Fools & Secrets ✔️

Dieciocho

The Strange Encounter

Chapter 18

Christmas decorations had started to fill the streets, plazas, and shop windows with a festive cheer. The city was aglow with garlands and twinkling lights, and the first week of December brought a cool, crisp air that hinted at the holiday season.

As Lisa walked through the bustling streets, her heels clicking lightly on the pavement, she found herself smiling. It had been weeks since Minnicha's flamenco party, and the memory of that night still left her with a warm, fluttering feeling in her chest. She and Mingyu didn't have to pretend anymore, and the thought brought both a sense of relief and a strange new awkwardness. Sometimes she caught herself feeling shy around him, her heart racing in moments that never used to affect her before. Of course, Mingyu never missed an opportunity to tease her about it, flashing that mischievous grin of his that made her blush.

Distracting herself from these thoughts, Lisa found herself window shopping for Christmas mugs, her mind shifting to simpler things. She thought of picking up some dulces for her mom and Eunseo—just a small treat for the holidays. Today had been long but productive; observing a trial court with her class had given her plenty to think about. Her formal suit still clung to her from earlier, her chestnut-brown hair neatly tied into a low bun, a picture of professionalism.

But just as she was about to step into a store, something jolted her from her thoughts. A man, running fast, bumped into her hard enough to make her stumble. And then she noticed them—a few men in black suits chasing him down. Her pulse quickened.

"Catch him! He has my wallet and passport!" the older man shouted in Korean, his voice filled with urgency.

Lisa, instinctively grasping the situation, acted without a second thought. As the snatcher tried to barrel past her, she seized the back of his jacket, yanking him backward with all the strength she could muster.

"¿Qué haces, idiota?! ¡Suéltame!" the man snarled in Spanish, trying to wrestle free from her grip, his breath ragged as he struggled.

"¡Devuélvele sus cosas al señor mayor!" Lisa snapped back in perfect Spanish, refusing to let go despite the burn of tension building in her arms, the discomfort of her low heels forgotten in the heat of the moment.

"¡Suéltame, carajo!" The snatcher, clearly desperate now, fumbled in his coat pocket and pulled out a dagger. The cold, sharp blade glinted dangerously in the winter sunlight. Lisa's breath caught in her throat as he swung the weapon toward her, narrowly missing her stomach. She jerked back just in time, but the blade grazed her suit, leaving a scratch across the fabric.

Her pulse hammered, fear and adrenaline coursing through her. Her grip faltered for a split second, her heart thudding in her ears. But just as the snatcher twisted, ready to bolt, the men in black suits caught up to them. In a matter of seconds, they tackled him to the ground, prying the dagger from his hand and retrieving the stolen wallet and passport.

Lisa took a step back, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She looked down at her suit and saw the tear from where the blade had nearly cut her. The old man, now breathless but safe, rushed over, his face pale with concern.

"Thank you, miss," the older man said in accented Korean, his tone polite but formal as he gave her a small, respectful bow. His posture remained stiff, clearly a man accustomed to commanding respect. "You nearly got hurt helping me. I owe you a debt of gratitude."

Lisa, still steadying herself after the adrenaline rush, managed a polite smile, shaking her head slightly. "It's really not necessary," she replied in Korean, her voice calm despite her racing heart. She could tell by his attire and the men surrounding him that he was wealthy, probably powerful too, but that didn't faze her.