Joon heart still pounding from the adrenaline. " Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

  The woman nodded, her eyes searching his. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a little shaken up. Thank you again. What's your name?"

  "I'm Joon," he replied, feeling a blush creep up his neck.

  "I'm... I'm Ji-hye," she said, her voice soft. "I don't know how to repay you, Joon."

  "You don't have to repay me," Joon said quickly. "I just... I couldn't let them hurt you."

  Ji-hye smiled, a genuine, warm smile that lit up her face. "You're a good person, Joon. Thank you."

  Ji-hye eyes wide with a mixture of fear and gratitude. "I don't know what they would have done if you hadn't..." She trailed off, taking a deep breath to compose herself.

  "It's no problem," Joon replied, trying to sound nonchalant, though inside he was immensely pleased with himself. I can't believe I actually did that! I was way cooler than I thought. He couldn't help but notice how the moonlight accentuated Ji-hye's features, making her look even more stunning.

  "I feel terrible," Ji-hye said, shaking her head. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

  "They were the ones causing trouble, not you," Joon said firmly. "Do you want me to walk you home? Just to make sure you get there safely?"

  Ji-hye hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "I'd like that very much," she said. "Thank you."

  Joon's heart leaped because she accepted the offer. Walk her home? Yes! This is my chance! I get to spend more time with her. And see her walk... again. He quickly composed himself, trying to appear casual. "After you," he said, managing a smile.

  As they started walking, Joon found himself stealing glances at Ji-hye. The streetlights cast a soft glow on her body, highlighting the elegant sway of her hips. Even in her vulnerability, she carried herself with an air of confidence and grace that Joon found incredibly alluring.

  Her walk is so... mesmerizing, he thought, his eyes tracing the smooth lines of her legs. How can she look so sexy even when she's just walking? It's like she's a goddess on display. I could watch her walk forever.

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  To his surprise, Ji-hye turned to him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You know, it's not very subtle when you stare," she said, a playful smile on her lips.

  Joon's face flushed crimson. "I-I'm sorry," he stammered, looking away. "I didn't mean to stare. You're just... you're very beautiful."

  Ji-hye chuckled, a melodious sound that sent a shiver down Joon's spine. "Thank you, Joon. That's very kind of you." She paused for a moment, then added, "It's... it's still a little strange for me, you know? Walking around like this because of the Virulent X restriction. But after a while, you kind of get used to it."

  "Yeah, I guess so," Joon replied, his gaze drifting over her body again despite himself. "It's just... it's hard not to notice how amazing you look."

  Ji-hye laughed again, shaking her head slightly. "You're going to make me blush," she said, though she didn't seem displeased by his attention.

  As they walked, they talked about the virus, the Nova Protocol, about how their lives had changed, about their families. Joon learned that Ji-hye worked at a company named Sunsphere and lived alone. He found himself drawn to her intelligence, her wit, and her surprisingly down-to-earth personality.

  She's not just beautiful, he thought, feeling a growing connection with her. She's also really smart and funny. And she's easy to talk to. I feel like I could talk to her for hours.

  Soon, they reached an apartment building. Joon recognized it immediately. It was the same building where he lived.

  "This is me," Ji-hye said, stopping in front of the entrance. "Thank you again for walking me home, Joon. I really appreciate it."

  "Of course," Joon said, his heart sinking slightly. He didn't want the evening to end.

  "So, uh, I guess this is goodbye?" she said.

  Joon hesitated, his eyes searching her. "Well, not exactly," he said, a smile tugging at his lips. "I live here, you know. Apartment 803."

  Ji-hye's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you live here?" she exclaimed. "You're kidding me," she said, her voice filled with delight. "You're my neighbor?"

  "Yeah," Joon said, still in shock. "My father just bought the unit a month ago. I can't believe we live so close to each other."

  This is unbelievable, he thought, a surge of excitement coursing through him. She lives in the apartment right across from mine! What are the chances? This is too good to be true.

  "That's... that's amazing," Ji-hye said, her eyes sparkling. "I've lived here for a year, and I've never seen you before."

  "Well, I've only been here for a week," Joon replied, grinning. "But I guess I'll be seeing a lot more of you now."

  They stood there for a moment, a comfortable silence settling between them. Joon couldn't believe his luck. The woman he had just saved, the woman he was so incredibly attracted to, lived right across the hall from him.

  Finally, Ji-hye broke the silence. "Well, neighbor," she said, her voice soft, "I should probably go inside. It's getting late."

  "Yeah, me too," Joon said, his voice a little breathless. "But... maybe we could, uh, maybe we could hang out sometime? Like, get coffee or something?"

  Ji-hye's smile softened. "I'd like that very much, Joon," she said. "We shouldn't be strangers, after all."