An Unlikely Escort

The next morning, Esther woke up early, her mind preoccupied with the mounting pile of bills and groceries that needed to be bought. She rummaged through her purse, only to find that her wallet was almost empty. She needed to buy a lot of things, and the thought of Jaekyung's tenseness the previous day made her hesitant to ask him for help. However, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and approach him. As she entered the living room, Jaekyung was sitting on the couch, sipping his coffee and staring out the window. Esther cleared her throat to announce her presence, and Jaekyung turned to face her. "What do you need?" he asked gruffly, his eyes narrowing slightly. Esther took a deep breath and explained her situation, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. "I need to go to the store today, but I'm a bit short on cash. Would you... be willing to go with me?" Jaekyung raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Esther thought he would refuse, but then he nodded curtly. "Fine. Let's go." Esther's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself and smiled. "Thanks, Jaekyung. I owe you one." As they walked to the store, Esther couldn't help but notice the way Jaekyung's eyes scanned the shelves, his gaze lingering on her as she reached for items. She felt a flutter in her chest, but quickly pushed the feeling aside. This was just Jaekyung being Jaekyung, after all. However, as they shopped, Esther began to realize that Jaekyung was being... different. He was reaching for items on high shelves, his long arms effortlessly plucking them from their perches. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks as he towered over her, his baggy clothes making him look like a giant. Their height difference was significant – Esther was only 156 cm, while Jaekyung stood at an impressive 196 cm. As they navigated the aisles, Esther found herself craning her neck to look up at him, her pigtails (which she had begun to dissolve into a stylish updo) making her feel like a petite, shy schoolgirl. As they approached a shelf, a young man with a charming smile caught Esther's eye. He looked like the type of guy who would be interested in her, and Esther felt a spark of curiosity. But before the young man could approach her, Jaekyung swooped in, his eyes flashing with a possessive glint. The young man took one look at Jaekyung's intimidating frame and backed away, muttering something under his breath. Jaekyung watched him go, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips. Esther rolled her eyes, trying to push him away. "Jaekyung, stop it! I can handle myself." But Jaekyung just grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch sending shivers down her spine. As they continued shopping, Esther found herself growing more and more flustered. Jaekyung seemed to be enjoying himself, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. She began to wonder what was driving him, what had brought about this sudden change in behavior. Eventually, they made their way to the quietest section of the store, a deserted aisle lined with stacks of canned goods. Jaekyung steered Esther into the narrow space, his eyes glinting with a predatory light. Esther tried to push him away, but Jaekyung was relentless. He pinned her against the wall, his face inches from hers. "Stop it, Jaekyung!" she whispered, her voice trembling. But Jaekyung just smiled, his lips curling up in a sly smile. He leaned in, his mouth brushing against her neck, and Esther felt a jolt of electricity run through her body. As he left a suction mark on her neck, Esther's eyes widened in shock. Jaekyung licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with a possessive light. "You're mine," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "Don't forget it." Esther's face burned with embarrassment as she realized that they were in public, and that anyone could see them. She quickly wrapped her scarf around her neck, trying to hide the evidence of Jaekyung's actions. Winter was in full swing, and the cold air only added to Esther's flustered state. She couldn't believe what was happening, or why Jaekyung was behaving like this. All she knew was that she was trapped in a whirlwind of emotions, with Jaekyung at the center of the storm. As they left the store, Esther couldn't help but wonder what the future held. One thing was certain, though – her relationship with Jaekyung would never be the same again.