Shadows of Revenge

10. Slipping Secrets

The air was thick with a strange mixture of humor and tension as Nam, Kate, Freen, and Becky sat around the table, sipping their drinks. Nam was still teasing Freen mercilessly, but Freen's attention was focused elsewhere. Her mind was racing, thinking of ways to keep the conversation light while also keeping Becky's suspicions at bay.

Kate, who had been sipping her juice quietly, suddenly placed her cup down with a loud thud, a distant look in her eyes. "You know, Freen," she began, her voice softer than usual, "I'm really happy for you."

Nam glanced at her in confusion. "Happy for what? What did I miss?"

Kate smiled, her face lighting up with a kind of warmth that was rare for her. "For moving on, you know? For finally finding someone to date after Sarah."

The words hung in the air like a bomb had just gone off. Freen froze, her hand tightening around her fork. Becky, who had been quietly eating and observing the dynamic between them, stopped mid-chew, her eyes widening in shock.

Sarah. The name echoed in Becky's mind like a warning bell. She had heard that name before, in the case files. Sarah, Freen's lover. The brutal murder that had remained unsolved for two years. Pieces of the puzzle began falling into place, and Becky's mind raced with newfound clarity.

Kate, oblivious to the sudden tension, continued, her voice carrying a nostalgic tone. "I mean, I know it was hard for you. After Sarah... it felt like you'd never move on. But look at you now," she gestured toward Becky with a smile. "You've found someone. You're dating a cop! That's big, Saro!"

Nam's eyes widened, darting between Kate and Freen, her playful smirk fading into nervousness. She looked at Freen as if to say, Oh no, this is bad.

Freen, feeling the weight of the situation sinking in, tried to stay calm. She leaned in toward Nam and whispered in her ear, "She's not my date. She's a cop. She's been keeping an eye on me."

Nam's face paled instantly, her usual confidence shattered. "Oh... crap," she muttered under her breath.

Becky, meanwhile, was still staring at Freen, her mind running a mile a minute. The teasing, the familiarity, the mention of Sarah—it was all starting to make sense now. Freen wasn't just some school teacher. There was something much darker beneath the surface. Becky's hands tightened around her utensils as she replayed the conversation in her mind, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of information.

Kate, sensing the change in atmosphere but still not fully understanding, gave a confused look. "Uh... guys? Did I say something wrong?"

Freen forced a smile, though her heart was pounding. "No, Kate. You just... you know how to pick your moments."

Nam, ever the troublemaker, decided to deflect. "Yeah, Kate. You really know how to bring up exes at the worst times."

Kate, still oblivious, laughed awkwardly. "Well, I mean... I just wanted to say I'm happy for you! Geez, no need to get all weird about it."

Freen's eyes flicked to Becky, who was now completely silent, her gaze locked onto Freen with a sharp intensity. Freen could feel the questions burning behind Becky's calm façade, but she couldn't let it unravel here. Not now, not in front of Nam and Kate.

Nam, picking up on the tension, cleared her throat and leaned back in her chair. "So, Becky," she began, forcing a smile, "what's it like dating our dear Freen here?"

Becky blinked, snapped out of her thoughts by the sudden question. She looked at Nam, then back at Freen, who was watching her with cautious eyes. Becky felt the weight of the lie, but she played along, knowing she couldn't blow her cover just yet.

"Oh, you know..." Becky said slowly, her voice steady but with an edge of curiosity, "it's... interesting."

Kate grinned, leaning in with excitement. "Interesting? Come on, there's gotta be more to it than that! What's she like as a girlfriend? Still all quiet and brooding, or does she actually show some emotions?"

Nam, sensing that Becky was struggling to maintain the façade, jumped in. "Yeah, Freen doesn't exactly strike me as the romantic type. She's more of the I'll brood in the corner and silently judge you type."

Kate burst into laughter at that, slapping Nam on the arm. "So true!"

Freen, trying her best to keep her cool, smiled tightly. "I'm sitting right here, you know."

Nam winked at her. "Yeah, we know. That's why it's fun."

Becky, still processing everything, felt the tension between her and Freen grow thicker. The jokes and teasing from Nam and Kate were like background noise now. All she could think about was Sarah—and what Freen might be hiding.

Suddenly, Kate broke the tension again, her voice dipping into more serious territory as she looked at Freen with sympathy. "But really, Freen, I'm glad you've found someone." She gave Becky a warm smile. "It's good to see you happy again."

Freen clenched her jaw, her hands curling into fists under the table. She couldn't respond. There were too many layers to the lie she had built, and now everything felt like it was teetering on the edge of collapse. She glanced at Becky, who was still watching her intently, as if waiting for her to slip up.

Nam shifted uncomfortably in her seat, sensing the impending disaster. She gave Freen a nudge under the table with her foot, a silent warning to keep it together.

"Thanks, Kate," Freen finally said, her voice quieter than before. "I... appreciate it."

Kate, ever the oblivious one, smiled brightly. "Anytime, girl."

But the mood had shifted. The lighthearted banter was gone, replaced with a growing tension that no one could quite shake off.

Becky's mind was whirling. She didn't know what she expected when she first started watching Freen, but this—this was beyond anything she could have predicted. There were layers here, secrets buried deep, and she was only just scratching the surface.

As they finished their meal, the awkward silence stretched on. Nam and Kate exchanged nervous glances, while Becky remained quiet, her eyes darting between Freen and the rest of the group.

Freen, feeling the weight of Becky's scrutiny, stood up abruptly. "I think we should get going."

Nam and Kate looked at each other, confused but following suit. "Yeah, sure," Nam said quickly. "Let's go."

As they made their way out of the restaurant, Becky trailed behind, her mind spinning with questions she couldn't yet ask. Freen walked beside her, tense and silent, the unspoken tension between them thick in the air.

Kate, always the oblivious one, piped up as they left the restaurant. "You guys should totally do this again. You know, maybe with fewer awkward secrets next time?"

Nam smacked her on the back of the head, laughing nervously. "Shut up, Kate."

Freen forced a chuckle, but inside, she was anything but calm. She had narrowly avoided disaster, but she knew it wasn't over. Becky was getting closer to the truth, and Freen didn't know how much longer she could keep everything from unraveling.

And as Becky walked beside her, quietly piecing everything together, Freen could feel the clock ticking down on her carefully constructed lies.

...............

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