[Warning: This chapter contain slightly strong language, depictions of violence, disturbing content that may not be suitable and upsetting for some readers.]
It has been a few months since you had a new neighbour. It is not the common for people to rent and certainly not a safe place to rent but you actually have no choice. This place was the nearest to public transport facilities and it make easier for you to reach your work place early.
You only saw him once while he was loading all his stuffs in his house with his friends. You were tired and when you arrived, your way were blocked by a few boxes in front of your door. You were quite lost and does not know what to do at the moment because all you could think is get inside and land on the couch. Your back is hurting you badly. Before you could come back to your sense, a man greet you.
He is gorgeous. His hair was not short and not long either. It was a really a nice cut. Though it was midnight, you could see his hair color with the corridor's lights. It was dark brown with a few streaks of blonde. His body was well built too and you could not help but staring at his toned chest. Flustered, you bow back. "Are these yours?", you asks and he nods.
"I'm sorry. I'll move it really quick.", he add before you could say anything. He called his friends to help him with the boxes in front of your door because they were blocking your way. Two of his friends quickly came and apologise you for the inconvenience. Well, if everyone in this world are like this would it be great? , you thought. As soon as they cleared the boxes, he introduced himself and so you did.
However, you never see him again but you know he is still living next to your door. He went out early in the morning and when you came back home, he was probably already home. You reached home every day around midnight which is actually very exhausting but you have no choice.
You are quite happy that you got off work early because most of your works are all done so you head home to cook dinner and accidentally had extra dinner but you are sure that you could not finish it in a day or two even you keep heating it up. So you decided to pack it nicely in a container along with a few side dishes that you mother made for you. They were your favourite.
When you done, you brought it to next door. You ring his bell but no one answer it. So you decided to leave it by the door. You went back into your house and make a note before sliding down under his door.
The next day, the container was no where to be found in front of his door and sigh in relief knowing that he already took the food you left for him. I hope the food is still good when he took it, you thought.
You went out quite early today and to your luck his door unlock and reveal the gorgeous man. "Good morning, Mr. Son Hyunwoo.", you greet him. He was surprise when you greet him but he reply you back anyways. Before you could initiate another conversation he walk away, seems rushing. You look at your watch on you wrist and it was almost eight in the morning.
"It was still early. Why is he so rushing...?", you wonder to yourself.
It has been a few day you went out early in the morning and almost everyday you bumped into him and greets him. He replied you as usual but that just it. He did not seems to initiate anymore conversation so you just brush it off. Well, at least he reply to your morning greetings.
You are not feeling well and decided to take a rest for the day. That night, you went to the nearby convenience store to buy some foods because you were lazy to cook. While you were walking towards your home, someone yanked you away from the street which made you accidentally shout out of surprise. The bag which is full of your foods drops on the ground but you could not care. Seems like your life is in danger now.
The person then covered your mouth, trying muffle down your voice but you were freaking out and bite his palm.
He reeks of alcohol.
The person hissed because of the pain and let you go. "Bitch, that hurt as fuck.", he said.
You recognised that voice and when you were about to run away the man pull you again. It was your abusive ex-boyfriend.
"If you shout again, I'll beat you up.", he said as he pushed you against the wall in the alley.
"What do you want?", you bravely ask him though you were scared of him. You should not be scared of him anymore. He is no one and he cannot hurt you anymore. He can't hurt me anymore, you told yourself. You tried to push him away from you but he was too strong.
"Stop it!", he said and slammed your back onto the wall and slapped your face. The slap hurt so much and it stings. You could taste a little blood in your mouth and as you faced him to slap him back, his hand was already reach your chin. "Didn't I tell you to not run away from me? How dare you!", he brought it closer to his face.
"Fuck off!", you kicked his shin and he dropped on the floor because of the pain. As he let go of you, you quickly run away towards your home. However, he was quick on his feet. When you turn around he was almost half way to you.
Quickly, you ran upstairs to your door and unlock the door. As soon as you open the door, someone pushed you inside which made you tripped and bump onto your flower pot. It made a loud crash. Before you could processes what was happening, you fell something blunt hit you on the head and drop on the floor.
Hyunwoo was washing the dishes as he heard the next door key lock beep. He look at the time on the wall it was almost midnight and shook his head. It was late and dangerous for a woman like you to come home.
Every morning he went out early to jog around the town and came home past working hours. By the time, he knew you already went to work. He work too but he barely have to step out from the house. Most of his works required him to work from home which is he is thankful for. He just need to be in the studio once in a while. At least, he has his basic equipments that he needs.
