c h a p t e r   e i g h t

The cafe was small and cozy, decked out in little glass figurines lining the shelf behind the coffee bar, with bright orange walls, low ceiling lights and a whole warm feel to it.

I loved it there.

I hoped he liked it too. Though he had to enjoy the coffee, all the drinks there were to die for.

The little jingle of the bell at the door shook me out of my reverie and I looked up to see him in the flesh, uniform and all, looking around.

Jesus.

He really needed to stop parading around in that uniform of his. He'd give girls heart attacks everywhere with his utter gorgeousness, not to mention the fact that as hot as it was, one could even mistake it as a little bit conceited, because really, coffee hardly warranted full out to-the-top gear. But then again, he was around on work basis so he probably had a good excuse.

I still couldn't believe he was here.

I watched as his eyes wandered the shop before finding me. He pulled out the empty chair opposite me after reaching the table and seated himself.

"Good morning," I smiled lightly and held my breath when I got an appraising look in return.

I wasn't blind. I knew when I was being checked out.

It made me extra thankful that I'd paid careful attention when I got dressed this morning. I'd done my hair the way it looked best by leaving it down, accompanied with the natural looking waves I'd crafted painstakingly in thirty minutes with a blow dryer. The rest came easy. A cream sweater coupled with my favorite jeans was the usual casual outfit for me. I'd done my make up like I always did, light and casual, because I always thought that worked well for me. All in all, I'd still put in effort and was definitely ready for this.

And I bet all he had to do to look that good was just roll out of bed.

"Morning," he said after a moment, like nothing happened. "Do you have class after this?"

I nodded to his question and he seemed to think about it for a while before responding. "I'll walk you to campus. I have to head to the station after this anyway."

The casual mention of the station triggered memories of yesterday and just like that, my curiosity arose again. The difference this time was that I was actually comfortable enough to ask about it compared to yesterday when I practically bolted from the station without so much as a goodbye. I decided to wait at the moment though, at least until we got something to get our morning going. "Sure. Should we order?"

"So what was all that yesterday?"

We were walking along the path at campus, just having left the coffee shop a minute ago. From where we stood, I could easily see the police station up ahead to the side along with the number of cars parked out front that definitely weren't official police vehicles.

I wondered if it was his friends again.

Would he answer my question? I already knew more than they were happy with, if yesterday was anything to go by. But I also knew that Officer Jeon trusted me. That had to amount to something.

He took a moment before responding.

"Jungkook's team has been investigating a case lately. One that we asked him to look into while we handled more pressing matters," he began, just as cautious as he was vague. "A guy, more specifically. One who's been stirring up trouble wherever he goes. We didn't think much of it when he was seen around Hoseok's zone."

"His zone?" I frowned.

"His racing gig," he clarified. "The tracks this month where he was racing in Busan."

Oh. So if there was any doubt, the man in the jumpsuit was definitely a racer.

"And then somehow the guy we're all after got close enough to grease his car, nearly killing Hoseok."

I felt my eyes widen in horror. So that's what happened.

"But why?" I found myself asking when the confusion flooded in. "Why would he do that? Being a racer, what would your friend have anything to do with this?"

"My guess," he began, "is that it was a warning. We were getting too close on his tail and he honed in on Hoseok because he was the furthest away from all of us distance-wise and so easiest to target."

"But weren't you far away too? Being General Min and all, you know." I wondered out loud. He had to be off in another place entirely if he really had an army to order around, like Hoseok said.

His eyes flashed briefly at that. "Sweetheart, I'm not easy to target."

Oh boy.

I sipped my coffee then, choosing not to think too much about his comment which clearly meant a lot more than he'd let on. For a second I wasn't sure what implication he meant it in but it became clear he wasn't just talking about danger and tweaked cars anymore.

God.

I diverted my attention to the vacant bench by the path, quickening my steps to lead him to it and had only just settled there when his phone buzzed with a text.

"I have to get back to the station," he muttered, his eyes on his phone as he read the text. "Thanks for the coffee."

"You paid," I felt the need to point out because he really hadn't been compliant back at the coffee shop.

"I'll get going now," he ignored my statement completely as he turned away. He paused for a second, looking at me over his shoulder, "You good? Do you need anything?"

You.

God, he was trouble and I knew it.

I just shook my head quietly.

He nodded once in response and started down the path. A few steps later, he turned over his shoulder again.

"See you around."

And that right there had me breathless in anticipation.

"See you," I mouthed back, and seeming satisfied with that, he continued on his way.

I love writing this story and I hope you like reading it too :)