The protector

Jealous (M)

2027, August

"Tell it again."

"Mhm."

"I'm close, I want to come hearing this from you."

"I'm jealous, jealous of you, a lot." The explosion was one of the best never experienced.

One week before circa

Precise, methodical, sharp, mean. The two girls were throwing shots to the opposite half of the court with the precise intent to wear out the other, long toss and short volleys, their insults decorously exchanged by putting a middle finger on the brightening-coloured grip. Jeong Hyeok let his eyes flip after the small, yellow sphere.

"Scary, uh?"

Once a week, at dawn because it was the only hour of the day when the heat wasn't unbearable, In-ah and Mimmi had their tennis match. Their competition being legendary, on that day Klaus had brought Jeong Hyeok to see – his words – "the weirdo you live with."

"Oh."

The game ended, and they quietly put the rackets in the bags, keeping a sip of water, the other hand busy in wiping the sweat with the help of a towel.

"They hadn't even noticed us" Klaus hissed "want to bet?"

"What are you doing here? Coffee delivery?" They welcomed the two guys with widened eyes and the typical endorphin's smile. In-ah fondly rubbed her palm on Jeong Hyeok's arm, her glowing gaze holding a sincere cheerfulness.

"We're here for half an hour" Klaus playfully protested.

"Really?"

"I just bet with Jeong Hyeok about you two not have registered our presence."

"You should bet on Mimmi losing all the matches and her dignity this summer."

"Perra."

"Burra."

Jeong Hyeok did not take offense for not having been noticed, nor get surprised. Day after day, he had simply realized that In-ah was like that. She could sometimes look cold, often absent – whether physically or just mentally – and detached, but it just was her nature. While she was sleeping, the man often observed her. Her face was placid, flat, a lack of expression which looked somehow purposeful. Many times, during those weeks, he had found himself wondering if she was so at ease in the country because she knew the rules, or rather because she shared its values, hermitage and secrecy.

Her discretion was clever. Hidden behind a playful joviality, an apparent open attitude, so that no one wondered if there could have been something beneath. And he too, most of the times thought to himself that it was just his fantasy. No, the man really wasn't surprised for her not having noticed his presence.

Once at home, properly showered, In-ah jumped on him.

"Ehi, so cute from you coming today, but please don't do it anymore."

"Wae?"

"Because me cursing Mimmi is not the me I want for you to see. Now I'm ashamed."

"I'd like to see any side of you."

"No you don't."

It was always so. Any time he provoked her, any time he asked, she changed the subject or directly told him "you don't want to hear it," or "do we really have to talk about it?" A periphrasis which invited no argument, letting the man frustrated and doubtful.