Chapter 20: Chapter 20

“I don’t think my brother only sees her as a friend. Look at them, I think he likes her.”

Grayson almost yelled in disbelief, “Why?! What makes you say that?!”

With her eyes still laying upon the two in the distance, especially her brother who looked enthusiastic while talking to Hailey, Cady answered, “I’ve never seen him talk to a woman like he does right now. He has been very careful and aloof with many women I know. But seeing him this happy and looking like he's enjoying that conversation with her... I know for sure my brother is into her. So, let them talk for a longer time.”

Feeling the irritation rising inside of him, Grayson wanted to get closer to the two as soon as he heard Cady’s words. But as he stepped forward, the woman restrained his hand again.

“Cady, I don’t care about your brother’s feelings, okay? What I care for now is that I need to talk to Hailey,” he said, annoyance visibly sounding in his voice.

“G-Grayson, what is this?!”

A voice from behind had them turning to its source.

“A-Abigail,” his voice stuttered as he watched the newcomer’s eyes widen. Tears rolled down Abigail's cheeks as she focused on their clasped hands.

Grayson attempted to pull his hand free, but Cady tightened her grip on his palm even more.

“What does this mean, Grayson?!” Abigail asked again, tears continuing to flow down her cheeks.

Grinning, Cady spoke in a serious, proud tone, “Abigail, now that you’re here, let’s finish this once and for all.”

Turning to the woman next to him, Grayson said nervously, "W-What are you talking about, Cady?"

Cady stared at the man. “Don’t worry, Grayson, there’s only one thing you have to do. Tell me you don’t love me anymore in front of your beloved little girlfriend. That’s all, then it’s over. I’m more than willing to let go of your hand after. Just say it.”

"Cady..." Grayson swallowed as he reciprocated the women's stares.

"Just say it and all this mess will be over!" Cady yelled angrily.

Grayson didn't say a word.

Laughing, Cady let go of the young man's hand and faced Abigail. She then looked at the latter’s face, tilting her head slightly to frustrate her.

“Did you see that, Abigail? Aren’t those words easy to say, yet your boyfriend couldn’t just do it? I don’t understand. Why do you think that is?” After spitting those words, Cady turned around and left the two on their own.

Abigail’s tears continued to flow; she didn’t dare utter a single word as they stood there.

“A-Abigail…” Grayson stammered as he couldn't find the right words to comfort or explain things to his girlfriend.

Before he could continue, Abigail turned on her heels and ran, wiping her tears in the process.

“Abigail, wait! Where are you going?” Grayson called as he chased after her.

"Leave me alone!"

From where they were standing, the two police officers witnessed the whole scene.

“This is what I’ve been warning him about,” Kendall expressed while shaking her head.

“Let them be, Kendall. There are issues that need to be resolved by the involved people themselves,” replied Noah, who then seemed unaffected despite his sibling being engaged in the situation.

“Okay then. You know what, this looks like a scene in the dramas I see on TV,” she laughed.

Keeping her tensed countenance hidden, Kendall chased the couple with her gaze as they ran farther. When she noticed that they were going into a dark place, out of her sight, she gradually became alarmed.

“I’m sensing something not right. Inspector, I think I need to intervene.”

"I think so too," her companion agreed.

“Alright, let’s talk some other time then!” the woman waved and hurriedly ran in the direction of the couple. Shortly after, she came back panting. “Wait, when asked how we knew each other, what should we answer?”

“You’re a younger sister of one of my friends,” Noah replied quickly.

“Copy. Bye!“

Leaving him, Kendall ran as fast as she could towards the side pathways. As she caught a glimpse of Grayson’s familiar back, she followed him down the dark sidewalk. She accelerated to keep up with his pace, reached him, and immediately grabbed his arm.

“No, Grayson. Enough of that for now. Just let Abigail be alone and regain herself, then you can just talk to her when she’s calm,” she convinced him, sighing, and still keeping the man’s arm in her grip.

“Why do you keep on meddling?!” He angrily removed her hands, shaking off his arm, and turned his head towards the path ahead. “Abigail, where are you? Abigail!”

Kendall watched him closely and when she noticed that he was about to leave, she held him in his arm tightly to keep him from running. “I said that’s enough, Grayson. It’s too dark in that area.” This time, her voice was soft, compared to how firm it was earlier.

