Hostage Handbook

Chapter Twenty | Definitely You

JUNGKOOK

Yeoreum studies my expression. She massages her knuckles, and the redness on her hand grows more prominent at the curl of her fingers.

I blink away from her gaze. "How good would it be if I could relive my life with this life's memory?"

"Why?" Yeoreum mumbles in a voice that is quieter than a whisper.

"So I could try and enter your life before Taehyung or Min Yoongi does," I utter. "Do you think you will fall for me if that's the case?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask the Song Yeoreum in that universe."

I raise my head. "What if she does? Would you support her decision?"

"I would respect it. That girl would probably be more like Song Yeoreum than me, so I don't have the right to judge her decision."

"Why is that?"

"Song Yeoreum is someone who would never hurt other people for her own benefit. That's the only thing I set down for myself when I was a kid. I have betrayed that now."

"I don't agree. This world is too cruel for you to maintain that standard. I feel like Song Yeoreum is someone more realistic than that."

"Perhaps." Yeoreum sighs. "But frankly, I doubt she'll be interested in someone younger than her."

"You're only a couple of months older than me," I retort.

"I rejected someone because they were a couple of hours younger than me," Yeoreum says. "My mother died when I was a kid, my father was problematic, my brother had issues, and I had to be the adult of the family. Thus, I desire someone I can rely on and act like a kid with comfortably. The most basic indicator of reliability is age, so it's hard for me to overlook that criterion."

"Forget about age and be dependent on me. I love you, and I have the ability to support you." I draw my forehead next to Yeoreum, forcing her faltering eyes to meet my gaze. "I just want to guard you."

Yeoreum moves away to take a long breath. I don't know what she is contemplating, but she looks gentler when she turns back to bring some soup to my mouth.

"Finish it before it gets cold," Yeoreum says. She places some rice in the soup spoon. "The rice tastes better when it's dipped in soup."

Yeoreum finishes feeding me, and I pester her into letting me feed her. After eating, she moves the table to the storage space near the entrance and cleans it with a disinfectant wipe.

Something about Yeoreum doing chores mesmerises me. Her rolled-up sleeves make me feel like I deserve to feel the warmth of a home.

Yeoreum notices my gaze when she heads inside the bathroom, but she doesn't seem to mind. She wipes her hands dry and picks out the medications I'll need to take according to the prescription.

"Take your antibiotics and painkillers," Yeoreum says. She brings me the pills with a glass of water. "Quick."

Yeoreum watches me gulp down the medications and braces her arm around my waist to help me up. I can walk by myself, but I still rest my head on Yeoreum's shoulder as if I am struggling to stand upright.

"I'll help you use the bathroom," Yeoreum says. She frowns when she realises I'm not putting my weight on her body. "You can lean on me."

I smile and nod, bringing my face closer to Yeoreum's neck. I don't even want to pee, but I still follow her to the bathroom.

Yeoreum pulls down my underwear and turns her head to the other side.

"Take your piss."

I laugh. "I don't care if you look."