03

                                    

                                          
Jungkook's glove hitting the punching bag causes a sound that makes Jin's heart leap out of his chest. 
"Yah! I just got that last month. Don't come in breaking it," the older man says as he approaches Jungkook. 
"Sorry. I just need to let out some steam. Maybe try buying a sturdier one?" 
"That's already of great quality; you just tend to overpunch things when you want to," Jin says, leaning on the boxing ring that's situated in the middle of the gym. "What's got you feeling all worked up?"
Jungkook makes another strong hit then decides to take a rest, thankful that his friend still allows him to use the gym way past closing hours so that Jungkook can exercise. Or in this case, let out some steam. 
"I've been assigned as a personal bodyguard to the daughter of the Lee Group's CEO," Jungkook explains, finishing his bottle of water in 3 gulps. 
Jin takes out his phone and quickly searches; a photo of you in a recent charity gala pops up.
"She's pretty," Jin quips. 
"She's okay," Jungkook shrugs.
"She's more than okay, Jungkook. She's definitely prettier than those girls you've hooked up with. She's got a great smile, and she looks elegant but also fun."
"Doesn't matter, I'm being punished."
"Why would you think that?"
"I told you. I defied my last client's instruction to stalk a woman he likes, which is basically illegal, and we got into an argument that made me almost punch his face."
Jin chokes on his water. "Damn, I'd hate to be in his shoes, unless I want my face to fold into itself." He laughs this time. "But you didn't punch him so why would you be punished?"
"Because I almost did, and our agency takes complaints seriously, no matter how ungrounded they are. But since technically all I did was get into an argument with the guy, my supervisor can't really do anything, so he chose to give me a babysitting assignment instead."
"Hey, at least it's not the rich high school kids who pull pranks on you or the college party animals who do illegal shit and beg you not to tell on them."
"She's 25, she's still in that age group that likes to party and stuff. Plus, she already told me her schedule for the coming weeks that's packed with dinner parties and galas and whatever," Jungkook rolls his eyes. "I can already sense her being impulsive and superficial, you know?"
"You got that in the half-day that you detailed her?"
"It's pretty much a given."
Jin laughs. "That's your judgmental nature that's talking."
"Or my cautious one. Or the experienced one. Or the one that's been doing this for 8 years that knows they're all the same. I wish they would just let me stick to detailing the politicians; at least then I learn substantial things."
"Look, it's probably not ideal but you always said the executives paid well. It's just a means to an end, right? It's big money at the end of this," Jin reminds him.
"Sometimes I wish I became like you instead."
"Jungkook, you're my friend, but you'd make a terrible businessman."
"How could you say that?!"
"Well for one, you're not very fond of people. You'll probably just scare them away because you can't make proper eye contact. And you need equal parts brains and equal parts charm. You..."
"What?"
"Don't have the charms."
"I still think I would've made it good out here."
"My dad found you here 10 years ago, cleaning up the place in exchange for the use of the equipment. He was too kind to you then," Jin laughs, recalling how his late father had told him about this scrappy kid lurking outside the gym. 
Jungkook was 18 then, straight out of high school with no plans to go to college. He'd taken whatever little savings he had and took the train from Busan to Seoul, away from his dead-beat dad and the place that held no hope for him. 
He wasn't the brightest kid, but he was blessed with a lean body that he used to his advantage. He took various blue-collared jobs and worked out here at the gym to build himself up. It wasn't until a frequent customer took notice and told Jungkook to apply to a security agency, as his physical strength would be of better use there. The pay being good sealed the deal for him, and it had been a worthwhile experience ever since, despite all the rich spoiled brats he had the displeasure of protecting. 
"You're good where you are, Jungkook. You're making more money than you would if you stayed here."
"I've saved up a lot, that's true."
"Exactly. Maybe after some time you can go back home, to the person who's waiting for you." 
This is what causes Jungkook to smile - Soo-ah, the girl he promised he'd give the world to when he was 18. 
She'd been his first love but he had nothing to give more than his heart and for her, that wasn't enough. Life had been hard for her, too, and that's why Jungkook wanted to come out here to be something, or at least, earn enough to be. 
There was no way he would be like his father - incompetent and an alcoholic, who'd given no reason for his mother to stay. He promised himself he would be someone that his future kids would be proud of. He promised himself he would be someone with enough money so he could go back home, give Soo-ah the life she's always wanted, and face his father who said he would never amount to anything.
"It shouldn't take too long," Jungkook says. "Perhaps after this assignment with the Lees, I'll have enough so Soo-ah and I can finally be together and she'll know that I worked hard so I could give her everything she's ever wanted."
Jin laughs. "I never really took you for a romantic guy, you know? Now I just want to punch that smile off your face."
"Yah, I have my moments."
"I know, and I'm glad you do, although it's been too long, don't you think?"
"We haven't spoken in months but... She knows I'm working hard. She wants a house by the beach that overlooks the water with a big living room for four children," Jungkook smiles. "I told her to wait for me."
Jin stands to start cleaning up. "I'm amazed that she still does."
And truthfully, Jungkook doesn't know why. He likes to think that Soo-ah, just like him, is holding on to their promise to each other to be together once he's able to provide for her the way her parents didn't get to, the way his parents never did. 
But it's something he clings to, to remind him of why he does what he does and why he persists when it gets hard. There's someone out there for him, and that someone is back home, waiting for him, too.