Chapter 48
Protection
Evening of November 30
The streets at night bustle with people laughing and talking. Groups of people walk back and forth on the roads. All kinds of goods display for sale, and shopkeepers welcome customers. Loud music excites those who dance with joy.
The city, just as it was in the past, remains unchanged to this day. Regardless of day or night, regardless of time, life never slows down. Everyone and every family hurry to live, as if failing to bloom today means the world ends tomorrow, and regret comes too late.
Exceptions exist. One who separates from fellow humans becomes the "lonely" — the one who avoids the light and gropes in the darkness. Colorful lights, dynamic sounds, and all forms of entertainment taste bland. Spying on those he finds "interesting" makes life bearable.
Hobbies once considered elegant now default to routine. He plays the game of chasing backs. He never dares to capture the human figure. Guards always surround the one he clings to, so he never gets to enjoy the fun.
For the past seven days, the human figure has not been harmed by anyone; the guards have confirmed it is safe, allowing the human figure to go out and return alone. Haha, you rest assured too soon. The lizard blocks the nose — thanks to this, I can get close to the delicious prey, to the meat and the sweetness of the bones.
The stalker rides the motorcycle silently behind the taxi. The main road leading to the dormitory is blocked by the construction site. The car has to go around to another place. The aisle is narrow and the car cannot drive through. The driver does not dare to look at the lonely, dark, and lightless place.
- It's dangerous here. If a girl like you accidentally runs into a group of hooligans, I'm afraid… - the driver hesitates, then suggests - Should I take you back to the hospital?
The girl is restless and does not want to leave the hospital. That is where she is heading; her affection lies there. This affection is her 'hope' for life. But life is not only about affection or hopes — she must cherish and maintain 'beliefs': family affection.
From childhood to adulthood, family affection has divided half of her happiness and sorrow. For the pride of the family, the "happy people" have forced her to be bound by etiquette and to abide by the rules, so that she has lived up to the reputation of being a person of The Sun Kingdom.
The "sad person" has decided to break the shackles of "reputation" and smash the cage of "face" to let her fly to the horizon of freedom. The "sad person" has also encouraged her to cut the control line like a puppet according to the wishes of the "happy people" and has supported her not to become a copy of anyone.
She is the only one who has the right to decide her own life.
She is human, not a mindless machine that follows orders.
She never lives someone else's life.
Whenever she has been mentally unstable, the advice of the "sad man" has echoed. Whenever she has been weak, that voice has boosted her spirits. This time, she does not hear the gentle but firm voice that echoes back. Beads of sweat play and circle on her confused face. The fear of losing the souvenir given by the "sad person" overwhelms all her feelings.
She knows nothing. She cannot feel the advice that helps her calm down for many years, does not hear the driver asking questions, and does not see him looking at her inexplicably in the rearview mirror inside the car. The fear makes her feel like someone who has lost her way, searching in a panic but unable to find the road she has walked for a long time.
Affection is hope, and family affection is faith. When hope dies, faith cannot revive the spirit. When faith is lost, hope cannot heal the wounds of the heart. Without faith and hope, she is just a lifeless corpse. She is dull, causing the driver to repeat the question three times before she startles awake and answers hesitantly:
- My friend texted me saying she had a bad cold. Every time the girl has been sick, she has been bedridden. I am her only relative, so I have to go back to the dormitory!
The driver exhales. This has nothing to do with him, but his conscience does not allow him to leave her here alone.
- I'll go with you!
The passenger looks ahead. The deep road flickers unsteadily under faulty bulbs that keep going out and then coming back on, over and over again. The dark space makes her feel cold. Her best friend is sick, and she herself is mentally unstable. Her heart burns hotter than fire, urging her to go home. She nods in agreement.
- Thank you, I will pay more!
She swipes her payment card and follows the driver to the dorm. The two stay cautious but soon cross the road. The tempting bait comes into view. The addicts wander around, scratching their necks and yawning, then rush out to block the road, surrounding the lost cow. One guy strokes his beard and smirks.
- Tsk, craving drugs since morning till now. - The addict rubs two fingers together - Please, some paper money!
- You crave drugs! I crave girls! The goods are delicious!
He reaches out and grabs the girl's breasts, causing her to dodge in alarm. The driver stands in front of her and takes out money to give them. A bunch of addicts criticize the small amount but do not ask for more. Instead, they play the robbery game.
- Damn, are you kidding with daddy?
- You give daddy so little money it's not enough to scratch the bugs in daddy's body!
The whole gang rushes to attack. The driver no longer dares to play the hero, unwilling to get tangled up with a bunch of addicts. He gets bruised, facing the danger of contracting the disease of the century from bleeding needles. The conscientious man tries his best to escape, leaving the girl alone among the thugs.
