When I came home, I was greeted by the usual words.

*Ugly wretch, wicked girl, freeloader, etc.* Luckily, I made it through dinner fine. When dinner ended, my parents went to sleep leaving me with the dishes. I cleaned the table and washed the dishes. I also took out the trash. Suddenly, I felt someone grabbed me from behind. My attacker turned me around to face him. It was the same boy I met in the alley. I began to panic.

“I gave you all my money already! What more do you want from me?” He raised a finger to his lips and tried to shush me. I felt one of my attacks coming on. I started to hyperventilate and couldn’t breathe. I was beginning to black out.

Seung Ho looked at the girl who looked like she was going to die.

“Oh my God! Are you okay?” This time, it was the girl’s turn to shake her head. Then she collapsed in his arms. Seung Ho didn’t know what to do but he had to save her life. He began to give to mouth resuscitation.

“Come on,” he whispered to her.

“Breathe. Don’t die on me.” After a while she began coughing and opened her eyes.

I opened my eyes and saw a blurry object heading towards me. Then I felt something soft pressing against my lips and I felt a gust of air. I realized the boy was giving me air. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I blushed and gently pushed him away.

“Thank you for saving me. I’m okay now.” The boy turned slightly red.

“Uhh… You’re welcome. You kinda scare me there.”

“Sorry about that. Well, what is it that you want from me?”

“Here.” He handed me back the same ten dollars I had given him. I looked up at him.

“No, it’s okay. Keep it. I think you need it or you wouldn’t have tried to rob me.” He shook his head.

“No. I just wanted to borrow it only. I don’t take charity. Well, goodbye.”

Just as he walked away, I heard his stomach rumble. I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t laugh.

Since he didn’t take charity, I said, "Um... Hey, I just made some food and I don’t know if it’s good or not. I need a guinea pig because I don’t want to serve it to my parents and besides, you did save my life."

Seung Ho looked at her.

*Why is she being so nice to me?* he thought. He knew she was just saying that because she heard him say he doesn’t want charity. Seung Ho’s stomach was growling like crazy. He hasn’t eaten for 2 days already and the mention of food was killing him.

“Uh, okay. I guess I’ll be your guinea pig since I have nothing to do.” He studied her face as she smiled at him.

*She’s pretty,* he thought as he smiled back.

---> to be continued...