“And we should leave Abigail alone there?!”

She shook her head. “Looks like Abigail didn’t head there. She might have gone to her car.”

Pulling her phone from her pocket, Kendall tapped a few dials and called the woman. After a few rings, it was answered. “Hello, Abigail.”

“Yes, Hailey?” the woman spoke, her voice still unsteady, maybe from the weeping.

“Where are you?” Kendall asked, tensed.

“I’m on my way home.”

Grayson reached and was about to grab the phone, but Kendall quickly yanked it away.

“Let me talk to her!” the man yelled.

Abigail, who seemed to hear Grayson’s voice, said in a calm voice, “I don’t want to talk to him, Hailey.”

“Understood. I’ll keep him from contacting you until you’re ready.” Letting out a deep sigh, she continued, “Alright. I just want to know if you’re safe. Bye.” Then, she hung up the phone and placed it back in her pocket.

“What’s wrong with you?! Why didn’t you give me the phone?!” exclaimed Grayson. He looked exasperated with all that happened.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you. Besides, it’s my phone, so I can do whatever I want to do with it.”

He furiously kicked the nearest plant he could find. “Agh!”

“What’s the matter, Grayson?” she kept herself calm to allow herself to still handle him. “This problem doesn’t have to be solved with anger. Talk about it properly. Blurt out whatever you’re thinking, but do it in an appropriate way, so you two can calm down and talk about it.”

Grayson looked at Kendall with a disgusted gaze. "It's all your fault!"

“Why are you suddenly involving me in this? What’s my fault in here?!”

"If you hadn't talked to that man, it wouldn't have happened! It's all your fault because you flirted! I hate you!"

Frozen at her place, Kendall tried to put together what Grayson had just said. She felt like she was slapped and poured ice upon.

‘I hate you.' This man has told those words to her on several occasions, and somehow, she has grown accustomed to his insults and sudden tantrums. But at that moment, it felt different. It felt like a sword piercing through her heart. All three words wounded her from the inside. She felt how he said those words with deep conviction, all anger poured over just a single phrase. The expression drawn on his face now even caused more pain than the words he spouted.

Did he mean it this time?

Grayson was also stunned. Realizing the sudden outpour of frustration that he spat with wrong words, he swallowed hard and looked intensely at the woman’s dazed face. This was the first time he had seen clear misery painted in her eyes.

“H-Hailey…” he breathed.

Kendall blinked and turned her back on him, slowly taking strides away.

He quickly followed her and continued speaking, “H-Hailey, I’m s-sorry.”

Quietly continuing her steps, Kendall remained silent. She just looked straight ahead while thinking deeply. She wondered why it hurt this time. Was it because of what she had learned from Noah about Grayson hating cops? Was she hurt when he yelled the words I hate you because she knew someday she’d hear him say those same words once she revealed her real identity? That someday, he would really hate her? But why was she affected by the thought? In the first place, didn’t she agree to do this mission? It was expected it would come this way eventually.

She stopped walking and blinked repeatedly. She should bring herself back to reality and expect what should be expected. It was her job, but, somehow, she felt like she had betrayed her beloved profession at that moment. She had been in several operations before, but never did she feel this downhearted until now.

“Hailey, look. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry, I really do,” Grayson’s apology thundered beside her as he was able to keep up with her.

After some thought, Kendall looked at the begging companion, "Grayson, you shouldn't be apologizing to me. You should apologize to the two women you hurt."

"I know.” His apologetic eyes were fixed on her as he continued, “But still, you were also hurt. And I didn’t mean that. I don’t want to stain what we have. Please don’t get mad at me."

She sighed and smiled wistfully. "Let's go home Grayson, let's just forget what happened."

Grayson's face suddenly lit up. “That smile… does that mean you’re not angry anymore?”

She shook her head. “No, not anymore.”

Grayson breathed a sigh of relief at what he heard. As they started their way back to the theater grounds, he moved closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Looking at her confused expression, he raised an eyebrow.

“This doesn’t mean anything, okay?” he explained with a smile. “We’re a team, right?”

The woman elbowed him on his side. He let go and laughed it off as they peacefully walked back to the car.