1 Chapter 1

-jiyeon-

I was walking down the street as I sip my Iced Americano on my way back home. It was the last day of school so all of my friends decided that we should stop by at a cafe.

High school was hard, I was glad I will be graduating high school next year. I barely made it out alive and I'm almost there. College, I'm coming!

"Ugh, help!" a voice called.

I froze at my position and waited for the voice to call out again. I prepared my phone so that I could call the police if anything happens.

"Please help!" it was now screaming.

I quickly determined where the voice came from and it seemed to be around the alley on my way to my house. As I drew closer, I saw a person on the ground. His wrists were tied up and he was blindfolded.

I panicked that accidentally spilled my drink to let him go. I quickly untied him and took off his blindfold. I gasped as I cover my mouth in shock.

"WHY ARE YOUR EYES LIKE THIS? WHO DID THIS TO YOU?" I cupped the person's face as I scrutinized his eyes which are in a strange state. It looks scary and damaged. His face was bruised and he can't move his body properly. "Tell me! So that we could report this to the police!"

"I-" his voice cracked. His voice must've been lost due to his yelling. "I-I didn't see their faces."

"Their faces?!" I replied as I tried to make him stand up. "Can you see?"

He shook his head, which made my heart heavy. Why would they do this to him? Whoever did this, they are not human at all!

I sighed as I took him home. I opened the door and put him down gently on the couch. I looked for the first aid kit so that I could treat his wounds immediately. However, when I took a look at it earlier, his injuries seemed to be dried up. It must be that they hurted him 2 to 3 days ago.

I took a glance from him from afar. He was shaking as he sat down awkwardly on my couch. I pressed my lips together, wondering what to do with him. He can't stay with me forever.

I sat down beside him and opened the small box full of medicine. Suddenly, his palms landed on my face.

"No. Please don't-" he pleaded as he faced me. "It hurts."

I inhaled and exhaled deeply as I shook my head, "Let me clean them at least, it needs to be closed or else more bacteria will get in. Trust me, okay?" I assured him. He was about to protest but he can't do anything about it anyway.

After I finished treating his wounds, I was thinking of asking what happened. However, it seemed that he's still traumatized about it. Losing your eyesight? What the hell did they do to him? Or what did he do to them?

I cleared my throat, "What's your name?" I softly asked him. He was still shaking and couldn't speak. If he's going to live here for the meantime, I should know his name.

Poor thing, though. He must be shocked that he now couldn't see. I don't think I'm in a place to ask what happened. But I'm curious, what am I gonna do?

"Please tell me your name, so that I could help you." I tried catching his name once again.

"S-seongyun," he finally answered.

I smiled when he replied to me. I waved my hand in front of his face to check if he really lost his sight.

"I can feel your hand. Stop it, it's annoying." he furiously stated. "H-how about you?"

"What do you mean how about me?" I asked.

"Your name," he replied.

My formed an 'o' afterwards, "My name is Jiyeon. Thank you for telling your name. Anyway, what happened to you?"

"Wh-what happ-pened to m-me?" he shakily asked himself as I noticed him hyperventilating. He covered his ears and started tearing up. "What happened to me!?!?" he yelled.

I stood up immediately and placed my hand on his belly, "Purse your lips, breathe through your nose!" I ordered.

"No! No! You don't understand what did they do to me!" he cried as he hugged his knees this time.

"No, it's you who don't understand! You'll faint if you won't follow me!" I tried to calm him down. "Breathe, Seongyun, breathe," I told him, in which he obeyed me finally.

He was starting to restrain himself as his belly was going up and down due to diaphragm breathing. I suddenly felt his hands embrace me. I widened my eyes and froze when he hugged me even tighter.

He was letting out small sobs while still in his arms. "Don't tell anyone where I am, please."

. . .

The night came, Seongyun refused to eat and insisted that he would just sleep. I held my temple as I sit on the couch, heaving a deep sigh. I leaned while I stare at the ceiling.

