The sun was beginning to set as Gianna made her way home, the cool autumn air brushing against her skin. The streets were quiet, with only the occasional passerby rushing to their next destination. Gianna walked briskly, eager to put the day behind her and let the strange tension from work fade away.
As she approached a narrow alley that cut through to the next block, something caught her eye. At first, it was just movement—shadows shifting in the dim light. But then she heard it: the unmistakable sound of a struggle. Her heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, she slowed her pace, peering into the alley.
That's when she saw him.
Adrian.
Her breath caught in her throat. He was cornered by three guys—each of them larger and older, their faces twisted in cruel sneers. Adrian was on the ground, his body curled slightly, arms shielding his face as one of the guys kicked him hard in the ribs. A muffled groan escaped Adrian's lips, and Gianna felt a surge of panic—and anger—flare up inside her.
Without thinking, Gianna rushed forward, her feet moving before her mind could fully catch up. She was already good in combat—years of martial arts had trained her body to react quickly, decisively. And in this moment, every instinct screamed at her to act.
"Hey!" she shouted, her voice sharp and commanding. The group turned toward her, surprised by the sudden interruption. Gianna wasted no time. Before they could react, she threw herself into the fray.
The first guy swung at her, but Gianna easily dodged, her movements quick and fluid. She delivered a sharp kick to his knee, sending him stumbling back with a pained grunt. The second guy lunged at her, but she was ready—twisting out of his reach and landing a swift punch to his jaw. He staggered, clearly caught off guard by her speed and precision.
The third guy, the one who had been kicking Adrian, took a step toward her, his fists clenched. But Gianna wasn't intimidated. She moved in fast, blocking his wild swing and delivering a series of blows to his midsection. He doubled over, gasping for breath.
"Get lost!" Gianna growled, her voice low and dangerous.
The guys exchanged glances, clearly not expecting this kind of resistance. They hesitated for a moment before retreating, muttering curses under their breath as they fled down the alley, their pride bruised as much as their bodies.
Gianna stood still for a second, her breath heavy, heart pounding in her chest. When she was sure they were gone, she immediately turned her attention to Adrian, who was still slumped against the wall, wincing in pain.
"Adrian," she breathed, dropping to her knees beside him. "Are you okay?"
He didn't answer right away, his eyes squeezed shut as he tried to catch his breath. His lip was split, blood trickling down his chin, and his face was a mix of bruises and cuts. But he was alive.
Gianna reached out, her hand hovering over his arm, unsure if she should touch him. "Adrian, can you hear me? Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Slowly, Adrian opened his eyes, blinking up at her through the haze of pain. For a moment, he just stared at her, as if trying to process what had just happened. Then, with a wince, he nodded. "I'm… I'm fine," he rasped, though his voice was strained.
Gianna shook her head, clearly not convinced. "You don't look fine."
He let out a rough, humorless laugh, grimacing as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his body. "Yeah… well… I'll live."
Gianna's heart twisted at the sight of him like this—so vulnerable, so unlike the calm, collected guy she'd seen at the café. She wasn't sure what to say, the words stuck in her throat as she knelt beside him.
"Why didn't you fight back?" she asked softly, her voice a mix of frustration and concern.
Adrian sighed, leaning his head back against the wall, his face pale under the fading light. "I tried. Didn't go so well, as you can see."
Gianna frowned, glancing over the bruises darkening on his skin. "Who were they? Why were they after you?"
Adrian hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to answer. But then he shook his head, his expression guarded. "It's complicated."
Gianna narrowed her eyes but didn't push further. She could tell by the way his jaw tightened that this wasn't something he was ready to talk about. Still, that didn't mean she wasn't worried.
"You need to see a doctor," she said firmly. "You could have broken ribs or worse."
"No," Adrian said quickly, struggling to sit up. "No doctors. I'm fine. I just need to… rest."
Gianna frowned, clearly not liking his answer. But before she could argue, Adrian reached out and gently grabbed her arm. "Seriously, Gianna," he said, his voice low and insistent. "I'll be fine. You don't have to—"
"I'm not leaving you here," she interrupted, her tone more forceful than she intended. "Not like this."
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Adrian stared at her, surprised by the intensity in her voice, while Gianna's heart raced, still pumping from the adrenaline of the fight. She couldn't just walk away—not after what she'd seen.
Finally, Adrian sighed, his body sagging with exhaustion. "Fine," he muttered, relenting. "But I'm not going to the hospital."
Gianna shook her head, still frustrated, but she helped him to his feet anyway. Adrian winced as he stood, one arm wrapping around his ribs as he leaned against her for support.
"Thanks," he said quietly, glancing down at her. His voice was rough, but there was a hint of sincerity in it that caught her off guard.
Gianna gave a small nod, trying to keep her expression neutral despite the swirl of emotions in her chest. "Let's just get you somewhere safe."