BEYOND THE LOVE

CHAPTER 32:

JUAN'S POV:

The tension was palpable. The Eviscerators stood unmasked, revealing faces of past comrades and allies, causing shock and disbelief to ripple through the group. Suha's fury was directed at Rein. "What are you even doing here, Rein?" she seethed, her eyes blazing with anger, "Especially after everything you and Nara have been through."

With a cold and steady gaze, I moved towards Lee Ju Yan. "Ju yan?" My voice quivered with a mix of rage and heartbreak.
"We thought you were dead! Seven years, Lee... SEVEN YEARS!", accusation reverberated through the alley, commanding attention.

The shock of the revelation was evident on Suha, Ji Woon, and Kyoto's faces. They had never been privy to this particular slice of history.

Rein stepped forward, trying to placate the rising tension. "It's not what you think-"

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SPEAK !" Suha shouted, cutting him off.
"You betray us, you come at us as enemies, and now you expect us to listen?"

"Juan, I can't begin to explain how things have changed. But I had to protect Nara. I had to keep her away from all this."

My voice grew colder. "By pretending to be dead? By joining them? That's your idea of protection?"

Ji Woon, the shock still fresh on his face, interjected, "Wait, Lee Ju Yan... Nara's brother? We thought he died seven years ago!"

Kyoto nodded slowly. "This... this changes everything."

Lee looked at the ground, his face a mask of regret. "Nara never knew the whole story. It was a tough decision, but it was the only way I saw to keep her safe."

Rein added, "All of us, every single one, had our reasons for the choices we made."

A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by my voice, still thick with disbelief. "You vanished, without a trace. And she grieved. Every day, every moment. How could you put her through that?"

Lee's face crumpled. "I never wanted to hurt her. But if they knew about her, if they knew our relationship, she would've been a target."

Suha, still reeling, clenched her fists. "All this deception, all these secrets, and for what? Just to bring us all to this point? To face each other on opposite ends of a war?"

Rein spoke up, "There's so much you don't understand, so much beneath the surface."

Before I could retort, Ji Woon interjected, "Enough!" All eyes turned to him.
"This can wait. Nara is out there, overwhelmed, alone. She needs us." The raw concern evident in his voice silenced the alley.

Kyoto and Suha exchanged glances, the weight of the revelations hitting them too. "Ji Woon's right," Kyoto murmured, "We need to be there for Nara."

"I'll go to her," Ji Woon asserted, already moving towards his bike.

After taking a deep breath and casting a final, piercing look at Lee, responded, "I'm coming with you."

The roar of the bike's engine soon filled the air as Ji Woon and I sped away, leaving behind a scene of tension and unresolved emotions in the alleyway. The confrontation with past allies, revelations, and betrayal hung heavily in the atmosphere, but for now, the priority was Nara's well-being. The others would have to wait.

END OF JUAN'S POV:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I had parked the car near the bridge, a place that once held memories of simpler times, now overshadowed by the events of the night. The vast expanse of the sky above, dotted with stars, seemed both comforting and daunting. Each twinkle reminded me of a happier moment, a memory now tainted with the faces of Rein, my brother , and all those who had revealed themselves as the Eviscerators.

The sting of betrayal was raw, like a wound that hadn't been given time to heal. The weight in my chest refused to dissipate, heavy and oppressive. I had always been the strong one, the rock for the team, but in this moment, my strength seemed to have abandoned me.

My fingers curled into fists, the nails digging into my palm. Anger bubbled within me, refusing to be contained. Tears? No, they wouldn't fall. Not here, not now. The rage wouldn't let them. The world seemed to spin, making it hard to breathe, to think. My limbs felt like they were made of lead, unresponsive and heavy.

The unmistakable roar of Ji Woon's bike approached, cutting through the silence of the night.

Moments later, he and Juan pulled up beside the car. Their faces wore expressions of concern, but I didn't need their pity. Ji Woon, simply observed me, waiting for a sign. Juan, on the other hand, looked like he was fighting back his own emotions.

The silence between us was deafening. Words seemed inadequate to capture the turmoil of emotions that raged within.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally broke the silence, voice firm, "Juan, what happened tonight stays between us. The chief doesn't need to know." He nodded in understanding.

Juan's voice was gentle but laced with a hint of pain. "Nara, we're in this together. Always."

The comfort in his words was palpable. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. "Zae rim... Is he..."

Juan shook his head, "Suha and Kyoto are handling it. They'll make sure he's safe."
.
.
.
.
.
The drive back to our base was filled with a thick tension. The road seemed endless, just like the night's revelations. Each mile covered brought a wave of memories, challenges, and choices we had made. The journey was a reflection of our lives, filled with unexpected twists and turns.

In the face of such immense betrayal, trust became a luxury. And yet, as Juan and I drove on, there was an unspoken understanding between us. Despite the shadows that loomed large, we had each other's backs. That unwavering bond was the glimmer of hope in the enveloping darkness.