Chapter 1: Injured Handsome Man

Aria walked quickly with her small legs. She sometimes ran to make her steps faster. The streets were empty now and it a bit scary to walk alone in the midnight, which was one of the reasons why she was in a hurry. Another reason was because she didn't want to miss the last bus tonight.

BANG!!

The loud gunshot made her flinch and immediately froze in place.

The sound of gunfire was very clear in her ears, it was not far from where she was standing.

Aria didn’t dare to step any further. Her heart was beating faster. It's midnight. In a small town like this, it is possible that there will be criminals everywhere. She always remembers her grandmother's advice. But unfortunately, Aria often ignores her own safety.

This is all because of the jobs she is currently doing.

The sound of footsteps and yells of several people from inside the alley, which was only a few hundred meters from where she was currently standing, made her widen her eyes and think fast.

Hide!

Aria quickly hid behind the wall of the small alley right next to her. She glued herself to the wall and hoped that no one would notice her presence.

“Go! Go!” A man's voice shouted. He seemed to be commanding other people. Aria could hear more than two people coming out of the alley where the gunshots came from.

"You sure you killed him?" asked another voice. Aria widened her eyes.

“Not sure. But I could see he was shot.” Then the loud sound of car tires screeching could be heard.

“What are you waiting for?! Let's go!"

Aria closed her eyes and tightly grasped the pendant her grandmother gave her. One hand was ready to hold the pepper sprayer she had prepared from home.

If she was caught here, she could at least spray this pepper in their eyes and run away.

That's what was on her innocent mind.

Good luck was on her side. The car drove away and they were completely unaware of the girl behind the wall in the alley nearby.

Aria waited until she didn't hear the sound of the car anymore. When she was sure that the street was quiet and no one was passing by, Aria slowly poked her head out.

Luckily, the narrow alley where she was hiding was poorly lit. So if someone passed this way, they probably wouldn't notice Aria peeking out of the narrow alley.

She looked around, squinting at every corner of the street. After making sure that this area is indeed empty. She walked out of there.

Aria walked slowly, even tiptoeing a little as she almost approached the alley where she heard the gunshots earlier.

This alley was brighter than the alley where she was hiding. So, Aria dared to stick her head out a little and look inside. At least she had to make sure that no one ambushed her from there. Because if she wanted to go home, she had to go through this alley.

It turns out there was no one there. There is only one large barrel which is used as a temporary trash can.

Just about to breathe a sigh of relief, Aria gasped when she heard a loud sound. It was the trash can. Aria quickly turned around and wanted to run, but she remembered something.

Could it be an injured person?

Aria closed her eyes. She wanted to ignore this, but she always followed her heart.

Aria slowly moved forward and entered the alley. Once again, the large trash can moved, stopping her in her tracks.

Of course she was afraid. What if the person she wants to help is also a bad person?

“Hello?” she whispered softly. Aria took out her pepper spray and started pointing it forward.

"Is anybody there?" Aria asked again. She didn't dare to raise her voice. She was afraid that another bad person would jump out and harm her.

Aria looked behind the trash can and suddenly her eyes widened when she saw a man was sitting there. He appeared to be holding his stomach.

The man was already looking at her sharply.

“S-sir… Are you okay?” Aria asked quietly. Blood dripped from his hand covering the wound on his stomach.

“You think?”

Aria swallowed hard. This scarry man spoke in such a cold tone. Aria looked at him again. He dressed like ordinary human being, t-shirt and trousers, all in black. But she could see the tattoo that covers his left arm. He looked ordinary, but didn’t felt like one. His aura is intimidating

He seemed to be holding his wound, but Aria didn't hear the slightest groan of pain.

Aria couldn't see the his face clearly, because the light here was blocked by this large trash can.

“You're hurt…” Aria walked over. The man remained still and didn't move at all. He appeared to be leaning against the wall.

Maybe he was weak because of the blood flowing from the wound. Aria thought.

She then looked for something in her small bag.

Aria took out a pink handkerchief. She handed it to him.

"Here, use this."

The man didn't flinch for a moment. Aria hesitated. Actually, this didn’t seemed to need her help.

