⚠️ Trigger warnings

Kidnap

Strong Language

Name-calling

Fluff

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Jimin's POV
A flashback to February 14, 2023

Jimin smiled as he read the message that followed the sweet Valentine's Day wish on the card he found on his desk.

He already knew who the card and the bouquet of red roses were from. It was from the girl who's had a crush on him since he moved to Seoul seven years ago.

She has chestnut brown hair and green eyes. Her handwriting is the most beautiful thing Jimin has ever seen. And she's probably the most talented, beautiful, and independent young woman he's met in his entire life.

Apart from his mother.

They get along well and he always makes time to speak to her.

There's just a tiny problem with this whole setting.

They were from completely different worlds.

Of course Jimin returned the favour on White Day each year.

Why wouldn't he?

She's cute and has her own little shop. The day he bumped into her was the best day of his life.

He remembers the day well.

Park Jimin had just landed in Seoul for the very first time. He walked from the spot the cab had left him at with his duffel bag in hand. Feeling a little hungry and having skipped breakfast earlier, he stumbled upon a quaint little shop near the Police station. The shop sold all kinds of souvenirs and even refreshments.

'Maybe they'll have chips or something for me to snack on until I get to my new flat?' He wondered.

He still had to go to his new place of work. It was his first day.

Tummy grumbling now, the bell on the edge of the door tinkled as he cautiously entered. Jimin's eyes surveyed the room. There wasn't a soul in sight. He called out to see if anyone was in and out popped the cutest girl he'd ever laid eyes on.

She wore jeans and a simple white t-shirt, with a plain, lilac cotton apron over. Her hands were covered in a dough of sorts and her face had a few blotches of flour at one of her temples and on her cheeks.

The girl greeted him and asked how she could help him, which was when Jimin had noticed that she also sold an assortment of baked goods and beverages in the shop in addition to the trinkets and souvenirs.

"Wow... Quite a location you've found miss." Jimin made small talk.

"Thanks, I figured if there's anything that would keep business going, it would be the coffee and doughnuts I sell." She smiled coyly.

"Smart girl." Jimin winked at her as he backed away from the counter with his box of doughnuts and a steaming cup of cappuccino in hand.

Then, just as he was about to exit, Jimin paused at the door.

"I'm Park Jimin by the way. I'll definitely be a regular here." He said to her, tipping his porkpie hat.

"Nice to meet you sir, I'm Park Haneul. I look forward to seeing you soon!"

"Oh, trust me, you will." He winked at her, and stepped out of the store.

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Jimin had indeed kept his promise. Because after that day, he became a regular customer.

Seven years later, and Jimin has tried every single one of the one-hundred and fifty-seven flavours of pastries and doughnuts Haneul had introduced since the day they met. Thankfully, due to the nature of his occupation, he hadn't gained any weight over the years from all the delicious buttery baked goods he consumed.

If anything, he had introduced his colleagues to Haneul's bakery and they all loved this place too.

It was convenient for them as it was along their way, it had the variety they craved and shopping for gifts wasn't a problem - because Haneul had you covered.

She expanded the store a little, to cater for bookshelves to be installed and light meals to be enjoyed in addition to the coffees and bakery items sold. Things were really looking up for her. And that was one reason why Jimin hadn't asked her out yet.

The second reason was because, well... He didn't want to discuss that just yet.

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Present day...
Valentine's Day: 2024

10 o'clock in the morning

"Nothing yet from your special girl, Jimin?" Nina, his colleague questioned him from behind the steering wheel, giving him a look that only a true friend could.

Nina had been his colleague for at least six of the seven years he's been in Seoul. They worked well together and even though Nina was married, everyone assumed that Jimin and Nina were an item.

It was annoying at first, but now they just ignored the jibes.

They worked well together and people were just jealous that a woman was actually thriving in this industry.

Jimin looked at Nina and pouted his lips as he shook his head sadly.

"Nope... Not even a cookie crumb..." He said to her, his voice doused in sadness.

It's not that he expected it. It's that they eventually agreed to do this, seeing as they were both single.

"Come on Jimin it's just a gift. It's not like I expect you to date me or anything." Haneul joked with him.

It was the day after White day last year.

They were sitting in her café, talking about life and why they were still so single at the age of twenty eight.

"I guess it's why I keep getting you return gifts. It's become addictive." He said, with the hint of mischief in his eyes.

But that's all there ever was. Casual banter and talk. They were happy as they were.

It was safer that way for Haneul.

But maybe she'd reconsidered this year, owing to the fact that they were getting older. Perhaps her family asked her to settle down?

Or maybe, she just wasn't interested in him anymore.

Maybe he imagined the whole thing and it was just her kindness to make him feel more welcomed to her city?

Maybe she got over him?

Jimin's heart slowly began to sink with all the maybes he could think of.

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Haneul's POV

9 o'clock in the morning

Jimin didn't stop by at the bakery this morning and I didn't get a chance to stop by his office to slip his gift and card on his desk.

I've befriended a few of his colleagues and they usually allow me to leave the gift in his locker before locking it once again with the spare key they have. Or I leave it on his desk if I made it to work before him.

