Scared To Fall In Love

I Can Guard His Body But He Guards His Heart

At the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C, you can walk around and enjoy the museum without being bombarded by multitudes of people.

You are admiring a particular artifact, intrigued by its complicated patterns, when he sees your reflection in the glass display case across from you.

He feels his heart flip, and without turning to look at you, he asks flatly, "What are you doing here?"

Surprised he is there, you turn and say, "The same as you."

 He says, "You shouldn't be here."

You can't believe this, "What?" 

He still hasn't turned to face you, just watching your reflection in the glass. His heart is rapidly beating inside, and his breath feels insufficient as his eyes rove over your reflection. 

You step towards him, "Why shouldn't I be here?"

Memories of you and him are flooding back rapidly in your mind. Your heart feels like it will beat out of your chest, and you wonder if he can hear it.

You take only two steps toward him when he says, "Stop."

 He looks at his personal bodyguard, who then steps to you and speaks softly, "Anne, I need to ask you to go to another room." He gently takes hold of your arm and starts to walk you out.

"What the hell, Jungkook?" you are surprised at being escorted out of the room.

Jungkook is watching you leave in the glass reflection; he sighs and whispers, "It's for the best. For us both," and he looks away to another display.

As his bodyguard walks you out, his hand slips down to yours. You feel him slip a note into your hand. You look up at him, and he smiles remorsefully. "I'm sorry. I'd rather he would talk with you."

You smile at him. "It's okay. I'll live," and you give him a nervous little laugh.

 He squeezes your hand and says, "I can guard his body, but he guards his heart."

You tell Min, "I once thought his heart was mine."

 He says, "I know, and I'm sorry it didn't work out. I thought you two were good for each other."

You find a bench in a quiet location to read the note unobserved. Min walks quietly away and then enters the room where he left Jungkook.

In the display case, Min can see him wipe his eyes. Min sighed and started to speak when Jungkook cut him off.

 "Don't say it. I know I should talk to her. I was stupid back then, and you tried to tell me, but now things have gone too far."

 Min steps nearer to him as he continues, "I don't think I can ever fill the void left in my heart by leaving her like I did. You know how hard I've tried to fill it." 

Min sighs, places a comforting hand on his shoulder, and tells him, "I know, and out of all the hearts that came after her,  the only hearts broken were yours and hers." 

He looks at his bodyguard, Min, and harshly snaps, "Whoever said it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all is an idiot!"

He storms over to the next room of displayed artifacts as Min watches him wipe his tears. Min silently follows, letting him vent his feelings.

 In the next room, Jungkook continues to speak. "I can't take back what I did. Too much time has gone by." Min hears him sniffling, and he hands him a handkerchief.

"You both were so young back then. Though you will always be the maknae of the group, I have watched you mature over the years. You're not the same scared kid you were while training and debuting."

He stops before another display case, looking at the artifacts inside. Min knows he's not really seeing them; he sees you instead, and in a sad whisper to himself, he says, "Seeing her today makes me feel like I am still that kid."

Min was with the company when Jungkook was a trainee. After their debut, he became Jungkook's bodyguard. He was there when Jungkook ran away from love and you. He remembers the weeks afterward, and his heart breaks for the young man, who is like a little brother to him.

Min turns off his watch, which has started to chime. He says, "We have to meet up with the others. You have a photoshoot to prepare for." 

The two met up with the others in the museum lobby before leaving by the back. Fans had gathered outside, waiting for them to come out, so they had to change their plans.

Jungkook looks to Min, "How do they always know?" he asks about the fans.

 Min shakes his head and replies, "I don't know."