Yoo Youngjae had no idea how he ended up strapped in a car with a strikingly attractive stranger from the bar after being targeted by gunshots in a narrow and smelly alleyway. With his current luck, it's either he dies in the hands of those men in black suits or he lives to see another daybreak probably with a beautiful potential lover. Whatever happens in this ONE NIGHT, one thing’s for sure; everything will never be the same, again.

Title: ONE NIGHT

Author: SWEETPENGUIN08

Pairing: DAehyunxYoungjae (main), other minor pairings as story goes..

Genre: Action, Romance..

Warning: There is a possiblilty of mature contents like used of guns and vulgar words. Will be putting the mark in each chapter if there are any sensitive parts.

-PROLOGUE-

Before this night, Youngjae was just an ordinary twenty five year old bachelor living a mediocre life. Earning an average wage for an eight-hour office job, he was settling in a one bedroom apartment near the downtown area and owned a rundown ’98 model Audi. His late night always consists of reruns, cold beers and food take-outs. His weekend, though, is spent either visiting his parents at Incheon or meeting with colleagues for some drinks and small chat or simply staying in his place, alone, which of course, the best me-time for him.  

This is his life. Not that he chosen it to be that way, it’s just he’s the kind who easily get scared and unlikely to cross lines. As men at his age would prefer adventures, he picked safe and practical. He never thought of travelling or doing extremes. He rather stayed at home than spent dollars to see the Eiffel tower or gained injury by riding those two-wheeled motor.

Love life. He had more than one promising relationships but none had made him think of settling down. It was either he was not ready yet or it wasn’t the right person. Whatever the reason was, that turned all of those marriage-potential relationship into a thing of past, Youngjae had moved on and currently not interested.

Because all he’s interested of is his goals. Goals. He definitely has those. One, to be promoted and increased his income. Two, to move out of his small apartment and live in one of those high rising condominium units with the view of Seoul at night. And last, to at least try inserting a little adventure on his life but utterly not those that can caused a rapid rush of adrenaline, just a little something.

But that was before sundown.

Because hours ago, he was still in his springy second hand couch watching catch-up episodes of Hawaii-5-o and stuffing his mouth with a possibly-expired pastry and soda and definitely free of any kind of rush. That was before this night, because at this very time, he’s just experiencing the greatest, rapidest rush of adrenaline he ever had. The leathery feel of his seat was not of his shabby settee but of the passenger’s side of someone’s car. The loud screeching of tires against asphalt was not from the action-filled scene of his favorite show but of the reality as the vehicle harshly make turns on every street available. The cold sweats on his forehead and on every wide plane of his body was not of his heating system acting up again but of the possibility of getting killed in a freaking car accident, the most cliché way of dying and he’s not very fond of.

And most of all, the object on his side was definitely not the dolphin plushie that his last girlfriend had left on purpose but a moving living object that controls the deadly steel container he was in and possesses, if not the most, captivating smile he ever seen.

Right, talking about a 180 degree turn of events, he’s definitely having the biggest, exaggerated turn of it all. Not even in his wildest dream would he ever imagine to be in a situation like this. True, he loves action-thrill movies on TV, but absolutely not on real life. Not when it is his life that is in the spotlight.

How did he fall into this mess? How did a non-risk taker, always in the safe zone found himself strap in a car being chased by who knows who and sitting beside a complete and pretty stranger?

It all started with Youngjae’s usual Saturday, a week-piled laundry and an all-night TV marathon were recorded on his to-do list.

“c’mon man. It’s been long since the last time you hang out with us?” Youngjae straightened up from his crouch after closing the washing machine’s door, arching his back to ease the numbing on the lower region. Clipped between his ear and shoulder was his blackberry where pleas of his college friend were coming from the receiver. Convinced that the water level was set properly and the icon for light load was on, he walked back inside his apartment, passed through his tiny kitchen bringing the one-day old muffin and a can of Coke from the fridge and into his living room where his new acquired plasma TV and the inviting but tattered sofa is.

“I’ll try but I’m not promising..I’m busy” He spoke, crumbs of the said treat spilling out from the side of his mouth. He was fast to catch the remnants before it hit his carpet and gave him another cleaning task.

“Busy? Of what? I bet you’re just staying home watching those cheesy action films”

Youngjae rolled his eyes as he poured the little pieces back to his mouth. He put down the half eaten pastry on the coffee table before reaching for the remote, turning it on in time to his favorite reruns.

“I need to go. I’ll call you if my schedule changes. Bye.”

“Yah, Youn—“

And he threw his phone on the other end of the couch, hitting the dolphin plushie that took one third of his couch space. He lifted his feet and placed stretched on top of the table. He laid his back comfortably against the soft backrest, a satisfied grin on his face as his preferred show started on cue.

After an hour of watching TV and as his laundry was hanged clean, the last task left was bringing the trash down. He just did that and was on his way back to his apartment when the landlady of their building met him on the foot of the stairs. The old lady is very kind to him but he never really had a chance to build a relationship with her even after his three years stay. Aside from quick greetings and small smiles when they see each other at the lobby, Youngjae hadn’t really talked with her or even tried making a connection.

“Oh there you are. I just came from your apartment and thought you’re out. Good thing I see you here.” The old woman was smiling wide as she moved closer to him. Youngjae bowed and greeted like how he do almost every day. “Well, you see it’s my birthday and I invited everyone in the building for a small gathering. Also I want to discuss about the new rules for my tenants. You should come..”

Yeah, new rules. Just a week ago he was surprised to see the piece of paper pasted on his door that held the ‘new’ rules that include proper waste segregation, security cameras being installed and the monthly meeting of the tenants, which by the way very unnecessary in his opinion. Not that it really matter now since he’s planning on leaving the place for a far better home near the uptown area. Just a few more months and he can finally complete his deposit money and say goodbye to this shanty.

“Uhm, Happy birthday.” He said it with too much enthusiasm that it gave him a cringe. “I really really want to go but you see..” Think Youngjae, think. “A friend of mine is in town and it is his birthday too. I already promise him that I’ll celebrate it with him. I’m sorry”

The old lady shook her head, her smile still plastered on his wrinkly face. “It’s ok. Your friend is more important. I’ll send you some food tomorrow if there’s still some. Enjoy your night, lad.”

“Neh, Thank you again.” Youngjae waited for the old landlady to disappear to her own apartment before striding up the stairs. He couldn’t believe he just made up that story. He’s getting better at this, he thought as he reached his floor and footsteps echoed through the empty hallway.

“oh, . Now I really need to go out. Ugh, so burdensome.” He groaned as he unlocked his door and entered his home. He looked up at the wall clock on the room and learned that he only have two hours before six. Enough time for him to take a shower, choose an outfit and grab something to eat before heading to the designated meeting place. He should also text his friend and tell him his change of plans.

“it’s just a few drinks and a little chat about whatever, then you’ll be home in no time. You made your friend happy and you saved yourself from a boring party.” He spoke to his reflection on the bathroom mirror, checking for some unwanted hairs on his jaws. He patted the sides of his face before stepping under the warm shower humming an impromptu tune as water hit his skin and washes out the remains of his day.

He is oblivious of anything thinking that it would be just like one of those harmless night outs. He has no idea of the forthcoming events that would tweak his life, a little, and changed it for either, the better or the worst. Well, it entirely depends on him and to how he would accept his unavoidable fate.