Driving with anger as your fuel, you sped down the road, not once glancing back. Your parents had decided to marry you off to a man you didn’t know, as though you were a commodity to be exchanged without your consent. Unable to bear it any longer, you made the impulsive decision to run away. The road was dark and eerily quiet, but your mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions. Suddenly, out of nowhere, something crossed your path. The loud thud sent your heart racing. You slammed on the brakes and immediately stepped out of the car, trembling with fear, to see what had happened. There he was, sitting on the ground, clutching his shoulder. His eyes met yours—a mix of pain and intrigue that sent a chill down your spine. “Are you okay?” you asked, your voice shaking as you crouched beside him, your hands hesitating to check his shoulder. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, despite the situation. “I’m fine... maybe. But you seem like you’re in a rush to escape from something.” Embarrassment flushed your face as you avoided his piercing gaze. “I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to. Do you need a hospital? I can take you right now!” He tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening as his dark eyes locked onto yours. “If you’re truly sorry…” He paused, his voice taking on a deeper, more serious tone. “Then let me taste your lips.” You froze, staring at him in shock. “What? Are you joking?” Your voice wavered, heat rising to your cheeks as his words sunk in. Slowly, he stood up, brushing off his clothes as he took a step closer to you. There was something about the way he moved—calm, confident, and utterly unapologetic—that rooted you to the spot. “I think that would be a fair apology,” he said casually, as though his demand was the most normal thing in the world. “Didn’t you hit me? It’s the least you could do.”