P.S: We do not own Mystic Messenger or its characters for they belong to the great Cheritz.
Also, we use different MCs from the gallery as the MCs and we just named them~!
Fake.
Pretty.
Arrogant.
Entertaining.
This is totally not a huge difference in my life, given I receive both hate mails and fan mails daily. A messed up liquid damaging my vision permanently is-for some reason-not a huge surprise from the pack of wolves dressed in sheep's clothing.
This, however, is wrecking my human understanding beyond repairable reason. For the first time in my life, I have witnessed the most absurd thing. Being overly protective is one thing, but seeing a bodyguard randomly using a taser gun in the middle of a crowd would leave anyone rooted on his spot and stupefied to even move an inch.
I've numerous questions I wanted to ask, the first being,
'Dad, just why?'
o-o-o
Being a mafia member was not entirely my choice, but being my boss' daughter's bodyguard certainly wasn't on the death contract I signed.
I would say she's fairly a good person, but as I listen to her rant about how messed up I am for breaking this garbage's arm, I find myself feeling perplexed after such a long while.
Why would someone complain about getting her ass saved?
"He was carrying a pen."
A fountain pen that can obviously stab your eyes off your sockets.
"You. Are. Insane."
An eye roll from her and I would have loved to be insane enough to stab her eyes off their sockets myself.
To all the thoughts Big Boss placed in this, all I can ask is...
'Big Boss, just why?'
o-o-o
"Sorry I'm late, Ma'am Ayu," a young man presumably in his early 20s, with bleached hair and mint eyes, bowed in front of her, "I was told a princess needed a bodyguard?"
He should be thankful she was not an early sleeper. Had she been one, he would have stayed outside the doorstep until the next morning.
What kind of bodyguard arrives and introduces himself at midnight?
He pursed his lips in a thin smile that screamed 'forced and fake'... and the young blonde in front of him immediately got the message.
"Hmm, so you're the bodyguard Dad sent. How old are you?"
"24, ma'am," he said, still sporting his obviously — at least, in her eyes— fake smile.
Did he take her as someone who was dense?
She eyed him up and down, "I was expecting someone older and taller and…" scarier, she was tempted to say. "Never mind. Just tell me your name."
"Ray."
"Ray…?"
"Just Ray."
Uncrossing her arms, she nodded and stepped sideways to let him in.
His eyes scanned the surroundings as she led him around her apartment.
She pointed to a room at the corner, "See that guest room right there?" Ray nodded. "That's where you'll be sleeping. You don't have to concern yourself about the toiletries. They're all there."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Also, take note of my schedule for tomorrow. I don't care what time you wake up, as long as you finish your morning rituals by 6:00. The driver will come pick us up by that time."
"Ah, about that. Your dad told me I'd replace the driver."
"Is that so," she raised a brow, then shrugged her shoulders. She and her driver were never really close to begin with but still, it was a surprise. Her father only mentioned a new bodyguard, but nothing about said bodyguard replacing the driver.
"Well then, same time. I have a shooting for a music video at around 8:30 so I have to be there by around 7:00 to report for hair and makeup. Are we clear?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then, have a good night."
o-o-o
It's been a long time since she last encountered that smell.
The familiar scent of butter and bacon filled the air the moment she stepped out of the room.
Scratch that. She was still inside the bedroom when she caught a whiff of it, albeit a faint one.
"Good morning, princess!"
Ayu clenched her jaw at the mention of that nickname. Of all the times he could have called her 'princess', why did he have to do it so early in the morning?
It was fine when her father called her that, but if it's another person… or rather, someone like Ray...
Must have been the way he said it.
Switching the stove off, Ray took the frying pan and placed four strips of bacon over a plate of waffles and scrambled eggs. Beside it was a mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows floating in it. "I cooked you breakfast."
Without taking a glimpse at the meal he prepared, Ayu took two slices of bread from the pack and made her way towards the toaster. "Looks good but," she plugged the toaster and placed the bread inside the slots.
"I don't eat those kinds of food," she turned the timer and lowered the lever. "You can eat it if you want to."
"Ah, is that so?" Ray untied his apron and hung it on the oven handle, "But your dad told me this was your favourite, so I—"
"Was."
