A highlight of OC's past.
“Jihyo, when did you wake up?” You said walking out the bathroom, drying your hair and seeing Jihyo sort her luggage.
“Like….at ten I think. I made you breakfast, Oppa. Eat before you go.”
You became puzzled by her nice gesture. “Did you make enough for yourself also?”
“I did. Let’s eat together,” she smiles brightly and gets up to wait for you to put on a shirt.
“You didn’t need to cook something. Why are you doing this?” Considering how she’s free the next few days, you wanted her to rest instead of going out her own way for you. “Don’t do it for me. Just relax, Jihyo.”
“Just shut up and go eat,” she laughs. “Tzu doesn’t do stuff like this to you?”
“Well. Not like this. She waits for me and then we cook something together.”
“That’s cute.”
“It is. Let’s go eat, Jihyo.”
She walks out with you and into the kitchen to sit at the dining table. Opening the cover from the plate, she cooked a simple chicken stew. Steam rises out from the trapped bowl, and plenty of protein she put in the bowl.
“Enjoy, Oppa.” And she looks at you spooning for a piece of tender chicken into your mouth. “How is it? Good?”
“It’s good, Jihyo. Thanks for making it for me.”
“My pleasure. Does it need more salt? Any spices?”
“No, it’s perfect enough.” You said, taking another bite of meat with the warm stew. Jihyo didn’t pick up her spoon at all, but kept looking you eat what she made. “Eat, Jihyo. What are you waiting for?” You laughed.
“Just appreciating you eating what I made, Oppa.”
“Weirdo,” you said, chuckling as she laughs comfortably to hear you name calling her playfully.
“If Tzu waits for you, what does Sana do?” Jihyo picks up the spoon and takes a sip of the stew.
“Sana? Hmm, she does both. Sometimes wait for me, sometimes wake up early to cook.”
“Isn’t it surprising how Sana didn’t burn your house down?”
“Now that’s something I have to consider, Jihyo.”
“Oppa, remember when you first met us in the practice room?”
“What about it?” And you chew quietly on the piece of chicken listening to her.
“What did you think of us?”
“Mhm..I’d say you girls looked pretty close together even if I didn’t know at all at the start.”
“You fell for Tzu, don’t you? Don’t lie to me.” Jihyo chuckles and continued to eat.
“I did, but I tried to be professional about it.”
“I’m pretty sure Tzu told you how she fell for you after seeing you smile more,” Jihyo added.
“She did,” you said and grabbed a cup of water for you and Jihyo, “what did you girls think of me when I walked in the practice room?”
“Oppa, you were like a secretive person. Not until we got a hold of your information. Sana, Momo, Mina, Tzu, me, even Nayeon said you’re hot. But the thing that stood out on the description said was that you were in the military.”
“It stands out somehow, even the companies that hire me are surprised.”
“How much does our company pay you, Oppa?”
Her sudden question made you flustered, “let’s just say enough.”
“Oppa,” Jihyo gently grabs your hand across the table, “I’m glad we have you around.”
“I can clearly see that, Jihyo. I’m glad I work for you girls.”
The air suddenly gets tense with Jihyo hesitating to ask you something. “Oppa.”
“Hmm?” You said chewing on your food quietly.
“May I ask you about your time in the Navy?”
As you judge how innocent she can be when it comes to life, you also hesitate about telling her how it really is. “Jihyo. How much can I say? I also couldn’t tell Tzu. When it comes to taking a life, I don’t want to feed you about the dark side of war. It’s fucked up.”
“Just tell me about yourself, Oppa. No worries.”
“I’d say that I’m great at it. I wasn’t the biggest or the smallest. Not the most strongest or weakest. But I can tell you that my other teammates knew me as a dangerous person when I want to execute a mission successfully.”
“Oppa, I can tell you’re a great person by seeing all your metals in the room upstairs. Especially the silver one. It’s so shiny.”
“The silver one?” You said, nonchalantly losing your smile.
Instantly, Jihyo assume that silver metal wasn’t something to be happy about and decided to change the topic. “Finish up the food, I don’t want you being late.”
——
After finishing the breakfast, you get ready to leave as Jihyo sits on the couch and uses her phone.
“Jihyo. I’m leaving. Mind coming here and decide something?”
She gets up and walks over to you by the garage door. “Yes?”
“Porsche or Genesis?”
“Porsche. You’re a CEO now, Oppa.”
“Good decision,” you smiled and she loved the way you smile at her.
Jihyo faintly smiles at you, not wanting you to leave but couldn’t do anything about it. “See you later. We can have fun later at night together.”
By fun, and what you didn’t know was that Twice was coming over to hangout when Jihyo texted their group chat.
Her arms open wide for a hug before you go, and you hug her warmly, rubbing her back. “I’ll be home in time.”
“Okay, bye, Oppa. Drive safe.”
“Make sure to call me if you need anything, Jihyo.”
“Okay!” Jihyo said proudly and watches you leave out the gate, then closes the door, locking it shut as she runs to lay on the couch.
——
You’re sitting on your desk with the computer turned on to a spreadsheet to manage every client that needed a bodyguard. Contracts with prices vary from different companies reach out to your email address. You read all of them, word by word to see any complications that may occur on your employee’s behalf.
The door knocks one time, and your receptionist enters the room. “Boss, you have company.”
A familiar face shows up as your receptionist leaves the room. “Hey kid.”
“Master Chief,” you said, flustered by him showing up unannounced and salute to him, legs together and standing up tall silently. He was your platoon leader during your Navy Seal days. He sits on the leather couch in front of you.
“Command Master Chief now, kid. How are your wounds?”
“It’s not like it was last week when it was years ago,” you said, lowering your hand and chuckling to brighten up the mood from not seeing each other in a long time. “Did the Pentagon sent you here for a reason?”
“Decided to pay a visit while I’m here in Korea. It’s been years since your friend….” and he couldn’t finish his words when he was also present at the time of a teammate killed in action. “I’m happy that you took over his dad’s company in his place.”
“It was my fault either way. Would have been avoidable if I didn’t have a price on my head,” you paused. “I wouldn’t be here if that bullet did hit me.”
The friend who you called was the one who often jokes and made everyone laugh during the standout was like a happy pill during the tough times of battle. Until the day he died right in front of your eyes, without you knowing if he took the bullet as a friend, or unintentionally at. After that incident, you lost your smile, a cold hearted person to everyone you greeted with a gun pointed at their chest. Your teammates also changed from laughing and smiling to being more lethal.
“You did the right thing. Even I would have shot back if my arm wasn’t bleeding from that ambush. Everyone in the squad blamed themselves, it wasn’t just you, Chief Petty Officer.” He said to you and it’s been awhile hearing your rank.
“Remember the silver star that I got from that? I don’t think I deserve it. Even when the President put it around my neck.”
“Well you did fucking kick ass. How many tangos did you eliminate? Like ten to fifteen gunmen after going rogue? We’re always taught to not fear, but somehow, I feared you the moment your eyes changed. It’s like you wanted vengeance and would die a warrior with the consequences. You did deserve the recognition and honor. I mean it, as once your Master Chief, now Command Master Chief.”
You stay quiet for moments as he can feel the guilt radiating off your body. “How’s everyone?Anything from the Pentagon?” You said, changing the topic.
“Negative. The only easy day was yesterday, kid. If you never left, you would have been recruited to Devgru or even Delta force. Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
“Life changes you in many ways, Command Master. I want to start a family one day.”
“At least you stayed for another year after that incident. Remember the operation we did in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? That one extraction mission before you decided to retire?”
“The one mission where we flew out the plane and into the dark ocean? I don’t know about you, but that mission still doesn’t sit right til this day.”
“Yea. We got tipped off that it’s connected to another group. A trafficking organization. And yes, what I’m saying is top secret right now.”
“I’m no Seal anymore. I’ll act like I didn’t hear anything about what you said. At the end of the day, we are bad guys in another man’s world, Command Master. We could of have had the same hobbies, but politics drew all of us into greeting each other with guns.”
And he closes his eyes with a nod, agreeing to the hard truth. “I’m glad I had you that I can count on.” He pats your back hard, proudly reminiscing the times you were by his side in the frontlines.
“Glad we were in a team, Command Master.”
“Your name is still engraved as a hero. Pictures of you, me, and our squad will remain in the hallways of the Department of Defense. Even without you anymore, we still talk about you every now and then.”
“What are you really here for?” You started trying to read his eyes and posture. “Wanting me back? What else does the Navy need me for?”
He takes a breath, “I’m here to look for someone highly intelligent who can take retired soldiers from any branch and give them a new start to life if they need it. Someone who can branch an organization into American borders or allies. Bodyguard, security guards, you name it.”
You knew from the way he looks at you, and he was talking about you. “I don’t have enough funds yet to branch this agency out to America. Maybe in a year, we can talk about it.”
“Don’t worry. This isn’t my idea but the higher ups that you’re still in contact with.”
“I don’t know, Command Master. I can’t be flying back and forth. I’m a CEO here, but I also take clients.”
Then he starts being straightforward, “I’m retiring from the military in a few months. I need a co-CEO to help run the agency that was created from all the branches of military. You can stay here in Korea, I’ll handle the rest back in American soil. When celebrities travel and ask for bodyguards, it will be easy to deal with between us.”
You thought it’s a good idea after all to have a joint company with someone you respectfully know, “where is it located?”
“One in California, New York, and Chicago. All thanks to the branches coming to together. A quarter of the profit will be given to charity and non profit organizations until the end.”
The location of the agencies were simply matched to where idols would perform for concerts whether he knew it or not. It’s a smart decision to take the offer.
“Deal,” you said without hesitation. “But you’re running it while I’m over here in Korea.”
“When Korean celebrities travel to America, you can respectfully take control on your end.”
You chuckle at him without an answer. As you and your platoon leader talk about the old days of being teammates, it became hours talking back to back about the happy and sad memories that both of you went through.
“Doing anything after this?” He said.
“Don’t know. Probably just sit on the computer since I’m free today.”
“Want to go to base? Have a friendly shooting competition? Maybe even a combat practice drill with the UDT?”
“I went there few weeks ago. Since you want it, we can have a friendly competition. “Show me what a Command Master Chief can do.”
“Did you forget how notorious you were, kid? I’m going to get my pride hurt.”
“Negative, but that was the good old days.” You said, changing your speech and getting competitive, smirking right after.
“Yea, sure. I know how you are. Don’t deceive me. Anyways, how’s being a bodyguard?”
“Fairly easy, yet tiring.”
“Found a lover yet?”
“I did. She’s such a beauty. I want to grow old with her. Have kids. Live a calm life. She’s all I would ever need.”
Your Command Master couldn’t help but smile to you as you boast about Tzuyu. “Sounds like your life gotten brighter ever since you met her, didn’t you? When’s the wedding? Well, who is she?”
“It’s better if you see her in the future.” And you stopped yourself before you start bragging about everything Tzuyu is to you.
He nods quietly. “Any celebrity know what you were before? Or are you keeping it secret?”
“Our line of work is much of a secret after all. I don’t tell much but only if we’re close enough.”
“You’re not wrong,” then there was a slight pause in there air as he takes a deep breath, “how’s your sleep? No nightmares? Trauma?”
“It’s getting better. Better and faster than I thought,” you laugh.
“I can’t believe you’re smiling more after retiring. It’s been so long.”
“A woman by your side changes you, Command Chief. For the better.”
“I can tell. Let’s go to base?”
You nod, smirking to beat him at the shooting range.
——
After the rendezvous with your Command Master, you come home in the late evening and see the lights all off, which made you worry enough to run inside quickly to find Jihyo.
“Jihyo!” You yelled after opening the front door.
“Suprise!” And you see every Twice member inside your house.
“Oppa, we wanted to hangout with you today,” Jihyo said with her arms crossed.
“Assuming this was a surprise for me,” you replied and Jihyo nodded.
“Babe!” Tzuyu said and runs to hug you that made you smile.
As you give your attention to Tzuyu, Sana felt some jealousy when she never seen you smile so brightly at her unlike Tzuyu. It made Sana annoyed, hating herself to why she’s feeling so jealous for.
“Oppa,” Dahyun said. “Mind if we bring out some drinks?”
“Help yourself. I don’t mind at all.” You said while hugging Tzuyu tightly and feeling her warmth.
You scan the room and see Sana walking away to the kitchen to help with the groceries Jihyo, Jeongyeon, and Tzuyu got earlier. The jealousy Sana had never crossed your mind at all.
“Oppa, you know how to handle a live lobster right?” Jeongyeon looks at you and waits for an answer while you’re glued to Tzuyu.
“Why did you buy a live one? But I can, yes.”
“Can you do us a favor and maybe..you know.”
“Be there in a second, Jeongyeon.”
“Babe,” Tzuyu said cutely, “how was your day?”
“I had fun, Tzu. But since you’re here, I’m happier with you.”
Tzuyu mashes her cheeks onto your chest, rubbing slowly to coat her smell all over you. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Tzu. So damn much.”
“Oppa!” Nayeon yells from across the room. “Come take a shot with me and Dahyun.”
Tzuyu lets go of you by how hectic your house has become after you came back home. “Babe. Have fun tonight.”
“I will, Tzu.”
Walking to Nayeon and Dahyun, they greeted you with a shot of whiskey and look at Sana curiously, trying to read her expression, “Oppa, look at Sana. Doesn’t she look jealous?” Dahyun pointed out to you.
“Is she?”
“See what I told you?” And Dahyun laughs to see how complicated the relationship gotten after you spent countless days with Sana. “Good luck, Oppa. I can’t help you.”
Nayeon puts her hand out with her shot of alcohol. You, Dahyun, and Nayeon clink the shot glass together to take a gulp.
“Think I can handle it, Dahyun. Where is Mina, Momo, and Chae anyways?”
“Upstairs somewhere. Probably taking pictures or something. Or maybe checking out your photos back in the military again.” Nayeon replied to your curiosity.
“Ah, okay. I’m going to head over to Jeongyeon and help her out. Have fun drinking.”
Nayeon and Dahyun nodded as you walk to the kitchen while Sana exchange glances at you for some sort of attention, which you didn’t give in at all, but help Jeongyeon with the lobster.
“Look away, Tzu, Jihyo, Sana, Jeongyeon.” The four girls look away, hearing the cracking that made them tense their shoulders.
“Oppa,” Sana said, tugging your shirt in a cute way, “how was your day?”
Tzuyu, Jihyo, and Jeongyeon could tell Sana was jealous in a way, and didn’t say anything as Jeongyeon puts the lobster in the boiling pot.
“It was fun, Sana,” you rub her shoulders.
“I’ll come over on Tuesday. Just us two. Alone.”
“I’m busy, but I’ll make time for you, Sana. Should I pick you up?”
“No, my manager will drop me off.”
“Oppa!” Momo yelled across the room with Mina and Chaeyoung walking with her.