What the hell am I even doing here.

Se-ri looked around the unfamiliar surroundings. She had never been to this part of the city. Now it was deserted. The long shadows punctuated only by the yellow street lights did nothing to put her at ease.

I never should've gone to that party.

She fought the urge to stamp her foot. Se-ri's team manager, Hong Chang-sik, looked so crestfallen that she wasn't coming to his birthday party that she had been moved to attend at the last minute. Now it was three o'clock in the morning and she was very tired and very sober. Her feet hurt. And while Se-ri knew that she looked damn good in her white bolero jacket, it afforded little protection against the damp chill of early morning.

Se-ri had been looking for a cab for over twenty minutes. She checked her phone again. The closest Uber was still 60 minutes away. Where the hell was she anyway?

Then, the hair on her arms stood up. Someone was walking toward her.

Stay calm. It could be nothing. Just keep walking. Se-ri came to the next intersection and, on a hunch, turned right. But she could still hear someone behind her. Se-ri hastened her steps, the heels of her boots sounding out the pounding of her heart.

And then she felt her arm yanked so hard she fell backwards. Se-ri cried out as her knees hit the pavement. A man shrouded in black pushed her head down into the sidewalk and grabbed the cell phone that had skidded next to her head.

"Hey!" a voice rang out from across the street. She heard the man above her curse under his breath and then take off. Se-ri sat up and watched as a tall figure in a leather jacket dashed diagonally across the street after her attacker. A garbage can rattled to the ground in their wake.

Se-ri struggled to catch her breath. She felt something warm running down her face and touched it gingerly. I'm bleeding.

Her purse was gone. Her phone, also gone. Se-ri could feel the tears pricking. Stop it. Get a hold of yourself.

And then she heard footsteps again and her heart pounded anew. Se-ri ground her teeth, stealing herself to fight. She squinted and then saw the light gleam off a leather jacket.

It was the man from across the street.

He quickly held his hands up as if in surrender and stopped five feet away from her.

"I tried to catch him but the bastard got away. Actually took a shot at me and then I lost him." He looked down at the sidewalk and clenched his jaw in anger; seemingly as much at himself as her attacker.

When he looked up, his expression looked stricken.

"You're bleeding!"

Se-ri touched her face and then looked down at her aching knees. Her tights were ripped to shreds and her knees were a bloodied mess.

"My name is Ri Jeong-hyeok. I just want to help. Do you need to use my phone? Can I call the police for you? Take you to the hospital?"

"No!" She drew in a shaky breath. "No —- no police. No hospital." The news coverage will be a circus.

"Okay," he replied slowly. "Is there someone I can call to come get you then?"

But who was there to call? Se-ri had put her team manager to bed — passed out drunk. If she used the car service, it would become the subject of company gossip. She had no friends to speak of. And she sure as hell couldn't call her family. The answer was a kick in the stomach.

"I —- I don't really have anyone to call."

A lump formed in her throat. Between the attack and saying that truth out loud in front of this stranger, a sob was clawing its way from within her chest. It tore through the silence. Suddenly, he was by her side.

"Hey — hey."

Se-ri looked up and through her tears she saw that he was now sitting on the sidewalk next to her. He sat upright and still. Se-ri felt oddly comforted by his stiff presence.

Jeong-hyeok waited for her sobs to subside. Then, he said quietly, "Let's figure out what we are going to do, together."

Se-ri shook her head and looked around. "It's fine, I'm fine. It's just a shock—"

"I am not leaving you here ."

Her eyes met his.

Jeong-hyeok's voice made clear that he would brook no argument. His expression was fierce. When she nodded silently, he reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a wallet. Jeong-hyeok took out what cash he had. "I can help you get a cab. Will this be enough to get you home?"

Se-ri shook her head. Not even close.

Jeong-hyeok raised an eyebrow. "Ok, well… that's all I have." He was quiet for a moment and then pointed to a townhouse across the street.

"I live there. If you want, we can walk over. You can sit on my steps and we can just get your knees and head cleaned up while we figure out what to do."

Se-ri looked across the street. The two story building was worn and needed paint but had a small, well kept garden in the front. The lights were on despite the hour and gave off a warm glow.

"I have four roommates. Here's my ID so you can confirm my name and the address." He handed her his license. Se-ri turned it around in her hand.

He could be a serial killer. A … very handsome, polite serial killer. But aren't they always? She smiled despite herself. Se-ri felt her heart steady and she exhaled.

Jeong-hyeok looked puzzled at her change of expression. It was adorable.

"You know, under different circumstances you'd be in trouble inviting me back to your place. You are just my type."

Jeong-hyeok's eyes widened and a shocked scoff escaped his lips. "Miss, I am just trying to..."

"Relax, I'm teasing. That sounds like a good plan, okay."

He looked so embarrassed that her heart pinched. Definitely not a serial killer then.

"Do you think that you can walk?"