With a curt smile as strained as the first one he gave her, he sat and took the food that was supposed to be hers. "I see."
o-o-o
"And cut! Good job, everyone!"
As soon as the shooting stopped, Ray went to Ayu and handed her a face towel and bottle of water.
"Thank you," she gulped half of its contents in one go. They've been filming non-stop for three hours straight and for a while, water seemed like a drink out of a 3-star Michelin restaurant.
Ray nodded and went back to his spot at the corner, his eyes poring over the whole area.
Sure, he may have been annoying (maybe unintentionally) but so far, he seemed like a capable bodyguard. Surely, her father would not assign to her an incompetent one.
She then felt a heavy weight leaning on her back and hugging her waist. As Ayu turned to check whose face was on her shoulder, she immediately noticed their lead dancer's purple locks, "Annie, you're heavy~"
"I'm so tired," the taller girl whined, voice slightly muffled from burying her face on the short blonde's shoulder.
"Aaww," Gently shoving Annie's head away from her shoulder, she removed the brunette's arms around her waist and faced her. "Guess what?"
She groaned, "Please. My brain is too tired to think."
"Hmm~" the blonde repeatedly tapped her finger on her chin. "I made cupcakes if that makes you feel better~"
The brunette perked up and grabbed Ayu's shoulders, "Omg, seriously?!"
"Yeah," she took out the tupperware of cupcakes from her shoulder bag.
"Uwah! Ayu's the best!" Annie chose a chocolate-flavoured cupcake with white icing that had chocolate buttons all over. Peeling part of the paper cup, she took a bite out of the cupcake. "I missed this"
"Not too much though," Ayu took a tissue and wiped the icing off the side of her mouth. She sometimes forgets that she's only a month younger than their main dancer. "Remember, in moderation."
Ayu did not get a reply from her as Annie was completely engrossed with her half-bitten snack. Another thing she sometimes forgets; Annie was the main dancer, yet she still had the thinnest figure out of all the members.
"Yoohoo!" The short blonde waved her arms, which attracted the staff's attention. "Who wants cupcakes?!"
A horde of hungry and overworked staff stopped whatever task they were doing and went towards her at the mere mention of 'cupcakes'.
"Ayu," the makeup artist, a rather short woman with a dyed blue pixie cut, grabbed a blueberry cupcake with a rose-shaped icing on top. " I can't help but notice that you're getting prettier everyday."
She scoffed, "Is that so?" Ayu lightly hit the woman's shoulder. "This is why you're my favourite~!"
"This tastes so good!"
Ayu could not help but beam at the staff's smiling faces. "Help yourselves, guys!"
"Thanks, Ayu!"
"Ayuuuu!" Annie whined, mouth still stuffed with food, "Why aren't you joining us?"
She shook her head, "No, it's fine. I already ate some and besides… I'm quite full."
Of course, that wasn't the complete truth. She was not hungry, but she also hadn't eaten much.
"Sienna!" Annie called out to a tall redheaded woman talking to their manager. The redhead turned her head in the direction of Annie. "Want some?"
Sienna politely smiled and shook her head and hand, before bringing her attention back to the manager.
Annie shrugged, "Suit yourself," and focused on her food once again.
Sienna Park, their official visual. In an industry that places emphasis on looks, her natural beauty was considered striking and one of the most renowned. With her long curly red hair, emerald green eyes, and tall stature — not to mention the unique mix of her American and Korean genes along with her ample… assets; it came as no surprise that she stood out.
If Ayu were to be completely honest, she expected herself to be the visual… until Sienna came.
But Ayu had an advantage over her. Whereas Sienna was known for her beauty, Ayu was admired for her charming personality that shone from their many variety show guestings. Because of that, she became the Face of the group, a feat not easily attained due to them being one of the top 3 girl groups not only within Korea but internationally as well.
While her blue eyes lingered on the redhead, the surroundings seemed like background noise as her inner voice grew louder.
'She's prettier but you're more popular'
'You can hit higher notes than her'
'You get to be the center in all of your music videos'
'You're better'
'So don't let her look down on you'
'You're better'
o-o-o
"Are you done, princess?" Ray took her bag and followed her to the car.
He was about to open the backseat door but suddenly paused. She followed the direction of his gaze, which was on a man wearing shades, leaning against the car parked in front of theirs.
