seven years later.

hyerim usually loved rain. it was refreshing, and always left this strange, yet delightful, earthy scent in the air. though, that particular morning was an exception.

rain in the city on a monday morning was the worse thing that could happen, for it meant more traffic jams, more cars barking at each other, and more immense headaches. cycling as fast as she could with her weak lungs, she zoomed past buildings on her bicycle, hoping she hadn't missed her job interview.

"hEY WATCH OUT!" hyerim cried as her bicycle rolled uncontrollably into the back of a hooded man who strolled casually down the rainy sidewalk.

when her bicycle tumbled into him, he fell face forward and landed on his arm, his hand being twisted in a very concerning manner. she screamed, causing several passers-by to shoot her looks of confusion, as she hopped off her bike and stumbled to the side of the groaning man.

"h-hello? are you okay?" she asked in a panic, kneeling down beside the person, her hands reaching for his shaking wrist. it was bent upwards in a grotesque angle, painstakingly purple and swollen. "i am so so so sorry! please let me take you to a doctor-" hyerim cried, bending her head in an apologetic bow.

her eyes slid helplessly towards the man. his black hood had fallen off his head, allowing her to take a closer look at his face— half of which was covered with a black face mask. this man had a head of dark, ebony hair that grazed beneath his eyebrows in thick, waves.

he had huge black eyes and pale skin— like two black ink blots splattered on a white sheet of paper. heavy eye bags hung underneath his dark eyes, as if he had not slept in days. he looked at hyerim with agony in his eyes as he took in her features...

"...hy-"

"taxi! taxi, over here!" the man was interrupted by her desperate pleas, as she frantically waved at a silver cab on the road. the taxi pulled up next to them.

glancing at her watch strapped on her wrist, she realised her interview was occurring in ten minutes.

the interview, or the man.

the man's dark eyes glanced at her with such an intense scrutiny that she was scared of the consequences she would face if she left him in the lurches. not that she would!

hyerim heaved deeply, before reaching down and pulling him up. the masked man steadied himself, shrugging away her hands. "don't overexert yourself," he mumbled. hyerim could barely hear him as she bit her lips in anxiety.

"i'll bring you to the hospital..." she assured him nervously, feeling tiny as the injured man loomed over her short frame. he was at least a head and a half taller than her, and had to tilt his head down to look into her eyes.

she held his broken wrist with utmost care as she urged him inside the taxi.

"miss, i'm afraid my taxi's boot can't fit your bicycle," the driver said with an apologetic look. hyerim glanced at the boot, that was filled with magazines and empty bottles of beer. she sighed inwardly, her temples nearly popping out of her skull. first she lost her potential job, then her only bicycle.

"it's all right... please drive to the nearest hospital! quickly!" she bowed to the driver, fists clenched on her lap. the injured man did not say a word, and continued to stare at his feet.

this masked man better be thankful for being hit by such a nice lady.