Safekeeping (Jumin x Reader)

5: Interesting

You let out a little giggle and your face brightened considerably. He's... funny. You thought to yourself.

"Are you going to pet me again?" Jumin asked lightly. He wanted to initiate some kind of touching. He wanted you to feel comfortable.

"Ah, yes." You reached over and stroked Jumin's hair again. It's best I listen to him. He could be one of those rich guys who always gets his way.

Jumin smiled and took his ears off. "I'm glad I can make you smile. I hope this has made you feel more comfortable with me. You should not worry about getting hurt here. I will keep you here."

"Keep me here?" You asked, worried. That sounded a little bit possessive.

"Or... how should I say... allow you to stay here?" His English was faltering, but you recognized this. "I've got a friend coming over today. You're welcome to meet him, but his English isn't as good as mine. Feel free to spend your day how you wish, but do let me know if you leave the house. I'll be working in my office otherwise. Please just come in if you need anything."

After this, you both continued to eat your pancakes in a contented silence. They were particularly good pancakes; fluffy, soft and buttery. Suddenly, you felt your face become wet.

Jumin reached across the table and wiped away your tears with his thumb.

"Did I upset you?" He asked, concerned. "Or are my pancakes just that bad?"

"Too good. Reminds me of home. Or what was home." You remarked.

Her voice is like a soft breeze kissing my ears. I simply must engage her in conversation more often. Jumin thought to himself.

"And where is home now?" He asked gently.

"Where ever I am." You wiped away the remaining tears.

Jumin smiled at you for the rest of the meal, took the plates when you had finished and placed them in a dishwasher.

You hesitated, unsure of what to do with your free time. For the last few years, you had always been told what to do, where to go and who to talk to. Now you felt a little... empty.

As Jumin left, you decided you should do more than sit at the kitchen table. At the very least, you could wander around his house. Room after room full of things that looked like you shouldn't touch them.

It didn't take you very long before you stumbled into Jumin's office.

"Handle it. I'm home for the day... I'll be in tomorrow... Why isn't there someone whose job it is?... Can't you get Jaehee on the phone?... Busy? With what?... Oh, very well... One minute, there's something I must attend to." He placed his hand over the phone and effortlessly switched over to English. "Is something wrong?"

You shook your head no and took a seat in a plush chair that was near his desk.

"Is there nothing to your liking here?" He frowned, worried.

You pulled up your feet up onto the chair and curled into a ball. Despite your good sleep, you were still tired.

"It's good." You added. You were never very talkative, but especially now that you lived in this stranger's house.

"Then why are you in here? There's many other better places."

"You're not there." You responded, matter-of-fact.

Jumin blushed. He didn't think you were purposely flirting with him, but he didn't quite understand what else you could have meant. So he asked.

"Why am I important?"

"You're interesting."

"Well I'm flattered, but I assure you I'll be doing nothing but talking on the phone in Korean until V gets here." He quickly realized that he was still holding a person on the line. "Let me finish this."

You nodded and listened to his deep voice drone on in a language that you didn't know. It was soothing and before long, you fell asleep.