BEYOND THE LOVE

CHAPTER 19:

In that split second, I assumed the worst. But the stranger pressed his body against mine, pinning me to the wall, urging me to stay silent. His intense brown eyes locked onto mine, leaving me entranced. He inched closer as if to kiss me but stopped just before our lips met, scanning the area for danger. My heart raced uncontrollably.

To a passerby, our close proximity might've looked intimate. As the danger subsided, he whispered urgently, "Nara, wait here for five minutes, then head straight home."

With that, he disappeared into the night. My mind raced - who was he? How did he know my name? And after a few cautious moments, I finally made my way home.
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Who was that mysterious man? The thought consumed me. "Who on earth was he?" I blurted out loudly.

"Nara, keep it down! People will think you've lost it," Juan remarked, his eyes wide.

"Juan, I need to find him," I declared.

"Do you even recall his face?" Juan asked.

That stumped me. "I... I can't remember," I admitted sheepishly.

"Nara, let it go. Just be grateful you're okay. Did you tell your parents about this?" Juan inquired.

I blinked in horror. "No! How could I?"

Juan was like -'i am done with her'
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The bell rang, signaling the end of classes. We strolled side by side until we reached the college gate where we went our separate ways. I made my way to the train station and soon boarded my usual train car.

To my surprise, it was emptier than usual. Relishing this rare moment, I secured a seat by the window, plugged in my headphones, and soon lost myself in the music. With the melody lulling me, I felt sleep creep in, but it was cut short by a sudden jolt. When I opened my eyes, I was met with piercing black eyes just inches from mine. Fear gripped me, my fingers tightening around my skirt. Abruptly, he was yanked away. Another man lunged at me, knife in hand, but the man with the black eyes intervened, shielding me from harm.

The man with the black eyes, still holding his protective stance in front of me, gave me a swift wink which momentarily disarmed my fear. Suddenly, a commotion erupted as the other man came back at him with reinforced vigor. The train seemed to be a battleground now, with every move echoing in the almost empty compartment.

While he skillfully dodged a punch, he managed to joke, "You know, I usually prefer more relaxed settings for making new acquaintances."

I chuckled despite the fear, replying, "Well, this is a rather intense meet-cute."
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As the train pulled into the next station, he grabbed my hand, "Come on!"

We bolted out, but two of the previous assailants were hot on our trail. The platform became a blur of movement and color as we raced through, with the deflecting attacks while maintaining a surprisingly playful demeanor.

"You run fast for someone in heels!" he commented, dodging a swing from one of the pursuers.

"Should I take that as a compliment?" I retorted, out of breath.

Finally, he executed a move that rendered one attacker immobile and scared the other enough to retreat. Stopping to catch our breaths, he turned to me, his face serious but eyes still playful.
"By the way, I'm Ivan," he grinned, repeating the introduction.

"Thanks for the, um, adventurous introduction," I replied, my heart still racing.

He winked again, "Anytime, Nara. Always happy to make an unforgettable first impression."

And with that, He walked away, yet he knew my name. How? Who exactly is this Ivan? All eyes always seem to complicate things for me.

Suha's voice drew me back to the present, snapping me out of my reverie.

I heard a voice saying, "That was quite the heroic escape, wasn't it?"

I turned and found Jiwoon leaning against the doorway with a smirk. Kyoto and Juan peeked from the corner, having eavesdropped on my entire story.

"Jiwoon! You shouldn't be listening to others' conversations!" Suha scolded.

Juan, trying to ease the tension, chuckled, "Well, we couldn't help but overhear."

Kyoto added, "It's quite the story, Nara. So, the first guy was Rein, and the second was Ivan, right?"

I nodded, "Yes. Rein turned out to be an undercover officer, while Ivan, I later discovered, was part of the Eviscerators. But I'm still not sure if he's really the same....Ivan."

Jiwoon's curiosity got the better of him, "So, that's how you met Rein? Do share more about that!"

With a huff, I replied, "No, you all ruined the moment." My voice held a mixture of annoyance and amusement.

Kyoto tried to cajole, "Come on, don't leave us hanging!"

But I was firm. "Maybe some other time." And with that, I strode out of the room.
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Suha, Kyoto, and Jiwoon exchanged glances, chiding each other for their curiosity. Juan simply laughed, watching the scene unfold, enjoying the camaraderie and the secrets that held them all together.

As I made my way through the house, footsteps followed closely behind. Kyoto, Jiwoon, and suha, driven by curiosity, trailed me with a barrage of questions.

"But Nara," Jiwoon exclaimed, "What made them both so interested in you? Was it a mere coincidence?"

Kyoto tried to piece things together, "So you're telling me that Rein, an undercover officer, and Ivan from the Eviscerators crossed paths with you?"

Juan chimed in, "It all seems too coincidental. Was there a deeper connection?"

I sighed, "Both Rein and Ivan were connected to my past, and it had everything to do with my father."

Suha, catching up, asked in surprise, "Your father? But he's one of the most upright officers I've ever seen!"

I paused, taking a deep breath and trying to contain the emotions threatening to spill over.

"Perhaps to the world, and even to me, he was," I said, my voice trembling. "But there's a side of him I've seen that I wish I hadn't."

Juan tried to console, "Nara, everyone has secrets. Maybe there's a reason."

I cut him off, "There's no justification for what he has done Juan."

Suha looked at me with wide eyes, "What did you find out about your father?"

I hesitated but then, holding back tears, I said, "He wasn't who we all thought he was." My voice broke, "He... con-....connections
....dark ones."

The group stood in stunned silence, trying to process what I'd shared.

Kyoto tried to reach out.

But I had reached my limit. "I can't talk about this any further." I gently added, "Please, no more questions."

Just as I was about to close the door to my room and put an end to this emotional evening, Suha's voice echoed, "Nara?"

I paused, not turning around, waiting for her to continue.

"We're always here for you," she whispered.