Chapter - 1 -

The Fateful encounter

*MIRA*

'..and he is flatlining..'

'Grab the crash cart'

'Starting CPR'

'Administer a dose of epi stat..'

I walk into the ER, responding to the code blue.

'Get me the intubation trolley' I asked mechanically.

We run the entire code smoothly, salute to the years of experience and teamwork we have built.

I do love my field, the first doctor of the family, seeing the faces of my parents whenever they introduce me to someone, makes all the years I put into this worth it.

They deserve this much though after the turmoil I have put them through.

'Hey, Mira what are you doing this evening?' my colleague Josh asks catching up with me as I leave the ER.

'I have a night call, replacing Amyra' I say.

'Ahh! I completely forgot, I wanted to go to the River side with you.'

Looking at his ashen face, I almost feel sorry for him.

Almost.

I don't want to sound like a recluse, but I am more of a homebody, avoiding social situations is a skill that tops my resumé.

'But now you can ask Amyra!' I am all too aware about the secret crush he's been harbouring. He blushes at the mention of her name, how he has been able to keep it a secret for over four years is beyond me.

'Alright! I'll try asking her once' he agreed a tad too eagerly.

After taking care of all the paperwork, I decide to step out for the one hour that I have free, before I am in charge of the ER again.

I grab a coffee, put on my earphones and begin down the winding road while blasting, JENNIE's Mantra on my phone. Nobody could guess my musical ventures given the brood I carry across my face all the time.

I decide to go towards the Central library the largest in the City of Madison, Wisconsin, I love escaping into books, collecting the little worlds, a break and a breath away from reality.

I take my usual route, a little surprised to see the streets busier than usual. My plans for a quiet evening take a hit, as I come face to face with a full blown crowd just a few blocks down the library.

Worried about some accident taking place and my ER instincts kicking in, I step quickly towards the mob and try to pick up on what the screaming is all about.

'Did you see him!'

'He ran by, I saw his bodyguard! '

'I can't believe my luck, spotting Hyeon Jin here of all places!!!! Aaaaaa!'

'Please God, just let me get one picture with him, I promise to ace my midterms!'

'Hey, excuse me' I try to grab the attention of the pleading girl just ahead of me.

'What is the commotion about, is everything alright ' I ask her.

She turns her teary eyes and hands held in prayer towards me 'Hyeon Jin oppa was spotted entering this street! Can you believe it! I must have done something right.'

'Who is Hyeon Jin?' I ask the fan girl on the verge of tears, which instantly stop and her eyes widen at my question.

'Are you serious!? You don't know who he is'

I shake my head, she continues with disbelief at my ignorance ' The Korean idol group that is topping the charts- LUMÉRA! He is the leader' she gushes.

I am pretty sure she is about to launch into the fandom, her bias, her favourite song and the number of streams it has, so I quietly turn away.

The K-pop world is not really my scene.

Correction - Not my scene anymore.

I walk back towards the library, in anguish of having wasted half of my precious break on this. I step in towards the familiar mellowed smell of the antique books. The library has two levels, bookshelves arranged in arcs around the central hall.

'Hey Mira' I turn towards Nora the librarian, and raise my hand in greeting. She always tries to chat me up, I guess it could be boring for some people to be stuck in a room full of books day in, day out. Can't relate though.

'Hey Nora' I return her greeting half-heartedly.

'Some new collections are being added' she points to the large ladders and a worker arranging a few books on the higher level shelves 'After I add them into the system, you can go ahead and check them out.'

'Sure, thanks for letting me know'

I put down what's left of my coffee, and my bag at my usual corner space and peruse the column nearest to me.

Behind the arched arrangement of the bookshelves is an alcove, where I usually spend my time if the library gets too cramped up. As I glance towards it, there is a man, already occupying the sofa chair, dressed clad in black. I can't make much of him due to a baseball cap and mask that he has on.

I chose to move forward right next to the column where the new books are being added. Thanks to almost 10 at night the library is fairly empty with just Nora, me the guy hard at work atop the ladder and one mysterious stranger in black.

The noises outside the library do not seem to drown down any time soon, I shake my head at the crazy fangirls who would not let their Idol live in peace.

'What is all the fiasco?' Nora asks me loudly, her voice tiding over the fan chants.

'Some K-pop Idol is here apparently' I reply as I bend down to look at a book that has caught my interest in the bottom rack.

I hear hurried footsteps coming in my direction.

'Excuse me' a rich, honeyed voice flows towards me.

I look up to see the guy in black standing next to me.

'Can I help you?' I ask him as I stand.

'As a matter of fact you can' his words were heavily accented 'I need you to give me your clothes.'

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