◟⊹ 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 ╱ chapter four

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─ ─ ─ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ only if you say please !⌇

( real life )

✸ REAL LIFE . . .

as they continued their walk to the hotel, atarah struck up a conversation, "so, what do you think of barcelona?" he responded, "it reminds me of koh samui," a smile on his face. atarah's eyes widened in pleasant surprise, her interest piqued.

"you've been to thailand?" she asked, her voice filled with eagerness. acel chuckled and listed off a series of countries. "and japan, china, malaysia, india," he said before adding, "every country in europe," a proud smile on his face as he looked down at her.

atarah chuckled in response to Axel's lengthy list of international travels. "oh, okay," she said, her smile widening, "i got it." she then went on to mention her own limited travel history. "other than a couple of trips to disney world,"

she started, her tone slightly wistful, "i really haven't been outside of california." a sigh escaped her lips, almost tinged with a hint of envy.

she continued, her voice filled with a touch of excitement. "but there's so much world to see," she repeated, her gaze fixed forward as they walked.

She spoke with conviction, a smile on her face. acel looked at her, absorbing her words as she spoke, his eyes studying her features. he felt a sense of contentment wash over him, grateful to have someone to talk to and listen intently to in the quiet night.

Atarah spoke with a hint of optimism in her tone. "and barcelona isn't a bad place to start," she said, hoping for the best. axel picked up on her hopeful words, and asked, "what do you expect to see while here?" atarah paused for a moment, contemplating her response.

she chuckled lightly as she answered axel's question. "i mean, everything," she replied, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation. "las ramblas, cascada monumental," she began, listing a few places on her mental bucket list.

"uh, i don't know, park güell," she continued, her smile growing wider. the mere mention of these iconic spots brought a sense of adventure to her tone, her enthusiasm for exploration evident.

"and end with a fight for the world tournament of karate?" atarah couldn't help but giggle in response, their conversation taking a lighthearted turn. "exactly." she agreed, her laughter filling the night air around them.

axel and atarah's walk was interrupted as a familiar voice shattered the peace of the nighttime street. kwon and his friends materialized from the darkness, their presence catching the pair off guard.

kwon's tone held a hint of mockery as he remarked with a touch of jealousy, "how cute." he paused, his voice laced with a mix of envy and irritation, "little rival team play time, huh?"

atarah gently urged axel, her voice soft and reassuring. "just ignore them," she whispered, glancing up at him. despite her plea, axel remained fixated on kwon and his companions, his expression taut with tension.

just as the pair were about to walk away, kwon and his entourage abruptly blocked their path, their bodies creating a physical barrier. kwon's words cut through the air with an arrogant tone, "say the magic words."

atarah's annoyance flared, her voice firm and sharp as she responded, "move aside." to her frustration, kwon chuckled responded, his voice laced with a mocking coldness.

"wrong," he retorted, his words dripping with a smugness that only served to aggravate her further.

atarah's irritation boiled over, her words firing back at kwon with a sharp edge. "just leave us alone," she snapped, her voice brimming with annoyance. kwon's smirk widened as he leaned down closer to her, his gaze locked onto hers.

"only if you say please," he said, a cocky grin plastered across his face. axel watched the exchange between them, his expression a mix of concern and hidden amusement. atarah's fingers clutched onto axel's shirt, her discomfort evident even to him.

axel's muscles tensed visibly, his frustration mounting. he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, preparing to deliver a powerful blow.

kwon's friend, yoon, however, was quick to react. noticed axel's clenched fist, yoon swiftly swung his legs, delivering a kick that landed with a thump against axel's unmoving form. despite the force of the kick, acel remained stationary, like an immovable object made of wood, unfazed and unbothered by the attack.

kwon's friends continued their onslaught, attacking axel and atarah with an intense vigor. amidst the chaos, kwon shouted at them, his voice rising above the commotion.

"come on, i'll take you both." the challenge hung in the air as axel and atarah dodged and countered the strikes thrown their way, their skills on display as they defended themselves against the relentless assault.

as the fight continued, yoon, realizing the potential consequences of their actions, rushed towards kwon. "hey," he shouted, "we can't get caught! come on!" he grabbed kwon by the arm, urgently pulling him away from atarah and acel. kwon, although reluctant to stop,

let yoon drag him away, knowing they had to retreat before things escalated further. with a final glance back at the duo, kwon begrudgingly relented and followed yoon, disappearing into the shadows.

axel and atarah fled the scene, their feet pounding against the cobblestones as they stumbled upon the beach once more. atarah panted heavily, trying to catch her breath.

