JESSICA’S POV

I stood there, feet rooted on the ground, body frozen as a what seemed to be out of control truck is rushing my way.

I closed my eyes, hoping that if I do this, the pain would lessen.

I felt so useless. I just waited for the next thing to happen to me, which could possibly end my life.

Then, I felt someone grab me.

No!

Hug me and carried me to the other side of the street, the safer side.

I felt my body touch the cemented flooring of the streets, and as I felt its coldness, the hold of my saviour got tighter.

Yes, he’s my saviour, my hero.

Then I heard loud blasting sound. That made me dig my head deeper onto my hero’s chest.

I couldn’t bare looking at what the outcome of the accident that nearly took my life.

Tears just kept on falling from my eyes. The thought of something bad could have happened to me didn’t leave my mind. It was very traumatizing.

I felt a hand caress my hair and check my arms, his touch so gentle.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?” my hero asked.

I didn’t have the strength to speak, my strength can only make sobbing sounds. After what happened, I felt as if all the energy I had was drained out of me.

The whole time I was in my he’s arms, tears were just falling.

Unstoppable sobs.

Unending tears.

Maybe my hero also noticed that I was not feeling alright emotionally. He tried to comfort me. I could feel him trying.

“It’s alright. You’re safe now. No one got hurt in the incident. Even the driver got out safely. It’s alright now.”

I didn’t know why, but I found myself a bit comforted after he said those words. Slowly, less and less tears fell from my eyes until those tears didn’t fall anymore.

“If you’re hurt anywhere, just tell me and I’ll bring you to the hospital.”

“I-I’m okay. No need. Gomawo.” I answered.

I don’t know how thankful I am of him. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.

Out of reflex...

I hugged him tightly and kept on thanking him, and I also felt him hug back. I said thank you for the nth time before deciding to look at his face to know who my hero is. He was still caressing my hair, which I found very comfortable and relieving.

I said my thank you to him for the last time, and slowly lifted my head to see the face of my lifesaver.

At first, it was a difficult for me to see the face of the guy because my eyes had to adjust to the darkness and my eyes are a bit swollen.

And the image began to get clearer and clearer until I could clearly see his face.

 “Donghae-ssi?!”

DONGHAE’S POV

“Donghae-ssi?!” she asked, shock can be heard in her voice.

She has been my classmate for the past two years, and now.. for the third year. And even though we’ve been classmates for that long, we’re not close. Let’s just say we’re just familiar with each other.

It was only this afternoon that we were formally introduced to each other.

Scratch this thought. Why am I talking about our “relationship” with each other at this time?

Looking at her, I know she’s okay physically, but emotionally... I know she’s still unstable.

I supported her to stand up, I know that our friends are still inside, not knowing about what’s happening here outside.

I decided to take full responsibility of her for tonight, since I already started, might as well take care of her until she gets better.

Looking at her, I realized that her features are so familiar, not because she’s my classmate and all. As I look at her, there’s this blurry image I see in my mind.

There was a loud noise coming from the sirenes commotion because the firefighters and rescuers arrived at the scene. No one got hurt, but they just made sure everything is okay and no traffic can be caused from the truck incident.

I felt her head turn into the direction of where the truck crashed into, and she suddenly fell on the ground again. I was about to help her when the guard and other employees of the bar came over and helped her.

The same set of questions I asked to her previously was asked to her again. Many questions were asked, but all she did was stare at them with a blank face.

I could see that she’s still bothered about the accident. The bar manager was there, but when he saw me, he smiled and said..

“You paid back your debt after all.” then left me.

That statement left me wondering. What did he mean?

Did I owe anyone something?  (O . O)

I don’t remember being in debt with anyone.

All the other employees followed the manager and went back to the bar. When they left, I saw her forcing herself to stand up but to no avail, her body dropped to the ground once again.

“I know you’re still bothered and your mind isn’t really focused. Let me drive you, so that you could go home safely. Is that alright with you?”

She just looked at me and nodded. After seeing her face, I realized how she looked so fragile just like a piece of thin glass. I couldn’t help but to help and take care of her.

“Let’s just use my car, I’ll ask the guard here to check your car.”

I held her hand for her to be able to follow me. But wait.. she could still follow me without me holding her hand. My brain was screaming ‘Let go of her hand!’, but something inside me doesn’t want to. Tss.

I’m just concerned. She might be spacing out any time soon, and when that happens, she can’t follow me. Yeah.

I’m just concerned. That’s all.

We’re already here in my car. Of course I already let go of her hand. It would be unnecessary for me to still hold on to her hand.

The whole ride was deafening due to the silence. The only time sound escapes is when she tells me what direction I should turn to.

From time to time, I would look at her via my rear-view mirror, and could see her flawless face that is now covered by sadness.

“Thank you.” She said with a low voice when we’re already in front of their house.

“You’re welcome. Take your rest now.” I replied.

Before getting out of my car and head to their house, she just gave me a sly smile and nodded. I was just their in my car, waiting for her to get in their house before leaving.

Just to make sure she gets in safely.

Well, come to think of it, what could possibly happen to her on her to their door? Tss.  Me and my crazy thoughts. ( - _ - )

I was expecting her to directly go inside their house after going out of my car, but she stopped, went back and knocked on my car’s window. So I opened it.

“Could I ask you a favour?” she asked.

“Sure?” I answered unsurely.

“Umm. Please don’t tell anyone about what had happened. I just don’t want to bother them anymore. Just cover up the incident, you could just say that it’s because of what happened inside the bar. If that’s okay with you.” She said.

