Swapped by fate

Chapter 13

Hyunjin's POV

I hadn’t been to Nami’s room in days. Every time I thought about going, something held me back. Maybe it was the look in her eyes the last time we crossed paths, or maybe it was the way my chest tightened when I caught her as she almost fell. Whatever it was, I’d been avoiding her. But now, I had no choice.

I stood outside her door, my hand hesitating over the handle. I needed to be clear-headed. This wasn’t about emotions or her innocent smile. It was about finishing the job, and I needed her cooperation to do it. Nothing more.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Nami looked up from the book she was reading, her eyebrows raising slightly in surprise. She seemed more relaxed than the last time I saw her, but I could still sense the tension in her posture.

“Hyunjin,” she greeted me, her voice neutral, maybe even a little guarded.

“Nami,” I replied, keeping my voice cold and distant. I couldn’t let her think we were anything more than captor and captive. Not after everything. “I have news.”

She closed her book and set it down carefully, giving me her full attention. “What is it?”

I took a step closer, trying to suppress the strange unease gnawing at me. “You’re going to be free soon. But we need you to stay here for a few more days. Half a week, tops.”

Her eyes widened, clearly caught off guard. “Wait—what?”

I forced myself to remain emotionless, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed. “You’re not Kato Lara. We know that now. But that doesn’t mean this is over. There’s still danger. If we let you go now, Mr. Kato might figure out what we tried to do.”

Her lips parted slightly as she processed what I said. “So, you’re saying... I can leave, but I’ll still be in danger?”

I nodded curtly. “Exactly. We’re going to keep you under protection, but from a distance. We’ll follow you, make sure no one tries anything. You just need to play along for a few more days. After that, you’ll be free.”

Her face was a mixture of confusion and disbelief. “And what’s the plan, exactly? How do I play along?”

I shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze for a moment before speaking again. “We need you to trick Mr. Kato. Make him believe that you are Lara—just long enough for us to gather what we need and close the deal.”

She let out a short, incredulous laugh. “So, you want me to pretend to be someone else to help you trick a dangerous man who could kill me if he finds out?”

I couldn’t blame her for the reaction. It sounded insane when laid out like that, but there wasn’t much choice. “It’s the safest way for everyone. If he thinks we still have his daughter, he won’t come after you or us. Once we have what we need, you’ll be completely free.”

Nami stared at me, her eyes searching my face as if trying to find some hidden truth. I kept my expression cold, distant, refusing to let her see how much this was bothering me. I had to stay detached.

“You really think this will work?” she asked, her tone soft but wary.

I met her gaze, feeling the weight of the moment between us. “It has to.”

There was a long silence between us, the tension thick in the air. Nami leaned back on her bed, still watching me carefully, as if trying to figure out whether she could trust me or not.

“Alright,” she finally said, her voice quiet but firm. “I’ll help you. But I want your word that when this is over, you’ll leave me alone for good.”

My stomach twisted at her words, but I forced myself to nod. “You have my word.”

She seemed to relax slightly at my response, though her eyes never left mine. For a moment, I saw something in her expression that made me pause—a flicker of something... deeper. I couldn’t quite place it, but it made my heart beat a little faster.

Before I could say anything else, she stood up from the bed, taking a step closer to me. “And what about you, Hyunjin? Are you planning to keep avoiding me until this is over?”

Her question caught me off guard, and I felt my chest tighten again. I straightened, forcing myself to remain composed. “I’m not avoiding you.”

She raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing at her lips. “Really? Because it sure feels like you’ve been keeping your distance.”

I clenched my jaw, my mind racing to find an excuse. “I’ve had a lot to deal with. This operation isn’t exactly simple.”

“Right.” She wasn’t buying it, and the way she looked at me made me feel more exposed than I liked.

I pushed off the wall and turned towards the door, trying to end the conversation before it went somewhere I wasn’t ready for. “Just do your part, and this will all be over soon.”

Before I could make my exit, I heard a soft rustle behind me. I turned just in time to see Nami trip over a loose corner of the rug, her arms flailing as she lost her balance. Instinct took over, and I darted forward, catching her just before she hit the floor.

For a moment, everything froze. My arms were around her, holding her steady, and when she looked up, our faces were only inches apart. Her wide eyes locked with mine, and for a brief second, it was like the world had stopped moving.

My breath caught in my throat as I stared into her eyes, the intensity of the moment hitting me like a wave. Her skin was warm under my hands, and I could feel the rapid thudding of her heart against my chest. She was so close, too close.

I quickly pulled away, my heart racing as I tried to compose myself. Nami stood there, her face flushed, her breathing a little uneven. Neither of us said anything for a long moment, the tension between us thicker than ever.

Finally, she broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks... for catching me.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to step back. “Just be careful.”

Without another word, I turned and left the room, shutting the door behind me. My mind was spinning, my chest tight as I walked down the hallway. I had to get a grip. I couldn’t let this get to me.

But as much as I tried to push it away, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way her eyes had looked into mine, the way her body had felt in my arms. I couldn’t shake the feeling that, despite everything, I was in way deeper than I ever intended to be.

And that scared me more than anything.