Unevitable | Ryeji |

Chapter 31: Lines of Duty and Heart

Ryujin's POV:

A few days have passed since the recent events, yet the tension in my chest hasn't eased. I sit in a quiet corner of the café, staring into the dark abyss of my coffee, hoping the bitterness will distract me from the chaos in my mind. The murmur of conversations around me is just white noise, drowned out by the whirlwind of thoughts that refuse to settle.

The plan was foolproof, or at least it should have been. But with every move we make, the stakes rise higher. Yeji's face keeps flashing in my mind, her piercing gaze that seems to see right through me. She's closer than ever to uncovering the truth, and yet, she doesn't suspect me-or does she? The thought alone makes my stomach churn.

Hyunjin's determination to eliminate Felix lingers in the back of my mind. I know he's resolute, but I can't shake the fear that his emotions will cloud his judgment. I can't let him destroy himself-or Felix. The web we've woven is too intricate, too tangled. One wrong move, and it all unravels.

The door chimes as someone enters the café, and instinctively, I glance up. Just another stranger, nothing to worry about. But that's the problem-everyone feels like a threat now. Every step I take is a calculated risk, every breath measured.

I close my eyes for a moment, taking in the warmth of the coffee cup in my hands, trying to find some semblance of peace. But even here, in this cozy café, I can't escape the shadows of the choices I've made. The lines of fate are drawn, and I'm not sure if I'm leading us all to victory or to our demise.

The café door chimes again, and I glance up, expecting another nameless face to walk in. But when I see her, my heart skips a beat. Yeji. Of all the places she could be, she's here, standing just a few feet away from me.

Her eyes scan the room, and for a split second, I consider looking away, hiding in plain sight. But it's too late. Our eyes meet, and a flicker of something-recognition, curiosity, maybe even suspicion-crosses her face. She's different from the last time I saw her, more intense, more focused, as if the burden of the cases she's been handling has only sharpened her resolve.

I keep my expression neutral, trying to conceal the storm brewing inside me. What are the chances that she would walk into this café, today of all days? Is it a coincidence, or something more? The air feels thick with unspoken words as she approaches, her every step deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey.

"Ryujin," she greets me, her voice calm, but I can hear the edge beneath it.

"Yeji," I reply, trying to sound casual, as if seeing her here is just a normal occurrence. "Fancy meeting you here."

She doesn't sit down immediately, just stands there, studying me, and I can feel the weight of her scrutiny. "Mind if I join you?" she finally asks, though it doesn't really feel like a question. More like a test.

"Sure," I say, gesturing to the seat across from me, even though every instinct in me screams to get up and leave. But that would only make her more suspicious. So, I stay, forcing myself to stay calm as she takes the seat.

As she settles in, there's a silence between us that's both comforting and unnerving. We've had moments like this before, where neither of us says anything, but the tension speaks volumes. But this time, it feels different, heavier, like there's an unspoken challenge in the air. Is she here because of me, or is this really just a coincidence?

"What brings you here?" I ask, trying to steer the conversation, to gauge how much she knows, how close she is to uncovering the truth.

"Needed a break," she says, her tone light, but I can see the gears turning in her mind. "Work's been... intense."