On a sunny Saturday morning, after receiving her paycheck the day before, Mina approached Leo with a bright smile. “Can I have some time off to go shopping?” she asked, her excitement palpable.
Leo looked up from his laptop, raising an eyebrow. “What do you need? Just tell me, and I can have my guys prepare it for you. After all, according to our agreement, all your needs are covered while you're here.”
Mina shook her head with a determined look. “No, I want to splurge a little! What’s the point of having a good salary if I can’t enjoy it?”
Leo chuckled, momentarily distracted from his work. “You’re really going to waste your first paycheck on frivolous things?” Despite his teasing, he couldn't help but feel a little lighter at her enthusiasm. Just the day before, he had been weighed down by thoughts of his mother’s unexpected arrival and the tension with his uncle.
“It’s a holiday, and you just got paid. Okay, I’ll let you go, but you have to take a bodyguard with you,” Leo replied, trying to keep a serious tone but failing slightly.
Mina’s expression dropped. “No way! I can handle myself. It’ll be embarrassing to have someone following me around like I’m some kind of celebrity.”
Leo sighed, crossing his arms. “It’s not about that, Mina. It’s for your safety. You might be used to doing things on your own, but this is my home, and I have to look out for you.”
Mina pouted, putting on a show of annoyance as she turned on her heel and marched back to her room, ready to sulk. However, once the door was closed, a mischievous grin crept across her face. Instead of staying cooped up inside, she quickly devised a plan and snuck out through her balcony, climbing down to the ground floor.
As she made her way past the mansion’s ornate fountain and towards the gates, she felt a rush of freedom. But just as she was about to make her escape, she spotted Leo standing nearby, arms crossed and a knowing look on his face.
“Caught you,” he said, a smirk forming on his lips.
Mina froze for a moment, then quickly plastered a grin on her face. “Oh, hey, Leo! I was just... heading out to meet Ji-eun. You know, girl stuff. It’s embarrassing to have a bodyguard tagging along.”
Leo’s expression softened a little, but he wasn’t convinced. “Mina, you can’t just run off like that. What if something happens? You need to take precautions.”
She let out a soft laugh, trying to ease the tension. “I promise I’ll be careful! I just want to enjoy my day out. Besides, Ji-eun is like a bodyguard in her own right. She can keep me safe.”
Leo hesitated, his protective instincts kicking in. But seeing the sparkle in Mina’s eyes, he reluctantly relented. “Fine, I’ll join you. My face isn’t as intimidating as a bodyguard, right?”
Mina grinned, a playful glimmer in her eyes. “No, no! You look more like a wealthy ahjussi—like a sugar daddy or something!”
Leo feigned annoyance and gently flicked Mina’s forehead, a gesture that made her scream. 
“Hey, that’s not what I’m going for here! I’m just trying to keep you safe, alright?”
Mina laughed, rubbing her forehead where he had tapped her. “Okay, okay! But if anyone asks, I’ll just say you’re my rich uncle who’s here to spoil me!”
Leo rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
*
Upon arriving at the mall, Mina tried calling Ji-eun repeatedly, her frustration mounting as she returned to Leo with a sulky pout. “She canceled on me! Ji-eun can’t make it because she has to cover a shift for a sick friend.”
Leo raised an eyebrow, amused. “Wow, that’s quite a long face you’ve got there,” he teased, completely dismissing Mina’s plight. He playfully pinched her lips between his fingers, making her look like a pouting duck.
Mina’s expression shifted from disappointment to anger, her cheeks flushing. “Hey! Stop that!” she protested, swatting his hand away. “I’m not a toy!”
With a mischievous grin, Leo decided to use a different tactic. “Alright, how about some ice cream to cheer you up? No tantrums, promise?” he coaxed, his eyes sparkling with humor.
Mina considered it for a moment, then nodded, a hint of a smile creeping back onto her face. “But I have to buy us the ice cream!”
“Seriously? I’m the guy here!” Leo argued, feigning indignation.
“So? I can buy it. And then you can pay for the movie tickets and popcorn, which are way more expensive,” she countered, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Leo laughed, impressed by her logic. “That’s not how this works! You’re just trying to get me to pay for everything!”
“Exactly! I’m brilliant, aren’t I?” Mina exclaimed, strutting ahead with newfound confidence, her earlier gloom forgotten.
With ice cream cones in hand, they strolled through the mall, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere around them felt light and carefree, especially after indulging in the sweet treat. Mina’s earlier frustrations faded, replaced by a sense of joy that bubbled between them.
Once they finished their ice cream, they made their way to the cinema, where the buzz of excited moviegoers filled the air, enhancing their lively spirits. Mina felt a surge of exhilaration as she took in the colorful posters lining the walls and the lively chatter of fellow moviegoers. Being with Leo in such a vibrant setting made her heart race with excitement and a hint of nervousness.
As they entered the dimly lit theater, a sudden loud scream from the movie’s trailer caught Mina off guard, making her shriek in terror. She instinctively hid behind Leo’s arm, her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized that all eyes were now on them. The sound of laughter rippled through the audience, intensifying her humiliation.
After a moment of hiding, Leo chuckled, glancing around at the amused onlookers. “You know, they’ve all turned back to the screen now. You can stop hiding behind me,” he teased, his voice playful and light.
Hi, a lil head up here, this story available in googleplaybook and amazon kindle under same title. See ya!