“I have to guard my feelings”

The night outside was dark and still, but inside the Velvet Orchid, the air was thick with smoke and quiet tension. Linh stood near the window, watching the rain begin again, soft drops tapping the glass. His eyes didn’t leave Lee Jae-min, who sat alone at the bar, his face calm but sharp, like a statue carved from stone.

Linh didn’t want to admit it, but every time he looked at Lee, his heart skipped a little. It was confusing. He wasn’t used to feeling this way. Back on the streets, feelings were dangerous — they made you weak, made you easy to hurt.

But here, with Lee, things felt different.

Lee was strong and cold, a man who ruled with power and control. Yet Linh saw moments that no one else did. The way Lee’s eyes softened when he thought no one was watching. The quiet way he said Linh’s name sometimes, without the usual respect or distance. Those little things made Linh’s chest tighten.

One night, after a long day of meetings and plans, Linh was by Lee’s side as usual. Lee handed him a folder filled with papers. Their fingers brushed for a moment — just a quick touch, nothing more. But Linh felt it deeply, like a spark in the dark.

He looked away quickly, heart pounding.

Linh told himself it was nothing. Just a touch. But the truth was hard to ignore.

When Lee wasn’t looking, Linh studied him. How he moved, steady and sure. How his jaw tensed when something upset him. How his eyes could be sharp like a knife, but also hold quiet sadness.

Linh kept these thoughts locked inside. He didn’t want anyone to know. In this world, feelings were dangerous. They could be used against you. But Linh couldn’t stop his mind from wandering to Lee, even when he tried.

One evening, Linh stood guard outside the Velvet Orchid, rain falling hard now. He saw Lee step outside for a moment, looking up at the sky. For a second, Lee’s usual strong mask slipped. His eyes were tired, almost soft.

Linh wanted to say something, anything. But the words caught in his throat.

Instead, he stayed silent, standing close like always, ready to protect him.

Linh knew Lee didn’t ask for this. No one did. But Linh was learning that protecting Lee meant more than just fighting enemies. It meant being close, watching, understanding.

And maybe, just maybe, it meant feeling something new and dangerous—something he couldn’t name.

Linh swallowed hard. He had no idea what would happen next. But one thing was clear: his loyalty ran deeper than duty. It had become something personal, something he kept hidden like a secret flame.

As the rain washed the city clean, Linh promised himself he would guard that secret, no matter what. Wind, hail or storm, I will never let him find out…I love him, he saved me.

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