𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺𝑰𝑫𝑬 | 𝐊. 𝐆𝐖 - 𝐱𝐯. 𝐁𝐲𝐮𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐢 & 𝐂𝐡𝐚 𝐇𝐲𝐞𝐨𝐧-𝐣𝐮

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The first time Nari had first been introduced to Hyeon-ju was months ago. Well not exactly. The woman had been a few weeks off graduating and was in the bookstore, lounging in the back with a couple of drinks when Nari had barged through the door hysterical and in need of a confrontation with Hyeon-ju’s grandfather. The woman had hidden out of sight, pressed against the door and eavesdropped on their conversation. It wasn’t the first time someone had come begging to her grandfather for help, to Hyeon-ju, Nari was no different. That was until she heard the accusations being flung around and the angered demands of an explanation, of anything really, for closure, for revenge. Hyeon-ju knew in that moment Byun Nari was not just some other client.

The second time Nari had met Hyeon-ju, and properly this time, they’d met when Hyeon-ju staggered into the bookstore drunk in over her head. Nari had wanted to drop off some money she had earned to slowly pay Mr Choi back when she was informed, last minute, that Mr Choi was not present at the store. Nari had been on her way out when the door was flung open and a girl with long black hair stumbled in through the door and crashed into the table. Nari barely caught her before she hit the floor and the woman slumped in her arms. 

Nari, with her heart big and her inability to leave someone in such a condition, couldn’t leave her like this. So, she heaved Hyeon-ju up against her shoulder and made way to the bathroom where Hyeon-ju spent the next hour retching in the toilet. When Hyeon-ju came to she was surprised to see the woman who confronted her grandfather, nose buried deep in a book as she sat lounged on a chair beside her aching body. Hyeon-ju noticed a cool cloth on her forehead and the aches in her joints before wincing at the headache that pounded in her brain. Her groan came out rather indecent. 

”Good to see you’re awake” Nari mused as she heard the woman stir. She sent the girl a bright smile, sticking out her hand as Hyeon-ju held the cloth to her head, eyes squint at the light as she tried to subside the thudding in her ears. “I’m Byun Nari” she introduced and Hyeon-ju faltered before clasping her hand in hers. “Cha Hyeon-ju” the girl croaked, voice like gravel and Nari brought her a glass of water. Hyeon-ju gave her a thanks before the questions spurred from Nari like a waterfall.

Hyeon-ju wouldn’t admit it but since then the rest was history. Nari had become her first ever proper friend and though she wouldn’t confess, she was glad the raven-haired woman had been the one to find her and not her grandfather. Hyeon-ju hadn’t seen Nari in weeks, having kept missing her for her investigation into the identity thefts going around. She’d been so close a couple of days prior. Well. that was before some man came and ruined her chances of capturing her first major suspect.

So, you could imagine her surprise when she opened the door to find her friend, the man she’d later tased and another man with curly hair and a split eyebrow in her grandfather’s bookstore looking incredibly nervous. Except for Nari who flashed her a bright charming grin.

“You’re the guests?”

Was the first thing that Hyeon-ju exclaimed as she recovered from her initial shock.

“Surprise” Nari said with jazz hands before making her way to the girl and flinging her arms around the woman. “It’s nice to see you Hyeon-ju and your hair” she gasped with delight. “You finally cut it, it suits you” Nari praised at the cropped hair the woman now adorned. Hyeon-ju slowly twisted out of her friend’s grasp, not one for physical touch but Nari was a hugger and (don’t tell Nari), she grew to like her hugs. She found comfort in her friend’s presence.

“What are you doing here Nari and who are they?” Hyeon-ju said as she pointed her helmet at the two men. Geon-woo was shuffling, looking ready to puke while Woo-jin had a fat smirk on his face, his shoulders squared and laid back unlike Geon-woo’s nervous and worry laden demeanour.

