Shadows of Revenge

25. Familiar Shadows

Freen sat on the floor of the old, crumbling building she often visited—its once sturdy walls now faded with age, the scent of dampness and dust lingering in the air. This place had long become her sanctuary, where she could think without the weight of the world pressing down on her. Next to her, Nam stood silently, eyes fixed on the flickering screen of her tablet. Freen’s heart pounded as they watched the CCTV footage Nam had pulled up, revealing fragments of the night that still haunted her dreams.

On the grainy clip, Sarah appeared, dressed in her elegant black gown, smiling, talking to people at the party. The camera, however, wasn’t steady enough to give a clear picture, blurring slightly each time someone moved. Nam fast-forwarded to the part where Sarah walked out to the balcony alone, the crowd inside celebrating noisily behind her. There, in the dim lighting of the night, a shadowed figure approached her.

Freen leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she strained to make out the details. The girl in the footage wasn’t fully visible; her face blurred at the edges of the camera's range. But there was something about the way she moved—an undeniable sense of familiarity that sent a chill through Freen’s spine. She watched as the figure leaned in closer to Sarah, whispering something before stepping back.

“I know her,” Freen murmured, her voice barely a whisper, as if speaking louder would make the moment unravel. Her heart clenched. “I… I know her.”

Nam glanced at her curiously. “You recognize her? But her face isn’t clear.”

Freen shook her head slowly, her gaze still locked on the screen. “Not her face… but the way she stands, the way she moves. It’s… too familiar. It feels like someone I’ve known for a long time.” She paused, the weight of realization pressing down on her. “Someone close to my heart.”

Nam furrowed her brow, unsure of how to respond. “You think it could be someone you trust? But who? How could they be involved with Sarah that night?”

Freen didn’t have an answer. The feeling gnawed at her, a deep-seated recognition that made her stomach churn. But she couldn’t place it—not yet. The figure in the video was just out of reach, like a shadow of a memory she had long forgotten. She exhaled, shaking off the unease and closing the tablet. “I don’t know, Nam… but I have to find out.”

Nam nodded, understanding the silent turmoil within her friend. Freen stood up, brushing the dust from her pants, her mind still swirling with unanswered questions. She turned to leave, with Nam following close behind.

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When Freen returned to the apartment, the soft glow of the evening light filtered through the windows. She walked in, feeling the familiar warmth of home, but her thoughts still lingered on the blurry figure from the footage. As she stepped into the living room, her eyes immediately fell on Becky, sitting calmly on the sofa with her legs crossed, flipping through a magazine.

Becky looked up as Freen entered, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. She seemed more relaxed than before, her earlier suspicion about Freen having melted away after her conversation with Irin. Her gaze followed Freen’s every movement, watching her with a tenderness that made Freen’s heart skip a beat.

Freen felt a wave of relief wash over her seeing Becky this way, the tension between them finally dissolving. She crossed the room quietly and stood in front of Becky, her hands shoved into her pockets as she tried to mask the storm inside her.

“You’re back,” Becky said, her voice light, almost teasing. “Finally decided to come home, huh?”

Freen smiled, her tension easing just a bit. “Yeah… just needed some fresh air.”

Becky raised an eyebrow, leaning back on the sofa, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Fresh air, huh? Or did you miss me?”

Freen chuckled softly, playing along with Becky’s usual teasing. “Maybe both.”

Becky uncrossed her legs and scooted over, making room for Freen to sit beside her. “Come on then,” she said, patting the seat. “Tell me all about it. What’s got that broody look on your face?”

Freen hesitated for a moment, still shaken by the video. But as soon as she sat down, Becky shifted closer, her warmth instantly soothing the storm that had been brewing in Freen’s mind. For a moment, she allowed herself to forget the blurry figure and the haunting questions. Instead, she turned her attention to Becky, to the calm that her presence always seemed to bring.

“Nothing,” Freen finally said, glancing over at her with a small smile. “Just… you.”

Becky raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Me? What did I do now?”

Freen leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. “Distracting me. Again.”

Becky laughed, her hand resting lightly on Freen’s knee. “Is that so? Maybe you just can’t get enough of me.”

Freen’s eyes darkened with affection, and she gently tucked a stray strand of Becky’s hair behind her ear. “Maybe I can’t.”

Becky’s smile widened, her hand now slowly tracing small circles on Freen’s knee, her touch sending sparks through Freen’s body. “I knew it,” she teased, her voice softening. “You’re head over heels.”

Freen smirked, feeling a sense of comfort and warmth she hadn’t felt all day. “And what if I am?”

Becky leaned in, their faces just inches apart. Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Then you better be ready to prove it.”

Freen’s heart pounded in her chest, but she didn’t move away. She loved these moments with Becky, the playful teasing, the way they could flirt and laugh together like it was the most natural thing in the world. But deep down, beneath the humor and light touches, there was something more—a connection that went far beyond the playful banter.

For a moment, they sat there in the quiet of their apartment, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Freen’s gaze softened, her hand slowly finding its way to Becky’s, fingers intertwining gently. She didn’t need to say anything. In this moment, it was enough just to be with her.

Becky leaned back slightly, a satisfied grin on her face. “You’re such a softie when it’s just the two of us.”

Freen laughed, shaking her head. “Only for you.”

They sat there, savoring the warmth between them, the unspoken understanding that came from being close. For now, the questions could wait, and Freen could let go of the tension for just a little while longer.

As Becky settled back on the sofa, she glanced up at Freen with a curious look. “So, what’s really going on in that head of yours? You seemed pretty distracted earlier.”

Freen hesitated for a moment, debating whether to tell her about the footage. But seeing Becky’s calm, trusting eyes, she decided against it—for now. Instead, she smiled and leaned back, pulling Becky closer until they were sitting side by side, shoulders touching.

“Nothing important,” Freen said softly, wrapping an arm around her. “Just you.”

The evening light dimmed, casting a soft glow over them as they sat together in silence. For now, the world outside could wait. All that mattered in this moment was the quiet peace they had found in each other.

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