"Behind it" - Cai Xukun FF (ip+sk ff)

Chapter 23 - Because I love you

Xukun's POV

"Xukun...I heard something...wait I have to check it," Irene said through the phone and my heart stopped beating. Not again. It was impossible.

What is he trying to do?

"What did you hear? Irene? I'll be there as fast as I can. Don't-" I spit out some sentences in panic but before I could finish I heard three long signals. Either she had hung up or her phone had been damaged by someone or by accident.

So many questions and so many scenarios ran through my head. Darkness and death. Blood. Fear. Natalie. Those were the things that occupied my mind. My heavy heart suddenly started beating hard and fast as if it was going to crush my ribs.

The fear I felt was difficult to explain. Even though it wasn't the first  situation that kind I couldn't get used to it. Because it wasn't something you can get a hang of. The feeling that you can lose someone you care about...

There was also something else inside of me. The need to catch the guy. To find him. Now when I was finally on a good lead. I had to get Natalie before my step brother, whoever it was, and tell her the truth. That was my priority to tell Natalie everything. Everything about me and my past. Even if it was going to hurt her. But I knew it was better to tell her myself than her finding the truth from someone else.

I sped up as much as I was able to. My knuckles went white as I gripped the steering wheel tighter out of fear and nervousness.

"Natalie, please, be alright."

Natalie's POV

"Natalie," the familiar voice said and I automatically put the knife away. I sighed deeply out of relief as I breath in and out calming down my restless heart.

"Chan...what are you doing here?" I asked the boy not expecting his visit at all. His anxious gaze travelled to the knife lying on the table and then back to me. Chan eyed me from head to toe carefully probably trying to understand why I was in that indescribable state.

My eyes were swollen and the bags under were noticeable from miles away. I almost got scared when I had looked in the mirror earlier. My gaze even though was saying that I was quite happy and at ease there were still visible hints of exhaustion caused by almost sleepless nights and stress. The tiredness could be also seen by my weak and pathetic body posture.

I just looked like someone had eat me alive and then spit me out because my taste wasn't good enough.

"I was worried about you because I haven't seen you nor hear from you since I took you on the race. You know the last I saw you was when we got out of the car and then you disappeared. What's more, you weren't answering the phone. I was worried sick about you," the boy explained holding my shoulders firmly as if I was about to vanish into thin air every second. I didn't know if it was because of the light that was reflecting in his eyes or he really was on the verge of crying.

"I-I just," I didn't know what to say and how to explain myself. I couldn't tell him the truth because of Xukun. His identity was a top secret now and if I had to tell Chan about everything I would have to include that fact. On the other hand, there wasn't any logical excuse that I could think of at that moment.

"Nevermind, good thing that you're safe," Chan said hugging me tightly but then loosing his grip right after as if he was afraid to break me into pieces.

Thank you, Chan...you saved me from lying...

"But why weren't you answering my calls?" the boy asked and my mind went blank for a brief moment.

That's a good question...

Not saying anything I walked away from the boy to look for the item. I tried to focus hard but I couldn't remember what I had done to it. The last time I saw my phone was when I was calling Ziyi after the bomb explosion in the car.