The corners of my eyes caught the passage of someone hiding their face under a hood. For some reason, my attention was drawn to that man, almost as if I instinctively sensed he was trouble.
Then, in the next moment, I collided with the person in front of me.
I didn't have time to absorb any details about her; I only felt the pain in my head as our foreheads collided.
She had been running very fast, and the impact made me lose my balance. If it weren't for my recent increase in strength, I probably would have fallen disastrously to the ground.
However, the girl who bumped into me wasn't as fortunate. Caught off guard, her body was repelled, and she landed on the ground on her butt.
"Sorry, are you okay?" As soon as I recovered from the initial surprise, I extended my hand to help her.
As I took a closer look at her petite figure, I couldn't help but admire the delicate features that made up the enchanting beauty of this brunette. Her deep, expressive brown eyes seemed to capture the light around us, radiating a captivating intensity. Her flawless skin complemented her face, which wore a modest smile, adding a special charm to her already striking appearance.
"Don't worry, it's my fault for running like this in such a crowded place. I'm sorry."
She accepted my help enthusiastically, bouncing to her feet. Then she smiled and leaned toward me slightly, her curiosity making her look irresistibly adorable.
"Wait! You're the hero from that store! It's really you, right?" She gave a small smile.
I found the nickname curious, but I assumed it referred to what happened at the mall. I told her that if she meant that event, then yes, it was me, but I wasn't any kind of hero.
Wanting to apologize for bumping into me, and also taking the opportunity to ask some questions about the incident, she invited me for coffee. I wasn't in a hurry, so I had no reason to decline, but...
"Weren't you in a rush? If you prefer, we can schedule it for another day," I suggested.
A realization crossed the girl's face as she remembered why she had been rushing. She lightly tapped her forehead in self-punishment but quickly shrugged it off.
"I already let him get away," she murmured, disappointed with herself, then turned her intense gaze back to me. "Don't worry, I'm free for the rest of the day now."
"If it's no problem for you, it's no problem for me. After all, I always have time to go out with a beautiful girl."
"Don't be such a tease," she said, looking away for a moment. "Oh, right! I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? I'm Clara, an independent journalist," she declared proudly, puffing out her not-so-abundant chest. Then she extended her hand toward me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hero."
I shook her hand and introduced myself properly.
Clara quickly took the lead, saying she knew a great coffee shop nearby. She was agile and a bit hurried, so I had to keep up to avoid falling behind.
That said, I didn't mind her taking the lead at all. Her skinny jeans clung to her body like a second skin, emphasizing her perfectly shaped and perky butt, giving me a wonderful view.
Before I realized it, I was staring into those brown eyes again. I ordered the same drink as her since I wasn't familiar with the place, and it turned out to be delicious.
I also answered all her questions, recounting everything I remembered about the incident. Just to be safe, I notified Vanessa about it. Always glued to her phone, she replied quickly, saying it was fine as long as I didn't mention visiting her office afterward or share anything she had told me.
Finally, Vanessa teased me about becoming famous. I joked back, saying she might soon hire me as a brand ambassador. She laughed, and that was all.
"So, what do you do for a living these days?" Clara asked, her gaze intense.
Since she wasn't taking notes, I didn't feel too much like I was being interviewed. Still, her curious eyes made me feel a little pressured.
"I work in a small shop, and I also do some freelance work online."
"Like what?"
"Mainly video editing. It's a lot of work, but it helps supplement my income."
"I totally get that!" She spoke so loudly that it drew stares from everyone around us. "Sorry," she mumbled, embarrassed.
She continued, explaining why she could relate. Clara also knew how to edit videos. In fact, because it was so hard to sustain herself with an independent news blog, she took on all kinds of jobs, including video editing.
Not just editing, she also managed social media for various clients, including individuals and even companies, helping with marketing and public relations. She even did freelance reporting from time to time and mentioned that she had a lucrative event lined up for the month, which made her more relaxed financially.
Undeniably, the conversation became much more enjoyable when she talked about her life rather than bombarding me with questions.
"Oops, I got off track. Sorry," she admitted, realizing she had stopped asking questions. "I just have a couple more things I wanted to ask. You're not in college, right?" Her expression showed some apprehension.
"No," I replied, choosing not to elaborate.
"Okay, can I ask one last thing?" She looked at me with an intensity that seemed slightly worrying.
"Sure, if it's something I can answer, I don't mind."
"Well..." She hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Why were you expelled from college?"
I was caught off guard.
She knew?
How did she know about that?