1 Chapter 1

My hand clutches the black hoodie that covers my sweaty heaving chest, begging for oxygen. The sun beats down as my eyes turn watery as I slightly hyperventilate from the sweltering heat. The mask I'm wearing covers the bottom half of my face, but I swiftly pull it down not being able to take in full breaths. I glance behind me once again, only to meet eyes with the hooded figure that's been chasing me for the past hour now. I'm quick to pull back up my mask, having enjoyed my short-lived breath of air. Run.

Even though my lungs beg for air still, my feet move on instinct. I try to keep my eyes forward to see where I'm going, but all I can do is keep stealing looks behind me to see the hooded figure begin to speed up their already fast pace. The duffle bag I'm carrying smacks against my side each time I take a stride. The only thing stopping this person from catching up to me is that we're separated by 4 or 5 blocks.

I quickly take another glance behind to see that I've gained some type of ground again before I focus back on figuring out a way to get away from this person. I try to collect my thoughts as my shoe pounds against the pavement of the sidewalk. Maybe if I-

Just as I turn the corner, my body rams against something.. I try to regain my footing, but my back quickly crashes into the pavement. Sending waves of shocking pain to my nerves as I hiss from the impact. Luckily, I saved myself from bashing my head open or something. Did I run into the corner of the building or something-

Although my thoughts we cut off from hearing a distant voice, my vision starts to slightly blur. I squint my eyes to see a rather tall man leaning over looking at me, his eyebrows furrow as his lips are slightly pouting at me.

"Miss, are you alright?" He says softly as I give a slight nod, but when I try to get up I groan from the electric shot of pain that erupts from my lower back. You'd think my duffle bag would break my fall, but all it did was nearly break my arm off.

"I'm not so sure you're alright even if you say you are." He states with a little chuckle as I just groan in both slight pain and irritation.

"Could you maybe help me up then?" I mutter out shakily as he nods with a soft smile before taking my hand in his and lightly touching my back giving me just the right amount of support. I swiftly pull my hand out of his as soon as I'm standing up straight, while he retracts his hand from my back as well. I readjust my duffle bag back onto my shoulder and hiss a little when another slight pain shots through my shoulder.

"So why are you in such a hurry?" He inquires as I mutter out a curse, I glance behind me to see the hooded figure is only a block away from me now. Sh*t. I guess the tall man follows my gaze as he quickly takes my arm and pulls me round the corner at a fast pace.

"Alrighty, I'm gonna take a wild guess here and say that he's chasing you." I give a slight nod in confirmation as I glance behind me again to only see that he's not anywhere in sight. I feel my shoulder relax as I let out a long sigh of relief now, which gives the tall man the sign that we're not in danger now.

"Thanks for the help, I don't know how I'd repay you for first bumping into you. Secondly, for you helping me get that person away from me." I tell the guy who's helped me, giving a quick bow to him out of thankfulness. He seriously saved me back there.

"Ah, there's no need for that. How about you let me treat you to some of my famous ice tea?" He says softly as a large smile displays on his lips, showing this man's dimples. How can he be so kind? This has to be some kind of setup...

"That's too kind of an offer, sir, but I just can't accept it," I reply back as I see his smile falters slightly.

"Name's Kim Namjoon, but you can just call me Namjoon. Don't call me sir because I feel so old when you do," Namjoon states with a bit of a grimace before continuing as his smile returns once again causing his dimples to reappear, "and as a matter of fact, the only way I will let you repay me is if I treat you to my famous ice tea. So you cannot refuse or I will never forgive you for bumping into me."

I stare blankly at him, still confused by his actions. Why would a person who is a stranger of all people be offering me their famous ice tea after I rudely bump into them? And then furthermore, they help me when realizing I was being chased? Is he some kind of angel or something-

Suddenly I feel a tug on the sleeve of the hoodie and look to see Namjoon smiling widely as I finally give in. I slowly give one last glance backward to confirm that nobody is there, but luckily it still is clear of the hooded figure. I don't want to refuse him. I turn back as a small smile pulls at the corner of my lips for the first time in a while, even if it's hidden under the mask I think he could tell. Maybe he isn't that bad...

And with that, a light conversation begins between Namjoon and I as he escorts me to where I will have his famous ice tea.