BEYOND THE LOVE

CHAPTER 7:

Juan, equally taken aback by the unexpected presence, approached and inquired, "Are you okay?"

Without answering, I spun around, brushing past Kyoto and Suha, and made my way to the exit. I could faintly hear voices shouting my name, growing distant with each step.

JUAN'S POV:

I watched Nara turn and head for the exit, with Suha trying to follow.

I grabbed Suha's hand, saying, "Let her have her space."

Kyoto and Jiwoon stood in confusion, unsure of the unfolding events.

Suha, frustrated, exclaimed, "What's going on?" before heading to the counter to sit.

I glanced at Rein and requested the Chief, "Could we reschedule the meeting? Now's not the time, sir."

The Chief responded with concern, "Will Nara be alright?"

I reassured him, "Yes, she'll be fine."

Meanwhile, Rein continued to absentmindedly swirl his glass.

END OF JUAN'S POV:
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I left the club, my thoughts a tumultuous whirl. Seeing him after seven years, in this manner, was beyond my wildest imaginations. He was the reason I was this way. Memories of our past rushed back as I wandered the streets under the moonlit sky, with the cold wind nipping at my skin, weakening my resolve. I believed I had moved past him, but clearly, I hadn't.
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I found myself at a bridge, halting midway to lean over its railing, gazing up at the sky and then down to the river below. My heart grew heavy with thoughts of him, weighing down my mind and eyes.

The reflection of the moon on the river shimmered, disrupted occasionally by the gentle ripples. As my eyes traced the water’s movements, I remembered how we used to
walk hand in hand when we were....

The sudden vibration of my phone brought me back to the present. Pulling it from my pocket, I saw suha's name flashing on the screen. I hesitated for a moment, thumb hovering over the answer button, then silenced the call. I wasn't ready to speak or confront the emotions swirling inside me. I slid the phone back into my pocket and took a deep breath, forcing my feet to carry me home.

The journey back was quiet, with the exception of the city's night sounds—distant honks, rustling leaves, and the occasional distant laughter of late-night revelers. The streets were illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights, and the rhythmic tap of my heels on the pavement provided a soundtrack to my thoughts.

Arriving at my place, I fumbled with my keys, my fingers trembling slightly from the cold and perhaps from the chaos of the night. As the door clicked open, I took a step into the dimly lit hallway and was startled to see my team seated around the table .

They looked up, his face showing a mixture of relief and concern. "Nara," juan whispered, standing up and taking a step towards me.

I held up a hand, signaling him to stop. "Why are you guys here?"

"We...we were worried about you," suha said softly. "You left so abruptly. And when you didn't answer my calls... I had to make sure you were okay."

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude.

For a moment, we all stood in silence, lost in our thoughts, reflecting on the shared past that had so unexpectedly resurfaced.

Finally, I whispered, "Thank you for checking on me."

Juan nodded, "You'll be okay, right?"

I managed a weak smile. " Goodnight."

They nodded in response, ji woon looked at me, his eyes searching for mine, trying to gauge the storm inside.
"Talk when you're ready, Nara. Remember, you're not alone in this," he murmured, squeezing my hand gently.

I nodded, watching them walk away to their rooms...or maybe together to a room. I leaned against the door, taking in the empty space, feeling the weight of the memories that threatened to suffocate me.

The next few days went by in a blur. Work was a welcome distraction, giving me a purpose and a reason to stay away from my thoughts. The team was understanding, never pushing me to speak about that night, but their concern was palpable.

Little gestures – a cup of coffee placed on my desk, a pat on the back, a shared lunch – were their way of showing they were there.
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I sifted through the papers, looking for information about the eviscerators, trying to comprehend them better. However, as I delved deeper into their victims, some facts didn't seem to align. We need to investigate further.

"Nara, the chief reached out to me since he couldn't get through to you," Kyoto informed me.

"Why did he call?" I asked.

"He wants you in a meeting with him," I paused in my actions, exhaled, and said, "Set up the meeting."