Tring... Tring...
Suddenly, Alia's phone rings. On the screen, the name flashes — "Мама (Mama)"
Alia pauses for a moment, then answers the call.
Mother (in Russian):
"Дочь моя, как ты? (My daughter, how are you?)"
Alia (softly):
"Я в порядке, мама. (I'm fine, Mama.)"
Mother:
"А твой брат Иван и София? Как они? (How are your brother Ivan and little sister Sofia?)"
Alia (with sadness in her eyes):
"Они... хорошо, мама. Хотя, честно говоря, я не уверена... (They're fine, Mama. Though honestly, I'm not sure...)"
Mother (suspiciously):
"Скажи, Виктор… он с тобой? (Tell me, is Viktor still with you?)"
Alia (nervously):
"Он... он занят на работе, мама. (He... he's busy with work, Mama.)"
Before anything else can be said, Alia hangs up.
Now, she stands in front of her brother's apartment—
A large building, but the door is locked.
Alia quietly mutters—
"Where did Bhaiya go...?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice calls out from behind—
"Api…!"
Alia turns around—
Sofia comes running and grabs her hand.
Sofia:
"Api! It's been so long! I missed you so much!"
Just then, Ivan appears.
There's hardness in his eyes, no smile on his lips.
Without a word, he opens the door.
Following their gesture, Alia enters and sits on the sofa.
Sofia sits beside her, and Ivan silently watches from a chair.
After a long silence, Ivan finally speaks—
"I didn't expect you to come back, Alia.
I heard you and Viktor are having issues… Is it true?"
Alia (in a firm voice):
"Yes, Bhaiya…
I killed Viktor's elder brother.
He hasn't said anything yet,
But I know... inside, he's shattered."
Ivan keeps looking at her—no expression on his face.
Sofia gazes at Alia, eyes filled with sorrow—
Sofia:
"Api, you don't realize what you've done..."
Alia closes her eyes, takes a deep breath.
She feels as if even her own blood doesn't understand her anymore.
After a while, Sofia quietly gets up, after catching a signal from Ivan.
Before leaving, she looks at Alia—
A look filled with love, pain, and fear.
Once she leaves, silence falls like a heavy blanket.
Ivan sits beside Alia. After a pause, he says—
Ivan:
"People make many mistakes in life, Alia.
But some mistakes are bigger than others...
You understand that now, don't you?"
Alia (softly):
"The mistake... was not marrying Viktor.
I didn't realize it back then, Bhaiya."
Ivan sighs deeply—
"I warned Baba... I told him it was impossible.
But now it's too late."
Alia stays quiet, then slowly says—
"Viktor doesn't know... everything was part of a plan.
It was my plan..."
Ivan (stunned):
"A plan?"
Alia turns away, trying to hide her tears—unsuccessfully.
Ivan (gently):
"I don't know what will happen between you two...
But be careful.
I don't want to see you broken again."
Alia breaks down, sobbing—
"Bhaiya… I'm CIA. You don't know that?
I have to calculate every move.
But this time I made a mistake… a big one."
Ivan (calmly):
"I know you're an agent, Alia.
But today you're just a sister, a human being.
I understand your pain."
Alia lowers her head and cries—
"My life now is just running on heartbeat, Bhaiya…
Every other feeling seems dead."
Tears drop quietly from her eyes.
Alia (in a trembling voice):
"Bhaiya… I made a huge mistake.
Not just with Viktor…
I've been working for both sides."
Ivan (with narrowed eyes):
"What are you saying? What do you mean by both sides?"
Alia (slowly):
"What can I say, Bhaiya… I run a legal arms business in Russia.
I'm a powerful businesswoman, a CIA agent—
And now I'm also serving as South Korea's ambassador."
Ivan looks thunderstruck. Eyes wide, voice heavy.
Ivan:
"What are you saying, Alia?!
CIA—I knew.
But arms business? An ambassador?
Do you realize if Viktor finds out, he won't spare you—
He'll kill you!"
Alia (calmly, with strange determination in her eyes):
"I know, Bhaiya…
He'll find out eventually.
But I won't be staying in Russia anymore.
I have to leave—for a month."
Ivan (closing his eyes):
"You're playing with fire, Alia."
But Alia is calm.
She quietly gets into the car.
Packs everything—she must set things in order before this new journey.
Night falls.
The sky sparkles with stars,
And a white Rolls Royce waits by the roadside.
Alia opens the door and gets in. Viktor is with her. The driver starts the car.
Surrounding black cars move like shadows—her private security.
