...

I don't know how long we have been walking, but I am freezing and exhausted. I could tell the others were feeling the same. The woodland seemed ominously quiet. They paused, now that even the sound of their own footfalls was silent, all that could be heard was the susurration of the leaves in the gusty wind.

"We should be coming up on the town soon." Jimin informed.

Hoseok stopped to stretch "Thank goodness, my muscles are starting to... OH MY GOSH GUYS LOOK!"

"Hoseok for goodness sake why are you yelling?" I asked placing my hands over my ears.

He just smiled and pointed to something in front of us. We followed where he was pointing to and couldn't be more ecstatic. With newfound adrenaline we made our way to the cottage that sat at the peak of the hill. The closer we got the more details we could see.

The cottage looked as if it was straight out of a fairytale with a happy ending or a picture book for little kids. It looked like many things. It was rusty, old, and dusty, but rather welcoming. The whole house was made of dark red bricks. The cottage was the only thing there. There were no other houses around it, and this one would have looked unoccupied if not for the smoke.

I vigorously knocked on the door praying someone was home "Hello, is there anyone home?"

The door opened and revealed the most beautiful angelical ethereal woman I have ever seen. Her beauty is unreal, I looked at the others and I could tell they were thinking and feeling the same.

Y/N's POV

Looking into the seven pairs of eyes that belong to the Adonis's that stand before me, I could feel my blush sear through my cheeks and for a moment I thought my face was on fire. I realized I have been starring at them without saying a word this whole time and suddenly felt awkward, demure, and coy; I fought with myself not to cover my face with the palm of my hands out of embarrassment. I didn't want to bring attention to my flushed cheeks, but I knew it was to no avail because every single pairs of eyes were looking at me.

"Hello ma'am I know this is strange to ask, but can you let us take refuge in your home until the storm passes."

One of the guys spoke saving me from my embarrassment "Of course, come in you guys must be freezing." I stepped aside allowing them into my home.

Smiling as these seven beautiful, stranded strangers walked past me into my home I had the opportunity to clearly see their unreal features "You can place your coats and other garments in the self-heating cupboard on your right. Your clothes should be nice and toasty by morning."

"Thank you so much you are such a life saver." Another one said with the most adorable eye smile I have ever seen on a man and his washed out greyish green hair accentuated his essence.

Pinching myself to make sure this is real my inner self spoke up "Dammit Y/N pull yourself together. Since when have you ever swooned over a man? Get it together before they think you some type of creep or something"

Your right... breath in... breath out... I composed myself before responding "It's no problem, but may I get your names? And how did you guys end up out there, you do know that could have ended very badly?"

"My apologies let me fully introduce myself, my name is Min Yoongi and this is Kim Seokjin, Kim Namjoon, Kim Taehyung, Jeon Jungkook, Jung Hoseok, and Park Jimin. We were on a holiday trip when the storm hit, we had to abandon our vehicles a few miles from here and went on foot to find shelter."

I attentively listen to his introduction, but all I could think was this man if anything is fitter looking than I expected. His face tells of a lean body beneath his wintry garb and his expression is serious but kind "Well hello my name is Lee Y/N."

Hoseok reached out his hand for a handshake "It's nice to meet you miss Lee Y/N."

I chuckled and reached out my hand in return "Nice to meet you as well mister Jung Hoseok." I looked at the others giving them a small smile, but then it slowly faded into a frown "What you guys did was risky and could have turned out very badly. Nevertheless, I am glad you all managed to find my place unharmed."

"Thank you once again for taking us in. We knew we were taking a big risk by exposing ourselves to an oncoming storm trust me there was a lot of debating and convincing before we made our finally discussion." Yoongi finished his statement of gratitude with a gummy smile.

He smiled at me... OMG... he looks like a little kitty... I had to look away before my heart explodes "You guys must be tired from your journey; follow me I have plenty of space. If you guys are hungry, I can cook something while you freshen up."

"A hot shower and a homecooked meal sound wonderful right now... How old are you if you don't mind me asking?" Jungkook asked while following behind me up the stairs.

I looked back at him "I turned twenty-three this year, April 23rd."

He gave me the biggest bunny smile "That makes you my noona, I was also born in 97' my birthday was a few months ago, September 1st."

"Do you really have to call me noona, I am only six months older than you?" I pouted.

He gave me a smug look "That still makes you older than me."

I rolled my eyes "Fine whatever."

"You have a very beautiful home." Namjoon suddenly complimented.

"Thank you, it was gifted to me."

"Since we've been here, I haven't seen anyone else, where is your family?" Taehyung asked.

I cast my eyes down refraining myself from shedding another tear about the past "I don't have a family I am an orphan." I turned around and answered.

"I'm sorry it was insensitive of me to ask." They looked at me in a way I never liked, pity. Pity does nothing but makes the recipients feel worse about their shitty lives.

I looked into the eyes of each one of them "Don't do that. Don't give me that look. I don't need your pity. I have been living on my own all my life. I have had friends come and go, but I am still here standing strong. I might be broken, but I am not shattered so don't look at me as if I am too delicate to touch."

They looked at me with so much respect and admiration, but I did not say what I said to impress them. My attitude, my way of thinking, my way of living, comes from trial and error from the need to survive, to live. I never gave much thought to the notion of respect before, I simply poured out love and hoped to get some back.

Thinking back, I guess that's why they saw me as simple, a target for aggression, a ready victim. I'm not that little girl anymore and now I know the different versions of respect. There is the respect the opposite gender gives because they find you attractive. There is the respect of someone who wants something from you without giving anything in return. Then there is the respect of a person who utterly understands what you bring to the situation, that you are worthy and worthwhile.

If it isn't the third kind of respect you bring me – don't expect anything from me. As for as I am concerned you don't even exist, even if your standing right in front of me. That's why I can't accept pity from others.

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