The group of boys who were messing the Nick and Teren froze up. Although some of them were taller than these men, they were, after all, just your average school bullies. They amount nothing in front of gangsters.

"Nick," Nathan walked in, ignoring the bullies and pointed, "Uncle Jo, I don't know if you remember but this kid is my brother."

As he wrapped his arm around Nick though, he pulled him away from Teren.

Respecting Teren's wishes not to be known, Uncle Jo, Nathan, and the rest all looked at Nick as if they were there for him.

"H-huh?" Nick gulped and froze.

Nathan then glared at the group of boys.

"But who are you people?"

"U-umm..." the leader of the bullies didn't know what to answer. All he knew was that they need to get out of there.

He looked at his friends and learned that their thoughts were just the same.

"We... were just passing by... please, excuse us." he slightly bowed his head and urged his friends to get out of there but the fat one among the middle-aged men blocked their path.

There were exactly five of the school bullies as of now. Their leader gulped with a lowered head and just tried to get around.

"Wait" the fat man said.

"Y-yes?"

"Who said you can leave?" the fat man continued staring into the leader's eyes.

"H-huh? Sorry?" the leader of the bullies wryly smiled.

Did they really just ran themselves into the hands of the tiger? Looking at this fat man, he doesn't seem to be your ordinary Joe next door with a job of manager at some restaurant.

All of these middle-aged men exude a dangerous aura. Not just from their street attire but from the complacent looks they were giving them that made the school bullies think that these men will do whatever they want with them.

One thought entered their minds.

'Gangsters!'

This thought was already at the back of their heads but they didn't want to think about it and just get out of there.

"Nick... are these your friends?" the fat man casually pointed.

The bullies slowly turned to Nick. Pleading was the only expression on their faces. Figuring out that it's better to help them right now, Nick nodded which made Nathan raised an eyebrow.

"Y-yeah, they're my friends." he said.

"Hm, then it's fine. I thought they're harassing you or we will beat them up." Uncle Jo laughed and waved his hand towards the group of bullies.

"Get out of here!" he sternly voiced.

"Y-yes!" the leader felt like he peed a little and turned around to run along with his goons.

Seeing that they were gone, Teren only sighed. He knew that it was better that way but he really beat someone up.

There were about six middle-aged men with Nick and Sik along with them. They saw Teren sighed and felt cold sweat. Even the not-so-narrow alley was filled by them.

"You! Why did you tell them they're your friends?" Nathan shouted at Nick.

"Huh? B-but I thought it's better that way...! It's just trouble a-and they will be back..."

Nick tried to explain with teary eyes.

"He's right." this time, it was Teren who spoke, making the apprehension against Nick dissipated in an instant, "But if they still came back after that, let me handle them."

As he said those words, he walked out of the encirclement as Uncle Jo and the rest made way for him.

Iesa was still hiding behind the corner and that was when she heard.

'Is the boss... angry?'

'Maybe he fancied that girl?'

'Should we take her and present her to him?'

Iesa: 'Huh? Huh!? Are they talking about me? No way, right? And who's boss is it?'

While she panicked and was about to take a peek, she saw a familiar face.

"T-teren!?" she shouted and in that instant, she felt safe for some reason she couldn't explain.

"What are you doing here?" Teren squinted his eyes.

"Um..." Iesa didn't know what to say. She's like a shy elementary school girl in front of her crush.

'What should I say? He's asking me... Iesa, keep it together!'

"Don't follow us." Teren didn't wait for her answer and just turned back towards where Nick and the rest were.

Iesa's eyebrows dropped. She felt that what she heard was wrong. She felt a strong urge to pull Teren and talk about it. However, seeing the unknown group of people he was walking towards, she stopped.

She just froze them as those people's thoughts fade away. All of their backs turned to her. But she only cared about that one back as if the others were not existing.

Gritting her teeth, she turned around before turning around again and run!

Teren, who seemed to be just following the rest, frowned and looked around to see Iesa running towards him with a determined face.

Once again, his arm was tugged.

Iesa didn't know what to say but since it felt natural, she pulled his arm, hugging it and running away.

Even Teren was stupefied by her actions. He couldn't help but go along with her...

"Haa!" Iesa huffed as she rested her hands on her thighs while trying to catch her breath.

They were in front of a park near the downtown of Heren City. There were a lot of people walking by.

While Iesa was resting and perspiring, Teren just stared at her. After a while, she looked at him and evade her eyes away immediately.

Seeing that she was still shy, Teren went into one of the ice cream stands nearby and bought two.

Iesa watched him and bit her lips. When he came back, he gave her one of the ice creams.

"T-thank you, how much was it?" she took a wallet in her bag but Teren stopped her.

"No, it's my apology for trying to kill you. It's not enough but I will feel better."

"I-is that so, oka-... wait, huh?" Iesa looked at Teren in disbelief, thinking that her ears might be playing with her.

The others who were just passing by looked at them and saw an ordinary couple.