When she was about to withdraw her hand. The man stretched out his bleeding hand and took the handkerchief from Aria.

Aria didn't realize that she had been holding her breath. Even though she couldn't see this man's face clearly, she already felt intimidated by him.

“Ugh…”

Aria's eyes widened. This was the first time she heard the man groan in pain. Aria, who basically has a heart full of sympathy, subconsciously tried to help the man.

"Don't press too hard, this will prevent too much blood from coming out." Aria helped the man put pressure on his wound and tried to calm him down.

“What have you done to meet those people? Are you home from work too?” Aria asked innocently.

"Work? Yes, I'm working?” The man answered. Still in a cold tone.

Aria took a deep breath. “I get that. Some of us really have to work until midnight like this. How did you meet them? Did they rob you?” Aria asked repeatedly.

"You can say that." The man answered briefly.

"Oh no... Wait, I'll call an ambulance and the police." Aria reached back into her small bag. But her stopped her.

The man's big, cold hand held Aria's tiny hand.

"No need. My friend will be here soon.” He said. Aria looked at his face in the darkness. She could see that a pair of eyes were looking at her intently.

"Okay..." Aria nodded. She wanted to let go of his hand, but that cold and big hand still wrapped around her tiny hand.

"Ugh.." The man groaned. Aria panicked again.

"Wait I have something." He let go of her hand and Aria search something into her small bag.

It turned out that the beautiful girl took out a small packet of red candy. She opened it and thrust it into his mouth.

“Aaa…” She asked him to open up his mouth. “This is candy, I don't have any medicine in my bag. But I hope you just focus on this candy.” She said. The man opened his mouth and ate it.

Aria withdrew her hand quickly when accidentally, her finger touched the man's lips.

Aria cleared her throat. "Your friend took a long time, We should call the ambulance." She said. She now sighing in defeat that she just missed the last bus tonight.

"What's your name?" The man's deep voice, made her shudder.

“Jasmine.” She lied. She didn't want to tell her real name to someone she didn't know in a situation like this.

Not long after, a car parked in front of the alley and Aria froze.

"That's my friend." said the man.

“How can you be so sure? What if they were the people who shot you earlier?” Aria then ready to fire her pepper spray.

The man chuckled.

“Young Master!” Several footsteps ran towards them. This made Aria even more afraid.

“Kiel! I'm here!” The man call out to that voice.

Kiel, the one he was calling, arrived. He also wore all black, just like this injured man.

“My friend! You're taking too long. Jasmine and I have been waiting for ages here.” He spoke inddifrently but Kiel gulped in fear.

“F-friend? Young mas…”

"Kiel, my friend, won't you help me?" The man stretched out his tattooed hand, right behind Aria. Meanwhile, Aria was silent and still ready with her pepper spray.

“Yes! Yes. I will help you.” Kiel quickly helped his friend.

Kiel carried his injured friend and now they all stood under the light.

That's where Aria saw how handsome the injured man's face was.

"Don't you want to help me?" Said the man stretched out his hand towards Aria.

“My friend will drive the car, he can't take me there. Ugh…” The man winced in pain. Aria, who was confused, immediately approached him. She took his hand and put it around her shoulders.

Kiel looked confused but he immediately ran to the car to open the door.

Aria was confused. Weren't there a lot of footsteps just now? She didn't see anyone, only his friend who looked very confused.

Why does he look confused,instead of panicking?

Aria helped the man get into the car. She breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, this man would not just die on the side of the road, she thought.

"You're not coming in?" said the man.

"Oh, I'll go straight home." Aria answered.

"By what?" asked the man.

"My friend will take me to the hospital, and also take you home. Just consider this as my gratitude for helping me.” said the man.

Aria hesitated. She didn't know these people. What if they are bad people?

“The people who shot me earlier will definitely come back to check whether I’m dead or not. If they find you, they will definitely kidnap you. Are you sure you want to go home alone?”

Aria pouted after hearing it. Of course she was afraid. With that, she got into the car and closed the door.

It's dark inside the car. Of course, the innocent Aria didn't see the wide grin on that man’s handsome face.