(Chapter-33)

  [Eyes On You]

  As the dinner ends, Tori and Karu go to Miraz's room and talk about the garden. Tushar subtly nudges Asroy to head upstairs.

  Tushar : Asroy. It's your turn to make the bed today. I'll go grab some peanuts~!

  Asroy : Didn’t you have dinner just a while ago?

  Tushar : Shush! Go go.

  Tushar playfully sneaks his way to the kitchen. Asroy goes to their room upstairs and makes the bed. After finishing, he stretches his arms. Suddenly a bright light flares behind him. He immediately turns around to see a fire slowly shaping into a human-like figure. It's Obhoy, floating and looking at him with narrowed, fiery eyes and a wicked smile. Asroy's eyes tense up but he tries to hide his nervousness. Obhoy's low, devilish voice fills the room, making the air feel suffocating.

  Asroy : Obhoy! How dare you come into the house!?

  Obhoy : Oh, shut up. Don't go questioning me. I can go anywhere I want. So… Have you thought about it, Asroy?

  Asroy : …

  Obhoy : Now… Won't you tell me about the blessed girl?

  Asroy : No. Because I don’t know it myself. Even if I did, I still wouldn’t have told you. So, just give up on the thought of using me.

  Obhoy : Really? Pfft… I’ve looked into it and I know that you're definitely aware of the blessed girl's whereabouts. I need help, you know.

  His mocking tone is intentional, meant to annoy Asroy.

  Asroy : No one is going to help you, Obhoy!

  Obhoy : Yeah, no one. But my brother Asroy will.

  Asroy : Never!

  Obhoy : You already know that I've become stronger. While I stayed away from home, I trained, meditated and also mastered new abilities. See, I learned a new move. Now with my powers… I can make you do whatever I want, whether you wish for it or not. And that’s exactly what I’ll use on you.

  Obhoy’s glowing red eyes gleam as a cruel grin spreads across his face.

  Asroy : No!

  Obhoy intensifies the flames. Asroy creates a whirl of wind to attack, but he breaks it apart. He appears behind Asroy in a flash of fire and binds him instantly with iron chains. Asroy gets startled, unable to loosen himself.

  Asroy : Argh! *What!? Where did he get the chains from? I can't move!* Let me go, you devil!

  Obhoy turns Asroy to him and grabs him by the collar. His lips curl up maliciously and his voice becomes colder. He gazes directly into Asroy's eyes as some red, orange and black glimmers of light swirl around him.

  Obhoy : Enough wriggling around. Since you don’t wanna speak up, you’ll bring that girl to me instead. Why work hard when I can just use you? Hahaha…

  Stolen story; please report.

  Asroy's eyes become dazed. He's hypnotized. Obhoy's tone gets serious.

  Obhoy : Now listen to me carefully. Keep your eyes on the blessed girl. Attack her, but keep her alive. Bring her to me when you get the chance. My hypnosis will begin working as soon as night falls, and the traces of sunlight fade from the sky completely. Work on your mission only at night, when the darkness takes over. But of course, my powers will take effect whenever I want them to. Remember it well. That's all, do it.

  The red, orange, and black glimmers seep into Asroy’s eyes. His eyes slowly close as he collapses onto the bed. Obhoy, letting out a low, sinister laugh, vanishes into black smoke. Silence settles over the room, as if nothing has ever happened. The night ended quietly, morning light spilling softly over the streets.

  It’s a weekend, but Mehaki sets out for her tuition class. Soft sunrays slip through the strands of her brown hair, glinting in her brown eyes. She’s wearing a pastel green knee-length top, light loose jeans, off-white hair clips, and dark brown sandals. She walks by the long street, carrying a dark purple side bag. Her soft beauty catches the eyes of someone standing beside the street — it’s Onol. Today he's wearing a blue-grey shirt and dark beige trousers.

  Onol : What a nice morning! I get to start my day by seeing your pretty face, Mehaki ma'am.

  Mehaki : Huh?

  Taken aback, Mehaki turns her face to the right. She sees Onol standing against the railing of the bridge, with his arms crossed. His dark black hair partially hides his right eye.