"You know him?" She has been in the agency for over 3 years and knew all the staff, but she has never seen that man hanging around the studio.
But she received no answer from Ray. His eyes were simply fixated on the man and he had on his face an unreadable expression.
She frowned, "Care to explain?"
"Can you give me a moment, princess," he marched away from her and towards the man, slowly taking out something from his pocket. When Ayu saw what it was...
"RAY!"
Giving the man no time to react, Ray swiftly held it against the man's hips, causing him to fall to the ground.
Ray ignored the man then sauntered over to Ayu, who had her mouth agape at him.
He opened the backseat door and prompted her in, "Are you alright, princess?"
She should be the one asking him that.
o-o-o
Midway towards their destination, Ayu requested Ray to stop by a milkshake place on the way.
"Mint chocolate chip. If you want, you can buy whatever flavour you like."
Ray nodded and did as told.
While waiting for him, she took out her phone and found that she had a message sent 10 minutes ago.
From: Zenny!
Ayu! I saw a good barbecue place. Want to come some time?
Ayu grinned and immediately typed her message.
To: Zenny!
You serious?! Of course! ^ 0 ^ it's been a while since we last hung out T-T Aaww I really missed hanging out with you ~
She double-checked her message to see if there were any cringey words or typographical errors. When she was done double-checking, she checked it again.
Once she was satisfied, she hit send.
The door to the driver's seat then opened and Ray entered, holding a plastic bag with two milkshakes inside.
"Mint choco for the princess," he took out and handed her her order.
"Thank you," she took it from his hand then drank it.
She slowly gulped the drink and savoured the combination of mint and chocolate.
"Do you need anything else?"
Ayu shook her head, still sipping her drink.
"Where to next?"
"Grocery."
Ray nodded and proceeded to put on his seatbelt. But just as he was about to fasten it, he looked at the side mirror and paused midway.
"Is something the matter?" Ayu asked.
"Stay here," he released the seatbelt and exited the car. Ayu's eyes followed where he was headed to.
Ray stormed towards a young man, whom Ayu presumes to be in his late 20s, drinking whatever drink he had and minding his own business.
Ayu choked on her drink when Ray suddenly grabbed the man's collar and arm, then threw him over his hip. She coughed a bit and repeatedly slapped her chest.
She only barely recovered when she saw Ray stepping on the man's chest and tasing his side.
Her dad must have sent her the wrong person. It had to be.
Ray had not yet fully entered the car when Ayu shouted at him.
"THE HECK?!"
He ignored her and fastened his seatbelt.
"What did you just do?"
He stayed silent and started driving. After a few moments, he gave a vague answer.
"What I had to do."
o-o-o
Three was definitely not a lucky number. Third time was absolutely not the charm and whoever said that must have been out of their minds.
That includes her new bodyguard.
What kind of bodyguard would twist a random man's arm... in a public place, no less?
"OH. MY. GOD!"
The man whimpered with his face flat to the floor. Before he even got to ask for Ayu's autograph, Ray had already grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to the ground in the process.
"A-ah! I'm sorry! A-ah—!" Ray twisted his wrist and slightly pushed the man's elbow, earning another yelp of pain. "P-please don't kill me!"
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! Are you alright? I apologize, he's just feeling…" stupid, out of his mind, that's what, "I'll handle him."
Ayu grabbed Ray's arm, causing him to release the poor man. She pulled him away, repeatedly bowing in the process, and once they were a good distance away from the victim...
"THE HELL?!" She released his arm and shoved it away. "WHAT THE F—!" Her eyes widened before she could let the word slip out.
She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. That was a close call, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!"
Ray simply blinked, his face and mint eyes betraying no emotion.
"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"
"He was carrying a pen," he said as though it was an obvious and perfectly valid reason.
She scrunched her eyebrows while trying to wrap her head around his logic.
No matter how much she tried she can't.
Rubbing her temples, she drew in a long breath then counted up to five, "YOU. ARE. INSANE."
o-o-o
Ayu repeatedly crossed and uncrossed her legs as she waited for her father to pick up the phone. When he didn't answer, she pressed '1' again. She drummed her fingers on her lap.
"Pick up, pick up," she repeatedly muttered.
By the eighth ring, he finally answered, "Oh, Princess, you call—"
"My bodyguard is broken."
o-o-o-o
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