Before Crossing the Line 🌙 5.
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Pairing: Jay Park (ENHYPEN) × Reader (Y/N)
Genre: Bodyguard AU · Slow Burn · Angst · Drama · Forbidden Feelings
Warnings: physical assault (non-sexual), semi-nudity (towel/bath scene), heavy sexual tension, bruises, and minor injuries, jealousy
Word Count: 2,745
Synopsis: Y/N the daughter of Korea’s most famous celebrity couple. Jay Park is assigned to her when she’s fourteen and he’s nineteen. From then on, he watches her grow up from a careful distance, silent and professional, never crossing boundaries that were never meant to blur.
Years pass.
Now Y/N is nineteen. Jay is twenty-four. She’s no longer a child and things begin to change.
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I woke up feeling incredibly awkward. Every time I thought about last night, the noises Jay might have heard, the way he looked at me in just a towel, my face burned all over again. At breakfast, I avoided looking at him completely. I kept my eyes on my plate, barely touching my food. I ended up resting my head in my hands, trying to hide my flushed cheeks.
Jay’s hand paused mid-bite. I could feel his eyes on me. He was trained to notice everything; it was literally his job. So, of course, he noticed the way I wouldn’t look up. The way my ears were red. The way I seemed… distracted. He put the pieces together. The noises he heard. My behavior now.
“You alright?” he asked calmly.
I blinked, realizing I’d drifted off into my thoughts again. “Uh… yeah.” My voice sounded unconvincing even to me.
Jay didn’t respond right away. I could feel his stare lingering, like he was debating whether to push further or let it go. I mumbled my response while staring at my plate, still replaying last night in my head. I could feel Jay watching me. His eyes missed nothing, the way I avoided looking at him, the way my fingers kept fidgeting with my fork. He leaned back in his chair, his expression completely unreadable.
From the kitchen, my mom called out, asking about Jay’s plans for the day. For a second, everything felt normal. Then Jay answered.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said politely, his voice calm. “I have a date tonight. I’m taking Soojin out for dinner and a movie.”
He didn’t look at me when he said it, but I’m sure he heard the way my fork clattered against my plate.
“I’ll be back late.”
I nearly spit out my orange juice. My mom walked in, smiling brightly. “That’s wonderful, Jay! Soojin is such a sweet girl.”
Sweet? I felt like someone had punched me straight in the stomach. Soojin. Of all people. I let out a quiet scoff before I could stop myself. Jay glanced at me when I scoffed. Just for a second. One eyebrow lifted slightly, but he didn’t say anything.
My mom kept talking, completely unaware of the tension building at the table. “Soojin is perfect for you, Jay. She’s smart, beautiful, and comes from a good family.”
Perfect. The word irritated me more than it should have.
“So who’s going to take care of me today?” I asked suddenly. My voice came out sharper than I meant it to. Both of them looked at me, surprised.
My mom waved her hand dismissively. “Oh sweetie, you’re not a baby. You’ll survive one evening. Besides, Mrs. Kim will be here if you need anything.”
I turned my gaze to Jay. “And as a bodyguard?”
Jay leaned forward slowly, resting his forearms on the table. His eyes locked onto mine, steady, intense, unreadable. “I have a personal day scheduled,” he said calmly. His voice was controlled but firm. “And even if I didn’t…” He paused slightly. “Soojin is more important than babysitting you today.”
That hit harder than I expected. Before I could stop myself, I pushed my chair back. It scraped loudly against the floor as I stood up. The sound made both Jay and my mom flinch slightly. I could feel how angry I looked, my face burning, my chest rising and falling too fast.
Jay straightened slowly, his expression hardening. “Watch your tone.” “I don’t need to,” I shot back immediately.
Before either of us could say something worse, my mom stepped in. “Both of you, calm down! Jay just means he has personal plans today.” She turned to me with a firm look. “And you, young lady, watch how you talk to him.”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. If I stayed another second, I’d probably say something I’d regret. So I turned around and walked out. Once I reached my room, I slammed the door behind me. I threw myself onto my bed and hugged my pillow tightly against my chest. My heart hurt more than I expected it to.
“More important than babysitting you.” His words replayed in my head over and over again. I curled into myself, suddenly feeling small… childish… replaceable. Like maybe I really was just someone he had to take care of.
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I stayed in my room for hours, trying to calm down. But the more I thought about it, the more restless I felt. So eventually, I decided to go out with some friends. If Jay could have his little date, I could have a life too.
