Duty - A bbangsaz fic

7 - First day

Minji's larger hands naturally enveloped Hanni's smaller ones as they shook, the former frozen and seeming like they weren't about to let go.

Hanni still looked the same as she did years ago: youthful, bubbly, and mischievous. But the way she carried herself was different. In a sense, she looked more mature and confident. Minji could see the questioning in the other's eyes as they held eye contact, the air between them charged and the outside world sealed off by a protective shield. Her heart skipped a beat.

Hanni's eyes tracked her tongue as Minji swept it along her bottom lip, moistening it in anticipation.

Someone cleared their throat.

The two quickly let go though Minji thought she felt Hanni's hand lingering momentarily, reluctant to pull away. Minji brushed her fingertips against the palm of her hand and felt where Hanni had touched her.

She looked and met the other's eyes once more. Minji was searching. For something, anything, that her remaining sanity could cling to. A shiver ran down her spine as Haerin's cold fingertips made contact with her skin.

The cat looked at her in confusion. Never before had the other seen Minji like this, so lost, no different to a kid randomly shoved into a crowd of adults.

Then, Minji remembered what they were here for. Not to reforge relationships, but to do her job. She formed her composure, "We have been assigned to protect you from an external force that, I'm sure you know, is after you."

Hanni nodded.

"We will first need to know which room you will be staying in and which ones will be available to us, Ms.?" Minji questioned

How would she address Hanni? Ms. Pham? Ma'am? Your Royal Highness? Person-who-has-more-control-over-my-heart-than-I-do?

Hanni shrugged nonchalantly, "Just call me Hanni, there's no need for formalities. We do have a month ahead of us after all."

Jimin nodded, "Is there anyone else that lives here? Or regular visitors?"

The shorter girl tilted her head and pressed her lips in thought, "Only Choi Hyunwoo. He's been working for my family longer than I've been alive."

As Hanni led them to their rooms, Minji noticed several security measures implemented that she didn't see in the blueprints.

"Are those security shutters?" She asked Hanni while gesturing at the window.

They began ascending the stairs. "Yeah. My father installed them a couple of months ago. All of a sudden he was really concerned about my security, firing all the other people working here in fear of a 'mole'. Then you guys came."

"Your father?" Jimin asked, "What does he do?"

Hanni looked back in puzzlement. "He's just some important businessman who has connections to the government. Never comes home because of work. That's why I was so confused with all the changes." Then a small crooked grin appeared on her face, "Don't you do background checks? Shouldn't you know?"

Taking two stairs at a time, Minji reached the top before the others. She leaned onto the railing and looked down, noting the several cameras. "Well, the man has been pretty hidden for the past few years." She stared straight at Hanni when she said this. "Never mentioned anywhere."

Hanni stopped walking and looked away. She knew the other was referring to how her family life was always kept behind bars during their previous time together.

Minji narrowed her eyes, "As a matter of fact, none of your family is. Haven't seen nor met them,"

The shorter girl snorted before continuing on her way, "They've been... Pretty absent a lot of my life."