Chapter 12: The Truth He Didn’t Tell
868 Words
The room felt heavier after Aarav’s words.
Reya stood still.
Her mind repeating just one thing again and again
“You’re the reason they’re coming back”
She looked at him
“Explain properly”
Aarav stayed silent for a moment
Like he was deciding how much to say
“I already told you enough”
Reya shook her head
“No you didn’t”
She stepped closer
“You told me I’m the reason but not why”
Aarav’s jaw tightened
“That part doesn’t change anything”
“It changes everything for me”
Silence
Reya’s voice dropped
“You said they tried to take me years ago”
A pause
“Why me”
Aarav looked at her
This time his eyes weren’t cold
They were conflicted
“Because you were chosen”
Her brows furrowed
“Chosen for what”
Aarav exhaled slowly
“For something they lost control over”
Reya felt her heartbeat increase
“You’re still not making sense”
Aarav stepped back slightly
Creating distance
As if that distance would make things easier
“They needed someone”
A pause
“Someone they could use”
Reya’s expression hardened
“Use for what exactly”
Aarav didn’t answer immediately
That silence
It scared her more than anything
“For experiments”
The word hit hard
Reya let out a small breath
“That’s insane”
“It is”
“Then why me”
Aarav looked away this time
Which was rare
Very rare
“Because of your family”
Reya froze
“What about my family”
Another pause
“They were connected to them once”
Her mind went blank
“No”
Aarav didn’t correct her
Didn’t deny it
“Your father cut ties years ago” he continued
“But people like them don’t let go that easily”
Reya stepped back slowly
“So this whole time…”
She looked at him
“You knew”
Aarav nodded once
“And you still didn’t tell me”
“I was told not to”
Her laugh came out hollow
“Of course you were”
Silence filled the space again
But this time
It wasn’t just tension
It was distance
Reya turned away from him
Walking a few steps ahead
Trying to process everything
“My whole life…” she whispered
“Everything was controlled”
Aarav watched her
But didn’t interrupt
“I thought it was just overprotective parents”
She laughed softly
“But it was all because of this”
Aarav stepped closer slowly
“It was to keep you safe”
Reya turned instantly
“Safe by lying to me”
Aarav didn’t respond
Because there was no good answer
Reya’s eyes softened slightly
But not completely
“And you…”
She looked at him carefully
“You’re part of that world too”
Aarav’s expression didn’t change
“Were you ever sent to take me”
That question
It hit differently
Aarav’s eyes darkened slightly
“Yes”
The answer came without hesitation
Reya froze
For a moment
Everything went silent
“You’re joking”
“I don’t joke”
Her chest tightened
“So you were supposed to kidnap me”
“Yes”
“Then why didn’t you”
A pause
A long one
Then Aarav said quietly
“I chose not to”
Reya stared at him
Trying to read his face
“Why”
---
Aarav stepped closer
Slowly
Carefully
---
“Because I saw you”
---
Her breath hitched
---
“And that changed your mission”
---
“Yes”
---
Reya shook her head slightly
“That makes no sense”
---
“It doesn’t have to”
---
Silence
---
Then she whispered
“You could’ve taken me”
---
Aarav’s voice lowered
“But I didn’t”
---
“Why”
---
This time
He didn’t look away
---
“Because I don’t see you as a target”
A pause
“I never did after that”
Her heartbeat became uneven again
“And now”
Aarav took another step closer
“Now it’s not just about protection”
Reya felt that
Deeply
“Then what is it about”
Aarav didn’t answer immediately
Instead
He raised his hand slightly
Like he wanted to touch her
But stopped himself
“That’s the part I shouldn’t say”
Reya’s voice softened
“But you want to”
Silence
A dangerous one
Then suddenly
A phone vibrated
Aarav’s expression changed instantly
Back to serious
He checked the screen
And his jaw tightened
“What happened”
“They found this place”
Reya’s eyes widened
“What”
Aarav grabbed his jacket quickly
“We have to leave”
“Again”
“Yes”
Reya didn’t argue this time
Because now
She understood
This wasn’t temporary
This was their reality
Aarav moved toward the door
Then stopped
He turned back to her
“Stay close to me”
Reya nodded
And this time
She didn’t question it
Because now she knew
He wasn’t just protecting her
He was protecting something he didn’t want to lose
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To be continued
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- Writer