While I was getting ready, Mrs. Kim knocked softly and peeked inside. “Going out, dear? Should I tell Jay?” she asked gently. “He’s busy,” I replied flatly. “He doesn’t need to know. He’s not my bodyguard for today.” She nodded. “Alright then. Be careful, okay? Call if you need anything!”
I grabbed my bag and walked out the front door, only to immediately roll my eyes. Of course. Jay’s sleek black car had just pulled up outside. He stepped out first, looking annoyingly perfect in a tailored suit. A second later, Soojin emerged from the passenger seat, her red dress hugging her figure like she planned it that way.
I didn’t even look at them properly. I just walked past, lifted my hand to call a taxi from my dad's company, and got in without saying a word. But I could feel Jay’s eyes on me. As the taxi pulled away, I glanced back for just a second. He was still standing there, watching. Soojin linked her arm through his, saying something with a soft laugh, but he looked… distracted.
I looked away quickly. If he wanted to act like she was more important, then I wouldn’t care.
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That evening, I spent time with my friends, laughing and talking, trying to push everything else out of my head. The night went by faster than I expected. For a while, I almost forgot about Jay. About Soojin. Almost.
When everyone started heading home, my phone buzzed.
“It’s 2 AM. Where are you?”
My heart skipped. I didn’t need a name to know who it was. I glanced at the time: 2:07 AM. I rolled my eyes, even though my stomach tightened. He was on a date; why did he care? Instead of replying, I decided to walk home. It wasn’t that far, and I just needed air.
The streets were quiet, the night colder than I expected. I wrapped my arms around myself as I walked, my heels clicking softly against the pavement. About twenty minutes in, I heard footsteps behind me. Heavy. Slow. Too close. My heart started pounding. I told myself not to panic. Maybe it was nothing.
Then suddenly, I was shoved hard from behind.
I hit the ground, the air knocked out of my lungs. Before I could scream, a rough hand covered my mouth. Two men stood over me, their faces hidden in shadows.
“Not so loud, princess,” one of them muttered.
Fear flooded my body. I tried to twist away, but one of them grabbed my wrist, pain shooting up my arm. I could barely breathe. Then… headlights. A car turned the corner fast, engine loud, beams cutting across the street. The men froze.
“Shit.”
They let go and ran. Just like that, they disappeared into the dark. I stayed on the ground for a few seconds, shaking, trying to process what had just happened. My chest hurt. My wrist throbbed. My whole body felt weak. After a few minutes, I forced myself to sit up, then stand. My legs barely cooperated. I started walking home slowly. Every shadow made me flinch. Every sound made my heart race again.
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I stumbled toward the house, my dress torn at the hem, dirt clinging to the fabric. My arms already hurt where they had grabbed me, and I could feel bruises forming under my skin. Tears kept slipping down my face no matter how hard I tried to stop them. I pushed the front door open quietly.
Voices drifted from the living room: Jay’s deep voice and Soojin’s soft laughter. They were having drinks, still on their perfect little date. I froze in the hallway. I didn’t want them to see me like this. Weak. Shaking. Ruined.
Then Jay’s tone changed. “Soojin, I’ll be right back.”
I heard her protest lightly, but his footsteps were already moving down the hall. Slow and heavy. The floor creaked. And then he saw me.
His expression shifted instantly. Whatever mood he had been in vanished. His eyes widened as they scanned over me: the torn dress, the dirt on my face, the bruises on my arms.
“What the fuck…” he breathed. “I-I’m fine,” I whispered automatically. “You’re not fucking fine.”
In two long strides, he was in front of me. He grabbed my arms, not roughly, but urgently, turning them to examine the bruises. Pain shot through my wrist when he touched it.
“Ahh, be careful.” “Who did this?”
His voice wasn’t loud. Jay’s face went pale as he took in the swelling. His hands trembled slightly as he cupped my face, tilting it carefully to check the other side. His touch was urgent but controlled.
“Did someone try to…?” he asked quietly. His voice wasn’t loud anymore; it was shaking. “No,” I stuttered quickly. “No… I—I can handle it myself.” “You can handle it yourself?” he repeated, disbelief creeping into his tone.
I looked away. I didn’t want to see the anger in his eyes, or the guilt. “Look at me,” he said firmly. When I didn’t, his hand moved to my chin, not harsh, but insistent, guiding my face back toward him. His eyes were wild, but not at me. They were wild at the thought of what could have happened.
“Answer me,” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. “Who did this?”
