#jinmichae

There was one thing he did like about story hopping, though. If he was lucky enough, he would stumble across you as the story progressed. He liked to see what role the writer put you in this time. Jinmichae was at least thankful that both him and you were centre characters to be included every time. At least you still existed.

He hadn’t found you yet, though. He hadn’t had much chance. He was currently having all these thoughts while at a… conference? Meeting? Of sorts? The room was filled with dozens of other men dressed in similar suits to his, each with walkie-talkies and earpieces. At least the costume design was pleasing.

The stage ended quickly and Jinmichae was free to walk around and investigate this new world a bit. That’s the lie he told himself every time. “Investigate the new world”, what that really meant was look for you. Sometimes he would laugh at the role you were given if it didn’t suit your personality, sometimes he would just be in awe. Sometimes he just missed you a lot and didn’t even care. 

With quick steps around the building he was in, he figured it was some sort of company or corporation. There were many meeting rooms and lobby areas filled scarcely with prettily dressed people. He approached the front desk to ask if there was a library in the building. With newfound directions, Jinmichae made his way up a spiralling staircase and into a quiet (and enormous) mahogany designed library. It took up the entire 4th floor of this corporate building. 

“It’ll take forever to find it…” He let out a soft sigh, anticipating his search that would take hours just to find the comic book for this world.

“I wouldn’t say that.”

He turned immediately at the sound of your voice, finding you standing right behind him, comic book already in hand, a lazy smile splayed on your lips. He laughed astonishingly at how easily you had snuck up on him, and how you had already managed to find the book.

“Let me see the character list.” He murmured, walking to you, arm wrapping around your shoulder naturally. You relaxed into his touch, smelling the faint citrusy scent.

“She gave you a new cologne, huh?” You remarked, flipping open the book to the first page. Jinmichae only hummed, eyes flicking over the drawings of the characters.

“Looks like you’ve got the main role.” He whispered a little teasingly, “A rich heiress to the most successful company in South Korea? No wonder there’s so many bodyguards downstairs.”

“Wasn’t my idea.” You giggled, trying to find his character among the list. “Damn, not even a name. You’re just ‘bodyguard’.” You wheezed.

“Maybe I won’t have that many scenes, then.” He seemed at ease with it, both arms now wrapped around you, hugging you comfortably.

“Nice for you. Ugh, but look at my love interest. This just won’t do.” You scoffed, looking over the profile of the character. A wanted criminal, arms adorned with tattoos all the way up to his neck and too many piercings to count. You glanced back at Jinmichae to see his eyebrows furrowed in distaste. 

“He probably smells like cigarettes.” He quipped, grip tightening on you slightly.

“Wouldn’t doubt it.” You sighed, turning around in his arms so you were now facing him, “When will the author ever realise that my type is not a walking colouring book. He really looks quite disgusting.” You fake gagged, making Jinmichae chuckle.

“Who is your type then?” He asked with fake curiosity, already knowing the answer better than anyone else.

“Hm… I do know of this blond guy, he used to smell like cedarwood, but apparently it's more orangey now. Anyway, he’s very fond of dried squid, and you know, so am I. Really a match made in heaven, if you asked me.” You rambled, humouring him. The longer you went on with the description, the harder it was for Jinmichae to keep a straight face, and eventually, he let out a laugh.

You glanced back at the drawing of your love interest one more time, scoffing again. “I’ll probably throw up if there’s a kiss scene.” You said, the chances not that low.

“If there is a kiss scene, I’ll come find you.”

“What for?” You looked back at him, adoring the way his eyes seemed to only want to look at you.

“To get his cigarette taste off your lips, of course.” He smiled and you grinned cheekily.

“You’re only a nameless bodyguard, though. Are you sure you have the power to do such a feat?” You liked teasing him, maybe a little too much.

“Shall I show you just how capable I am?” He suggested smoothly.

“We’re in a library.” You deadpanned.

Jinmichae’s eyes flicked over the very empty room, “An empty library.”

“At least get behind a bookshelf or something, we’re still in the entrance.” You said, already grabbing his wrist to lead him somewhere a bit more secluded. “Is it scandalous for an heiress to kiss her bodyguard?” You wondered aloud, your hand already travelling up to the base of his hair, fingers sliding through it softly.

“Not sure I’m the right person to ask.” He responded, lips finding yours a second later. 

If it was truly scandalous, neither of you really cared.

His fingers carefully trace the cover of the book resting in his hands, the young man soon opening it with a curious glint in his eyes. He rapidly flips the pages to get to the newest scenes, almost cutting his skin open with the sharp paper. It doesn’t take him long to recognize the last scene he read, the drawn and coloured pages leaving a mark as he registers the next set of dialogue written in the bubbles.

“You can stop reading.” He slightly jumps up at the sound of your voice, your next set of words coming up to his ears before he has a chance to look up from the book. “It happened.”

His eyes set on your form, a small smile gracing his lips as soon as he notices the state that you’re in. He can’t help but let out a chuckle when he sees the water dripping down from your hair and your clothes, the young man trying his best to hide his amusement when he notices your glare.

“Seriously?” You squint your eyes at him, not liking how your clothes are feeling at this moment. “You’re really gonna laugh at me?”

“Well…” He hides his mouth behind his hand for a second, his eyes squinting because of his smile as he gestures to you. “I’m not saying I told you so… but…”

“Ugh, I know.” You drop your body on a chair nearby, your expression faltering into a desperate one. “You can’t change the course of actions set by the author. You told me a million times.”

“Yet, you still thought you could change this.” He turns his back on the coloured pages, his curiosity as to what happened after your demise taking over his mind. “Foolish thinking, if you ask me.”

“He was planning to have me pushed into the pool! All just for a side comical background scene!” His smile grows when he hears the frustration in your voice. “I don’t care if I’m just a side character. Hell, I don’t care if I only exist to fill in some gasps. But this? This is just plain out torture!”

“Hm-hm.” He turns the page, barely taking in your words. “Really painful. I don’t know how you survived this day.”

You send him a glare from your place. “Stop mocking me.”

“What?” He looks back at you, a sarcastic expression on his face. “I’m only empathizing.”

You squint your eyes at him, which only seem to make his grin stretch out onto his cheeks. “I hate you.”

“Yes, I know.” He lets go of the book and crosses his arms over the table, his eyes looking intently at you with an amused glint in them. “I love that about our relationship.”

You roll your eyes at him, not wasting a second before you stand up from your chair.

“If you’re gonna mock me, then there’s no point for me to stay here.” He chuckles at your reaction, your eyes sending him a glare as you give out a teasing grin. “Have a good day, Dried Squid Fairy.”