  Onol : What? Did you get scared to see me?

  Mehaki : No, why would I be scared? What are you doing here?

  Onol : I was hoping to see you again here, at the place we first met.

  Mehaki now notices that she’s at the bridge where she had saved Onol yesterday. Onol smiles subtly.

  Onol : Let's go grab some coffee together. Hm?

  Mehaki : *He and his weird talking again.* Sorry, I don’t know you.

  Onol : Aww, really Mehaki ma'am? Isn't this rude now?

  Mehaki : Hey. What do you want?

  Onol : I want to spend time with you.

  Mehaki : I don’t spend time with strangers.

  Onol : Then let's get to know each other. I want to know you well.

  Mehaki : And why is that?

  Onol : Because, you're pretty.

  Mehaki : … *What a weirdo!*

  Onol : Tell me about yourself, Mehaki ma'am.

  Mehaki : I don't want to. I'm really busy, so please move out of my way.

  Mehaki walks away. After walking for a few minutes, she checks if Onol is following her or not. He isn’t. She sighs in relief.

  Mehaki : *What's wrong with him? Did he hit his head really hard yesterday or what? Appearing here out of nowhere and waiting for me for no reason at all.*

  She attends her tuition class. A few hours pass, it's almost noon as the lessons end. Completely forgetting about what happened this morning, she cheerfully walks on her way home, which is the same bridge beside the wind forest. As she walks further, she pauses to see Onol still standing there, leaning against the bridge railing.

  Mehaki : *Eh? He's still here!?*

  Onol notices Mehaki and turns to her with a smile. Though he seems attractive, Mehaki feels some sort of unease.

  Onol : Oh, you're back Mehaki ma'am.

  Mehaki : …

  Mehaki tries to look unfazed, walking past him without even sparing a glance. She hears his footsteps behind her and stops, turning back a bit nervously. But her voice doesn't get too loud, still trying to be as polite as possible.

  Mehaki : Why are you following me like a stalker?

  Onol : A stalker, huh? Is that a compliment?

  Mehaki : Compliment!?

  Onol : I'll take it as one, since you said it.

  Mehaki : Are you crazy!?

  Onol : Maybe… For you.

  Mehaki : Ugh, how annoying!

  Onol : No. Say ‘How amazing!’.

  Mehaki : Just leave me alone at once—

  Onol suddenly presses his hand over her mouth, she gets startled.

  Onol : Can you not shout at me for a second?

  Mehaki : *What the heck!?*

  She immediately shoves his hand away, her face flashing both annoyance and unease.

  Mehaki : Why are you touching me!?

  Onol : You're really stubborn.

  Mehaki : Don't you have any basic manners? Who do you think you are?

  Onol : I'm Onol. I already told you yesterday.

  Mehaki : … *He is really getting on my nerves now.*

  Without saying anything more, she continues to walk ahead. Onol is still following. Mehaki stops to confront him again.

  Mehaki : Stop following me!

  Onol : But where exactly are you going?

  Mehaki : To hell!

  Onol : Hmm…

  Onol walks closer to Mehaki, she flinches and takes a step back.

  Onol : You know…

  He leans towards her slightly, speaking in a low, chilling voice, with an unsettling smile.

  Onol : I can turn this place into hell… If you’d like. So why bother going to one?

  Mehaki shivers in terror, her face drains of color. She pushes Onol with both hands and runs away as fast as she can, not even looking back once.

  Mehaki : Get away from me! *What a creep! I have to run fast!*

  She finds herself almost near Miraz Monjil, breathless from running.

  Mehaki : *My home is far, so I better go to Miraz Monjil. I'll be safe there. I must hurry!*

  She enters the gates and runs through the front yard garden. The path has never felt this long before. Meanwhile, in front of the house, Tori is watering the flowers with his powers. Soft blue glimmers of light float around him. Suddenly he hears someone running inside. He stops and turns to see Mehaki running anxiously towards him, almost out of breath. Tori tenses up.

  Tori : Mehaki!?

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