Don't tell me bye bye (mystery/ thriller)

Chapter 9

"What's wrong with me? Are you serious!?" I blink at him, amazed that I can even speak properly. "You just jumped out at me. I'm not the crazy one here!"

"Jump out at you?" He pulls himself onto an elbow, his other hand pinching the top of his nose. "I was trying to help you. You're welcome, by the way."

"What?" He's close to getting another punch between his eyes. Even if they are very blue and lovely.

"I saw you running out here on your own and I was worried you'd get lost."

I put my hands on my hips and shake my head. "How very stalker of you."

He rolls his eyes. "I went to your house and Jin said you'd gone for a run." He regards me for a moment, a smile spreading across his face. "He also said that you were going for a run with me. Normally girls lie to their parents when they are going to be spending time with me."

That catches me off my guard. "Why, what would you be...never mind. You didn't tell Jin I was lying did you?"

"Give me some credit, Y/n. I came to find you and saw you running down here. You know this would take you right to the river, don't you? I thought you might get scared if you were there alone."

"And you thought jumping at me wouldn't scare me?"
"I was shouting your name for ages but you couldn't hear!" He stops, takes a few breaths then speaks again, calmer this time. "Look, I'm sorry if I scared you, I really didn't mean to." My heart is starting to wind down now. "So you weren't trying to kill me?"

"No, I wasn't trying to kill you." He puts his hand out to me. "Do you think you can help me up without breaking any of my bones?"

I step forward and put my hand around his and feel a shock of static scorching up my arm as I pull him to his feet.

"You landed a really good punch," he says, brushing the ground from the backs of his legs. "You surprised me." I frown at my hand. "I've never hit anyone before. My hand really hurts." Namjoons's face brightens as he laughs. "I hope you don't mind if I don't give you any sympathy." "Is it broken? Your nose?" I ask.

"Don't think so, but I'm not sure how long my retinas are going to hold out if you keep shining that thing in my face." He lifts his hand and tries to block some of the bright light that's streaming into his squinting eyes.

"Oh! Sorry!" I push the light down so it's angled at the floor. Great. I've blinded him as well as given him a nosebleed.

"Thanks. Shall we head back? I don't think I can run though. Possible concussion," he says, smiling at me.

I'd give him a little shove with my shoulder if I didn't think coming into contact would lead to an electric shock.

"Okay." I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant when the thought of Namjoon walking me home has got me jumping up and down internally. "I think I've run plenty anyway."

We walk side by side, past the hush of the trees. Walking next to Namjoon is like being escorted by a personable grizzly bear. A shiver runs through my body, and I'm not sure whether it's because of the cold breeze or because I can feel the heat of Namjoon's skin as he's so close. Moonlight trickles though the trees and the sounds hiding in the dark are weirdly natural; not a smartphone or car engine can be heard, even when I strain to listen for something man-made. Suddenly Namjoon's voice makes me jump.

"Sorry about earlier." I stumble and he grabs my arm, the touch of his skin making me trip over again. "Steady."

"What for?"

"Earlier in the hospital. When you mentioned my dad. I know I went kind of quiet. It wasn't anything to do with you."

"Yeah, I was worried I'd said something to offend you."