Empty Space | Jeon Jungkook

Part 18

**

The aftermath of the attack is an experience in itself. Yeonjun and Hana insisted on sleeping with you that weekend, and you had no choice but to let them.

The whole team panicked. Jimin cried out of worry and guilt and Hoseok called you everyday to check on you. Jin and Yoongi installed a better security system, hired extra staff, and reorganized the shifts.

You wouldn't budge on your preference of still closing for at least three nights - you need the higher pay, after all. So your bosses agree on maintaining your shifts, although they were close to hiring Jungkook as your personal bodyguard during closing hours.

"I have a feeling he'd do it in a heartbeat, without anybody asking him to," Yoongi assumes.

And he's right. Jungkook, without fail, shows up an hour before closing, three nights a week.

The rest of the staff enjoy his presence, as they do feel safer with a police officer around, even if they know he's really just there for you. In turn, they give him a meal and his favorite iced americano as thanks.

"You have a 4AM shift tomorrow, Jungkook, you should go home," you tell him one time, as an insane amount of orders for your coffee buns came in and you had to stay later than 11.

"You think I wouldn't be tossing and turning in bed out of worry if I stayed home?" He responds.

He's right, though. And you're glad he is.

You're less closed-off and you engage him in conversation, but mostly about work or Yeonjun or shallow things. You're wary of what you talk to him about - it's less about distrust and more about guarding your heart, but you won't tell anybody that.

He's more open, though. You notice it with him casually slipping bits about his family and his friends, which you already knew. He didn't lie that much about that part.

He talks about work, too - how he enjoys patrolling and will think about applying for an inspector role some time soon. You talk about food and other random things - all while you're cleaning up the counter, mopping the floors, and wiping the tables and him following you around, happy to just be even close to you.

There are things you don't talk about though, like the mission, the immediate aftermath, and things you both used to do together. You had that moment in your place when he held you as you cried and you asked questions you needed answers to, but he never gave more than what was asked. There were things you didn't need to know now, and things you didn't need to know at all.

Most nights he savors the time he gets to watch you engage with the customers and encourage them to buy the remaining pastries, and he smiles at how happy and at ease you seem.

Tonight, you're the one savoring how he looks. You sneak glances at him, as he puts the phone on his ear to talk to someone and you see him relax on his seat a bit, a boyish smile gracing his face that turns into a laugh. The person on the other end seems hysterical, as Jungkook would pull the phone off his ear and chuckle to himself.

"You just have to apologize, Tae. You were at fault anyway," you make out his words. "You'll be okay; you've gone through too much not to be."

Your eavesdropping moment is broken when Jimin comes out with a bleeding finger. You help him wrap it up and send him home, adamant that you'll be fine because Jungkook is with you and that's more than you need protecting you, especially since it's been weeks since your attack and there hasn't been any follow ups.

He waves goodbye and you're alone again with Jungkook who's still on the phone - laughing, spilling some advice, smiling.

You force yourself not to stare but you can't help it. As he lowers himself further down the seat, his legs spread out now with the cafe officially closed, your glances turn to gazes and even from this angle with the lights dim, you can make out his features.