After reading her message over and over. Suddenly, the mundane world around me seemed brighter, as if painted anew by her presence. My daydream was cut short when a football smacked my head with a resounding thud. I blinked, rubbing my temple, and turned to see Hyuga and Gin doubled over, laughing hysterically.

"Nice aim, you jerks!" I shouted, stomping toward them, feigning anger.

Still clutching their heads, Hyuga managed to stammer, "Sorry, couldn't resist! You looked too... lovestruck."

Lovestruck? I wanted to protest, but the truth was written all over me. Instead, I let out a resigned sigh.

The evening turned into a casual game of football at the park with our usual group of friends. Honjo, who was miraculously recovering from the bruises and wounds he'd earned joined us. Seeing him standing tall and grinning as he ran across the field was a relief. For a moment, the horrors of that night in the warehouse felt distant, like a faded nightmare.

After a few rounds, Uchi, panting and sweaty, announced his departure. "Part-time job's calling," he muttered, waving us off. Slowly, the game disbanded. I found myself walking home alone under the dim glow of streetlights.

My house greeted me with silence. Darkness sprawled across every corner, and the cold air inside felt more unwelcoming than the chilly breeze outside. 

Sweat soaked through my shirt, clinging uncomfortably to my skin. My hair was a chaotic mess, resembling a bird's nest after a storm. I sighed, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. First things first—I needed a shower to feel human again. Afterward, I planned to cook dinner. Unfortunately, the kitchen offered little comfort: the only food available was instant noodles. The fridge was barren, too, leaving me no choice but to head to the supermarket for groceries.

For the past week, I'd been surviving on a steady diet of instant noodles and convenience store frozen meals. It wasn't doing my health any favors, so I resolved to cook something wholesome. I decided on Panang and Pad Krapow—flavors of home that always brought comfort. If there were leftovers, I could store them for the next day. With renewed determination, I grabbed my shopping list and headed to the supermarket.

I navigated the aisles efficiently, collecting all the ingredients I needed for my recipes. My stomach growled as I placed the last item in my basket, reminding me how hungry I was. All I could think about was getting home and cooking a proper meal. Bags in hand, I stepped into the parking lot, lighting a cigarette to unwind. The cool evening air felt refreshing until an unsettling sight caught my attention—a group of men, five in total, surrounding someone.

As I approached, my heart sank. They were harassing a girl, their laughter and crude remarks echoing in the parking lot. My pulse quickened when I realized who it was. Momo?

I didn't think. Instinct took over. I grabbed a cabbage from my grocery bag and hurled it at one of the men. It hit him square in the back, making him turn in shock. The momentary distraction gave Momo the chance to bolt toward me. She clung to my side, trembling, her tears streaking her pale cheeks.

"Don't worry," I said firmly, positioning myself between her and the men. "Stay behind me."

She nodded, her breath shaky as she tried to calm herself.

The men turned their attention to us, closing in with smug grins. "We just wanted her name and number, that's all." one of them said, shrugging as if their actions were harmless. Another chimed in, "She didn't have to make such a big deal out of it."

"She's not interested," I snapped. "And you need to respect her decision. Back off."

One of them reached out toward Momo, but before his hand could touch her, I delivered a swift kick to his torso. He crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain. The others didn't take kindly to that. They lunged at me in unison, but I was ready. I flung my grocery bag at them, momentarily disorienting the group. What followed was almost muscle memory—a blur of punches and kicks.

One by one, they fell. When the last man standing saw his friends sprawled on the ground, he turned tail and ran. I didn't bother chasing him; the fight was over.

I turned back to Momo, who was still shaking. "Are you okay?" I asked gently. She nodded, her voice caught in her throat.

We glanced at the retreating figure of the final man, then back at each other. Despite the chaos, we couldn't help but laugh—a nervous, cathartic release. I handed her a tissue, and she took it with a small, grateful smile.

"What were you doing here, anyway?" I asked, curious.

She explained that the maids had a rest day, so she and her cousins decided to cook dinner. While preparing the meal, they realized they were missing some ingredients, so she volunteered to make a quick trip. But while waiting for the bus, the men dragged her into the parking lot.

"Why didn't you call your driver?" I asked.

"The car's being used by Mina's parents," she said, adding sheepishly, "And I don't know how to drive."

That explained a lot. I offered her a ride home on my motorcycle, handing her the spare helmet. She hesitated for a moment but finally agreed, giving me directions to her house.

As we rode through the city, her directions led us to a gated subdivision. When the guard saw Momo, he immediately waved us through. My eyes widened as we entered—this was no ordinary neighborhood. The houses here were enormous, each one more luxurious than the last.

"Turn left here," Momo instructed, and my jaw dropped. At the end of the street stood a white mansion, its grandeur taking up the entire block. It had four stories, a massive compound, and security cameras perched on every corner.

Momo hopped off the bike and thanked me. As she approached the gate, she pressed the intercom. A familiar voice crackled through the speaker.

"Momo, what took you so long?" It was Sana. Moments later, Sana and Mina burst through the gate, rushing toward us.

Their relief was evident as Momo recounted what had happened. They turned to me, bowing deeply in gratitude. Even Momo, who had always looked at me with disdain, now wore a genuine smile.

"Please, join us for dinner," Mina offered warmly.

I hesitated, but before I could decline, Momo interjected. "You lost your groceries, right? At least eat something decent tonight."

