The Avenging Angel

Friends from the past

The next morning, as usual, Lin woke up early and prepared breakfast. She called out to Yaman to join her. He came, took his seat at the table, and began to eat.

Lin asked softly about how he was doing, how his group studies were progressing, and about his volunteer work helping the elderly at the health organization. Yaman replied that everything was going well.

She then inquired, “Has anything happened lately? You’ve been acting a little different.”

Yaman looked up, curious. “No, why do you ask?”

Lin hesitated, “I’ve noticed you’ve been talking on the phone more than usual, and you seem happier lately. Is it because of your university achievements?”

Yaman smiled faintly. “That’s part of it, but not the whole story.”

Lin’s eyes widened in surprise. “Then what is it?”

“I’ve made a new friend,” he said quietly.

“A friend? What friend? When did you meet him? Is he from your engineering department?” Lin pressed.

“No, he’s a detective named Danny. He recently arrived in the city to investigate a case. I met him by chance.” Yaman recounted to his sister all the coincidences that had brought him and Danny together.

Lin smiled warmly. “It seems fate intended for you two to meet. I’m glad you found a friend. I hadn’t seen you this happy since Ryan. After he disappeared suddenly, you didn’t want to talk to anyone or make new friends. I hope this friend can bring you back to who you were… like when Ryan was around.”

Their conversation ended as the siblings stood up, washed the dishes, and left the house.

Outside, as they walked, a sudden uproar broke out — the shouting and screaming of their neighbor and his wife. It was a familiar, hateful sound. The man often yelled at and struck his wife and their eight-year-old daughter.

Each time Yaman heard the man’s furious voice, his eyes burned with rage, veins throbbing with anger, yet he remained silent.

Lin whispered, “That madman keeps beating his wife. I don’t know why she puts up with it. Why doesn’t she leave him?”

“Maybe she has reasons no one knows,” Yaman replied.

The little girl ran out the front door, frightened when her father began yelling at her mother. Yaman’s heart went out to her. He often gave her sweets, teased her gently, and made her laugh. His kindness toward both young and old had earned their love.

The siblings parted ways. Yaman headed to the university, where he handed in his project to the professor, then went to his lecture hall. After classes ended, he made his way to the charitable organization.

Clutching a pencil and a sharpener in his hands, he carefully prepared a pencil for writing and drawing — precision and neatness being traits every engineering student must cultivate. Lost in thought and busy with his pencil, he failed to notice a speeding car nearly hitting him. But someone grabbed him from behind just in time.

It was Danny, his new friend.

As Danny pulled Yaman to safety, the sharpener accidentally scratched Yaman’s hand.

“Are you okay?” Danny asked, concern etched on his face. “Why weren’t you watching where you were going?”

“Thank you for saving me,” Yaman said gratefully.

Danny smiled. “It’s a friend’s duty to protect another.”

Noticing blood trickling down Yaman’s hand, Danny’s voice grew urgent. “Your hand is bleeding! We need to get you to a hospital before it gets infected.”

“No, it’s a minor cut. These things happen,” Yaman reassured him. “I’ll disinfect it myself, and it’ll be fine. Thanks.”

Danny asked, curious, “What brings you here?”

“I came with a colleague to continue investigating the case. I thought I’d stop by to see you and have lunch together. After all, a detective never forgets his promises — you promised to join me for lunch,” he teased.

Yaman laughed. “Then let’s go.”

They went to a nearby restaurant and sat down. Danny ordered their food and turned the conversation toward their lives.

“Back at the hospital, we didn’t finish talking. Do you live with your family?” Danny asked.

Yaman’s voice grew heavy with sadness. “No. I live with my sister. Our parents died when I was six. Since then, she’s cared for me.”

Danny’s face softened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Do you have any other relatives? Has your sister married?”

“No,” Yaman answered quietly.

“It seems she loves you deeply to have devoted her life to you,” Danny observed.

Yaman smiled faintly. “She does.”

“Enough about you,” Danny said. “Tell me about yourself. How did you end up in this city?”

Danny shared that he came from a large family, graduated from law school, and worked as a detective before being called here for an important case.

“So, you left your family and friends behind,” Yaman noted.

“That’s common for detectives. They often move to different places and must leave loved ones behind.”

Danny asked, “What do you enjoy doing? Any hobbies?”

“I like playing basketball, walking outdoors, and spending time with the elderly at the charitable organization.”

“That’s great. I loved basketball too. I was quite good at your age, always playing with my friends. They called me ‘the basketball star.’ Everyone expected me to go pro, but I surprised them by choosing law instead,” Danny laughed. “But from what I hear, Yaman, you don’t seem to have many friends.”

Yaman chuckled. “You’ve figured me out. Yes, I don’t have many friends.”

Danny smiled, “You’re a clever detective. But why not? You have many qualities that make people want to be around you.”

Yaman smirked, “Maybe not everyone is like you.”

They both laughed. Danny asked jokingly, “Is that a compliment?”

“No, it’s the truth,” Yaman replied.

Danny grinned. “I’m glad to have a friend like you.”

Their talk was interrupted by Yaman’s phone ringing — it was Lin.

“I have to go,” Yaman said apologetically.

Danny asked, “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine, but I must leave now. Thanks for today.”

“No, thank you. Let me give you a ride.”

“No, it’s close. My sister’s waiting.”

“Alright, see you later, my friend.”

“See you.”

When Yaman reached home, Lin opened the door and asked, “Why did you come back early? Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Yaman said. “But someone came to see you. He’s sitting on the couch.”

Yaman turned to see a young man about his age—muscular, wearing a white shirt, sharp eyes, and long black hair falling over his forehead. Tall and strikingly handsome.

Yaman’s voice trembled with eagerness. “Ryan? Ryan? Is it really you?”

He rushed forward, embracing him tightly, tears streaming down his face. Their embrace was long, like brothers reunited after a long separation.

Ryan smiled and teased, “Why are you crying, you fool?”

“Your friend is back. Everything will be alright now. Don’t worry.”