Chapter 1
Jerry POV
I drove away on the straight road ahead of me. My vision was blurry; the rain was heavy and the sound of thunder echoed around me. I slowed down to avoid any accidents—safety is always better.
The rain grew heavier as I moved forward. To be honest, I didn’t even know where I was heading. I was just wandering aimlessly, without a destination. I had become a stray.
Do you ever have those moments in life where you just walk aimlessly? You have no goals, no destination. You feel meaningless, worthless. No matter how much effort or hard work you put in, you don’t get the credit you deserve. The work you’ve dedicated your passion and soul to is taken away and given to someone else—someone who doesn’t have a clue about it.
It’s unfair, right?
You feel devastated. You ask yourself: Where did I go wrong? What did I do? Why can’t they show me the same respect they show him? You question yourself, even though it’s not your fault. You question your worth. You feel depressed, like the world is against you—one against many. It is the ultimate injustice.
You fall into a slump. That is what happened to me. I received the most unfair treatment; I was betrayed and heartbroken. It wasn’t by a stranger, but by my own blood. My family.
I’ve been running from them, as far as I can, to a place where they’ll never find me. A place where no one knows me. A place where I can heal my broken heart.
I just left that place. People call it “home,” but to me, it didn’t feel like one. During childhood, it was a home. But after graduation and joining the company, it felt like a prison. It was suffocating. Many times, I didn’t even want to return after working my heart out. That estate feels like a lifeless building now—a place that makes me unhappy and depressed. I’m glad I left.
It’s been a year since I departed, and I don’t intend to go back anytime soon. I’ve explored different countrysides and towns. I’m trying to explore myself. I hadn’t been on this road before. If I hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have known how big the world truly is. In the past few months, I’ve experienced something different. I’ve met different people. It’s weird, but I feel happy when I help them.
Suddenly, thunder roared and the downpour became a deluge. At that exact moment, my car died. Damn it. Of all times, it had to stop now. It was raining so heavily I couldn’t even go out to check the engine. I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. What “luck.”
I woke up to the sound of honking. I must have fallen asleep while stuck in the car. I checked my phone; it was 8:00 PM. The rain had stopped.
The car honked again. Fully awake, I tried the ignition. No response. This second-hand—or maybe fifth-hand—car was a piece of junk. The car behind me honked again. I manually rolled down the window (an old model they don’t even manufacture anymore) and signaled for them to go around.
Instead of moving, the car stopped. The driver climbed out. I was expecting a rough, tall guy; instead, there she was. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore a t-shirt, jeans, and a jacket. She looked casual but striking. She walked up to me.
“Hey, is there a problem?” she asked, her eyes scanning the car, then me, then the situation. “Looks like you need help.”
“It’s fine. You can go,” I replied, refusing the help. I’m the kind of person who solves everything on his own. Stubborn, right?
She shrugged. “You sure? Your car looks broken.”
“How do you know?” I frowned.
“There’s smoke coming out of the bonnet,” she pointed out.
I looked at the smoke billowing from the front of the car. Damn. I hopped out hurriedly and opened the hood. It was scorching and smelled terrible. The engine was fried—completely burnt. How did this happen? I sighed.
I reached for my phone, only to find it was dead. It had been two days since I’d last charged it. Trapped.
The girl was staring at me. “You definitely need help,” she said. It wasn’t a question; she knew. “Get in.”
She walked back to her car. I looked at her, then back at my dead vehicle. It wasn’t going anywhere. I grabbed my bags and walked to her car—a late-model SUV. She didn’t look wealthy, but the car was nice. Regardless, I just needed to get away.
I tossed my bags in the back and hopped into the passenger seat. As I buckled my seat belt, she started the engine and drove off. She seemed familiar with the road. The car smelled floral and sweet, and soft music played from the speakers. I watched her tap her fingers to the beat on the steering wheel. Her fingers looked soft yet capable. I forced myself to look away.
She must have felt my gaze. She looked at me and said, “Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Mia Alexa.”
“Jerry Hunter,” I replied.
“Nice to meet you,” she said with a warm smile.
We drove in silence for ten minutes. I found the quiet intimidating and awkward. It’s nerve-wracking being in a car with a total stranger. I stared out the window at the passing fields.
“Where are you heading?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“Huh?” I was taken aback. I didn’t actually know where I was.
“There’s a junction ahead,” she explained. “So, if you tell me...”
“I don’t know where I’m going,” I confessed honestly. “I’ve never been here.”
She looked at me as if trying to read my mind. “Did you run away from home?”
I froze. Was it that obvious? “How did you...”
“I just guessed,” she answered. “I didn’t think I’d get it right on the first try.”
I shook my head. “Nice guess.”
“Did you have a fight?” she asked.
I nodded. “A big one.”
She nodded in understanding. “It must have been tough for you to take such a big step.”
“It was. I got hurt badly,” I told her. It felt surprisingly comforting to talk to her. “It doesn’t matter now. I left them.”
Finally, I felt at peace.