Their mansion was just as grand inside as it was outside. As I parked my motorcycle inside their spacious garage, Mina accompanied me, her presence both calming and slightly nerve-wracking. Meanwhile, Momo and Sana had already disappeared inside, presumably to continue preparing the dishes. The parking area was impressive, housing sleek luxury cars that gleamed under the soft lights. My bike felt like an odd outsider among the expensive vehicles.

Mina stood nearby, her arms crossed but her demeanor relaxed. "Was this another coincidence that you bumped into my cousin?" she asked, a teasing glint in her eyes. Her tone was light, but I could feel the subtle weight of curiosity in her question. My palms grew clammy, and I struggled to come up with an explanation.

"I—uh, I don't know why these things keep happening," I stammered, feeling a bit defensive. Mina let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as if amused by my flustered state.

"Relax, Chaeng," she said with a grin. "I was just teasing you."

Before I could respond, the sound of an engine pulling into the driveway drew our attention. A sleek black car rolled through the automatic gates, and I immediately recognized it as belonging to Mina's parents. They stepped out with an air of effortless grace, their presence exuding warmth despite their polished appearance.

"Chaeyoung!" Mina's father exclaimed as soon as he saw me. "It's good to see you again."

"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Myoui," I greeted, bowing respectfully.

Mina quickly filled them in on what had happened to Momo. Her mother gasped, a hand flying to her chest, while her father's expression hardened with concern.

"You're telling me someone tried to harass Momo? In the grocery store parking lot?" her mother asked, disbelief coloring her voice.

"Yes," Mina confirmed. "But Chaeyoung stepped in and took care of it."

Her father turned to me, his eyes filled with both gratitude and admiration. "You have our deepest thanks for protecting Momo. Who knows what could have happened if you weren't there."

"It was nothing, really," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks heat up under their praise.

"Well," he said, clapping me on the shoulder, "it's much better to continue this story inside while filling our empty stomachs. Come on, let's eat."

I followed the family inside, trying not to gape at the grandeur of the house. The interiors were elegant but not overbearing—each piece of furniture and décor seemed carefully chosen to balance luxury with comfort. The dining room was a spectacle on its own, with a long wooden table adorned with pristine white linens and a centerpiece of fresh flowers.

Momo and Sana had already set the table, and the aroma of delicious food wafted through the air. I could see plates of steaming dishes—Pad Thai, green curry, and a beautiful platter of fresh spring rolls. Momo looked up as we entered, her expression softening when our eyes met. It was hard to reconcile this version of her with the terrified girl I'd just protected a few hours ago.

As we took our seats, Mr. Myoui raised a glass of water in a small toast. "To Chaeyoung," he said. "Our family owes you for your courage today."

"Oh, no need for that," I said quickly, feeling shy under the spotlight. "I just did what anyone else would've done."

"Not everyone would step in the way you did," Mina's mom replied warmly. "Please, eat to your heart's content."

Dinner was lively, filled with conversations that flowed easily. Momo was still a bit quiet but managed to smile occasionally when the others joked about her tendency to get into "adventures." Sana, ever the lively one, regaled everyone with a funny story about their last family trip, leaving us all in stitches.

But it was Mina who held my attention the most. She seemed so at ease, laughing freely and occasionally throwing in witty comments that made everyone chuckle. I couldn't help but admire how effortlessly she balanced her warmth with an air of quiet confidence.

At one point, her older brother, Kai, leaned toward me. "Mina told me you're into motorcycles," he said, his eyes lighting up. "I have a Honda CBR500R. Do you ride often?"

The conversation shifted to bikes, and Kai and I hit it off immediately. We exchanged stories about our experiences with motorcycles, from tuning engines to the thrill of the open road. When I mentioned that I occasionally participated in street racing, his jaw dropped in amazement.

"No way," he said. "I've always wanted to try that, but my parents would kill me."

I laughed. "It's definitely not something I'd recommend, but it has its moments."

After dinner, Kai invited me to check out his bike in the garage, but Mina stopped me before I could follow him. "Wait," she said, her voice softer than before. "Can we talk for a moment?"

We stepped onto the balcony overlooking the garden. The night air was cool, and the stars twinkled above us. Mina leaned against the railing, her gaze distant.

"Thank you," she said after a moment. "For everything you did today—for Momo."

"I just did what anyone would've done," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

"No," she said firmly, turning to face me. "Not everyone would have. And not everyone would've been able to handle it the way you did." Her eyes held a sincerity that made my heart race.

"It's nothing," I repeated, though my voice came out quieter this time. "I just... I don't like seeing people get hurt."

She smiled, a soft, almost knowing smile. "You're a good person, Chaeng. Even if you try to hide it behind that tough exterior."

Before I could respond, the sound of laughter drifted from the dining room, breaking the spell of the moment. Mina glanced back toward the house, then back at me.

"Come on," she said, a playful glint returning to her eyes. "Let's not keep Kai waiting."

The evening wound down, and I knew it was time to leave. As I prepared to ride off, Momo came up to me. Her usual aloof demeanor had melted away, replaced with genuine gratitude.

"Chaeyoung," she began hesitantly. "I'm sorry for how I treated you before. I misjudged you, but now... thank you. For everything."

I smiled and extended a hand. "Friends?"

She laughed, shaking my hand. "Friends."

As I started the engine, I glanced back one last time. Mina was standing at the gate, watching me with a smile. I waved, and she waved back, her expression warm and unguarded.

Riding home, I couldn't help but grin. The events of the day had been chaotic, but somehow, it had all led to something unexpectedly meaningful.

"Chaeng," I muttered to myself, "you're so lucky."