She fights back fiercely. They point the needle at their prey, force her into a corner, and frighten her into screaming for help. The screams immediately call for a hero to save the beauty. A guy bravely charges forward with sticks, regardless of the large number of opponents and the deadly needle, madly swinging his weapon to fight.
- You bastards, stay away from her!
The addicts dodge the attack but surround their prey, mocking the girl and despising the straw hero.
- You think it's scary to have a weapon? Daddy is too afraid of you!
- In life, many guys delude themselves about their own strength!
- Kill it!
- Castrate that show-off trying to impress the girl, brothers!
The hero positions himself as a shield before her:
- Don't be afraid, I will protect you! - He warns proudly - Whoever dares to rush in, I'll beat them to death!
Every guy bursts into laughter and rushes in. The hero swings his stick and knocks them down one by one. He knocks a needle into the sewer, strikes one in the hip, and slams another against the wall. His majestic presence terrifies the addicts, and they run away in panic.
- Dad remembers your face, dog!
- Touched the beast!
- Damn, it has martial arts skills!
The addicts flee. The hero throws away the stick and hurriedly turns to ask the beauty.
- Hanna, are you okay?
Hanna shakes her head, thanks him, and leaves. The hero immediately hugs her, strokes her hair, and speaks as if about to cry.
- Thank you for not being injured. If you were hurt, I...
Hanna doesn't wait for him to finish. She apathetically pushes him away.
- My friend is sick. I have to go home!
The hero risks his life to save the beauty, but she is indifferent and doesn't say goodbye. Worry turns into bitterness, and the bitterness rudely snatches the "cloak" the hero just "put on". The savior chases her and squeezes her shoulders.
- I sacrifice everything for you and risk my life to save you. Isn't that sincere enough?
Hanna gently speaks to the mentally unstable guy.
- I told you once - we can't have any emotions except friendship.
The guy yells like a madman.
- Friendship, friendship, friendship — always friendship! Someone sacrifices everything for you, and you only treat him as a friend. Someone who never does anything for you, doesn't even know who you are, and yet you look forward to him day and night, take care of his dying corpse with all your heart every day! - He smiles bitterly and throws a low price at the person he just protected - In the end, you just covet the title of being the girlfriend of a star like other ovulators! Wake up from the dream — he's a womanizer. Countless beauties are willing to kneel under his crotch. I don't know how many sluts and prostitutes he's played with. If you die for him, he'll still treat you as just another passing girl!
She is so angry that the whites of her eyes turn deep red. She doesn't cry, but her hot tears burn her eyes with fiery rage. The usually gentle girl loses her calm demeanor. She immediately breaks the shackles of etiquette, screams like mad, and slaps her benefactor to protect the honor of the person she cares for.
- I forbid you to insult him!
She relentlessly punishes anyone who dares to bury her lifelong "hope":
- Whoever harms him — no exceptions — I risk my life to stand against them.
Unrequited love — he sacrifices himself to save the person he secretly loves, but he endures unbearable pain. She ruthlessly kills his feelings for her, shatters his illusions, and strips him of his dignity. The dream of mandarin ducks shatters, and he loses face. The one who tramples on him is the very person he longs for day and night. The hero shows his true colors — a depraved pervert who doesn't even realize how sick he is.
He has always wanted to cherish and caress her jade hands, but now he crushes that tenderness with violence. The crazed lover squeezes her hands and slams them against the wall. The green-bearded demon fixes her with a lustful stare. At this point, she no longer needs to maintain her image.
The girl is always shy — but she spits directly into his eyes. She drives her knee into his lower body, and he collapses to the ground, clutching his groin. She runs quickly, but he gets up and grabs her from behind. The perverted man wrestles her down and pulls her to the ground with force:
- You filthy, cheap whore! If I can't have your heart, I'll take your body! That Hoang Kim dog will have to lick the plate for me!
He forces his filthy mouth onto hers and kisses her aggressively. Hanna fails to resist, so she closes her eyes. She doesn't want to see her first kiss tainted by his stinking mouth and tongue. His saliva is about to defile the pure flower when a foreign object wedges itself between their lips. The sudden coolness startles the beauty and the monster alike. The rapist stares hungrily at the Halo Illusia S he is kissing.
He turns to the saboteur squatting nearby—tilts his head, raises his chin, and blinks at him. He's been teased to madness, but he still recognizes the opponent: Sam. Behind Sam stands Huge, whose massive shadow covers the entire space, terrifying the guy.
He shrinks back, and the lustful fire on his reddened face dies instantly. He stammers and begs. Sam shakes his head and gestures for him to watch the clip on the Halo.
The guy turns pale with fear, but he has no choice. He watches the shameful footage of himself throwing money at a bunch of drug addicts. The fake "hero" wrote the whole script:
"You had to lie in ambush on 13th Street, wait for the girl in the photo to pass, tease her, and threaten to rape her — but you were not allowed to touch her!"
"Ah, if you wanted to be a hero and save the beauty, scoring in front of her was simpler than basket weaving!"
Another guy said:
"If she didn't show up, we wouldn't pay you!"
The hero sneered:
"The main road was blocked by an unfinished construction site. This was the only way home."
A bunch of drug addicts laughed:
"Ah, that's it then."
"Prepare yourself mentally to be a hero."
The hero warned them:
"I would attack with all my might. The acting had to be real so she would believe it. You guys had to endure the pain. If the plan succeeded, I would double your reward!"
Each of them laughed obscenely. Now, the hero is so scared that his limbs are shaking. He lets go of his victim in a panic. Huge helps her up. Hanna stares blankly at the two people who proudly contemplate her.
The eyes that know how to laugh are excited by this fragile flower that stands strong against the storm, admiring the way she resists the swarm of harassment.
Respect rises beyond admiration. They honor her for holding on to her feelings for 'someone' even when her life was saved. Hanna even ignores her own safety, accepting the stain of ingratitude to protect the honor of her lifelong 'hope'.
For a week she has grown accustomed to going back and forth alone. Strangely, during that time she has not felt lonely. Loneliness remains a lingering emptiness that torments the spirit.
Hanna is amazed to realize that the person she cares for is still silently by her side, quietly guarding her from a distance. Emotion fills the void in her heart and soul, jerks her away from the "shackles of reputation," and leads the lost girl back to the "path" she still walks. Hanna chokes with tears as she hears warm words:
- What should people in one house do in this situation?
Huge replies to Sam, but still doesn't take his eyes off Hanna:
- People in one house must protect each other!
Sam smiles at her, but aims his bullet-shaped eyes at the rapist and punches the fake hero in the face:
- Accurate, no need to correct!
The force of the blow knocks the rapist upside down in the air. Sam hits him directly in the stomach, causing gastric juice to spurt from his mouth. The perverted guy crashes into the wall. Sam rushes forward and hits him continuously, roaring with each punch:
- You know who she is, and you're still playing dirty tricks and daring to challenge me. You're tired of rice and hungry for dirt, you damn dog!
Sam grabs the rapist's neck and lifts him up. Nothing remains on his face but anger; his blood vessels convulse. His purple-gray face bulges with veins and tendons, and his smile is cold to the bone.
A sharp, burning pain pierces his chest and sears his lungs. The rapist shivers with the feeling of being frightened by the devil. The 'hero' is so frightened he wets his pants. Sam glances with contempt at the enemy's wet groin:
- Whoever violates my family must pay a catastrophic price!
Sam roars and throws the rapist to the ground. The pain makes him stupid. The rapist is no longer afraid. He clutches his chest and vomits blood, saying hoarsely:
– If you dare to assault me, I'll sue you!
Sam smiles faintly, sits on the guy's chest, and continues to play the video of the rapist trying to rape Hanna:
- You sue, stupid dog. Daddy is idle groin!
The pervert's pupils dilate and bulge outward with fury. He tries to push Sam, and the guard hits the enemy's chest with his butt, causing the guy to cough up blood again. Hanna and Huge see that Sam wants to torture the pervert to death before venting his anger, so they panic and run to intervene.
- You've tortured him to the point of becoming scum. That's enough. If you hit him again, he'll really die. You'll be exiled to the island, and no one will be left to prop up their cane and mourn your father!
Hanna gently grasps the hand strangling the rapist's throat:
- Younger brother, if you beat him to death, you'll be sentenced to death. Let him go.
Sam stops when he hears the word "younger brother," and the cold, steel hand squeezing the guy's neck unconsciously loosens its grip. He can't hide his joy when Hanna calls him family. It turns out she has always held him in her heart as one of her own. Hanna recognizes the family affection she gives to Sam — a confusion far from slight, revealing all her thoughts and feelings for 'someone'.
The pure flower turns fiery red, and she hurries back to the dormitory. She wants to avoid the father, who scratches his nose while wearing a delicate smile. She also avoids her younger brother, whose anger suddenly turns into happy laughter as if Hoang Kim has regained consciousness. Sam forgets to punish the pervert and happily chases after his future sister-in-law:
- Sister-in-la…
Huge clears his throat to remind him. Sam suddenly remembers Hanna hasn't publicly acknowledged it, but he has already hurriedly addressed her as sister-in-law, so bewildered he shifts from 'sister-in-law' to:
- Don't walk too fast, I can't keep up.
Huge chuckles at his hurried son and follows them both. Hanna smiles at her younger brother, happy to the point of madness. He moves gracefully, runs backward to face Hanna, and smiles brightly, admiring his future family member. Hanna lowers her head in bashfulness, avoiding his gaze, confused and shy, her chest beating violently, silently sharing the same joy with "someone's" younger brother.
That flower still exudes pure fragrance and is no longer a mysterious question mark for "someone's" family.
That flower is a perfect girl who walks out of a dream.