Beautifully Ephemeral

“Um, sorry, I saved it somewhere,” Hyewon mumbles.

The car idles as you glance up at the rearview mirror, watching her scroll through her phone. You haven’t moved since dropping the manager off at the agency. At least everything is going according to plan. That’s all that matters.

“Ah, found it,” she says, leaning forward from the back seat to show you the address on her phone.

“Oh, it’s that café that’s been trending online,” you say, typing the name into your phone.

“Have you been there?” Hyewon asks, leaning back into her seat.

“No. I’ve just been seeing it around lately. Heard it’s nice with a rooftop view.”

“Ah, I see,” she murmurs as you shift the car into drive and pull onto the road, the low hum of the engine settling into the silence. You catch a glance in the rearview mirror, brief and accidental, your eyes meeting before either of you can help it, and just as quickly, both of you look away. The silence lingers a second too long, and as if to break it, she speaks again. “Is this a company SUV?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Does this car have some kind of reinforcement, like bulletproof panels and all that? Or is that just in movies?”

You let out a small chuckle and turn the corner. “We do have some. This one just has reinforced windows and darker tint.”

“Oh, I see.” Hyewon nods, glancing around the car before looking back out the window as buildings pass. “What’s the craziest thing you’ve dealt with as a bodyguard?”

You take a moment to think while she waits. “Probably the number of fights but they’re more like scuffles. They end quickly. After a while, it all starts to feel kind of meaningless.”

She laughs softly, her gaze drifting to your arm resting on the steering wheel. “You’ve got some humor in you.”

It wasn’t really a joke, but you let it pass, a quiet breath of a laugh leaving you anyway. “Thank you.”

“Also… isn’t the weather nice today?”

“It is,” you say, easing off the gas as the light turns red in front of you.

——

At the shop, it isn’t crowded, just a handful of college students hunched over laptops. As you approach the kiosk with Hyewon, she starts ordering quietly while your attention drifts, scanning the room, each table, each face, anyone who might look twice, anyone who might recognize her.

“Is that Hyewon?” the worker at the register whispers to a coworker. You catch it anyway. A few people in line glance over.

“People are starting to notice you, Hyewon,” you whisper to her. “Are you in the mood to greet fans?”

“Of course,” she smiles, swiping through the screen without hesitation.

“May you remind me of the safe words I gave you?” you ask. “Standard procedure.”

“Where’s my manager?” she replies, glancing at you with a teasing smile.

“Okay, just checking.”

For now, at least, people keep their distance, the way they usually do on a slow Tuesday.

“Do you want anything?” she asks, turning to you.

You shake your head. “No, thank you.”

“Are you sure? You should get something. The desserts here look really good.”

“Thanks, but I’m okay.”

She glances at you, a little more insistent this time. “I know you’re working, but at least get something. An Americano or whatever. It’s my treat. I don't want to feel bad."

You hesitate for a second, then give in. “Alright. A small Americano. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She taps it in and pulls out her card.

Before she can pay, you step in a little closer, just enough to block the view of any clear angle from the cameras around. It’s instinct, automatic. She notices how you did it quietly without a word.

“What a bodyguard,” Hyewon thinks, a small, private smile lingering as the order goes through. The receipt prints with a soft whir, and she tears it off, glancing at the number. “Twenty-six.”

She steps aside to wait, and you fall in just behind her, close enough without crowding. The room settles again, low voices, the clink of cups. Then someone stands. You notice it immediately. A girl approaches, stopping a few feet away, careful, almost hesitant. You take her in without staring, quick and automatic. College student, maybe. Glasses, beige jacket, nothing out of place. No tension in her shoulders, no rush in her steps.

“Hi… can I take a quick picture with you, Hyewon?” she asks.

Hyewon glances back at you, just for a second after you give her a small nod.

The girl smiles and steps closer, the moment passing easily, a phone lifted, a quick picture taken, nothing more.

“Number twenty-six!”

Hyewon thanks the fan before stepping away, heading to the counter to pick up the tray.

“Want me to carry that?” you ask.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve got it.”

“Alright.”

You follow a step behind as she heads up the stairs, your attention split between her and the space ahead. The rooftop door swings open, and the air changes immediately, cooler, easier to breathe. You take a quick look around before she reaches a corner table and sets the tray down. You take the seat beside her without thinking and turn towards the door.

She pauses, then glances at you. “I think you’re supposed to face the other way.”

“I don’t sit with my back to a door.”

“Oh.” It comes out quieter this time from Hyewon. She doesn’t say anything else, just settles into her seat, a small pause lingering as she takes that in. From the outside, you know how it looks. A little out of place or funny, maybe even rigid. On any other day, it might feel unnecessary. But not today.

“Here’s your Americano, Oppa,” she murmurs, hoping what she just called you flew over your head. Which it did, surprisingly, out of everything.

“Thank you,” you say and reach for your coffee from her hand.

“I’m guessing you’re counting how many people are up here.”