Broken Connection

4

There was no one out on the streets. It was dark and quiet, and that scared me more. The shop was in a residential area, so everyone had already locked their doors for the night.

I could hear my footsteps echo as I walked, and my breath came out as a light mist. It felt like I was a ghost here. I had been a ghost before, so the feeling wasn't new to me. This place hadn't always been my home.

I had never really had people to rely on. I hadn't been in one place long enough to. People talk about the life of the rich like some fantasy, but jetting off to a new country every other week wasn't as fun as it sounded. Normal was fun. Normal was safe, and it allowed me a comfort I had never felt in the hotels and mansions.

I was nearly at the deposit box when I saw someone walking towards me. My heartbeat sped up, but I knew he was probably just on his way somewhere and we were crossing paths.

That explanation could have held up perfectly if he didn't start sprinting towards me as I approached the box. In fear, I turned and tried to run, but I knocked into another body.

This man was slightly shorter than me, and extremely stocky. He was wearing dark colors, and he had a nasty sneer on his face as he locked his meaty hand around my wrist and started trying to pull me close enough to grab the bag of money I held in my other hand.

I didn't have time to react before a ball of green slammed into the man that was holding me back. I was pushed away as the two men fought, and I found myself with a bloody knee sitting dumbly on the ground.

Taeyong took the money bag out of my hand and walked to the box, dropping it in for me. He could have just taken it and ran, but he didn't. Instead he walked back to me and offered me his hand.

"Which way to your place?" He asked me.

This time I had calmed myself enough to answer.

"That way," I whispered, pointing back towards the coffee shop.

"Good. I'm headed that way anyway. I'll take you home," he told me.

He didn't offer. He commanded. I would have readily agreed either way, though. I was shaken and he was the one that had protected me.

Thinking back, it was odd that he never called the police on that guy. At the time I didn't question it, but maybe I should have. Maybe it would have saved me a whole lot of trouble.

We walked along in an awkward silence all the way to the door of my apartment building.

"It's this one," I whispered.

He glanced up at the building as if he was analyzing it. He was definitely looking for something, but he tore his eyes away and opened the door for me.

He walked into the small lobby and seemed to wait a second, taking in his surroundings before he wished me a good night and turned to exit.

Before he could I grabbed the sleeve of his flannel and stopped him.

"Thank you for tonight," I said, "If it wasn't for you I wouldn't feel safe right now."

He gave me a small smile, almost a grimace, and left without another word.