shadow of love

chapter 9 (⁠◕⁠દ⁠◕⁠)

The night felt wrong. Boss woke abruptly, his hand reaching instinctively for Noeul, only to find the bed cold and empty. A frown marred his face as he sat up, his instincts screaming that something was amiss.

"Noeul?" he called out, his voice low but firm.

No answer.

Throwing on his robe, Boss began his search. The bathroom was empty, the kitchen too, and even the Living room was devoid of any sign of Noeul. His chest tightened as he grabbed his phone and dialed.

The call went unanswered. The silence on the other end was deafening.

Frustration mingled with dread as he left the apartment, heading to Noeul's place. But it was just as empty. Boss checked every room, his unease growing with each step.

"Damn it," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

By the time he reached his office, he was on edge. Still, there was no sign of Noeul, and no one had seen him. Boss slammed his fist onto his desk, his composure cracking.

That's when his phone buzzed. It was Fort, his most Loyal right-hand man.

"Boss," Fort said, his voice heavy with urgency. "We have a problem."

"What is it?" Boss demanded, his tone sharp.

"It's your brother... he's dead."

The words hit Like a physical blow. Boss staggered, gripping the edge of his desk for support.

"What?"

"We found his body in a hotel room, Fort continued carefully. "Gunshot wound to the chest. The scene... it's not clean, Boss. You need to come."

Boss didn't wait. He drove to the Location, his mind racing. When he arrived, police tape cordoned off the area, and officers milled about. Fort stood near the entrance, his face grim.

"Where is he?" Boss demanded, his voice shaking.

"They've already taken the body," Fort said. "But we found this."

He handed Boss a small USB drive.

"It's from a hidden camera in the room," Fort explained. "It captured everything."

Boss didn't hesitate. He plugged the drive into his phone and opened the footage.
The screen showed his brother entering the hotel room. He was agitated, pacing back and forth.

Moments Later, Novel entered. The two exchanged words, though there was no audio. Suddenly, Boss's brother Lunged at Noeul, pinning him against the wall.

Novel struggled, trying to push him away, but Boss's brother overpowered him. As the struggle grew violent, Noeul reached for something.Boss realized it was a gun and fired. His brother collapsed instantly.

Boss's hand trembled as he paused the footage. His chest tightened, and he struggled to breathe.

"No..." he whispered, his voice cracking.

Fort placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "Boss, it's bad, but... it Looks Like Noeul was defending. himself."

Boss shook his head, his emotions warring inside him. "He killed my brother, No matter the reason... he killed him"

-----------------------------------------------------

On the island

Noeul stood in front of his small class, his voice calm and measured as he explained the intricacies of coral reef ecosystems. The students Listened intently, their faces Lit with curiosity.

But Noeul's mind was elsewhere. The weight of what had happened back in the city hung heavy over him. He couldn't erase the memory of that night the fear, the desperation, the gunshot.

When the class ended, Noeul Lingered on the beach for a while, Letting the sound of the waves soothe his frayed nerves. Eventually, he returned to his modest island home.

As he stepped into the Living room, Noeul froze.

Boss was there, sitting on the couch, a glass of red wine in hand. His posture was relaxed, but the intensity in his eyes made Noeul's blood run cold.

"Boss," Noeul said carefully, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

____________________________________