BEYOND THE LOVE

CHAPTER 18:

As the car pulled up in front of my house, I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt, eager to put distance between Rein and me. Before I could get out, Rein softly said, "Nara... we need to talk. Properly."

"I.... don't think so.." I replied, avoiding his gaze.

As I stepped out, the cool night breeze brushed against my face. Suha, Ji Woon, and Kyoto followed, casting sympathetic glances in my direction. They may not have known the entirety of our story, but they could feel the tension that had dominated the evening.

Rein paused for a moment, as if contemplating saying something more, but ultimately decided against it. He drove away, the taillights of his car disappearing into the night.

I quickly opened the front door and, once inside, I found Juan sitting on the couch, a cup of coffee in his hand. It was clear he had been waiting.

Suha was the first to break the silence, gushing about the evening and how 'interesting' it had been. But before she could get too far into her story, I pinned her against the wall, my eyes narrowed. "What was that all about?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.

Suha blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"The car, Rein, all of it. What were you thinking?"

Suha shrugged, trying to play innocent. "It was just a ride, Nara."

Kyoto and Ji Woon exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to intervene in our heated exchange.

Juan rose from the couch, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Let her go, Nara."

Reluctantly, I released Suha, taking a step back.

"We didn't know, okay?" Suha said defensively. "We thought it'd be fun. A little tension, a little drama. We didn't know about... whatever you and Rein had."

Juan spoke up. "Only I knew about Nara and Rein. It was eight years ago. Things changed , suha"

I sighed , rubbing my temples"I know. But some things... they stay with you."

Ji Woon cleared his throat. "Look, we're sorry. We didn't know it would upset you this much."

I waved him off, suddenly exhausted. "It's not your fault. I just... I wasn't prepared to face all of that tonight."

Kyoto stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "We're here for you, Nara. Whatever you need."

I smiled weakly, appreciating the support.

Suha sighed, regret evident in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Nara. I genuinely thought it'd be fun. "

"It's okay," I replied, my voice soft. "Just... next time, leave the matchmaking to the professionals."

The room filled with laughter, lightening the mood.
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I entered the room and straightly headed to the bathroom . Letting the shower water cascade over me felt incredible after such an exhausting day.
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Fifteen minutes later, I headed to the kitchen and brewed some green tea. The house was eerily quiet, suggesting everyone had gone to bed. Drawn to the open air, I ventured to the terrace, gazing at the stars with clouds hinting at impending rain. Out of nowhere, a hand touched my shoulder. I recognized Suha's touch instantly.

Taking a sip from my tea, I inquired, "Why are you up? I assumed everyone was asleep."

She responded with a mischievous grin, "If you're thinking about him, share with me too."
After a moment's hesitation, I decided to open up to Suha. I gently removed her hand, set my cup aside, and motioned for her to sit beside me.
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The gentle night wind played with my loose hair, causing Suha's bun to come undone slightly.

"It was one of those regular rainy college days. I never imagined that such an ordinary day would change my life so dramatically," I recalled, my voice trembling with emotion. My surroundings started to fade, pulling me back to that very day.

The rhythmic tapping of my foot is not resonating in the train due to the crowd. Glancing at my watch, it read  19:30. I sighed, murmuring, "Time couldn't go any slower." But almost instantly, the train halted at my station.
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I quickly swiped my card to exit the station, already dreading the lecture I'd received from Mom for being late. I wish Dad were there.I'm on the road now; it's only 20 minutes from the station to my home but light raindrops began to kiss my face. I swiftly took out my cap from the bag, placing it over my head and darting towards the nearest shade. The rain had deterred most from being out, leaving the streets rather desolate. As I briskly walked, a muffled scream reached my ears, coming from the left. Approaching an old shop with a shattered window, I stole a glance inside. The horrifying sight of a gang viciously attacking a man made my heart race. Just as one of them delivered a fatal stab, I let out an involuntary scream. Panic set in as I realized they'd seen me. I was about to flee when suddenly, a hand yanked me into a darkened alley.