Se-ri nodded. As Jeong-hyeok pulled himself up to his feet, her eyes drank him in for the first time. He was tall. And impossibly lean and broad shouldered at the same time. He stood perfectly straight with a formal posture that contrasted sharply with his torn jeans and loose black t-shirt. Her eyes trailed along the straight line of his shoulders down to the v of his slim waist. His stance gave the impression of someone who was at once lithe and strong. The worn leather jacket hung on his frame as a punctuation rather than a statement. Se-ri swallowed.

Jeong-hyeok extended his hand. She looked up at his face — it was classically handsome. His dark thick hair fell over his forehead, perhaps tousled from his exertion. It appeared to be used to having its own way and she felt a crazy impulse to want to touch it. Instead, his sharp cheekbones drew her eyes up to his own. Their brown depths were thoughtful and patient. Was this guy even real?

She decided to test it and took his hand. It was warm and firmly gripped her own. Yes, real.

As Jeong-hyeok pulled her up to her feet, her knees almost gave way in sharp pain. Se-ri's face met with the hard plane of his chest. The clean scent of his T-shirt filled her nostrils. She wanted to stay there for just a moment — it felt safe; steady.

But his body was tense and frozen in place. Se-ri looked up and his eyes were so wide that she almost started laughing. He then placed his hands on her arms on either side and dipped his head down to meet her gaze, seriously. "Do I need to carry you?"

Yes, please? Se-ri's inner voice shocked her own sensibilities. Here she was the victim of a crime and her mind was racing with ridiculous thoughts.

"No, I'm okay. It just hurt at first."

One look was all it took to convey that he didn't believe her and Jeong-hyeok's arm swiftly drew her against him. "Lean on me. You just have to make it across the street."

Jeong-hyeok's arm practically held her up as they crossed together. His eyes were trained forward, focused on the house. Whenever Se-ri looked up, he would not return her gaze. The pain in her knees was throbbing and her head felt woozy.

When they reached the stairs, Jeong- Hyeok placed his hands on her waist and lifted her onto the top step in one sweeping movement. It was over in a moment before she even realized what was happening. Se-ri stared up at him and Jeong-hyeok cleared his throat as he stepped over her.

He opened the door and called out in a hushed tone, "Kwang-beom! Ju-meok! Come here!" There was a commotion and then four men suddenly joined them on the steps.

The youngest looking of the four immediately leaned down toward her, stricken. "Oh no! What happened?"

"She was mugged across the street. The attacker got away. Eun-dong, grab some antiseptic and bandages from the bathroom." Jeong-hyeok's voice was firm and matter of fact. Eun-dong followed his orders immediately.

"Did you already call the police?" An ornery looking roommate eyed her with vague annoyance, hands on his hips.

Jeong-hyeok opened his mouth to answer but Se-ri cut him off. "No. I don't want to call the police. I'm not going to wait hours for them to come only to fill out a report that will amount to nothing. That's a waste of time."

"That's idiotic. So what are we supposed to-"

"Chi-su, enough. That's her choice. Why don't you go inside and be useful by getting her a glass of water?" Jeong-hyeok eyed him sternly.

Chi-su glared in response but also did as he was told. Se-ri marveled at Jeong-hyeok's quiet authority.

"Kwang-beom, do we have any more cash in the jar?"

The … jar? Cash in the jar? The reality of her situation set in. These people clearly did not have ready access to an AmEx.

"Unfortunately, no. We used the last of it on take out tonight. We have to wait to get paid after the next gig tomorrow night."

Jeong-hyeok sighed. "Dammit."

The fourth roommate made eye contact with her and his mouth formed a small "o." He knows who I am.

Se-ri shook her head slightly and the message registered in his eyes. He closed his mouth and thought for a moment. "She could stay with us just for a few hours until morning? Then one of us can get her home on the bus? I still have credits on my metrocard. Where do you live...er, miss?" He said "miss" slowly and awkwardly.

Jeong-hyeok objected, swiftly. "She absolutely cannot stay here. That's completely inappropriate."

Se-ri eyed him for a moment and then turned to his roommate. "I can figure out … the bus... in the morning. If you don't mind letting me just sleep on your couch, I would appreciate it. My head and knees hurt so much I don't think I can manage much else right now."

As the words came tumbling out of Seri's mouth, she could scarcely believe that they were hers. It was madness to sleep in this apartment with five strange men. And yet, what other choice did she have? She could call her team manager in the morning and he would drive her home. No one could find out about this or it would be all over social media in a heartbeat. "Heiress and CEO mugged at 3 am!" Ugh, no. Sleeping here is a better option. Even if it is on a couch with men who keep cash in a jar.

"Of course you can! By the way. I'm Kim Ju-meok. I'm glad you're ok."

"Hello …thank you." She stopped short of saying her name. Se-ri glanced over at Jeong-hyeok who looked disapproving but defeated. He leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms in silent protest.

Ju-meok nodded and turned to the roommate standing next to him. "This is Park Kwang-beom. The kid was Geum Eun-dong and the grump is Pyo Chi-su. We're all in a band, Company Five. Have you heard of us?"