"cobra kai," she muttered between breaths, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "those assholes." frustration laced her words as she recalled the run-in with kwon and his lackeys.

axel couldn't help but sport a grin as he looked at atarah. "nice round kick," he complimented, a hint of admiration in his eyes. she too glanced at him, a smile forming on her lips as she responded

"nice counterstrikes." they chuckled together, the tension of the fight slowly melting away as they praised each other's fighting skills.

both took a moment to catch their breath as a soft gust of wind blew, playfully tossing atarah's hair in the breeze. axel's gaze lingered on her, his eyes tracing her features.

she let out a sigh, the sound of the wind blending in with the rhythm of their heavy breathing. axel couldn't help but observe her, her beauty striking him once more. the cool night air added a sense of tranquility, only amplifying the moment between them.

as their breaths slowly returned to a normal pace, atarah looked up at acel, their eyes locking in a moment of charged intensity. the tension in the air thickened, the silence between them weighed down by a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

axel held her gaze, the connection between them electrifying, as if the world around them disappeared and all that remained was the space between them.

as atarah's eyes darted away from axel's intense gaze, a mix of nerves and trepidation coursing through her, a voice suddenly interrupted in the background. "atarah!"

the sound of footsteps echoed on the beach, and atarah spun around to glimpse sam approaching hurriedly. she appeared panting, having been searching high and low for atarah.

"where were you? i was looking everywhere for you!" she exclaimed, the worry evident in her voice.

atarah stumbled over her words, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her as sam suddenly appeared. she attempted to explain her whereabouts but was interrupted by sam's recognition of axel.

"iron dragons captain?" she said, her expression a mix of surprise and mild confusion. sam then glanced up at axel, her gaze lingering on his tall figure.

"what are you guys doing on the beach... alone?" she let out a sly chuckle, the implications of her words evident.

axel, standing tall and imposing, simply smiled calmly at sam's question. his demeanor remained cool and collected, though the corners of his lips curved up into a slight grin.

"we were just... talking," he replied casually, his tone maintaining a nonchalant air. he glanced at atarah, silently communicating that it was up to her how she wanted to explain their presence on the beach.

atarah, still feeling a bit flustered, nervously looked back at sam. she knew that any explanation she gave would undoubtedly lead to further questions or assumptions.

she decided to keep the details vague, not wanting to reveal whatever it was that had been happening between her and axel before sam's interruption. "yeah, we were just... hanging out, you know," she responded, trying to sound nonchalant.

sam raised an eyebrow, a sly smile remaining on her face. she knew there must have been more to their story, but decided to tease them a bit more.

"just hanging out, huh?" she repeated, her voice dripping with a hint of sarcasm. "on the beach, at night, all alone..." she glanced between axel and atarah, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

atarah blushed furiously, she grumbled at Sam in an embarrassed tone, "shut the hell up, sam. let's go." with a firm grip on her sister's hand, she quickly led her away from axel, practically dragging her towards the hotel.

axel couldn't help but chuckle at their hasty departure, his grin widening as he watched them disappear into the distance.

atarah found herself restless after returning to the hotel with sam. despite the late hour, she couldn't bring herself to sleep or even close her eyes.

she decided to venture outside and sought solace on a nearby bench. the cool night air brushed against her face as she settled onto the bench, her thoughts whirling with a mix of emotions.

kwon casually stepped outside of the hotel, his eyes falling upon atarah sitting alone on the bench. He observed her for a moment, the sight of her sitting all by herself piquing his curiosity.

without a word, kwon began walking towards her, his footsteps quiet and deliberate against the silent surroundings.

atarah glanced over at kwon as he approached and sat down next to her on the bench. their proximity felt close and somewhat awkward as he spoke up, his voice a soft mumble.

"couldn't sleep?" kwon's question hung between them in the cool night air, waiting for her response.

atarah sighed and shook her head slightly. "no, not really," she responded quietly, her gaze drifting back out into the night.

there was a brief moment of silence as they both sat there, the only sound being the distant hum of the city and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze.

kwon glanced over at atarah, his eyes lingering on her profile for a moment. the dim light from the hotel cast shadows across her face, making her features seem softer in the night.

"you know," he began, his voice laced with a touch of humor, "you're not that annoying when you're not talking." the playful statement was accompanied by a sly grin, as he looked over at atarah's face, waiting for her response.

atarah glanced back at kwon, her irritation at his comment only slightly masked by a small, reluctant smile. "gee, thanks," she retorted sarcastically, rolling her eyes slightly.

despite her attempt to brush off his remark, there was a hint of amusement in her expression as well.

kwon's smile remained on his face as Atarah turned her gaze towards him. there was a hint of confusion mixed with intrigue as she teased him, her words dripping with sarcasm and a touch of playfulness.

