[Music Recommendation: "Scenery" by Kim Taehyung (BTS - V) available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

Feeling his gentle embrace as he patted my back, somehow helped me calm down. After a few moments in his arms, I was finally able to breathe properly again. I made sure to inhale and exhale deeply to calm my heart. The trembling on my body was gone, too.

'It's amazing how his presence calmed me down in an instant. I don't know why but I feel comfortable with him. I usually don't get along with men except for Ken who was my childhood friend, but with him… I can talk freely, act freely, and just be myself without any restriction. And when I'm in serious trouble or danger… somehow he's always there. From the incident with my dad, and my argument with my mom, during the awarding ceremony, and now this. I wonder if…'

"Senara," Kaiden called my name in a whisper, "are you feeling better now?"

With his covered hands, he wiped the tears on my face. I couldn't help but stare at him. I'm really so blessed and thankful to meet him in this life. Now that I thought about it, the course of my life only changed ever since I met him. He really was my guardian angel.

But then… "that" voice belonged to a woman.

Yes. She warned me that's why I stood up from my seat and started looking for the person who called my name. But I didn't see anyone.

'Who are you?'

I asked in my mind, as if trying to communicate with "that" voice.

But there was no answer.

"Senara," Kaiden called me again.

"Y-yes, I'm feeling better. Thank you."

"Good. You're not hurt anywhere, right?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm good. But your hand—you were touching my face. A-and hugging me, too. Are you alright? You said you hated touching so I… I'm sorry you had to—"

"It's alright. I have my gloves on, and I'm wearing my usual long sleeves, turtleneck. As long as it's not the skin, I'm good."

"Oh, right. You told me that before." I forgot. I guess I still felt a little flustered from what just happened.

"Don't worry. I don't find touching you that repulsive."

"Huh? Really? I thought you were mysophobic."

"I am. Just don't touch my skin."

"Okay, I won't," I chuckled. Since we're already talking about it, maybe it's okay to ask. "I'm curious. What happens if I accidentally touch your skin? Or if somebody else did?"

He pondered for a moment before answering.

"It feels… disgusting." Then his face turned serious. Maybe I shouldn't have asked.

"I see. Then in that case, I should protect you from being touched."

He raised his eyebrows and smirked, "You? Protect me?"

"Yes? I'm trying to be nice here, you know."

He chuckled. "Whatever you say. Do your best then."

"That, I definitely will."

'Phew. I'm all good now. I'm already joking with him. Amazing.'

"What is going on?" a teasing voice surprised us. It was Hora.

Click! Click! Click!

And Crystal, taking pictures again. Callan was with her, whistling, and Verrill, clapping his hands.

'Why are they acting like that, though? It's not like we're doing something—Oh my goodness!'

My eyes widened. It was only then that I noticed it—I was still in an embrace with Kaiden! And his arms were wrapped around my waist!

I felt my face blush hard. Panicking, I pushed Kaiden away who seemed to think that it was perfectly fine to be in that state. He was just there, blinking, not even moving an inch. How come he never thought of anything maliciously? Am I the only one who thought it was wrong for us—a non-couple—to be hugging each other in broad daylight?

'Damn it! They're grinning so widely. I already know what they're thinking. Why didn't I notice sooner? Is his hug that comfortable? Well, yes it is, but still! Come on, Senara! For real? Is your little crush on him growing? Oh no… this is not good. Look at him, he looks like he has no idea about crush and love and whatnot. And you're friends, remember? Don't go over that.'

I bit my lips as I tried to reprimand myself in my mind. Right. I'm his friend. I should act like one. Yeah, right.

Hora and Crystal went towards me and tugged my sides while waggling their eyebrows. Ugh. These two, really…

"That's some damn car crash o'er there," Callan commented as he peeked over the scene of the accident.

"It is. Wonder if the driver is okay?" Verrill added.

"He seemed fine—alive, at least. But that's some serious injuries out there."

We all looked towards the direction of the poor student.

"Uhm. What's not fine is how he almost crashed on Senara," Kaiden said in an irritated tone. His expression turned menacing again for a second. "She was sitting on that bench a few seconds before it crashed there. Good thing she walked out or else…" His fist tightened to a ball.

'So he saw it. That's why he came rushing to me and embraced me as soon as he arrived. He knew I was shocked and scared because he saw it.'

Hora and Crystal gasped in shock. They quickly hugged me and patted my back and head. I felt their bodies tremble and their hearts beat loudly.

"What the fudge!" Crystal exclaimed in her worry and anger. "Good thing you moved away. I swear I'm going to talk to the dean about this! We need more countermeasure and security! Hmf! And that student should be expelled!"

Hora remained silent but her tears spoke a thousand words to my heart. She was always the silent type in the initial phase of troubles but she cries. Just like my last argument with mom where we cried for hours in our village's park, not saying anything until we calmed down.

I patted Hora's back in return and whispered to her, "It's okay Hora. I'm safe. It seems my guardian angel protected me."