My neighborhood is very small, in fact I know everyone here. Also, I'm shocked that something like this happened in the community.

The police officers who are assigned here never get promoted because there are no serious crimes happening here. Officer Yoon has been guarding this neighborhood ever since I was born. He would definitely retire here.

I all of a sudden flinched because my phone rang. Running my hand through my hair, I picked it up.

"Why'd you call, Miju?" I greeted.

"Hey, you sound really tired. What did you do?" she asked me.

"It's nothing, might be because I drank too many Iced Americano," I replied.

"Doesn't make sense, but whatever. Anyway, since school just ended, wanna go to our rest house?" she offered.

"For how long?" I took a glance at Seongyun who was tossing and turning on my bed.

"The whole vacation! Don't worry it's all on me," he replied.

"Uhh..." I trailed. "I don't think I would say yes to that. Even though I really want to," I scratched the back of my nape.

"Why not? Are you up to something this vacation?" I can sense that Miju frowned at my reply.

"It's just that, I have to take care of someone," I plainly answered, wishing Mijju wouldn't ask more.

"If you need any help, just call me, okay? I'm always here," she told me as I smiled to myself.

"Yeah, sure take care." after that we said our goodbyes and ended the call.

From my view from the couch, Seongyun can't sleep. He was tossing and turning, even though I can see that he really wants to sleep. I wonder if I have to buy sleeping pills to cure his insomnia.

Seongyun suddenly sat up and hugged his knees. I watched him closely as he was trying to get out of bed. I quickly drew near to him and help him, "What do you need? Just sit here, I'll go get it for you."

"Water," was all he replied to me after I pushed him down gently on the bed once again.

I went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass and the tumbler. I poured a glass as I took his hand, giving the water. He drank the full glass quickly and asked for another glass. I once again filled up the glass as he finished it all in one go. He was asking for more water.

"No, I think that's enough." I placed the glass on my nightstand. My glass was big, that's why I think two glasses are enough. "You might need to wake me up because you'll go to the bathroom, I'm a heavy sleeper." I worriedly said to him.

He nodded as a response and before I knew it, the room was filled with silence. "Go to slee-"

"Do you think I could sleep after what happened?!?" he blurted out as I see him clenching his fist, causing me to sigh.

"I don't know what happened but please don't make me your outlet of your anger. If you will let me, I will even help you recover," I softly offered.

He all of a sudden exhaled sharply, "People are willing to do that? For free?" he sort of scoffed me on that.

"Of course! There are more people out there willing to help without asking for something in return!" I beamed.

Seongyun shook his head, "Didn't know that," he coldly replied before lying down on my bed once again.

I helped him earlier in the streets, treated his wounds, decided that I would take care of him for awhile, been nothing but patient and then I will just be his outlet when he gets mad? No way! I will be a nurse, not a caregiver!

I took a glance at Seongyun as he started sleeping finally. I can hear soft snore from him as he face the wall. I pulled the blanket over his shoulders and laid on the couch.

. . .

"Are you sure you can do it?" I asked Seongyun in doubt as he insisted that he would take a bath by himself. "I can help you."

"No, you pervert! You're a girl, that's just weird. " he protested while sitting on my bed as I go through my cabinet for my extra clothes for Seongyun to wear.

I chuckled at his answer, "I ain't an opportunist, so I think it's okay? I mean, why would I peek?" I said, finally finding a pair of shorts and a shirt for him to wear. It was a good thing I have an elder brother or else I would've panicked. I hate sharing personal belongings and why would I do that? I'm a girl, unless he'll agree to wear my underwear.

"I can handle this it would be fine," he almost yelled while being completely stubborn.

"What about the shampoo? the soap the-"

"I just lost my eyesight, okay? I still can touch and know whether if its a soap or a shampoo bottle," he started to touch the empty space beside him. "Where are the clothes?" I gently put the pile on his lap.