However, this morning, things just hadn't been going according to plan.

For some strange reason the back door was left wide open and refused to close. A cold draft blown out all the candles I had lit throughout the bakery and the extended bistro.

But this wasn't my only problem.

For some reason, my shop didn't have any electricity! Which was odd, seeing we didn't get power cuts in Seoul!

And the generator I usually kept under the table near the pantry cupboard was missing! So I couldn't power up my backup oven nor could I operate the scant few backup lights I had.

Trust me, I checked. I didn't send it out to be serviced.

The wind whistled through the opened door. It was quite a strong breeze, given that we're in February and just as I huffed out in dismay, goin back to the front of the store. As I got there, the front door had opened with a tinkle, announcing a customer.

"Good mo- " I made to greet the four strange men and convey that we were currently closed until further notice.

But before I got a chance to finish my sentence, or push the panic button Jimin had insisted he get installed for me, the four of them smashed the divider tab that allowed me to enter the store front from behind the cash register.

They didn't take any money or food. They didn't even have a balaclava mask on!

They looked at me seriously for a second, nodded to each other, then grabbed me by my arms, unceremoniously picking me up and tried to gag me with a red bandana.

I've never been so manhandled in my entire life.

It was just preposterous!

'This isn't happening to me!' I thought in a bout of panic.

Trying to shake them off, flailing as I thought through the self defence lessons that Jimin and Nina had given me, my right foot accidentally kicked under the counter top where the cash register sat.

I felt a plastic box with the toe of my sneaker and realised what I'd hit. Gently shifting my foot and pressing the button with the tip of my converse sneaker, I relaxed a little as Doofus number one tied the bandana over my mouth and laughed.

He'd made one little mistake though. He hadn't tied my hands.

Doofus number two accidentally bragged about the 'lady boss' being thrilled that they'd managed to catch me while Jimin wasn't there.

Another mistake of theirs:
Giving me lots of information.

Did they really overlook my capabilities?!

I mean for crying out loud, I'm a fucking Baker! I have upper arm strength like a wrestler! And if they know that Jimin is often here, they're bound to know that he's my good friend and that he's obviously taught me more than enough self defense techniques to kick their asses!

'Pssshhhht! What a load of rookie kidnappers!'

"Jimin will kick your asses when he finds out about this, you numbskulls!" I ground out through the stupid rag that was supposed to tie my mouth.

"That's if he can find us, girl." Doofus number four mumbled.

I hate this already.

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The numbskulls had heartily chuckled at my confident proclaim earlier, and Doofus number three's bandana slipped, allowing me a glimpse of his stupid face. Because he'd covered his face after they kidnapped me.

He was chubby and had a beard that was in dire need of grooming.

Maybe the kidnapping business wasn't paying him well enough or perhaps he just hasn't heard of Geoviking's beard care tutorials on Instagram!

Either way, the man's face was clear as day to me for a whole ten seconds. And the damage was done.

The other three numpties had scooped me up like a loaf of raisin bread and pulled me out the back door, once again bragging about their job well done.

It was them.

'They're the reason the back door wasn't closing and why my shop didn't have any power this morning!' I realised, fear finally gripping my chest.

The four men look at me sternly as they paused just outside their very obvious SUV, to mutter to themselves in a dialect of Korean I'm not familiar with.

I'm from Seoul. We spoke clearly here.

Once again, Doofus number one tied a red rag around my eyes and I felt myself being shoved into the vehicle. Which by the way, needed to be cleaned!

It smelled like gym socks and dusty cupboards in here.

All I could think about while huddled inside the van was just how much I miss Jimin.

I really hope he finds me.

And soon.

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Jimin's POV

11 o'clock in the morning

The woman I love is missing.

I walked into the bakery, which was suspiciously dark for this time of day. Given that it was Valentine's Day, Haneul's store was sure to be packed with customers, who were either purchasing their last minute gifts or dining with their significant other.

But the café was like a ghost town. The entire shop was dark and when I checked the back with Nina, her back up generator was gone.

On top of that, the back door didn't close. Someone had tampered with the lock.

Just as Nina and I stood up from the place we crouched at, the investigating team entered with swagger, like we had time for this.

My woman was taken from me!

Someone broke in and she was taken. I'm guessing it was some kind of collateral.

It didn't look like a break in though.

Wait... Did I just openly admit that I love her?

That was supposed to be a secret that I keep. A secret I kept even from myself.

Because of this!

Because I knew something would happen to her if we got too close.

Not because of my job. People rarely targeted our loved ones. We made sure of it.

I was worried about dating Haneul because of her...

She hated me dating anyone. And she wanted to control me.

Yes. It was definitely her. I found the little business card her people would have 'accidentally dropped' under the counter.

Of course they knew I'd come looking for Haneul. They knew the line of my work and how it directly threatened theirs.

Because my mother never wanted me to work outside the scope of the family business.

She wanted me to take over her stupid 'business' in Busan. And there was absolutely no way I was going to leave my career to become a Mafia Lord. No matter how much my mother had tried to glorify it.

Nope.

But my mother is the least of my worries. First I need to find my woman.

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A/n: Thank you for reading 😊

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