A Feeling About You

CHAPTER 14: Confession

The night air is crisp as Kai and I step out of the restaurant, still lost in the warm afterglow of our culinary adventure. The memory of Jiyoung's delicious Tteokbokki lingers on my taste buds, making me excited to return to this place again. But for now, as we head toward my house, there's a hint of unease settling in the corners of my mind.

Before we leave, I make a quick detour into the kitchen to thank Jiyoung once more. She beams at me, her eyes reflecting a genuine happiness that's contagious. "I'm so glad you enjoyed the Tteokbokki. It'll be wonderful to have you back."

"Thank you," I reply with a smile. "I think Tteokbokki has become one of my favourite spicy dishes."

Her laughter fills the air as she nods. "I'll make sure to have a plate ready for you whenever you visit."

As we step back outside, the evening shadows are lengthening. My heart skips a beat as a familiar presence brushes against my senses. Derek. I stop in my tracks, my eyes widening in surprise as I feel his aura in the distance.

He may know more about Mom...but after hearing Elena's story, I don't feel it's safe to confront him now. I'm not sure if I can trust him when he's not honest with me...and he hurt Dad.

Kai notices my sudden apprehension and concern, and his voice is gentle as he asks, "Adira, what's wrong?"

I swallow hard, my gaze fixed on an indistinct figure up ahead. "Derek...that man approaching us. I...I just don't feel comfortable around him."

My hands ball into a tight fist as Derek comes closer, and my heart pumps with adrenaline.

Kai's hand finds mine, his grip firm and reassuring. "Stay close. We'll keep walking."

His touch calms my racing heart, and I nod, my fingers entwining with his. With Kai by my side, we resume our steps, his presence a protective shield against the uncertainty that looms ahead.

As we approach Derek, my grip on Kai's hand tightens instinctively, my anxiety growing. I keep my gaze averted, not daring to meet Derek's eyes. I don't even have to look to feel his overwhelmingly intense aura. It's a mixture of thick vermilion and red, laced with a lonely grey. For someone quiet and controlled on the exterior, he has a lot of internal anger and irritation. His aura feels like a bomb that can explode at any second.

The air around us seems to thicken as Derek lets loose a sigh, his breath carrying a tension that can be felt even at a distance. My pulse quickens, and I feel the weight of his presence as he walks past us, his footsteps a steady rhythm of detachment.

Kai's concerned gaze meets mine, and he gently squeezes my hand. "Adira, you okay?"

"Yeah," I respond, averting his gaze.

"I don't mean to pry, but...who's Derek? You don't have to share if it makes you feel uncomfortable, though. I'll wait until you're ready."

I pause, struggling to find the words to explain the complicated history tied to that name. "He has a...history with my parents. He wasn't a good person to my mom, and he hurt my dad. There's something dangerously familiar about him...I'm not certain yet, but I feel that he's connected to the masked man who caused the car accident when I was little."

Kai's expression softens with empathy and determination. "Have you talked to Elena about this?"

I shake my head, my fears still simmering beneath the surface. "Not yet. I need more evidence to be sure, but the resemblance...is uncanny."

My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts...what if it really was Derek? He caused my family so much pain. How could he be following us out in the open like this? What if it's just that the two men have a similar aura?