"what? did my charm melt your cold heart?" atarah's grin widened, enjoying the irony of her own words. kwon's expression stayed unchanged, a smirk curling the corners of his lips in response to her tease.

he chuckled softly, his smirk now a full-blown grin. "you wish," he replied, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. he leaned back slightly, his gaze still on her face.

despite their playful dynamic, there was a subtle hint of something else lingering in the air, an undertone neither of them could ignore.

as they traded banter back and forth, a strange sense of familiarity settled between them. the tension that had been present earlier with axel was now present with kwon, but instead of fear, there was something almost electrifying about it.

atarah could feel her heart rate pick up, her breathing becoming slightly shallower as she locked eyes with him. the air around them seemed charged with an energy she couldn't quite explain, making her both excited and nervous.

kwon, too, seemed to be affected by the charged atmosphere between them, his smirk giving way to a more serious expression.

he leaned closer to her, their faces inches apart. the silence around them grew heavier, the only sound being the soft rustle of leaves in the night breeze. Atarah could feel her lips part slightly, her breath hitching in her throat.

kwon's gaze flicked down to her lips, his eyes narrowing slightly as a hint of desire flickered in them. the tension was palpable, and atarah found herself almost drawn to him, the magnetic pull between them undeniable. she swallowed hard, her mind racing with conflicted thoughts.

the moment seemed to stretch on forever, time standing still as they stayed frozen in their intimate position. the air grew warmer, and the silence was deafening.

atarah's heart pounded in her chest, her body tense with anticipation. kwon remained silent, his eyes locked onto hers, waiting for her next move.

atarah abruptly looked away, her nervousness causing her to stumble up from the bench. "uh, goodnight," she muttered, her voice quivering with a hint of panic.

she turned quickly and hurried back into the hotel, leaving kwon alone on the bench with a confused expression on his face.

he sat there, dumbfounded, as atarah rushed away from him. he was left wondering what had just happened, his mind still reeling from the intense moment they had just shared.

he ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of her sudden retreat.

as the silence settled around him once more, kwon couldn't help but replay the scene in his head. he replayed the charged air, the way her face had reddened and her breath had hitched.

the way she looked at him, her eyes filled with something he couldn't quite identify. he sat there for a few moments longer, contemplating the night's events.

he, suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, quickly got up from the bench and began running after atarah. he moved quickly, his steps rapid and urgent as he made his way to the hotel. the cool night air blew through his hair as he focused on catching up to her.

kwon's mind was focused solely on Atarah, his heart racing with a mixture of confusion and concern.

he didn't quite understand why she had suddenly run off, but he knew he had to find out. he pushed through the doors of the hotel, his eyes scanning the lobby for any sign of her.

kwon suddenly spotted atarah as she headed toward the elevator. without a moment's thought, he lunged forward, grabbing her arm and pushing her against the wall.

the unexpected move left atarah breathless, her back pressed against the cool surface of the wall. before she could react, kwon quickly captured her lips in a searing kiss, his actions filled with urgency and passion.

atarah's initial shock quickly faded away, replaced by a surge of desire and response. her heart thudded against her chest, the feel of his body against hers sending shivers down her spine. their kiss was intense and hungry, both of them fully giving into the moment.

axel's footsteps abruptly halted as he approached his room, his eyes widening in surprised disbelief. his gaze was drawn to the sight of kwon and atarah pressed against the wall, their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

a rush of jealousy surged through axel's veins, the sight of them together igniting a fire of rage within him. he clenched his fists, his body tensing up. all he wanted in that moment was to intervene, to push kwon away and claim atarah for himself.

she suddenly pulled away from kwon, a mixture of surprise and fear on her face. she caught sight of axek standing a few feet away, the irritation in his eyes visible even from a distance, and she quickly averted her gaze.

her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as she stumbled away from kwon's arms, hastily making her way towards the nearby elevator. she couldn't help but feel embarrassed and conflicted, the intense moment with kwon interrupted by axel's unexpected arrival.

she stood in the elevator, her back leaning against the cold metal wall. the doors closed with a soft thud, enclosing her in a small, private space.

her eyes fluttered shut, a mix of guilt and shame washing over her. she couldn't believe what she had just done.

axel was the one she wanted to kiss, the person whose touch she longed for, but the universe seemed determined to intervene each time they got close. and now, here she was, alone with her thoughts, the memory of kwon's kiss still fresh on her lips.

she let out a shaky breath, her emotions swelling inside her. tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she felt the weight of her actions.

she should've pulled away from kwon before things went too far, but instead, she had given in to the moment. and now, she was left with a mix of guilt and confusion, wondering if she had just made a terrible mistake.

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listening to aftercare by nessa while writing this chapter, kinda teared up too when i wrote the last part not gonna lie 😭