Chapter 4: Chapter 3
Chapter 3: A Collision of Fates
Morning sunlight filtered through the cracked curtains of Y/N's modest room, brushing against her closed eyes. The buzzing of her old alarm clock jolted her awake, and with a groggy sigh, she sat up. Another day. Another battle.
Her room was small, with walls painted in peeling cream and furniture that had seen better days. She glanced at the small mirror perched on her nightstand, catching her reflection. Puffy eyes and a faint shadow of exhaustion greeted her. She shook her head, forcing herself to smile. "You'll be fine," she murmured to herself, a mantra she had clung to for years.
After a quick breakfast of instant noodles, she packed her bag and set off for school. The walk was long, her shoes scuffing against the pavement as she tried to shake off the lingering gloom from last night. The betrayal of her so-called friends replayed in her mind, but she refused to let it consume her.
At school, Y/N tried to blend into the crowd, but the avoidance was impossible to ignore. Whispers followed her in the hallways, and when she reached her locker, someone had scribbled "LOSER" in bold, red letters across it. She swallowed the lump in her throat and brushed it off.
Lunch was no better. She sat alone at the farthest table in the cafeteria, quietly nibbling on her food while the other students laughed and chattered. Even here, the world seemed determined to remind her of her loneliness. She wanted to disappear, but instead, she stayed seated, enduring the silence.
The rain started in the late afternoon, soft at first but quickly escalating into a downpour. Y/N had forgotten her umbrella in her rush to leave the house, and by the time school ended, she was drenched. Her uniform clung to her skin as the chilling rain soaked through, but she couldn't afford to miss her night shift.
---
The bell above the convenience store door chimed as Y/N walked in, shaking off the rain. The warmth inside was a welcome relief, but her soaked clothes left her feeling cold. The hours passed slowly, her dizziness creeping in as exhaustion took hold. She had been fighting off a cold since last week, and today's rain only made it worse.
When her shift ended, the rain was even heavier than before. Lightning cracked across the sky as she trudged home, her bag heavier than usual and her vision starting to blur. Her head throbbed, and her legs felt like they were made of lead.
The sharp screech of tires jolted her back to reality. A sleek black car came to a sudden stop just inches away from her. The headlights blinded her, and she froze, unable to move. Her legs wobbled, and the dizziness she had been fighting all day finally won.
Namjoon sat in the back seat of the car, scrolling through his phone as the storm raged outside. He barely glanced up when his driver slammed on the brakes. "What's going on?" he asked coldly, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Sir," the driver said, panicked, "there's a girl—she collapsed right in front of the car!"
Namjoon's brows furrowed as he leaned forward to see the figure crumpled on the wet road. Even through the rain, he could tell she was young, her frame trembling from the cold. His jaw tightened. "Get her in the car. Now."
---
Y/N stirred faintly, her consciousness flickering as she felt herself being lifted. The warmth of the car enveloped her, but she couldn't make sense of anything. Voices were muffled, and the only thing she could register was the ache in her body.
The black car sped through the rain, eventually pulling into the long, winding driveway of a grand estate. The mansion loomed ahead, a modern architectural masterpiece of glass and stone, illuminated by warm golden lights despite the storm. It was vast, with sprawling gardens and a fountain that glistened even in the rain.
Namjoon stepped out first, his expression unreadable as he barked orders to the staff. "Prepare a guest room and call the doctor immediately."
The staff moved swiftly, taking Y/N from the driver and carrying her inside. The mansion's interior was even more luxurious, with marble floors, grand chandeliers, and walls adorned with expensive art. Everything about the place screamed power and wealth.
Namjoon followed the commotion, his sharp eyes observing as the girl was laid gently on a plush bed in one of the guest rooms. His personal doctor arrived minutes later, a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor who began examining her.
"She's burning up with a fever," the doctor said after a quick check. "She's exhausted, dehydrated, and has likely caught a severe cold from being out in this weather. She needs rest, warmth, and medication."
Namjoon nodded curtly. "Do whatever you need to."
The maids brought warm towels and changed Y/N into dry clothes. She remained unconscious, her face pale and her breathing shallow. Namjoon stood near the door, his arms crossed as he watched. He wasn't sure why he had brought her here, why he hadn't simply called an ambulance and let someone else handle it.
But something about her struck a chord in him. Maybe it was the way she had looked so helpless in the rain, or maybe it was the faint determination he saw in her even as she collapsed. He pushed the thought aside. It didn't matter.
"Keep an eye on her," Namjoon instructed the staff. "Let me know the moment she wakes up."
---
The Morning After
Sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of the guest room, warming Y/N's face. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she was disoriented. The bed was too soft, the room too grand. This wasn't her home.
Panic bubbled in her chest as she sat up, her head throbbing. Before she could make sense of her surroundings, the door opened, and a tall figure stepped inside.
Namjoon.
His presence was commanding, his tailored suit immaculate despite the early hour. His dark eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet piercing. "You're awake," he said, his voice cold and detached.
Y/N's throat felt dry as she stammered, "W-where am I?"
"You collapsed in front of my car last night," he explained bluntly. "You're in my house. My staff took care of you."
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as the memory came rushing back. "I'm so sorry—I didn't mean to—"
He held up a hand, silencing her. "Save your apologies. Just explain why you were wandering around in the storm like that."
She hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I... I was on my way home from work. I didn't realize I was feeling that sick."
His expression remained stoic, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—concern, maybe? He turned to the maid standing by the door. "Bring her some food and tea."
Y/N watched him, bewildered by his generosity despite his cold demeanor. "Thank you," she said quietly.
Namjoon didn't respond. Instead, he walked over to the window, gazing out at the estate's sprawling gardens. "You should rest for the day. My driver will take you home when you're ready."
"Why are you helping me?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.
He turned to her, his gaze sharp. "Let's just say I don't like leaving debts unpaid. Consider it a one-time favor."
Y/N nodded, though his words left her with more questions than answers.
---
Throughout the day, Y/N rested in the luxurious guest room, occasionally peeking out the window at the vast estate. The staff were kind, bringing her meals and checking on her periodically.
Namjoon remained distant, but his presence lingered. She could feel it in the way the staff referred to him with a mixture of fear and respect, and in the way his voice carried through the halls.
As night fell, Y/N found herself standing by the window, looking out at the storm that had brought her here. Her life felt like a whirlwind, unpredictable and chaotic. But for the first time in a long while, she felt a small spark of hope.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone