Cold Blue Eyes.
1440 Words
Aliya slowly turned her gaze to the other two.
They stiffened instantly under her stare.
A faint smile curled on her lips.
“Honestly… it’s not like I have a problem with whatever Stacy is doing. It’s none of my business, right?”
She tilted her head slightly.
“But there’s something I really can’t stand.”
Her voice lowered.
Sharper.
Colder.
“A shameless woman who spreads her legs for old politicians just to climb higher… and still has the audacity to sit in front of me and brag.”
The table went dead silent.
Aliya didn’t stop.
“And even worse…”
Her eyes shifted slightly.
“To be a man who watches that happen… and still bows his head to the same person who treats his girlfriend like a toy.”
A pause.
Then she looked directly at them.
“So tell me, Mary… Christopher…”
A small, dangerous smile.
“Do those people sound familiar?”
Silence cracked.
Then
“You b***h!”
Mary snapped.
A glass of wine flew straight across the table.
It hit Aliya’s face.
Red liquid spilled down her cheek.
For a moment
Everything froze.
Across the room…
Adrian’s gaze shifted.
“…Oh.”
Aliya slowly raised her hand.
Wiped her face once.
Twice.
Calm.
Too calm.
Aaron immediately stood.
“Mary, what the hell is wrong with you?”
He reached toward Aliya.
But she was already standing.
No shaking hands.
No panic.
Just quiet control.
She picked up a napkin and gently pressed it against her skin.
Then she smiled.
Small.
Polite.
“It was nice seeing you all again.”
She turned.
And walked away.
No anger.
No reaction.
That made the table even more uncomfortable.
“…She held it in?” Adrian murmured under his breath.
A faint flicker of interest passed through his eyes.
Christopher’s voice broke the silence.
“Where do you think you’re going? We’re not done here.”
Aliya didn’t turn.
“I am.”
Simple.
Final.
Aaron quickly followed her.
“Aliya, let’s just go.”
But before they reached the exit
“Stop right there.”
The manager’s voice cut through the room.
“If you walk out that door, you’re fired.”
Aliya stopped.
A pause.
Then a sigh.
Behind her, Aaron lowered his voice.
“Aliya… it’s not worth it. Let’s just leave.”
For a second
She didn’t move.
Then she turned back.
The manager nodded approvingly.
“Good. Now come back and take your seat.”
“Good girl.”
That word landed.
Wrong.
Aliya walked past her.
Straight to the counter.
Picked up her bag.
And as she passed the manager again, she spoke softly:
“Oh. I forgot my bag.”
A beat.
Then she left.
Silence followed her exit.
The manager’s face tightened.
Aaron exhaled and followed her out.
Outside the restaurant…
Aliya didn’t look back.
“Admirable,” Adrian’s mother said quietly.
A small smile.
“Don’t you think so, Adrian?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze stayed fixed on the doorway she had just walked through.
Finally
“It was… interesting.”
A pause.
Then, softer:
“She’s not what I expected.”
Aaron offers Aliya a ride in his her which she refuses at first but Aaron insists
The night air was cold.
Too cold for comfort.
Aliya stood outside the car for a moment longer than necessary.
Silence lingered between her and Aaron.
Not awkward.
Just… heavy.
Like something unsaid was sitting between them.
Then she finally spoke.
“Sorry about today.”
Her voice was calm.
Too calm for what had happened.
“I shouldn’t have dragged your girlfriend into that.”
Aaron shook his head immediately.
“Don’t apologize for that.”
He paused.
A faint, tired smile formed.
“You actually did me a favor.”
Aliya looked at him.
Confused.
Aaron exhaled.
“I just… wish I could do more for you.”
That sentence landed softly.
But it stayed.
Aliya didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, she studied him.
The way he avoided her eyes.
The way his voice softened when speaking to her.
It wasn’t pity.
Not exactly.
Something else.
“Why are you like this?” she asked quietly.
Aaron blinked.
“Like what?”
“Kind.”
The word sounded strange coming from her.
“I don’t remember doing anything to deserve it.”
Aaron chuckled under his breath.
“You really don’t see it, do you?”
Aliya frowned slightly.
Aaron leaned back in his seat.
“Aliya… I’ve known you for years.”
A pause.
“Not the loud version people talk about.”
“But the real you.”
Aliya’s fingers tightened slightly on her bag.
Aaron continued.
“I remember you in school.”
The air shifted subtly.
“You always took blame for people who didn’t deserve it.”
“You protected idiots who never appreciated it.”
“And you still showed up the next day like nothing happened.”
Aliya looked away.
Something in her jaw tightened.
Aaron’s voice softened.
“I also remember you crying once.”
That made her freeze.
Her eyes snapped back to him.
Aaron smiled faintly.
“Behind the science block.”
“You thought no one saw you.”
Silence.
The city noise outside faded.
Only his voice remained.
“And I remember thinking… how can someone like that still show up every day like she’s fine?”
Aliya swallowed.
Her throat felt tight.
Aaron shook his head lightly.
“I don’t pity you.”
“I admire you.”
That word hit differently.
Aliya didn’t know what to say.
So she said nothing.
For the first time that night…
Silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
It was dangerous.
Aaron glanced at her one last time.
“If you ever need help… I’m still here.”
Aliya nodded slightly.
“Thank you.”
A small pause.
Then she opened the car door.
“Goodnight, Aaron.”
“Goodnight, Aliya.”
The car drove off.
Leaving her alone.
---
The street was quiet.
Too quiet.
Aliya stood for a moment outside her apartment building.
Something felt off.
She frowned slightly.
Then stepped forward.
Two men stood ahead.
Black hoodies.
Still.
Waiting.
Aliya stopped instantly.
Her body tensed.
“Excuse me?”
No response.
Her hand slowly slid into her bag.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings.
Exit points.
Distance.
Timing.
Then
“They’re here for me.”
The thought came instantly.
“We need you to come with us, Aliya Bennet.”
One of them spoke.
Cold.
Flat.
“You don’t have a choice.”
Aliya exhaled slowly.
“I’d rather not.”
A pause.
Then the second man tilted his head.
“Wrong answer.”
Aliya moved instantly.
Not forward.
Sideways.
Her foot slammed into a parked car.
BEEP—BEEP—BEEP
The alarm exploded into the night.
Instant chaos.
The men flinched.
“s**t!”
They turned.
Too late.
Aliya was already running.
---
Inside her apartment.
Door locked.
Breathing fast.
She pressed her back against the door.
Silence again.
Too much silence.
Her hand reached for her phone.
911.
Her fingers froze.
Something was wrong.
Her eyes shifted slowly.
The lock.
It wasn’t engaged.
Her blood turned cold.
She never forgets to lock it.
Never.
“…No.”
A whisper.
Too late.
A hand grabbed her.
Cold.
Sharp.
Metal pressed against her neck.
“Don’t move.”
A female voice.
Close.
Controlled.
Aliya froze instantly.
Her phone was taken.
Dropped.
Shattered.
“What do you want?” Aliya whispered.
No answer.
A cloth pressed over her mouth.
Her eyes widened.
She struggled—
But the world was already fading.
“Sleep.”
The last word she heard.
---
Darkness.
---
She woke up slowly.
Pain in her wrists.
Weight on her legs.
Cold metal chair.
Bag over her head.
Her breath came uneven.
Voices surrounded her.
Men.
Many.
Waiting.
Then
A door opened.
Silence fell instantly.
Even breathing stopped.
Footsteps entered.
Slow.
Measured.
Unhurried.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Aliya’s heart began to race.
Not fear alone.
Something deeper.
Recognition without knowing why.
The footsteps stopped in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
A hand pulled the bag from her head.
Light hit her eyes.
She blinked rapidly.
Her vision cleared.
Black suit.
Gloves.
Composed posture.
Cold presence.
Then
Blue eyes.
Everything stopped.
Her breath caught.
Her stomach dropped.
That gaze.
Impossible.
Unforgettable.
Her lips parted slightly.
“…Adrian Black?”
The name left her mouth before she could stop it.
And for the first time since she woke up
The room didn’t feel like it belonged to her anymore.
- Writer
