bodyguard ; kth

32 ; stay...

BEEP BEEP

"hello?"

"hey, it's seokjin."

"oh, hey man."

"haven't heard from you in a while, how you been?"

"yeah, not bad."

"i heard about what happened to aera's sister, i give my deepest condolences, taehyung."

"thanks, man. listen, i have to go but i'll talk to you later."

"yeah, cool. just remember it wasn't your fault."

"....yeah, i know."

BEEP BEEP

i ended the call as i watched junsoo enter the kitchen with a bright expression. everyone was seated around the kitchen counter as they silently ate their breakfast.

"i've got big news!" junsoo shouted, looking around the room with big eyes.

everyone stayed quiet.

"um, hello? i said i have big news!" he exclaimed again, waving the paper he had in his hand around.

jaeho sighed tiredly, "what is it, junsoo. please do tell us."

"was this what you wanted to tell me over the phone?" jae asked from where he was sitting. the older male nodded and said, "yeah but you hung up on me so i couldn't tell you!"

"just tell us already!" gun exclaimed from his seat.

junsoo prepared himself, taking a deep breath. he smiled and said, "aera...has just been nominated for an oscar award!!" everyone's eyes widened with shock, they all started jumping out of their seats excitedly.

i peered over at aera who was sitting next to me, she didn't look excited as she aimlessly stirred her bowl of porridge. everyone was confused over her reaction, especially junsoo.

"what's wrong, babe? aren't you excited? this is the biggest thing that's happened so far in your career!" he said with a smile, dropping the paper in front of her. it was the list of nominees and her name was printed in big letters.

aera just shrugged her shoulder, wordlessly eyeing her food. jaeho frowned, also getting up from his seat.

"aera?" junsoo called out again, beginning to frown.

the said female looked up, eyeing her manager with a small smile.

"no, it's great. i'm happy," she spoke quietly.

"well, you don't look happy," gun commented in the back. junsoo sighed and said, "well, guess who's fault was that?" his eyes landed on me, sending a glare in my direction.

i looked at him, deciding to stay quiet. there was no point arguing at this point.

"it's your fault, taehyung. everyone is thinking it whether they want to admit it or not. you fucked with all of us! it's your freaking job to protect us and you failed. think you're still the boss?" junsoo showed his frustration.

jaeho sighed, trying to calm him down, "junsoo, that's enough."

before junsoo could say more, i interjected.

"it's my job to protect aera, not her sister. even though i'm sorry about what happened, she wasn't my priority...aera was and she still is," i stated calmly, staring at junsoo.

he clenched his fists, staring at me with daggers.

"we should have never hired you. you don't know how to do anything! we were better off before you came here and ruined everything!" junsoo yelled. the air in the room went quiet.

"junsoo.." jaeho quietly muttered, putting a hand on his shoulder.

but that seemed to only make things worse. junsoo let out the fire.

"no, jaeho! we need to end this now! taehyung, you fired! grab your things and get the fuck out!" he shouted, pointing towards the door.

i stayed mute, continuing to stare at him. slowly, i made my way out of my seat and was about to leave the room when jaeho stopped me.

"taehyung, wait. jaeho, you're not in charge here! you don't get to decide who gets fired and who doesn't," the older male urged, looking at junsoo. he scoffed in response, "you don't get to decide either, jaeho!"

gun slammed his fists on the table, quietening the two men down. "guys! the one in charge is aera! she obviously gets to choose whether taehyung stays or not!"

everyone's attention went back to aera who sat quietly.

"aera, you decide," gun told her.

"tell him, aera. tell taehyung to leave," junsoo said, looking at her.

aera lifted her head up, her eyes on me and we stared at each other for a few moments. i saw something flicker in her eyes, she was trying to tell me something with her eyes.

"taeby.." she whispered my name. my hand let go of the door handle and i stepped back. i looked at her, stepping towards her.

from then, i knew what she was trying to tell me. she was scared...terrified. she needed my help, i needed to be with her.

"aera," i also whispered towards her.

"taeby, please...stay with me."

the room went quiet.

"don't leave me."