Before I could respond, footsteps rushed down the hallway. My parents appeared, followed by Soojin. My mother gasped, covering her mouth as soon as she saw me. “Oh my God…”
My father’s face turned dark red with fury, his hands clenching into fists. Soojin stopped behind them, her expression shifting from surprise to something harder to read. Jay stepped slightly in front of me without even thinking, like a shield. My mom pulled me into her arms immediately.
My dad turned to Jay, his voice low and dangerous. “What happened?” “I… I was attacked on my way home,” I managed to say. My voice felt small. “Two men.”
Jay’s jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle ticking. My dad immediately reached for his phone. “I’m calling the police.” “We don’t need the police,” I blurted out. My voice cracked. “It was dark. I couldn’t see their faces anyway.”
He paused mid-dial, looking at me with frustration and concern. “You didn’t see them?” My mom pulled back just enough to search my face, her eyes red. “Sweetheart… are you sure? Anything at all?”
Everything inside me felt twisted and loud and overwhelming. Fear. Anger. Embarrassment. Guilt. “I just want to be alone,” I snapped suddenly. My voice shook despite trying to sound strong.
I went into the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind me. I turned on the light and caught sight of myself in the mirror. My dress was torn, my skin streaked with dirt and sweat. Slowly, I started undressing, my hands shaking slightly. When my eyes landed on the bruise forming on my arm, a sharp pang of pain shot through me. I swallowed hard, staring at the darkening purple and blue spreading across my skin. I pressed my palm gently against it, trying to calm the throbbing ache.
The bathroom door hadn’t even fully closed before Jay pushed past Soojin and followed me inside. He froze in the doorway when he saw my bruised body in the mirror: purple marks on my thighs, red scratches across my stomach. He swallowed hard. I instinctively covered myself with my hands, trying to hide everything.
Jay’s expression softened instantly, anger replaced by protectiveness. He stepped closer and gently took my wrists, moving my hands away from my body. “Let me see,” he said softly, his voice cracking.
“I… can you just help me get in the bathtub? My body hurts,” I admitted, embarrassed, still in my underwear.
Jay’s eyes flickered over me briefly before he quickly looked away. He nodded and helped me step into the warm tub, steadying me as I sank into the water. Seeing my bruises made his stomach twist with guilt and anger. Once I was settled, the bubbles covering most of my body, Jay turned away so I could have some privacy. He wet a washcloth and gave it to me. I felt embarrassed, but I didn’t bother hiding myself anymore. Jay had never really looked at me like a woman before, so there was no reason to pretend.
As I finished, Jay handed me a towel without looking at me. I wrapped it around myself and got dressed as he guided me back to my bedroom.
“Could you… stay with me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “I know your date is downstairs, but please?”
Jay’s heart ached at my plea. Without hesitation, he ignored the date waiting downstairs and gently laid me on the bed. He sat beside me, pulling the blankets over my towel-covered body protectively. “Shh,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “I’m staying.”
I snuggled against his chest, seeking comfort. Jay felt a conflict rising in him; he was supposed to be downstairs with his date, not lying in bed with me, holding me like I belonged to him. But in that moment, none of it mattered. Only I did. His arm tightened instinctively around me as I pressed closer. My legs brushed against his, the towel barely covering me. His hand rested possessively on my hip, his thumb rubbing gentle, soothing circles.
Jay noticed my racing heartbeat immediately. He pulled back just slightly, concern softening his gaze. “Hey,” he whispered. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
His breath hitched at the sudden flush on my cheeks. He suddenly realized just how intimate this moment was—his arm around my waist, our faces so close. He swallowed hard. “Your heart… it’s racing,” he murmured, his thumb brushing lightly over my side. “I know…” I admitted softly.
Jay’s gaze drifted to my lips, noticing how they parted slightly with each rapid breath. His own instincts betrayed him, pulling him closer, the urge to kiss me sudden and overwhelming. But then Soojin’s voice echoed from downstairs.
“Jay? Where are you?”
Reality crashed down. Jay froze, snapping his focus back. He glanced at me, guilt flashing across his features. With a frustrated grunt, he untangled himself quickly, standing up. “I’ll be right there,” he called out roughly, before turning back to me. “Go to sleep.”
He ran a hand through his hair, the tension visible in his jaw. The thought of almost kissing me made his stomach flip. “I need to go back downstairs,” he muttered, his voice tight, avoiding my eyes.
The night felt like a nightmare. Even later, as he went back to Soojin, Jay’s mind wasn’t there. He kept seeing the bruises on my body, feeling the weight of me pressed against him, and every time Soojin touched him, he flinched slightly. Her touch always fell short of the warmth and intimacy he’d just shared with me.
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