” These are my friends Hyeon-ju. This is Geon-woo and beside him is Woo-jin. Boys meet Hyeon-ju, Mr Choi’s granddaughter ” She grinned widely.

Hyeon-ju didn’t bat an eye when Woo-jin took a step forward and bowed deeply and albeit dramatically, his smirk never faltering despite Hyeon-ju’s harsh glare “Ms Hyeon-ju, the pleasure is all mine” Hyeon-ju made a noise of disgust as she took a step away from him, looking at Nari with a clear, what the fck is wrong with him look that left her chuckling.

“Hello Hyeon-ju, I’m Kim Geon-woo” Geon-woo bowed respectfully, a stark contrast to Woo-jin’s eccentrics. “We’re your new bodyguards”

”Bodyguards?” Hyeon-ju guffawed, her head snapping between the three. Nari knew Hyeon-ju would be apprehensive- no scratch that, downright reject any possible idea of bodyguards. She wasn’t weak and she didn’t need protection. She was more than capable of doing this on her own. She had Nari, she had her grandfather, and she had her mission. What more did she need. Certainly not two men, one annoyingly arrogant and the other overly introvert, to follow her every move.

“I think the fck not” Hyeon-ju denied.

“What do you mean the fck not?” Woo-jin gaped as Nari pinched the bridge of her nose. Geon-woo looked on the brink of tears.

“Hyeon-ju” Nari suddenly said, her eyes trained on Geon-woo whose head was bowed, his fingers clenched in his fist to the scar on his cheek that would never ever disappear. Her heart lurched. She’d have to convince Hyeon-ju herself then. “I need to talk to you, privately” she said as Hyeon-ju glanced at her before flickering over to the two boys who looked at her suspiciously. Nari shot Geon-woo a small reassuring smile.

”Wait outside you two” Nari said. Woo-jin went to protest but Geon-woo grabbed him by his arms  and dragged him out, ignoring his protest and violent outbursts. He shot Nari one last look before they both were out of sight leaving the two girl  friends alone.

“I’m not doing it Nari. You know I don’t need them” Hyeon-ju was quick to deflect.

The woman sighed. “I know you don’t like help Hyeon-ju, least of all protection. But this was your grandfather’s condition”

“Condition? He’s never made a condition like this before” Hyeon-ju said. ‘”I don’t understand why he’s suddenly gone so protective mode again.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re putting yourself in danger” Nari reasoned. “And don’t look at me like that, you know it’s true” she shut down when she saw the look Hyeon-ju was giving her. “But it’s something bigger than that. The boy, the one with the scar, Geon-woo” Nari jutted with her thumb behind her. ” He’s Ms Yoon’s son” Nari informed and Hyeon-ju’s eyes widened. Nari had mentioned to her the woman she’s grown to care for. She had never expected to meet the son.

” Ms Yoon was victim to Smile Capital, just like mum. I referenced him to Mr Choi and he agreed with a 2 year advancement pay if, they work as bodyguards for you” she said, heaving a breathto keep her tears at bay . “They’re back Hyeon-ju and this time I have a feeling we’re not prepared. So please just let them believe they are doing this. Geon-woo is a good man. But if you don’t want to do it for him, do it for me. Please Hyeon-ju. I can’t let another person go through with what I did”

Hyeon-ju saw the tears pooling in her eyes, lowering her arm, she sighed. She’d compromise seeing how upset Nari was and noting the return of Smile Capital was anything but good for Nari, herself, but most of all, her grandfather. “Okay” Hyeon-ju relented.  Nari snapped her head up. “Fine, fine they can ‘bodyguard’ but from a distance and they cannot, under no circumstances, interfere with anything. I’ve never been closer at catching those ID scammers. They can’t jeopardies this for me”

Nari’s grin was blinding.

“You got yourself a deal” she beamed before throwing her arms around the woman. Hyon-ju weakly attempted to uncurl herself from her friends embrace but she smiled over her shoulder none the less.

She’d give them a chance. For her friend. 

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