✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

24 - Liberating Embrace

"Miss Lee, can you please hand me the papers from the printer?" Y/N's coworker called out to her from across the office. She nodded, getting up from her desk and making her way over to the printer. As she collected the printed documents, she couldn't help but glance at the clock. It was nearly time to head home, and she was looking forward to another quiet evening with Danbi.

The weekend passed by in a blur. She spent her time with Minjae and Danbi who looked equally happy in each other's company. And she found herself thinking about Heeseung more often than she'd like to admit. His smile, the way he cared for Minjae, and the sadness she had glimpsed in his eyes haunted her thoughts.

She had never allowed herself to care so much about someone she barely knew, especially a single father with a complicated past. Her past experiences had taught her to be cautious and guarded, but there was something about Heeseung that drew her in, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

As the clock struck the end of the workday, she gathered her belongings and headed home, a small smile playing on her lips as she thought about what she wanted to do with her evening. Maybe take Danbi on a walk or curl up with a good book. Whatever it was, she just wanted to enjoy the tranquility of her own space. 

"Hello, little one." When she stepped inside her apartment, her furry friend was waiting for her at the door, tail wagging furiously as if he had been counting the minutes until her return. Y/N couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm as she bent down to pet him. "Did you miss me that much, Danbi?" She cooed, scratching behind his ears. And after changing into something more comfortable, she decided to take him out for a walk. The evening air was cool and crisp, and the stars began to twinkle in the night sky. Y/N and Danbi strolled through the quiet streets, the soft click of his paws against the pavement making her smile. 

But when she walked through the quiet, empty neighborhood, she felt someone's presence behind her. She didn't dare look around when the footsteps grew closer. Her heart quickened, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Danbi's leash. She tried to stay calm, reminding herself that it could be a fellow neighbor or just her imagination playing tricks on her. But when she heard some men laughing behind her, her blood ran cold. "Hey, pretty girl, come here and let's talk," one of the men called out, and Y/N's stomach churned with unease.

She quickened her pace, clutching Danbi's leash tightly. She was almost home, just a few more steps, and she could lock herself inside her apartment. But someone grabbed her hand and Danbi started growling protectively, his hair standing on end before the other man kicked him and Y/N cried out in alarm. "Let me go!" She struggled in his hold, watching her dog in distress as Danbi yelped and whimpered from the kick.

"You're a feisty one, huh? We just wanted to chat, sweetheart." He pulled her closer while she kept on hitting him and Danbi continued to growl and bark, his protective instincts kicking into high gear as he tried to defend his owner.

"What the-" She could see Heeseung from the corner of her eye and before she knew it, he ran to her, holding the man's hand before twisting it back, making him groan in pain. "Let go of her before I break your hand and beat the living shit out of you." Heeseung threatened in a low, menacing voice. His grip on the assailant's hand tightened, eliciting another cry of pain. "You fucking messed with the wrong person today."

The assailant, now clearly regretting his decision, finally released Y/N's hand, allowing her to stumble back a few steps before the two of them ran away like frightened rats, disappearing into the dimly lit street. Heeseung watched them go, making sure they were well out of sight before turning his attention back to Y/N, who, still trembling, clutched Danbi close to her chest, tears in her eyes as she realized how close they had come to danger.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly, reaching out to gently touch her arm while getting on his knees in front of her. "Let me see your arm."

Y/N nodded, her breath still coming in shallow gasps as she extended her arm for Heeseung to examine. There were red marks where the assailant had gripped her forcefully and she could see his jaw clench before he sighed heavily. "It's okay, it's not too bad," She reassured, giving a small smile. "Thank you... I don't know what I would have done without you."

"It's fine." His eyes softened and he ruffled her hair, making her heart skip a beat. "Oh, I'm sorry, I tend to do that when I'm worried. I'm just glad I happened to be passing by when I did."  Heeseung gave her an apologetic smile and then turned his attention to Danbi. "And you, little buddy, are a hero too. Good job protecting her."

Smiling a little, she thanked him again and made her way into her apartment before closing the door and leaning against it. She was pretty shaken up and what happened still felt surreal. She gently rubbed Danbi's head, who was now calm but still visibly concerned. "He kicked you..." She swallowed a lump, and her voice quivered as she spoke to her loyal furry friend. "I'm so sorry, Danbi. You didn't deserve that." Danbi responded with a soft whimper and nuzzled her hand as if reassuring her that he was okay.

The rest of the evening was spent with Y/N and Danbi curled up on the couch with a blanket wrapped around them. She allowed herself to close her eyes and calm her racing heart down, but when a knock on the door interrupted their peaceful moment, her heart leaped in her chest. Her hands started sweating and her whole body trembled in fear. What if it was the same men from earlier, returning to harass her again? The thought sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn't help but feel a wave of panic wash over her.

Danbi, sensing her unease, let out a low growl as he stood protectively by her side while she, still clutching the blanket tightly around her, approached the door cautiously, peering through the peephole to see who was on the other side. The tears had already welled up in her eyes but when she saw Heeseung's concerned face through the peephole, her heart skipped a beat, this time for a different reason. 

She quickly unlocked the door and opened it, the tears streaming down her face. "Heeseung-" She choked out, wiping the tears with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, I thought it was those men from earlier and I thought they were going to hurt me again so I just... I don't know what's real anymore and I... I can't breathe."

"Hey, hey," Heeseung's voice was gentle and reassuring as he stepped inside her apartment, closing the door behind him. "Can I hug you?" When she nodded and wrapped her arms around him, he quickly enveloped her in a comforting hug, holding her close and rubbing her back soothingly. "Take a deep breath, Y/N. You're safe now.

She buried her face in his chest, her tears staining his shirt, but he didn't seem to mind. He just held her tighter, providing the comfort and reassurance she needed in that moment. And Y/N, for the first time in ages, let herself be vulnerable in someone's arms; in the strong and comforting embrace of a single father. 

It felt weird to have someone else's arms around her, someone who wasn't Danbi, and yet it also felt oddly, incredibly right.