from afar | baekyeon

Chapter 10

As frustration and self-blame filled Taeyeon's thoughts, she felt overwhelmed by her situation. 

"Crap... What am I gonna do then..."

Running out of gas and having a dead phone left her stranded in a less-than-ideal predicament. She buried her face in her hands, letting out a groan of frustration as her annoyance bubbled to the surface. Her mind raced, trying to come up with a solution to her problem.

In her moment of distress, a sound of knocking reached her ears, prompting her to lift her head and look out of the window. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw a man standing outside her car. He was dressed in a way that seemed like he was trying to hide his identity, wearing a mask, aviator sunglasses, and a cap.

His deep voice and polite demeanor caught her off guard. She had no clue who he was, but his offer of help was a welcome relief. She lowered her window, her curiosity piqued as she looked at him.

"Excuse me, I've noticed you're having a problem. Is there anything I can do to help?" he inquired, his tone formal and respectful.

Taeyeon felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. It seemed like her prayers for assistance had been answered, though she couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious man's identity. She realized that she didn't have much of a choice at the moment, and any help was better than none.

"Yeah, uhm... I ran out of fuel," she admitted, hoping that he might have a solution.

His response was measured, and he seemed to weigh his options before speaking again. "Oh... Ahm... I have no extra fuel for my car, but I can... I can drive you to the nearest gasoline station. If that okay with you?" His deep voice resonated with sincerity, and Taeyeon found herself studying his features, trying to discern more about him.

She didn't reply immediately, her cautious nature causing her to hesitate. While she appreciated the offer, she also understood the need to be wary of strangers. As she looked into his disguised face, she debated whether to trust him enough to accept his help.

After a brief moment of silence, the mysterious man seemed to understand Taeyeon's reservations. He spoke, his words carrying a sincere tone, "Don't worry, I don't have any bad intention. I... I just wanna help."

Taeyeon's heart wavered, caught between her wariness and his seemingly genuine offer. She knew she had experienced a string of strange and unsettling events lately, which had left her understandably cautious.

"I'm sorry, but I really can't trust anyone. Can I borrow your phone instead?" she asked, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and apprehension. She didn't want to offend him, but she needed to prioritize her safety.

His response surprised her. "My phone? Ahh... I left it in my place."

She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his statement. It seemed like a strange oversight, but she decided not to press further. However, her skepticism remained. She was caught in a dilemma—should she trust this stranger, who seemed sincere enough, or should she wait for another solution?

As if sensing her internal conflict, he continued, "I really left it. I swear I won't harm you. If you don't want my help, then we can't know if someone's willing to. I can't just leave Kim Taeyeon here." He touched his throat, almost as if to emphasize his genuine concern.

His mention of her name confirmed that he recognized her. She pondered why he seemed so relaxed about the revelation, especially considering the reactions she had encountered from others in the past.

"If I can't convince you, then I think I'll just send someone more convincing than me. But I think it'll take time. My place is a a bit far from here. Can you wait?"