The five thugs are on their knees, panting for breath and glaring with ferocity at two standing figures in front of them.

Airiqa takes a few paces back, the air goes inside her lungs as fast it goes out of them. The one she spared with before, have had his nose bleed, she hopes it is already broken. Her back hit someone, she flinches. Her wide eyes flicker towards the red haired guy. She wets her lips and gulps.

Her eyes shine: 'What do we do now?'

He returns her gaze with twinkles in his eyes. He grabs her right hand. The red haired guy's lips twitch into a sick smirk.

Then, they run.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY! "

By the time, the head of the thugs get into his sense back and cursing in rage, the two already goes past the exit.

They run, the red haired guy ahead, pulling Airiqa along with him.

Airiqa didn't know how long have they been running, how much turns have they take, are they still be chased..

The eyes of the passerby, pedestrians, and even those who are in their vehicle, flicker weirdly to them. She thinks she barely recognises them somehow from her fast daring glances.

She closes her eyes tight as her feet tries their best to keep up with the fast long feet of the red haired guy.

They stop.

Airiqa stoops, pillaring her sweaty yet cold hands on her knees. She sends her dark brown orbs wild around them. A neighbourhood. They are in a neighbourhood, in a lane behind the houses' backyards.

The evening air hits her face and cools her down. Her wild eyes didn't take any sight of the thugs, which finally makes her breath.

"Oh God, whatever did I got myself into?" she murmurs to herself.

She glances at the also stooping tall figure beside her.

His face is white, drenches with perspiration. His white school shirt sticks close to his chest and back. He slopes aside to her.

Airiqa spontaneously slips herself under his over warm arm. Eyes wide as she inhales to bear his weight passed on her. His head tilts, hitting her head side.

"Leave me here.. I can manage on my own. " His hot breath expires against her ear and neck.

He took four of them on his own. She only took one, maybe.. she shouldn't have tried to help him right? So maybe yes, he still can manage on his own.

She sneers at herself.

Airiqa blinks her long lashed eyes.

Her house is in this neighbourhood.

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The damp fluffy texture on his forehead chills down his fever. He can feel it since the stinging headache has slightly reduce.

His throat is scorching. The red haired guy fight with the pain that attacks him as he opens his teary eyes.

He sits, catching the damp towel in his warm hand. He gulps. His tired eyes automatically examine the bedroom. He takes out something from his pocket.

At the moment, the bedroom door swings open, appealing a girl with braided hair pulled over to her side, carrying a tray containing a jug of crystal clear water, an upside down glass, a mug and a few packets of pills.

Red orbs on dark brown orbs for two seconds. Airiqa forces her eyes away. Her cheeks flush. She holds down her chin and proceeds to put the tray down to her bedside table.

A bit stooping, she pours down the clear water into the glass then gives it to him. He takes it, gulping down the liquid slowly through his larynx.

"I don't know which pills do you take, so I just grab every pills for headache and fever I found in the cabinet. Just leave them be if you didn't take any of their types."

Airiqa's voice is hardly clear, but enough for him to hear. He pulls out one of the white tablets and gulps it down along with the water.

He frowns as she holds out the mug filled with milk to him. But still, he takes it. He licks the cream off his lips and tilts the mug upside down in front of Airiqa. Her lips widen to a small smile.

"What did your parents said when you brought home a male under his arm?" His tired but sharp eyes flicker towards the bit slid cream coloured curtains.

Telling him is not a good idea. But hey, she had "helped" him with no reason so..?

"My mom isn't home from work yet."

And before she does come home, he must be out.

He lifts up the warm comforter off his feet upon her words.

Airiqa's eyeballs rise up as he stands, towering her with his height. "I shall go."

She didn't hinder him. She trails him from behind, watching his every steps.

At the front door, he turns towards her. "Where is this? "

She tells him. He makes the phone call. And they wait. Awkwardly standing beside each other in silence.

After a long awkward 15 minutes, they heard a car engine outside of her home. Airiqa hauls herself forward. What if the car is her mom's?

She can hold her long enough for him to hide, back in her bedroom. When whoever he called comes, she will shoves him out of the bedroom window, of course he will get down using a ladder underneath and her mom will never know about her bringing a stranger home. A male stranger.

But instead, it is a black car which don't belong to her mom. The red haired guy steps out from the door, pushing Airiqa forward on the way.

"Anxious, aren't you?" He smirks, stopping just outside the front gate.

Airiqa bits her lip and averts her eyes to her side. "Who won't be? You're a stranger after all."

She glances at him, his eyes twinkle.

Inhaling, he speaks.

"My name is 'Dear'! Thank you for helping me, and for your hospitality, miss Iris Airiqa Sreward."

He bows! Adding to Airiqa's surprise.

She wants to say something but her voice won't comes, her lips stayed apart as he spares her his smirk and get into the backseat. The car drives away, Airiqa eyes the vehicle with astonishment.

"When... did I introduce myself to him?"

She mumbles.

Ruffling her fringe, she turns back to the inside of the house.

Her mom's car engine's sound stops her from entering. She waits for her moms to come out of the car.

"Hi, mom!"

Her mom, Mrs. Caroline instead replies.

"Who's that guy just now?"

Airiqa eyes widen in horror and she frowns,

"Just someone asking for direction."

'Keep it cool, Airiqa. Just, cool. ' she monologues.

She thinks of something then hauls her gaze to her mom.

"Did you wait at the junction to see who it is? "

Cause if she doesn't she would have to arrive behind the black car to see.

Her mom held her chin up to Airiqa.

"Can't I? Who know I might see that this adorable daughter of mine finally get herself a boyfriend." With that, her mom laugh.

"He wasn't bad, got the striking look, what? With the red hair. And he bowed as 'thank you' too, what a gentleman!"

Airiqa giggles herself, then slowly fades it. She shakes her head.

"I don't even know him, mom."

'My name is 'Dear'!'

--------------------------A/N-----------------------------

Hey there, wattpaders~

Thank you for giving "Dear_" its first 100th view~!

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-kuroangel15-