My Forbidden Fruit - Choi Beomgyu

Chapter 7

Kang Hana/Choi Beomgyu

Kang Hana's POV

As I lay in bed, my thoughts revolved around the day of Beomgyu's supposed kidnapping. The memory of that intense moment when I wrapped my arms around him, and his tall, protective figure enveloped me in a warm, comforting embrace, replayed in my mind. 

It had been almost two weeks since that incident, and I couldn't help but notice that Beomgyu had started to distance himself from me. For some reason, it felt as though he was avoiding me, and a subtle tension had developed between us. 

I had to remind myself that my role was to be his temporary bodyguard until Kwon Jae Gyeong returned. Despite the growing emotional distance between us, after another talk with Junho, I couldn't help but feel my concern for his safety.

I found myself absentmindedly running my hands through the sheets, lost in my thoughts. Beomgyu's words had been echoing in my mind ever since the day he was supposed to attend a family meeting. 

"I don't want to go, Hana," he had said, his eyes betraying a hint of sadness, even though he would never openly admit it. 

His reluctance to attend the family gathering had tugged at my heart. It was a glimpse of vulnerability that he rarely showed, hidden beneath his princely and cheerful facade.

It was way past midnight, and sleep seemed like the last thing on my mind so I got up and pulled on a large sweater to head to the royal library. When I went through my closet, I found the hoodie that Beomgyu had lent me that night, and the way they smelled of vanilla and expensive cologne.

Upon entering the library, I noticed the lights were already on. Not giving it much thought, I began scanning the bookshelves. I eventually found a copy of one of my favorites, 'To Kill A Mockingbird,' but it was perched high on one of the top shelves, just out of my reach. I tried to tip-toe, hoping to grab the book, but my fingers barely grazed the bottom of the cover. 

I scoured the room for a ladder, but they must have been locked away for the night. Frustration built within me, and I was about to give up when I felt a hand gently resting on my shoulder.

I was about to slam whoever it was against the book shelves, but the familiar waft of vanilla flooded my senses. The other hand reached up and caught the book without any sign of struggle. I knew who it was, but I still turned around to meet eyes with him. 

Choi Beomgyu.

We were in such close proximity that I felt his breath on my forehead and hair. I looked up, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes, a warm brown and capable of hypnotising an entire army of soldiers. 

My gaze roamed his face, and in that moment, I truly recognised how strikingly handsome he was. Silky black hair that partially obscured his eyes, lips with a subtle pink hue, and a jawline that could slice through anything. It was as though an irresistible urge had suddenly seized me, compelling me to reach out and brush my fingers through his hair, to peer into his eyes more deeply. This feeling was almost foreign to me, and it continued to stir something peculiar within my heart.

Beomgyu's pretty smile and voice interrupted me from my thoughts as he said, "Couldn't sleep, Princess?"

Oh, and I nearly forgot about the depth of his voice; it was akin to molten honey flowing from his vocal cords. If I didn't know better, I might have been utterly enchanted by it.

"Unfortunately, no", I said, shifting my gaze to the book he was holding. 

Mind you, we remained in close proximity, his tall, lean frame almost confining me against the shelf. His body heat enveloped me, warming me to the very core of my heart, and a sudden, overwhelming urge washed over me to wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest, and listen to the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat.