[8:00pm]
The city was bustling with activity on a Saturday night, Urica Samantha walked hand in hand with her 4yr old niece. Amidst the chaos, she heard a familiar voice calling out her.
It was her classmate back in the college, they quickly caught up with each other.
However, in the midst of their conversation, She realized that her niece was no longer by her side. Panic set in as she frantically searched for the little boy. Just as she spotted him across the street, the child made a dash towards her, oblivious to the incoming of a speeding motorcycle.
Time seemed to slowed down as Urica watched in horror, unable to move. But just as the motorcycle was about to collide with her niece, a loud bang echoed through the air. When she opened her eyes, she saw the motorcyclist lying on the ground, bleeding.
As she turned her head. To her surprise, In the ground a man was embracing her niece, shielding him from harm.
Overwhelmed with emotions, she approach the the man and checked on her niece. It was then that she realized the man who had saved her niece was none other than her neighbor from the apartment next door Achylys.
Grateful and moved to tears, Urica couldn't control herself—she suddenly reached out and hugged him tightly. Her eyes shut, as if she were clinging to a moment straight out of a drama.
A small hand gripped the hem of her shirt, followed by a tiny voice:
"Auntie… what about me?"
Urica's eyes flew open in a panic. Her brain finally caught up—and promptly screamed at her about how awkward this looked.
She pulled away fast, flustered, giving Achylys an awkward, apologetic smile
"I… I don't know what to say. Thank you, really." Her voice was soft, still shaky with emotion.
Achylys just shrugged, brushing it off like it was nothing.
"Don't overthink it." His tone was casual
Concerned for his well-being, Urica quickly offered to take Achylys to the hospital. But he brushed her off with a wave of his hand and turned away, clearly wanting no fuss.
Then she saw it.
A dark stain on the back of his clothes—blood. Her eyes widened. A jagged piece of metal had pierced through his jacket. He hadn't even noticed.
"Achylys, you're bleeding, seriously," she said, stepping forward.
He scowled, stubborn as ever. "It's nothing."
"You call that nothing?" she snapped, her voice rising.
Still, he resisted, hard-headed and unwilling to listen.
Urica stepped in front of him, blocking his path. She glared up at him, voice low and firm.
"Stop this. You're not invincible."
Before he could argue again, the sound of sirens grew louder. The police and an ambulance arrived moments later, pushing through the small crowd that had formed.
Achylys looked at the flashing lights, then back at her. The weight of the situation finally sank in.
With a frustrated sigh, he gave in.
At the hospital, Urica moved with urgency, instructing a nurse to prepare the equipment for stitching Achylys's wound.
Urica Samantha, a 23-year-old resident doctor at GreatMed Doctors Hospital,
personally oversaw the procedure, her expression calm but focused.
The moment the stitches were done and the bleeding stopped, Achylys didn't wait around. He quietly gathered his belongings, clearly intent on slipping out without another word.
But Urica saw him.
"Hey—wait!" she called, already rushing after him.
She caught up just outside the emergency wing, breath slightly uneven, determination written all over her face.
"You're already headed home?" Urica asked as she spotted him slipping out. "You can rest here a little longer, you know."
"There's no point. I've got nothing to do here," Achylys replied, still avoiding eye contact.
"Well, that's perfect," she said with a bright smile. "I'm heading home too. Want to walk together?"
Achylys didn't answer. Just shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking. Urica quietly followed, matching his pace.
As they neared their apartment building, Achylys broke the silence.
"What happened to the kid?"
"Oh, he's fine, thanks to you," Urica replied. "That was my nephew, by the way. His mom already picked him up. She was super grateful. Actually asked how she could repay you."
"I didn't really do anything."
"You literally jumped in front of a moving motorcycle."
"Still. It just... happened."
"You got hurt while doing so. You could've died."
"Stop bluffing me." he said, glancing sideways with a grimace.
Urica giggled. "You're such a weirdo."
Even though they'd lived next door for nearly two years, they'd never really talked until today. So, after a beat of silence, Urica turned to him and said,
"Hey… since we're finally talking, want to be friends?"
Achylys looked at her like she just said something out of a cartoon, but nodded..
"I don't really have a choice.. am I? then I guess…"
"MoonSu?" she blinked. "Wait, that's a top school! You must be smart."
"Don't start," he mumbled.
She chuckled again. "Okay, okay. But seriously… how should we thank you?"
"You're overthinking it. I didn't do it out of heroism," he muttered.
"If the motorbike had hit him, it probably would've hit me too. Saving him just… made sense. It was the optimal move."
Urica opened her mouth to reply—
"Can I just walk in peace now?" he cut in, deadpan. "Thanks."
She laughed, covering her mouth. "Really? Fine. If you say so."
Achylys side-eyed her. She grinned and walked ahead of him on purpose.
He sighed and scratched his head, muttering, "She's definitely messing with me."
Once they reached the building, Urica stopped at the entrance and looked at him, her tone softening.
"Hey… are you really okay? No pain or anything?"
Achylys waved her off with a lazy hand. "Go inside already."
"Alright, alright. But if you feel anything weird, just knock on my door, okay?"
He nodded silently and went into his room.
Urica stayed behind for a second. As the door clicked shut, a warm smile formed on her lips.