He choose to rent in this neighbourhood because it is unnecessary loud like the big city. It was not quiet but it was not loud which is just nice.
He still could not forget the day he move in next to your house. Normally, people would upset and annoyed to come home with a few boxes blocking your way after a tiring day at work but you are not. From the way you stood and the way your eyes look, he knew you were tired but you were still polite. Like, the way you asks about those boxes that were blocking your way.
"She shouldn't be home that late.", Hyunwoo sigh as he rinse his dishes before putting it aside to wipe it dry. He was about to switch off the light in the kitchen area then he heard something crash coming from your house. He tried to shake it off, maybe she accidentally drop something. Then, he heard a loud thump on the wall before he heard your scream. Quickly, he unlock the door and went straight to your door. Thank goodness the door was unlock.
As he entered the house, he saw a few drops of blood at the entrance and some of the blood smeared on the wall. He saw the crashed flower pot on the floor and quickly running inside without any thought. There, he saw a man on top of you who were lying on the ground. He was chocking you as you were struggling to escape from his grip.
"You piece of shit!", Hyunwoo shout which made the man startled because of the sudden presence.
"Who the fu-", Before the man could even stand up to attack him, Hyunwoo launched a punch on his face which made him stumble a few steps back. "Pick your own size, fucker.", Hyunwoo growled at him.
He made his way towards Hyunwoo in an attempt to attack him again but failed when Hyunwoo managed to block his punch. Hyunwoo grabbed the same arm that the man use to throw a punch and make a twist before throwing him on the floor. The man groaned in pain.
Seeing the man laid on the floor in pain because of his act previously, Hyunwoo grabbed him by the collar off his shirt and throw some punches on his face. The man was beaten badly and he could barely open his eyes. Hyunwoo really did him some numbers. The man probably ended up with a broken nose too.
Slowly, Hyunwoo stood up and made his way towards you who where crying in the corner, scared for your life. He approached and crouched at your level and still mind the gap between you and him, to make you feel comfortable and less terrified.
His deep and low voice turns into a husky one as he call for your name. You did not respond to him and he try again a few time, did not forget to mention his name too, just in case. Slowly you lift up your face and you saw him in front of you. He was close to you and he was being careful. Trying to not freak you out.
He saw a few cuts and bruises on your pretty face. Before he could reach out, you throw yourself on him, hugging him. For once, you feel save in a man arms. As for now you could careless what he think about you, you just need to feel safe at the moment.
Hyunwoo was surprise with the sudden hug but he did not complain. To your surprise, he wrapped his arms around you too, it made you calm down. His palm went up and down on your back.
"Everything is okay now.", Hyunwoo trying to assure you and he could feel that you nods against his chest. Not letting you go, he took out his phone in his pocket and dial 119.
You were hospitalised for a few days and Hyunwoo never fail to visit you.
"You're not working today?", you asks on the first day he visited you in the hospital. It was afternoon and you are quite sure he should be working right now because it was not even lunch time yet.
"My time of working is flexible, no worries.", he smiles. He look more beautiful when he smile like that. His eye-smiles is the cutest. "I worked from home anyway. Just need to went out a few times.", he added and you nods.
The doctor delivered you a good news. You can be discharge today. You were done changing into your own clothes and slowly tidying some of your stuffs on the bedside desk. You had no choice but to move slowly because your body still aches from the incident.
As for your ex-boyfriend, he was was arrested. That is all you wanted to know and it is all matter. Thank goodness that no legal action are taken against Hyunwoo because it was basically a self defence though he did give your ex-boyfriend a few bruises.
"Why don't you wait for me?", the familiar deep voice startled you and made you jump a bit. "Oh, sorry.", he smile sheepishly.
"Ready to go home?", he asked and you nods. He took the bag that had a few of your stuffs from your hand. It was not heavy at all but he insisted on carrying it for you.
"I think you should stay in my house for a few days.", he said. You gave him a look, wondering why. "Your house was a mess with the bloods all over the place. I don't think it's a good idea.", he add.
"It's okay, I can clean it up."
"Like this?", he scoffs. "You should rest. Me and my friend would clean it all up. Just tell us the do's and don'ts."
"There's nothing much.", you said. Both of you was silent until you both reach his house. As soon as he closed the door, you turn around and faced him.
"Why?", he asks.
"Thank you so much.", you smiles. "You save my life.", you added.
"You're welcome.", he shyly smiles back at you.