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I bit my lip hard and forced myself to look back at the paper I was holding, crumpled due to my tight grip.

Damn that man!

I almost wanted to scratch myself because his face kept popping into my mind. I hissed.

He's the weirdest man I ever met in my whole life!

"Aren't you going home yet, dear? It's getting dark outside," I looked at the speaker.

The librarian. An old man wearing glasses. I glanced outside, and it was indeed getting dark. Sh!t, I didn't realize how late it was.

"I'm going home now," I quickly said and ran out of the building.

I cursed several times as I ran to the bus station, but I immediately felt weak upon remembering that my wallet was empty.

Bad luck!

So, I had no choice but to walk. Luckily, it wasn't too far to walk.

I walked with a frown until I reached the alley. I tightly held onto my umbrella.

The surroundings were dark, and the lights were out. Sometimes, I glanced around in fear. I was afraid someone might be following me, so I was very anxious.

I held onto my bag strap tightly as the dog barked.

Sh!t, really! I quickened my pace. I glanced around to see if someone was following me, but I quickly breathed a sigh of relief when I saw no one.

"Hmmp..." I paused at the sound.

I swallowed and stopped for a moment. I looked back. I could only see darkness. Did I just mishear something? I turned around and—

"Have mercy on—" I heard a pleading voice. A woman's voice.

I held my breath. I froze in place as I saw the shadow of a man, with the woman kneeling in front of him. Fear was evident on the woman's face as the man held a knife.

I stepped back. My hands turned cold, and I couldn't move from what I witnessed.

As I stepped back, I accidentally stepped on a beer can, creating a sound.

But before I could turn to my spot, someone suddenly grabbed me from the dark corner. He covered my mouth.

"Shhh," he whispered deeply.

I felt his warm breath near my ear, his warm hand touching my lips. Even the heat from his body was felt so close to me, as if he was embracing my back.

The man with the knife was alerted by the noise and quickly left. The woman was momentarily stunned but then returned to her senses and ran away in fear.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" he said firmly.

I looked up at him. He was wearing a black tank top and pants. His face was serious and dark. There was also annoyance in his demeanor.

"I-I'm going home and—"

"Danger is everywhere. Remember that," he said coldly and turned away.

I furrowed my brows at his behavior and watched him walk away with a plastic bag.

What's he doing here anyway?!

He disappeared from my sight as he went into the dark area of the street. I bit my lips. I still felt the warmth of his hand on my lips. I could still feel the heat on my neck.

Damn you, Aiden!

I quickly turned around and immediately saw the building of my apartment. I felt calm because every corner of it was familiar, and the light was bright for anyone passing by.

I hugged myself as the cool breeze touched my skin. The surroundings were calm and quiet. It felt like my first step here, but despite that, there was hidden danger. I sighed.

"Meow!"

I paused my steps upon hearing the tiny sound of a cat.

I looked around and searched for where the sound was coming from. I furrowed my brows upon seeing the black kitten on the side of the street. Its body was dirty, but what caught my attention was the color of its eyes. They were different colors, green and blue. Maybe it was the size of my hand but chubby. Its round eyes were fixed on me.

I smiled and bent down to it.

How dare they abandon this little cute creature?!

I touched its head and immediately felt its soft fur. I giggled as I took the cat. Its soft fur felt so good to hug. I couldn't help but feel excited.

I looked around and searched for its sibling or mother, but I didn't see anyone. I wrapped it in a cloth and carried it. It made a soft noise and leaned its head on my stomach, which made me smile.

"It seems no one is looking for you, so you're with me for now," I murmured. The cat purred a bit, agreeing with what I said.

Upon entering my apartment, I decided to give it a bath. I found out it was a male cat. I wiped it clean before placing it on my mini table. It wasn't difficult to take care of it because it was obedient.

I smiled as its round eyes looked at me. This cute cat looked really innocent and fluffy.

I couldn't help but feel excited. "What should I name you, hmm?"

I bit my lips and chuckled. Because it was chubby and fluffy. I will name him...

"Siopao!" I giggled.

That's a cute name for him! I stared at the cat who was already looking at me as I spoke, but he didn't seem to like it.

He purred at me.

I pouted.

"No buts!"

I woke up abruptly when my cellphone suddenly rang. Despite feeling sleepy, I reached for it and answered the call.

"Hello," I lazily answered.

"Bestie! Finally!" My spirit suddenly lifted, and I sat up on the bed.

"Serena?"

"Yes! Your beautiful friend Serena WinWin," she said cheerfully, and her joy was evident on the other line. I chuckled. Her personality hadn't changed. StillCopyRegenerateRevise the translation to accurately capture the nuances of idiomatic expressions.Enhance the translation by incorporating the cultural context of the text.Adjust the translation to ensure the colloquialisms and slang are accurately interpreted.