Se-ri smiled and leaned her aching head against the stone railing. It sounded vaguely familiar. "Maybe? But I don't exactly get out to a lot of shows."

Then she turned to Jeong-hyeok. "So, you're in a band?"

Ju-meok, paused and looked over at Jeong-hyeok.

"No. I am not." From the way that Ju-meok and Kwang-beom were looking at the ground, she could tell that there was more to the story.

Eun-dong then returned with the medical supplies.

Jeony-Hyeok sprang into action. "Okay, since we are going to have a guest tonight, why don't you all set up the couch for her to sleep while I take care of this." They murmured their assent and Ju-meok smiled shyly at her as they headed inside. What a good egg for keeping my secret.

Jeong-hyeok sat down next to her and began sorting through the box. He wordlessly laid out antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, and gauze in a precise row between them. His brow furrowed as he held up bandage packages to the light to ascertain their size and type.

It was mesmerizing. Se-ri's eyes followed the line of his jaw - down the sharp right angle, up the smooth contours of his cheeks. Jeong-hyeok's eyes ticked ever so slightly in her direction. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Se-ri blinked. She wanted to see that again. But Jeong-Hyuk snapped the box shut abruptly.

"Let me clean you up. Knees or head first?" he asked gruffly.

"Knees." Se-ri stood up and began taking her tights off while leaning against the railing for support.

Jeong-hyeok gasped. "What —- what are you doing?"

"I'm taking these off — they're ripped to shreds." She tossed them over her shoulder carelessly behind her as his eyes followed. Se-ri tucked her skirt demurely around her thighs and bent her knees in front of him.

As Jeong-hyeok began dabbing gently with the antiseptic, Se-ri hissed at the sting of the alcohol. He jumped back slightly, eyes wide. "I'm so sorry. Maybe it would be better for you to wash them out in the sink?"

Se-ri gritted her teeth and gripped the railing next to her. "Nope, let's just do this."

Jeong-hyeok nodded, impressed. He quickly cleaned the wounds on both knees and then exhaled as he put the swab down. "The worst part is done."

"How are you so good at that?"

He shrugged. "The military."

"Oh? Was that before or after you were in the band?"

His head snapped up. Jeong-hyeok looked shocked for a moment and then swallowed.

"After."

"Ah."

Jeong-hyeok looked back down and started applying the antibiotic.

She leaned forward, her chest touching her legs. "You could've gotten shot tonight."

"I didn't."

"But you could have. Why did you run after him?"

"Because I knew that I could take him. I have training."

"You shouldn't have done that — you could've gotten hurt."

He remained focused on his task and said nothing.

"But I'm glad that you didn't." She stopped and then softly, "Thank you."

Jeong-hyeok's hand stilled and then he said without looking up, "It was nothing. I'm glad that I was there."

"Me too."

Then Se-ri watched silently as Jeong-hyeok resumed his work. A lock of hair fell in his eyes and she gripped the railing again to stop herself from smoothing it back into place. His hands were large but their movements were precise and gentle. She was sorry when he had finished his work and the bandages were in place.

Then he finally met her gaze. "Better?"

Se-ri nodded. "Better."

He smiled, and as it reached his eyes, her breath caught as the crinkles revealed a warmer side of Jeong-hyeok. She wanted to chase that but before she could think of something to say, he resumed his work.

"Ok, let me take a look at your head. Is your vision blurry at all?"

She looked him up and down and grinned. "No, I can see clearly."

There was that scoff again. Jeong-hyeok frowned and leaned back. "Maybe you do have a concussion."

Se-ri laughed at his discomfort as she pulled her hair away from that side of her face. "Ok, I'm ready."

Jeong-hyeok inched slightly closer and dabbed gently at the cut on her forehead. All thoughts left her head. His dark eyes were fathomless - sad and kind. Why wasn't he in a band anymore? Why was he chasing bad guys at 3 am? Why was he so damn formal with her? Men would usually be falling for her by this point.

Jeong-hyeok's breath was sweet and warm on her face. She could feel a pull as her body leaned toward him. Their eyes met and then he cleared his throat. Jeong-hyeok leaned back and frowned again.

"You know, you really could have a slight concussion. You should go to the doctor."

"I'll go to my private doctor tomorrow."

Jeong-hyeok eyed her and silently gave in. He pulled out a small bandage and applied antibiotic ointment to it. Then he leaned forward to place it gently on her forehead.

"My name is Yoon Se-ri." His hands stilled on either side of her face for a moment.

"Hello, Yoon Se-ri." The Adam's apple went up and down again and she felt a thrill course through her.

At that moment, Chi-su stepped out of the door frame with a glass of water. He handed it to Se-ri and then took out a bottle of Advil from his pocket. "In case your head hurts," he grumbled.

She smiled at him and took the bottle.

Jeong-hyeok stood up and looked down at her. His tall frame blocked the streetlight so that she could only make out his silhouette. His voice was quiet but steady.

"Come inside when you're ready."

Se-ri was left alone on the step, heart pounding.