He stood up, looking straight to absolutely nothing. He got a hold of the clothes I gave him and started walking, only to run up to me, causing both of us to fall on the ground.

Seongyun was on top of me, and also it was as if he was looking at me. He was looking straight right into my eyes. I felt shivers down my spine as he looked at me with his eyes. I should be freaking out but no, even though his eyes seemed abnormal, it mysteriously had small sparks in it.

"W-wait, I thought you couldn't see? Are you f-faking it?" I suspected. No one knows, it might be a tattoo. Maybe he can really see!

"Why do I feel like I'm staring right into your eyes?" he said as if he was flirting at me. My fist was on my mouth, feeling my cheeks burn as I turn away.

I gently pushed him away, "N-no! No, y-you're n-not!" I stuttered as I tried both of us to get up once again. As I successfully did that, I saw him smiled like an idiot after. I frowned and dropped my jaw at what I saw.

"Why do I feel like you're really cute, Jiyeon?" he blurted as he stood there awkwardly, still smiling crazily that if he was seen by others he will be mistaken that he's an escapee from one of those mental hospitals.

I caressed my cheeks and felt warm. Why didn't I feel like this when I dated Heongjun? Why didn't I blush even once when he was complimenting me?

I cleared my throat, "I will guide you first to the bathroom. But later after you take a bath, I will teach you how to get to places here in my apartment even without me." I tried to keep a straight face, even though I know Seongyun wouldn't see me. Why would I feel shy when a blind guy just called me cute!?

I guided Seongyun to the bathroom and also inside it. "Okay, so here's the shampoo and-"

"Make me touch it," he cut of my sentence.

I widened my eyes and hated my brain for understanding something else. "Wh-what's 'it'?," I stammered, my eyes landing on everywhere but Seongyun . My gaze lingered on the mirror, seeing my ears turning crimson red over completely nothing.

Seongyun exhaled sharply as a respond only for me to realize what he really meant. "Oh, oh. Oh yeah!" I laughed nervously as I grabbed his hands. "This is the shampoo, this is the soap, this is the shower wheel, this is my extra loofa you can use it." I said, trying my best not to stutter as I held his hand, making then try to reach things. "A-and, if you walk one step towards the door, you can reach for the towel and y-your clothes h-here." I instructed, still holding his hands as I pull him gently.

"Okay, okay. Thanks, Jiyeon." he answered as I saw him touching the bathroom walls to guide himself. I was about to give him privacy as I close the door, "And oh, Jiyeon?" I turned around, seeing him staring at me once again. "Don't stutter too much, you're making it too obvious."

I silently choked on my own saliva as I slammed the door shut after. I wasn't stuttering that much! I won too much Tongue Twister competition in my school! How dare he tells me that I just stuttered!?

But wow, his hands were so soft. I felt like I was touching the cotton balls I use for my skin routine. How can he have soft hands while I have this always-oh-so-sweaty palms. Actually, I don't think cotton balls justifies how soft his hands are. I felt like I was touching the clouds-

I all of a sudden gasp as I interrupt my own thoughts. Holy shit, Jiyeon. You're so weird. Did you just spat about how great Seongyun's hands are? DID YOU JUST?!?

No, but seriously though, he's got a hands of a prince.

I heard the shower turned off, my heart surprisingly pounded my chest out of nowhere. I slightly clasped my shirt, I never experienced palpitations. Ever. Should I consult a doctor or a cupid or... what the hell, Jiyeon. You're babbling nonsense again.

I heard the door open and stood up quickly and accidentally hitting my foot's pinky at the leg of the goddamned table. I tried to hard not to make a sound as Seongyun got out of the bathroom slowly, still caressing the walls as a guidance. He stopped on the bathroom mat and rubbed his hair with the towel for a little. His face turned right in my direction, only as if he was looking at me again.

He grinned, "Teach me now, Jiyeon. I can't always bother you."

I gulped, "Y-yeah. Sure."

. . .