Give me that smile

The Right Guy (Part 4)

Aira's eyes widened in shock. "What do you think you're doing? If you pull that again, I don't care if you're hurt, you're out!"

Ignoring her threat, Kai leaned closer, his face mere inches from hers. Aira felt a blush creep up her neck, her face heating up. Before she could react, Kai planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Whoa there," he chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I wouldn't dream of crossing the line unless you're okay with it."

Aira, speechless, turned away from him, her mind racing. Sleep was impossible now.

After a tense silence, Kai spoke up again. "Are you asleep?"

Aira pretended not to hear him.

"So, about that guy," Kai continued, a playful smirk in his voice. "What was his name again? Alex? Andrew? Ahan? I hope you don't like him."

He sighed dramatically. "When will you stop going to that café? It worries me sick. As for your questions..." his voice trailed off, turning serious. "I have a rough past, Aira. A bad one. I can't tell you everything right now, but trust me, you don't want to be around me when things get complicated." Kai's voice softened. "The moment I saw you, Aira, it felt like... like I needed you in my life. Maybe, just maybe, we're somehow meant to be together. I just can't lose you." He mumbled the last word, "again," under his breath, almost inaudible.

Aira, still facing away from him, couldn't help but be affected by his words. A part of her wanted to see his face, to believe him. But everything – the danger, her aunt, the whole mess – felt like too much. The next morning, Aira woke up before dawn and started cleaning quietly. Rosey, thankfully, decided on an early departure. As soon as the coast was clear, Kai emerged from his room like a prisoner finally released.

He stretched luxuriously on the couch, a relaxed smile on his face, watching Aira bustling around the kitchen making breakfast. Aira, however, shot him a withering glance that made him quickly look away.

After a tense silence, Aira finally spoke. "Breakfast is ready," she announced flatly.

They ate in silence, an unspoken agreement hanging heavy in the air. Before leaving for work, Aira dropped off some pills and prepared lunch next to Kai. "Take your medicine and eat this for lunch," she instructed, her voice emotionless.

With a final, awkward glance at each other, Aira grabbed her things and headed out the door. The weight of their unspoken feelings and the secret Kai held hung between them, a silent promise of a conversation that still had to happen. Aira left for work, her mind a whirlwind. Kai's words echoed in her head – about needing her, about being destined. Were his feelings genuine? Who even was he? This secret past he hinted at... it all felt like a puzzle with missing pieces.

Even at the cafe, Aira couldn't shake off her thoughts. Lost in her musings, she jumped slightly as a voice startled her.

"Are you free today?" Ahan, the friendly customer from the other night, stood behind her locker, a hopeful smile on his face.

Aira forced a smile back. "Yes, of course," she replied automatically. Maybe clearing the air with Ahan was exactly what she needed right now.

"After work, then?" Ahan asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Yes, okay," Aira agreed, her mind already miles away. The mystery of Kai and his hidden past demanded answers, and Aira knew she wouldn't rest until she found them. Ahan waited patiently outside the cafe as the evening light faded. When Aira finally emerged, a relieved smile spread across his face. They fell into step as they began to walk, but Aira seemed distracted, her brow furrowed in thought.

Suddenly, a pang of guilt hit Aira. She hadn't told Kai about her plans with Ahan, and with no way to contact him, he might be worried. Pushing the thought aside for a moment, she decided to focus on Ahan.

"You mentioned wanting to talk yesterday," Ahan prompted gently. "What was on your mind?"

Aira took a deep breath, deciding to confide in Ahan. She launched into a detailed explanation of the incident with her manager, her voice rising with frustration as she recounted the unfair treatment.

Ahan listened intently, his expression growing more and more shocked as Aira spoke. Ahan's brow furrowed in concern. "Do you have any idea who might be behind this?" he asked, his voice low.

Aira shook her head, helplessness creeping into her voice. "Honestly, no. I've never had any problems with anyone at work before."

Ahan nodded grimly. "This sounds serious, Aira. You should be careful from now on. Maybe we shouldn't tell anyone about this for a while, at least until we figure things out."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "The guy who saved you that day – you know him?"

Aira hesitated. "No, not really," she said, then quickly added, "He was just a friend."

Ahan studied her for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his eyes. "A boyfriend?" he pressed gently.

Aira felt a surge of frustration. "No, Ahan! Like I said, a friend. We just met."

Ahan seemed unconvinced, but he dropped the subject for now. The rest of the walk was filled with a tense silence, Aira wrestling with her guilt over Kai and the unsettling mystery at work, and Ahan lost in his own thoughts. A jolt of fear shot through Aira. Time to leave. "Alright, well, thanks for listening, Ahan. I should get going."

As she turned to walk away, a dark shape loomed behind her. A group of men, clad in black from head to toe, surrounded her. Before she could scream, a hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her cry. Panic clawed at her throat as they grabbed her roughly, shoving her into a waiting car.

Through tear-filled eyes, Aira saw Ahan standing a few feet away. But what horrified her most wasn't the fear in his eyes – it was the chilling smile playing on his lips.

The world spun as the car sped away. Could Ahan, the friendly coworker, the one person she confided in, be the mastermind behind all this?