CHAPTER 66
The Summer I Turned Twenty
One day during the summer of the year I turned twenty.
I had spent the semester juggling both studies and part-time work.
It was all to fulfill a bucket list item: “Travel to Italy at twenty.”
Having carefully saved up for the trip, I set off alone for Rome, Italy, as soon as vacation began.
The dream city I had only seen in movies unfolded before my eyes.
I was thrilled the entire trip.
It was my first trip abroad and my first time traveling alone.
I made clumsy mistakes and got lost, but even those became fond memories.
On the last night of this dreamlike journey,
I stepped out of the hotel carrying a small handbag.
Being the final day, I had been greedy, visiting as many places as possible, and ended up skipping dinner.
Hungry, I planned to pick up a panini from a shop that stayed open late.
Outside, darkness had already fallen.
Following the faint glow of streetlights, I felt an unexpected chill despite it being a summer night.
“I just need to go a little further.”
Muttering to shake off the creeping fear, I quickened my pace.
To reach the busy main street, I had to pass through several narrow alleys.
Staying in a cheap hotel in a remote area meant the tourist spots were quite far.
“Maybe I should have just eaten instant noodles.”
The deserted alleys felt eerie at night.
At times, I regretted being out alone, but I was already halfway there—turning back wasn’t an option.
Holding my breath without realizing it, I stepped into a narrow alley.
As I passed between old buildings, a long shadow stretched across the ground.
When I slowly lifted my head, I saw two men leaning against the wall.
I froze instantly.
Sensing my presence, one of them turned his head to look at me.
One of the men, as if amused by my terrified face, twisted his mouth and approached.
Instinctively, I stepped back.
Just as I was about to turn and run, I was grabbed.
Too shocked to resist, I froze like ice.
Trembling, I managed to speak.
“I can give you money if you need it.”
Speaking in English, the two men looked at each other and laughed arrogantly.
“How much do you have?”
With trembling hands, I pulled my wallet from my handbag.
Being the last day of the trip, I didn’t have much cash left.
I emptied the wallet and offered all the money, but the two men’s faces twisted with malice.
“That’s not enough. Playing with you would be better.”
Muttering something in Italian, I couldn’t understand a word.
“Please, just take the money and let me go.”
Even as I begged, one man tightened his grip.
He roughly brushed my cheek and muttered, leering,
“Keep the money, let’s have some fun with you.”
When he smirked and grabbed my shoulder, I screamed.
He clamped his hand over my mouth and warned me to stay quiet.
My desperate cries for help were trapped in his firm grip.
Just as I struggled with all my strength, a sudden thud sounded beside me.
The man holding me turned his head—and his face was twisted unnaturally.
He tried to retaliate, but the tall man easily dodged and landed a punch to his abdomen.
As he groaned clutching his stomach, the other man who had fallen rose and attacked from behind.
The tall man dodged again, grabbed the back of the attacker’s head, and slammed him against the wall.
His scream echoed as his face scraped against the rough surface.
Striking the wall again, the man fell backward.
I trembled, watching the bloodied man lying on the ground.
“Are you okay?”
I noticed the natural brown curls that reached his ears.
His deep brown eyes looked at me with concern.
I wanted to tell him I was alive thanks to him, that I was grateful, but my mouth wouldn’t move.
I lost consciousness right there.
When I finally dragged my heavy eyelids open,
a strange scent lingered faintly in the air.
“Looks like you’re awake now.”
Startled by the calm voice, I bolted upright.
A single small light lit the room with a soft yellow glow.
Looking around, I realized I was lying on a bed in a man’s home.
Fearful, I watched him warily.
“You fainted right there, so I brought you here first.”
I understood his English.
Though startled at first, I relaxed—but I couldn’t stay.
I slid my feet off the bed.
“I should go back to my hotel.”
“You don’t look like you have the strength to walk. Rest a bit more.”
“No.”
The aftershocks of the night’s events made me shake my head.
All I wanted was to return to my lodging as soon as possible.
The man looked at me and said indifferently as he turned.
“You can’t even trust the man who saved you? Fine, you can go. But I can’t promise nothing like this won’t happen again on your way.”
His words made me hesitate.
Going back into the night streets to reach the hotel felt terrifying.
“A woman alone, wandering at night, fearless…”
His muttered voice, strangely, felt reassuring.
Though he was also a stranger in a foreign land, I felt safe by his side because he had saved me from danger.
I paused, reconsidering leaving the bed.
Fiddling with the blanket, I finally spoke.
“Thank you for saving me.”
Instead of replying, he brought warm tea and handed it to me.
“Drink this. It’ll help calm your mind and body.”
I looked up at the man offering tea.
A long shadow fell on the white wall. He was taller than I imagined.
Soft light revealed his face.
Between his natural brown curls and neatly trimmed beard were sharp, distinct features.
Looking down at me, his face cast a shadow, yet I could see he was extremely handsome.
Lost in the moment, I snapped back as he spoke again.
“I wanted to make sure it wasn’t poisoned.”
He sipped the tea himself to prove it was safe before offering it again.
I silently accepted the cup, unable to explain it wasn’t my intention.
“Why were you out so late?”
My stomach growled at the question, causing me to clutch it in surprise.
He chuckled softly.
“Hungry?”
“I skipped dinner and went out to buy a panini.”
He nodded and stepped outside.
Soon, sounds of preparation clattered from the kitchen.
While sipping tea and observing the room, he returned carrying a tray.
“Not poisoned.”
He handed me the panini he made himself. I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“You made this?”
It was so delicious that I didn’t even miss the panini shop I couldn’t get to.
Even in a stranger’s home, I couldn’t stop eating.
After finishing everything and sipping fragrant tea, my tension melted away.
“Thank you.”
He nodded at my gratitude.
“It’s late, so sleep here. We can go tomorrow. I’ll be in the living room.”
As he started to leave, I impulsively grabbed his sleeve.
He paused, looking back at me, silently asking why.
I had no words, just held on.
He spoke quietly, watching me.
“I warned you to be careful.”
“But you said I’d be safe.”
My small, timid reply made his brow furrow briefly.
“You really have no fear. You have no idea what I could do.”
Even trembling, I didn’t let go of his sleeve.
He bent down, locking eyes with me.
Our lips met, and a long shadow fell over me.
