Chasing for You || Sunki

Chapter 1: Rainy Rescues

"Sometimes, the greatest battles are fought not with fists but with the heart."

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Third-person POV:

The heavy rain beat down on the poor guy's car, pattering against the roof like an off-tempo drum. He gripped the steering wheel, squinting through the wipers' frenzied efforts to clear his windshield as he struggled to make out the road in front of him.

Kim Sunoo liked to think of himself as a pretty simple guy. He was known for his quick wit, a charming smile, and an admittedly low tolerance for annoyance. As a freshman in college, he managed a social circle that kept things exciting, but he wasn't the kind to look for trouble. His idea of a perfect day was a relaxing weekend with friends or a casual study session, maybe with a little café pit stop along the way.

Yet here he was, late at night, stranded on the side of an empty road in pouring rain with a car that had given up entirely.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, smacking the dashboard in a futile attempt to coax some life back into the engine. The storm only seemed to intensify; the rain drumming against his car's roof with a persistence that matched his rising frustration, as if mocking him, and he reluctantly accepted the inevitable: he was stuck, stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead car and no umbrella. Great—this was definitely not how he'd imagined his evening.

Glancing at his phone, Sunoo quickly realized it wasn't going to help him much either. "No Service."

Of course.

"Okay, Sunoo, stay calm," he muttered to himself. "You'll figure this out."

Just as he was mentally preparing himself for the possibility of an impromptu sprint to shelter, the low rumble of an engine sliced through the night. Headlights cut across the rain, and Sunoo looked up to see a sleek motorcycle pulling over a few feet ahead. The rider, clad in a black leather jacket and helmet, got off smoothly, walking over to Sunoo's car.

Sunoo blinked, momentarily stunned. Who actually stops to help people on rainy nights? But his curiosity was quickly replaced by relief.

The biker approached his window, motioning for him to roll it down. Sunoo hesitated but decided he didn't have many options at this point. Cracking his window just slightly, he peered out.

"Car trouble?" the rider asked, his voice carrying a friendly, confident tone.

Sunoo nodded. "Yeah, it just... died on me out of nowhere."

"Mind if I take a look?"

Without waiting for permission, the biker popped the hood and leaned over to inspect the engine. Sunoo climbed out of the car to join him, instantly shivering as the rain soaked through his clothes.

After a few minutes, the biker shook his head. "Looks like it's not going anywhere tonight."

Sunoo's heart sank. "Oh... great. Just my luck."

The biker took off his helmet, revealing a mess of dark hair and sharp, striking features. For a moment, Sunoo just stared, momentarily captivated by the stranger's unexpectedly attractive face. His mysterious saviour was tall, lean, and had a calm, almost cocky demeanour that, annoyingly enough, made him look even cooler in the pouring rain.

The biker smirked slightly as if he'd noticed Sunoo's reaction. "I'm Niki," he said, holding out a hand with the same relaxed confidence.

"Sunoo," he replied, taking Niki's hand, surprised at the warmth in his grip.

"Need a ride somewhere?" Niki asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you planning to spend the night with your car?"

Sunoo tried to keep his cool, though the teasing look in Niki's eyes made his heart beat a little faster. "Uh... I'll take the ride if you don't mind."

Niki tilted his head, the smirk returning. "Hop on, then. Don't worry, I'm a safe driver... mostly."

Sunoo scowled at Niki's obvious amusement, but he reluctantly climbed onto the bike behind him, wrapping his arms around Niki's waist.

"Hold tight," Niki called over his shoulder as the engine roared to life.

As they sped down the road, Sunoo found himself both exhilarated and flustered, clinging to Niki as the rain whipped past them. When they finally pulled up to a small diner, Sunoo reluctantly let go, his hands lingering for just a second before he stepped back.

"Thanks... I really owe you one," Sunoo said, trying not to let his embarrassment show. He wasn't used to this kind of adventure, and definitely not used to the kind of guy who rode up out of nowhere like a scene from a movie.

Niki shrugged nonchalantly. "No big deal. Just doing my good deed for the night."

Just as Sunoo was turning to leave, Niki's gaze lingered on him, a teasing smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Careful, Sunoo. Don't make this a habit," he said, his voice low. "Otherwise, I might think you're just trying to get my attention."

Sunoo's mouth fell open. "Excuse me?"

Niki only chuckled, giving him a wink as he put on his helmet. "See you around, Sunoo."

Before Sunoo could respond, Niki revved the engine and disappeared into the night, leaving him standing in the rain, flustered, annoyed, and just a little bit intrigued. He tried to brush it off as he headed into the diner, telling himself that this was just a one-time thing.

But somehow, Sunoo couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't seen the last of Niki. And, to his own surprise, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to.