I was amazed on how she cares for the people around her, that I couldn’t help but grant her request. I just gave her a nod and a smile.

She already entered their house, so I felt kind of relieved. I’ve done my part.

I opened my phone and saw a bunch of texts and missed calls.

“What happened to Jessica?”

“Is she with you?”

“Is she alright?”

“Where are you right now?”

“Where is she?”

“Are you together?”

And a whole lot more. I just gave them the simplest reply..
 

“She’s alright now. I took her home.”

Then I just turned off my phone. Knowing my friends, as soon as they receive that reply, they won’t stop disturbing me until they get the information they want.

Though I arrived home peacefully, I still couldn’t stop myself from worrying for her.

Two traumatizing things happened to her in one day, it couldn’t possibly get any worse. I hope it doesn’t.

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The next day came and as expected, the guys and gals swarmed me with questions. However, I only gave them one answer...

“Nothing bad happened to her. She got home safely.”

Maybe they knew that they couldn’t get any other answer from me, so they stopped asking.

All day long, I had this feeling that I was looking for something.... or someone. I don’t exactly know who or what.

While walking down the hallway, my head kept turning from left to right and on and on again.

“Hey Donghae, what are you searching for?” –Siwon

“Don’t tell me you’re looking for Yoona, and still hoping for her to come back to you?” –Kyuhyun

“Bro, don’t look for her anymore. She’s not worth it.” –Hyuk

“Tss. Nothing. And what?! Why would I even look for her?”

“Good to know that you’re not looking for her anymore. But don’t tell us you’re not looking for something because that’s the most obvious lie you could tell us.” –Kyu

“What are you saying? Tss. Stop saying nonsense.”

“Whatever you say,bro. Whatever you say.” –Hyuk while raising both of his hands, like he’s surrendering or something.

We arrived at our classroom, and I was still kind of bothered about something I don’t even know. My eyes roamed around our whole room, and stopped when I spotted her seat. That’s when I realized what...

I mean who I was looking for.

She wasn’t there yet. Just like the usual mornings during class days, my classmates were noisy, most especially on the part of the room where Kyu and Siwon are located. Their admirers were like screaming due to.. I don’t know.. extreme happiness?

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The day passed by peacefully, people stopped bothering me. But I still got bothered.

She didn’t come to class today. It wasn’t only us who were bothered about her absence, bit almost everyone inside the classroom. Though they try their best to “whisper” to each other, I still could hear them talking.

“where do you think is Jessica? It’s already late and she hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Yeah. Did something bad happen to her? It’s not like she’s the type to just not attend school because she doesn’t feel like it.”

Blah Blah Blah and Blah! I could hear many more like that. Ugh!

Since they whisper so quietly *insert extreme sarcasm*, it’s not impossible that the other girls here their chattering. And because of this, they look even more worried than they already were minutes ago.

All day, they were checking their phones from time to time. I guess they’re hoping to get a word from her.

I wanted to tell them about what happened outside the bar the other night, but I promised Jessica that I wouldn’t. I’m in a dilemma! Ugh! ( > . < )

As soon as the bell rang, signalling that it’s already dismissal, I went out of school.  I know that they wouldn’t give a damn about where I’ll be anyway..

Siwon and Kyuhyun will be busy girl hunting

Eunhyuk will exhaust himself to death by practicing his dance routine again.

Leeteuk will go to his girlfriend.

For short, those things would already take their attention.

As for me, I don’t exactly know where to go, but I’m quite sure home isn’t that place.

But there’s this one place I have in mind. Don’t get any malicious thoughts! I just want to check if the car is still there or it was already taken. I’m just concerned. That’s all.

Actually, there are two reason why I’m on my way to the bar right now.

The girl who helped me the other night and Jessica...... ‘s car.

Who do I think more?

Well, I don’t know. All I know is they’re the reason why I’m not being emo-ish right now. They’re directing my attention in a different direction.

“Are you here to pick up your girlfriend’s car, Sir?”, said the guard of the bar.

So her car is still here, which means she hasn’t gone here yet.

Wait...

What?

“Oh. No. No, she’s not my girlfriend. She’s just a...”, she’s my what again? Should I refer to her as my friend? Well Leeteuk introduced us to each other anyway, and since we, by ‘we’ I mean our cliques, hanged out last night I think it can be called as that.

So much for hanging out. It almost took away someone’s life.

“a........ friend.”

“Oh. My bad. I’m sorry, Sir.”

That was awkward. Now, for the second reason why I’m here.

Nice timing! I remember him from last night, he’s the bar manager who told me something about me paying back my debt.

“Oh. Hello again, Sir. I see you’re back to our bar today. Can I help you with anything?”

I guess he knew I needed something from him. But should I ask him straightforwardly or should I start with an introduction?

Whatever. It’ll still end up asking him anyway, so why make the short story long?

“Yeah. You actually can.”

“Let me guess, Sir. Is it about what happened to you the other night?”

What the? How did he know? Is he a mind reader or something. Out of amazement, I just answered him with a nod.

“I knew it. But I’m sorry, Sir. It’s up to you to discover it. We wouldn’t know, you might thank me in the end. I’ll go ahead first, Sir. Enjoy your night here in the bar.”, and with that, he left.

Why does this manager keep on giving me riddle-like sentences that makes me ask more questions?

I was about to ask him, again, about what he meant, but he vanished in the sea of people.

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My inspiration for writing this chapter? SJ's song Hero. Watch the video~ ^O^
Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXElaajC5zA