Riding a battered old bicycle, he noticed the commotion and rushed to intervene. Without hesitation, he lifted his beaten-up bike and slammed it into the homeless men.
The impact sent them sprawling to the ground. Rising quickly, they charged at him blindly, ready to retaliate. However, Kieran wasn’t an easy target. His tall and strong frame made it difficult for them to overpower him. He easily dodged their wild swings, landing precise blows in return. He was clearly trained in self-defense. With quick punches and kicks, he swiftly overpowered them.
Bruised and humiliated, the two men scrambled to their feet and fled, stumbling as they vanished into the darkness.
Still shaken, I thanked him profusely. He responded casually, “You shouldn't be wandering around alone at this hour. This area is quiet and prone to crime.” His voice was firm, yet kind. “You better get going, head back to the safety of your home.”
Before I could pull myself together, he was already pushing his beat-up bike away. I rushed after him, insisting that he give me his contact information.
That night, I called home. My parents, frantic with worry, nearly lost their minds. When my father heard I had almost been assaulted, he sent people to track down and deal with those two homeless men.
From then on, I used my gratitude as an excuse to stay in touch with Kieran. I bought him a new bike as a token of thanks and started inviting him to hang out—shopping, eating and just spending time together. Gradually, we grew closer.
After getting to know each other better, I learned his story. He was a film school graduate without money or connections, struggling to survive in the entertainment industry.
One night, after a few too many drinks, he broke down in tears, clutching me tightly.
“Lila, you have no idea how hard this is,” he sobbed. “I worked part-time jobs all through school to get my degree, but life after graduation is even tougher. With no money and connections, it’s almost impossible to get anywhere.”
“Why is different. My classmates—some of them didn’t even do as well as me in school. They weren’t as talented, but they signed with big companies right after graduating. A year later, they’re already making names for themselves.”
“Why is the world so unfair? They don’t even need the money, but they’re flocking the industry, taking away the little opportunities we have just to survive.”