

-

He still doesn't touch me.

We're out of the hospital, another two hours and struck in the darkest morning of day. Back behind tinted windows and no longer receiving strange looks from others, I stare away from Jin who sits beside me in his disguise.

His knuckles are bruised, not broken. His mouth required some assistance but no stitches. I however required a few stitches, ice packs, and an IV propped in my veins for a while.

Now, out and feeling slightly more refreshed, there was an order for me to find sleep because of the medication I received. I hold no idea where Jin is taking me now...

"A hotel closest to the building," Jin says to the driver who has been without question the entire time. I assume Jin talked to the man on the phone when I couldn't hear earlier. "I've called them, they should know of my fake identity booking a stay."

"Alright." The driver speaks, nodding.

Jin side glances my way. He doesn't speak to me as he focuses on the driver with awkwardness back. "Thank you for keeping this between us and helping. I appreciate it."

"Whatever you need." The driver finally smiles and Jin seems to match the expression as he sighs in relief.

I finally speak as it goes quiet. I catch eyes of the driver in his rear-view and smile tiny for the first time since the new day started. "Thank you," I whisper.

The driver nods again, his smile reassuring and caring as well. Being around two positive examples of men, in such a long framework, throws me off. It was a new, it was a good new. A new I missed.

What I don't notice is Jin smiling to himself when finally hearing me talk. The man seems more relieved.

I use my cracked voice in Jin's direction. "Am I staying in the hotel?"

Jin nods. "I hope that's okay?"

I smile at him. He smiles larger back, relieved that I'm showing emotion.

"That's okay."

-

"That's okay?" The woman behind the counter looks to me, then to Jin. She is typing at her computer waiting for a response.

It is a weird site. I look around the fancy hotel, then I meet eyes of guests that view me strangely back. I'm shy and look to my feet repeatedly. It is clear over why they stare. I'm an injured woman next to an injured man that has glasses, a mask, and a hat to cover most his face.

"You need my I.D.?" Jin swallows hard and I see the movement of his neck from behind him.

Even I grow nervous for him suddenly. He nods, pulls out his card, and mumbles about being under a fake name due to his status. In panic, the boy lets most of the truth spill and I'm in shock behind him.

He tilts his glasses off, moves his mask to his chin. The girl blinks, wide-eyed. She tries to register the fact that there is an idol in front of her, speaking about getting a room for his 'cousin' ready.

"O-Okay," the women squeaks out, shaking and trying not to fangirl. Her eyes glance at the screen as she gets ready and verifies the stay, before looking over at me constantly. She is a curious one, I don't blame her.

"Thank you." Jin chuckles nervously and places his mask and glasses back on. "I'd really appreciate it. The last I want is for someone to get light of my situation and—"

I panic. It's strange that I can fairly see her to be a fan, and get Jin is overly open while under pressure for not noticing. I hug his arm and tug it lightly, sealing his lips shut.

"I'm just really sleepy," the fake smile I put on my face is horrendous and painful. "We had a busy night, we got attacked and everything. Long story." I wave my hand and join Jin's chuckling-self.

I hate this. The girl is even more curious as she joins in on the awkward laughing marathon.

"Isn't that right...cousin?" I chime, cocking my head to the side to see his cheek.

The girl extends the key and the idol takes it.

Jin nods rapidly.

-

Jin shakes his head rapidly.

He is panicked and his hands are out to cover his vision. Jin reacts like this when I start taking my cloths off. I halt, moving my hands back to my sides. I'm confused so I stand still and awkward. "What's wrong?" My voice is still so soft from the shock earlier.

Jin is a flushing red. He keeps his mask, glasses and hat on. At this point I think it's because he doesn't want me to see him blush. "I-I, wow okay you're close to naked."

I put his jacket on quick, too embarrassed to grab the tee I had tossed the minute the door had closed. "I thought—"

"I'm not helping you in return for anything," Jin says soft, his voice still high. Some of his softness comes back even though his arousal creeps in. "Again," he laughs at the situation, "it's hard to believe, but I try to be a decent human being."

Now I'm the one blushing. I glance around the room that is claimed to be mine and only mine. So much privacy, so much room. I've always been the type to share my space in many contexts than one, so this is another new.

"I'm staying here alone?" My voice is naturally cute and scared as I ask.

Jin smiles. He finally moves his glasses and mask with a nod of his head. "Yes. For two whole weeks treat this place as your own."

"How are you able to afford this?"

"Don't worry about it." He is clearly trying not to scream on the inside. I notice. This is a struggle for him, so we're the hospital and medicine charges, and so will be the final debt of 3,000. That's the ultimate amount he owes for me right?

I'm unaware of the 3,000 that is now at 10,000...all to save me from further hurt. I'm unaware of this fact. I'm unaware of his selfless heart more than I already know.

"Alone?" I ask again, swallowing hard.

Jin nods with a chuckle. Then he memorizes my expression a second over and his smile falls slow. "Are you scared?"

"No, not at all." I answer too quick.

Jin's eyes soften. He's looking at me with those caring gazes again and my heart quickens. Even now, I still don't know how to handle it.

"I realize how dumb and slow I probably seem," Jin speaks lowly, "...with all that happened today with you, of course you'd be scared."

I want to jump in and reassure him that what happened tonight was nothing new for me. I want to tell him that I've been through worse and how he shouldn't worry. I want to tell him about the handsome man that held me captive. I want to tell Jin about a baby that never happened...but I realize defending myself in such means would only make him pity me further, so I remain quiet.

He speaks. His words make my heart flutter and jump along with my eyes that meet his face in awe. Jin asks with hesitance, "would you like for me to stay until you've fallen asleep?"

I don't know what to say. He simply surprises me further, and at this rate constantly. Jin is a personified calm after the shattering storm.

"I-I—"

He rubs the back of his neck. "I'll sit on the couch while you catch some rest." He clarifies that he doesn't want any sexual relations.

"Your driver—"

"I'll call him to park far out and get something to eat in the meantime. I'm sure he'll understand." Jin is rambling.

I find it cute but I'm too awkward and shocked to even form acknowledgment towards his behaviour. "Are you sure?"

Jin smiles, cheeky and teeth out with kindness. Your blushing cheeks is a new for him and he finds it just as equally adorable.

"Yes," he says, making up his mind firmly, "I'll watch over you."