Teach Me How To Love [mxmxm]

V

[Jae Lim]

"Has anyone told you that you're overbearing?"

"I know Guanlin sent Qi and Xunan out, so you won't have them hovering around you, but I don't want you wandering around alone." He was talking to me like he was my mother, and the mere thought of that brought shivers down my spine. "You know, in case something happens, they won't be there to keep an eye on you."

"I thought they were there to keep an eye on the prisoner," I deadpanned. It wasn't unknown that I was just another prisoner roaming the halls of this safe house, every move being watched as if they thought I couldn't feel those stares burning holes through me.

"You're not—"

"I know what I am and you don't have to sugarcoat it." Harsh realities didn't pull back punches for anyone. If I was going to be a prisoner and have this much freedom, I might as well take advantage of the vacation. "I need to train. You guys have a training room here?"

"We have a training room, but you need access to the shooting range and someone to supervise. I'll have Guanlin provide you with a supervisor while you go in there."

"How many guards do you need on little ole me?" Hopefully, the sarcasm was evident.

"It's for safety purposes in case there's an accident." He tried to push me out the door but I dug my heels into the floor, standing my ground. "Go visit Sheng and tell him I said hi. His room's down the hall. You'll know it when you see it."

Crossing my arms with a scowl, defiance bubbled in my chest at his "command." If there was one thing I hated, it was being told what to do. "Well, now I'm not going to do it."

I stood there like an idiot for a bit, not wanting to do what Jihoon said even though I was already planning to go see Sheng. My morals might be askew and I might not respect everyone, but I could admit a mistake...sometimes. The man didn't do anything, just triggered an instinct and no, I wasn't feeling bad. I was simply correcting things. Just ask him if he's ok and then leave. No drawing it out. No need for small talk. No feelings involved.

I started walking down the hall and stopped when I found a wooden door that said, "Sheng & Jiao" in sparkling and bubbly letters. It looked like a child had decorated their door. Numerous colorful stickers decorated the door. Flowers, smiley faces, stickers that said "Good job" and "You're a star!"

At least I knew he wasn't lying when he said I'd know it when I saw it.

Pulling my gaze up from my feet, my chest expanded with a deep breath. Curses ran through my head as I contemplated on knocking or just fucking leaving. There was no reason for me to explain. I could leave right now. No guard, no monitors in the hall. It would be an easy escape out of here and back to Korea.

"What are you doing in front of our door?"

Jumping a step back when I heard the low question from my side, I swiveled around and found myself face-to-face with another tall Asian man holding a steaming bowl in his hand. He was at least a head taller than me and there was a width to his build that had to be thanks to manual labor. His narrow eyes were set in a stony glare as he stepped forward, key and bowl in hand. Instinctively, my feet shuffled away from him.

This must be Jiao...

The door opened before I could respond and I came face to face with Sheng who looked as bright and cheery as he did the first time I saw him, only with the addition of a cast on his arm.

"Jiao!" He noticed first. Like an afterthought, his eyes moved from the bowl and onto me. "And Jae! Come on in!"

He opened the door wider and Jiao went in first, but not before giving me a heavy glare like he promised me I would regret ever coming to see them. No need to worry about that because I was already regretting coming the moment I spotted their door.