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27

I think it's love - TAEMIN

A FEELING DEEPER THAN JUST A SIMPLE CRUSH

They were in the car once again, as time would soon reach midnight. He drove them to his place, staying attentive as his eyes glanced in his rear mirror multiple times to see Kun and Lucas driving in a non-suspicious normal car- following them, but making sure to keep some distance.

Akina was informed and aware of them following them but she was too tired to really care. She leaned her head against the back of the seat, letting her eyelids close for moments before opening them again. Even with many hours of sleep from today she still felt fatigued, but even as she tried to fall asleep, her body wouldn't let her sleep.

Ever since Jungwoo came back from his meeting she could finally feel his nerves that were jumbled and bouncing off the walls. It was uncomfortable to feel him so on-edge, and his anxiousness was prevalent even on the outside.

His continuous rapid tapping on the steering wheel with the occasional raking his hand through his hair showed his nervousness completely, and there was more. He stayed extra close to Akina when they left the building and didn't leave her side until she was sitting inside the car.

His proximity was nice but the impenetrable unsettling feeling she had from him made her worried for him. She could feel his unstableness and that made her concerned.

It was hard for her to feel and see, but there was a fragment in her mind from his actions that somehow brought comfort to her. His protectiveness was something she's never experienced before and that relaxed her.

They were feeling opposite emotions and Akina felt guilty and knew it was unfair, so she resorted to talking to him on the quiet drive.

"Do I have to call in tomorrow?" She asked breaking the silence as her hands fiddled with the sleeves of her jacket.

"It would probably be a good idea," He answered, his voice was soft but clear as his eyes stayed on the road, not feeling brave enough to make a quick eye-contact.

"Sounds good," She trailed off, her head turned looking at his side profile. "Are you okay? Scratch that, I can tell you're not okay. Is there anything I can do?" She offered as the car slowed down at the red light, the glow of the light reflecting off the car and peeking past the window.

He visibly inhaled deeply because his chest rose and fell as his hand on the console gripped it instead unlike before when it draped on it lazily. After he inhaled, he turned his head, his face harboring complicated emotions.

"I'm supposed to be asking you that," He chuckled dryly, his shoulders were slouched, something she hasn't seen from him as his eyes even in the red-hued lighting looked scared, it was not hideable.

Then something in Akina pulled, upon his feelings that radiated inside of her, she felt something almost indescribable. Her heart ached for a moment dully and for some reason if she wasn't careful she was sure tears could fall from her eyes any minute.

It was just his gaze, how did it manage to have such an effect on her?

"Woo, you don't have to cover up your feelings because of me." She inhaled her heart feeling like it weighed more than it does. "I'm always here for you, no matter the chaos," She promised.

There were no lies in what she said, it slipped off her tongue easily. Her words- her actions were so different than who she used to be. She wasn't afraid of committing at that moment no matter how much fear had grown in her heart all her life.

She was growing; accepting, allowing her to give her heart up- completely.

She didn't receive an answer at that moment because the light that shined in the car turned green and that made him divert his attention. But she kept hold of his face and how her words changed his expression.

It was a slight difference, the change would be unnoticeable for anyone else but somehow she saw it- the insecurities that displayed themself timidly. His feelings were so close to shattering her heart.

What walls had just fallen? Was this the most vulnerable form of him? The unassured hesitant Jungwoo?

It made her itch for answers, but also she felt the urge to comfort him. Her mind automatically recalled all the times he undoubtedly reached out and assured her that everything was going to be okay.

The ride was quiet and she still had her gaze locked on his face and the inner gears of her brain functioned to find a way to make him feel better.

"I can't let you get hurt because of me," He whispered, making her eyebrows raised from his unexpected words. "I can't let that happen."

"It's not your fault Woo, you didn't tell him to come after me... this is not your fault." Her words were stern but they weren't aggressive, instead, they still had honey embedded in them.

"Akina, what if I can't save you- if... he gets you...," His voice cracked even though it was barely above a whisper as his lips were stuck in a straight line with his eyes still locked on the road.

Those insecurities were now raging on full display. His worry mixed with it causing overwhelming emotions for him. Jungwoo was terrified because even if it hadn't been long for the two he couldn't see his life without her.

Kim Jungwoo has fallen for Sato Akina, he knew it- he knew it was genuine and heck! Even his friends at work could see it too. But falling wasn't a simple thing and now with danger itching to hurt Akina he couldn't think straight and all his confidence was crumbling.

Jungwoo didn't know what he needed at that moment as he was about to crack right in front of Akina, his emotions were swirling as he drove, getting closer to his apartment.

But she did, an instinct came out of her- because he wasn't the only one that had fallen. She was in the same boat as him but she would only realize it later.

"I trust you Jungwoo, and we'll get through this together," She soothed, her hands reaching for the one that gripped the middle console. She enclosed his one hand, one of her thumbs making small circles on the back of her hand, as the bond went into a frenzy; it glowed in the small space of the car.

That was the night when everything changed for the two- when all fears of commitment for Akina were thrown out the window; and when Jungwoo's fears came out; his vulnerability being accepted by her.

It was the genuine start of Akina and Jungwoo.

be ready for some heart-fluttering chapters coming up! hope you enjoyed <3