Flanking both sides, front and back, fully alert—
There must be no risk during this farewell journey.
5 hours later—
Alia reaches her private jet.
Her bodyguards stand in salute.
Before boarding, she looks back.
Viktor stands silently, eyes blazing with fire and sorrow.
She walks up to him and says—
"Goodbye, Viktor… We'll meet again someday."
Viktor leans forward and kisses her forehead.
He whispers just one word—
"Судьба… (Destiny)"
Alia smiles faintly and boards the plane.
The door closes.
Viktor stands below like a shadow,
While Alia's path—and perhaps their bond—slowly fades into the sky.
Inside, Alia sits by the window. The sky is dark,
Only flickers of light pass like fireflies.
The city below glows faintly in the distance.
A Bangladeshi colleague named Yas approaches.
Yas:
"Ma'am, would you like something to eat?"
Alia:
"No, nothing. Thank you."
He gazes at her for a moment, blushing, then quietly dozes off himself.
Morning.
The plane floats above Korean skies.
Yas lightly touches Alia's arm—
Yas:
"Ma'am, please wake up. It's morning."
Alia opens her eyes, freshens up, has coffee and breakfast, and rests for a while.
Suddenly, her phone rings.
An unknown number.
Alia:
"Hello, who is this?"
A mysterious voice—
"At last… we shall meet, Alia."
Alia (startled):
"Who are you?"
Voice:
"I'm Kon Anashia Kim."
Alia (serious):
"I don't recognize the name. Sorry."
She cuts the call.
The plane lands in Korea.
Outside, a luxury Aston Martin waits.
A man walks up—
"Hi, I'm Kon Anashia Kim."
Alia (narrowing her eyes):
"Oh... now I understand."
Just then, a blond-haired boy arrives—
"Hi Alia, my name is Margaret."
Alia:
"Hm…"
They all get in the car.
Alia and Margaret sit in the back, Kim in the front.
The car cruises through Korea's sparkling streets.
Alia checks her phone.
Suddenly, she notices Margaret looking at her strangely.
Alia (sharply):
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
Margaret (lightly smiling):
"I feel like I've seen you before... in Russia."
Then, whispering in her ear—
"I'm not your enemy…
But there's someone who can destroy you."
Alia's phone slips from her hand. As she reaches for it,
Margaret picks it up first and hands it to her, gently touching her fingers.
Margaret:
"Nervous?"
Alia (smirking):
"If you think I get nervous, you're wrong."
Destination – a five-star hotel.
Room booked for one month.
That night, Alia stands on the balcony.
The Korean city glows before her.
She closes her eyes and breathes deeply—
Suddenly, someone hugs her from behind.
A voice whispers—
"Hmm… your hair smells amazing."
Alia (startled):
"You! How dare you come here!"
Margaret (laughing):
"Just a little fun."
Alia (coldly):
"What's fun for you is inappropriate to me."
---
Chapter 27: Shadows of an Unknown Organization
Margaret just smiles mysteriously, says nothing.
Just then, a young colleague—Ishan—appears at the door.
Ishan (politely):
"Ma'am, Mr. Anashia is calling for you."
Alia glares at Margaret, then gets up without a word.
She enters Anashia's office.
Inside, Anashia Kim is already seated, one hand holding coffee, the other some files.
Anashia (smiling):
"Welcome, Alia. Sit."
Alia (sternly):
"Why did you call me?"
Anashia (looking her straight in the eye):
"I want to assign you a special mission."
Alia (curious):
"What kind of mission?"
Anashia (lowering his voice):
"Have you ever heard of NLS?"
Alia (frowning):
"NLS...? Yes, I've heard of it.
Why are you bringing this up now?"
Anashia smiles slightly, but there's a mysterious seriousness in his eyes.
He says nothing—just opens a file in front of her.
Alia looks at the contents…
A photo, some codes, a nameless report…
At the bottom:
"Operation: Ghost Mirror — Classified Level Alpha"
Anashia places his hand on the table, expression grave.
Anashia:
"There's something in this South Korean city…
Something you don't know yet, Alia."
Alia (coldly):
"I'm here to do my duty.
I don't have time to listen to your cryptic nonsense."
She stands to leave.
At that moment, Margaret appears in front of the door—
Blue hair, cold eyes, a crooked smile on her lips.
Margaret (softly, with a teasing tone):
"Shhh… Sit, darling…"
Alia (angrily):
"Who are you? Why should I listen to you?"
Tension rises between them.
Eyes locked, atmosphere thick with danger.
Anashia (suddenly shouting):
"Enough! Are you both insane?!"