Running from Him by YH Yohi

Chapter 34: Arin's secret

"Oh Malon, stop crying now!" Pari held onto Malon who was bawling his eyes out as she slowly patted his back. 

"You had no idea you idiot, I really thought you'd never come back"

"There, there"

After Malon calmed down, Pari handed some water. She felt bad for using him, while she disappeared, Malon re-assured her parents and kept everything under wraps till he knew what exactly happened. Fortunately, Pari came back whilst he was still investigating. He had his doubts when he saw Arin outside Pari's home. Her parents told him that Arin visited every other day, making sure all their needs were met while Pari relaxed abroad. Lies again.

Malon didn't believe that, Pari had never gone MIA for more than a week at once, no matter how pressing an issue may be.  His fears were half-confirmed when he got a random call Sunday evening, when he rushed to the address, he saw a thin, tired and serious Pari with faded bruises, he knew something had happened to her but dared not to ask. All he could do was cry for his dear friend.

After Pari recounted the whole ordeal leaving out the worst parts to save Malon from more stress, they decided that it was better to stay under wraps till everything was figured out. Pari lived alone in the outskirts with an elderly couple posing as an exchange student while Malon and her other friends in the investigation wing dug up all they could find on Arin. 

But nothing would have prepared Pari for the truth that was to find her. 

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The sun was setting, and the chores of the day were nearly over. Pari helped out in the small garden, today they had planted tomatoes and a few marigold flowers. Sipping tea on the porch watching the pink sky was the momentary peace Pari allowed herself to enjoy. A meditation of sorts, the moment when she would forget everything and everyone, especially Arin.

The elderly couple were inside watching tv, leaving Pari to herself. Just as she had her last sip, she saw Malon pull up the road along with another colleague. They quietly handed the file without attracting attention from the elderly couple and left as quietly as they came.

The nostalgic office file reminded Pari of her days when she was free though alone. What would life be like, had she not met Arin. Their entanglement had begun long before she knew of a particular Mr. Arin Kare. The lab trials had sealed their fate long before they met. But considering the manipulative and calculative man she had loved, she couldn't help but wonder, if her senior had taken the unconventional step of appointing her to oversee the trials, would she have ever met Arin? If there was another woman in her place, would it have made any difference to him?

 What is the point of such thoughts now?

Pari tucked the file inside her shirt and quickly send her goodnight to the couple before heading to her attic-room. Under the deem golden candle, she scanned data on Arin and everyone around him. Nothing stood out in particular. Malon was visibly upset when handing over the file which meant he didn't get the results he hoped for. Some dirty little secret to act as a noose around Arin's neck.

She went over it again and again all night, until her eyes landed on a small little typo or perhaps was it the secret she was looking for? She neatly tore the pages 1,8 and 9 which had the basic details of Arin and his parents- their names, age, height, weight and the topic of interest-blood type.

Odd enough, while Arin's father was a B+, his mother was an A+, then how in the world is Arin O+?! This could only be possible is one of the parents was not his to begin with. An extra-marital affair? Such a news would be scandalous, no doubt, it could potentially jeopardize Arin's position as the heir to the Kare corporate empire!

But blood type reports aren't enough to take down an opponent such as Arin. Their never-ending lies and influence over media could easily brainwash the public into believing the reports as false and fabricating new data is like child's play for them. Afterall, that's how such empires are built.

But, if Pari manages to find the third person, Arin's true parent then she could effectively change the situation in her favor. A blood report, DNA test and the person themself, now that will be hard to cover up even with all their money and influence.

Without this thought in view, she called her contact at the national data center. Finding out where Arin's birth was recorded could be the first piece in the puzzle. 

As expected, it was harder than expected, multiple names changes and certificates had to be navigated through. It was as if, someone purposely tried to create a maze of information to lose any leads. Had it not been for the close connection Pari had forged with one of the operators in the headquarters, it would have been nearly impossible to obtain the data. The tricks and mystery were an ominous foreshadowing of the secret that was to unfold, Pari knew it and yet she had no choice.

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