The Race: The Tale of Love and Betrayal

"Mom! Dad! I am going hunting!" called out a young boy, around seven years old, with a handsome face, golden-brown hair, and striking blue sapphire eyes. He was dressed in a cowboy outfit, holding a small hunting rifle and a little bag.

"Okay, honey! But don't go too far! It is dangerous out there in the forest! Just hunt a little distance away from the ranch, okay?" shouted his mother from inside the house.

"Okay, Mom. I will!"

Isaac ventured into the forest, with his little hunting rifle and small bag in tow, intent on bringing back game for the family. The sky was clear and sunny, with clouds looming in the distance, hinting at impending rain. As he trudged through the underbrush, his keen eyes scanned for signs of movement.

He intended to hunt in the forest plains near his ranch, just as his mother instructed, but he couldn't find any game. Determined, he ventured deeper into the forest, hoping for better luck. Hours passed, and he still hadn't caught anything. Finally, he decided to head back home. But as soon as the thought struck him, the heavens opened, and rain poured down in torrents, drenching him to the bone. The familiar path he usually took quickly became a muddy, flooded mess, impossible to walk through. Forced to find an alternate route, Isaac ventured further into the forest, his senses heightened by the change in terrain.

As he navigated the unfamiliar path, a faint, desperate cry reached his ears. He paused, straining to hear over the pounding rain. The cries grew louder, filled with fear and urgency. Isaac's heart raced as he followed the sound, weaving through the trees until he reached the source.

Peering into a large hole near the base of an ancient tree, he saw a little girl struggling in the rising water. Her small voice was hoarse from shouting, her eyes wide with terror. Without a second thought, Isaac sprang into action. He quickly fashioned a rope from the vines hanging nearby, securing it to a sturdy branch.

Taking a deep breath, he lowered himself into the hole, the cold water biting at his skin. He reached the little girl just as the water was threatening to engulf her completely. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her out of the water and hoisted her to safety.

"Don't worry, you are going to be alright. You are going to be just fine. Don't worry... I am here," Isaac whispered, his voice steady despite the fear gripping his heart and the shiver from the cold due to the rain. The little girl's eyes met his, her gratitude evident even through her exhaustion and pain. Isaac felt his heart skip a beat as he stared at the pretty little girl's face. He felt his heartstrings being pulled by her beautiful black eyes, and he felt a strong connection toward her, a feeling he had never experienced before.

But then he wondered how she had ended up in the hole in the middle of the forest. So he said, "Hey, little lady, what were you doing here? Don't you know that this is a dangerous place? If I hadn't been passing by and heard your crying and shouting, you could have drowned and died. Luckily, I saw some bouncy vines and made a bouncing rope out of it and tied them to the tree so that I could swoop in and pick you up as they bounced back." The little girl just softly shook her head and whispered, "Thank you."

Isaac held her close, shielding her from the relentless rain. "It's okay, little sweeches. I'll get you out of here in no time. Just hold on," he murmured, more to reassure himself than her, before the little girl lost consciousness.

Isaac, with the little girl cradled in his arms, navigated through the dense forest, rain pouring down relentlessly. He pressed on with determination, his small frame carrying her through the mud and underbrush. The storm showed no signs of relenting, but neither did Isaac. He had to get the little girl to safety.

After what felt like an eternity, Isaac finally emerged from the forest, the village lights flickering in the distance. He rushed to the nearest house and frantically knocked on the door. The villagers quickly gathered, and soon an ambulance arrived to take the little girl to the hospital. Isaac, drenched and exhausted, kept his distance, watching as the medics took the little girl away. He slipped into the shadows, making sure no one noticed him and followed.

At the hospital, the little girl's parents arrived in a panic, relieved to see their daughter alive. They asked about her rescuer, but no one knew who the mysterious boy was. Isaac watched from afar, his heart filled with a mix of relief and longing. He had saved her, but he couldn't bring himself to reveal his identity. He also learned the little girl's name: "Patricia," he whispered as he watched her parents rushing to see her in her room. Then he turned and left.

Years passed, and Isaac continued to watch over Patricia from a distance. They attended the same schools from kindergarten to high school, and although he was always nearby, he never approached her directly. He admired her from the sidelines, his feelings for her growing stronger with each passing day.

Whenever Patricia found herself in trouble, Isaac was there, silently ensuring her safety. Whether it was standing up to bullies who tried to intimidate her or thwarting those who sought to take advantage of her kindness, Isaac was her unseen protector. He kept his distance, his love for her manifesting in quiet, selfless acts.

High school came to an end for him since he was Patricia's senior by four years, and it was graduation day. Isaac, for the first time, allowed himself to hope that he could finally confess his feelings to Patricia. That night, he attended a friend's party and, emboldened by a few drinks, decided it was time to tell her how he felt.

With a racing heart, he made his way to Patricia's home, only to find the house dark and empty. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Confused and disheartened, he realized that Patricia and her family had left for a sudden trip. The opportunity to confess his feelings slipped through his fingers, leaving him standing alone in the night, the weight of his unspoken love heavy on his shoulders.

....

Isaac was jolted from his reverie by Patricia's worried voice.

"Isaac? Are you alright?" She gently shook his hand, bringing him back to the present.

"Oh, sorry, Patricia. I was just lost in thought," Isaac replied, slightly embarrassed, realizing he was still holding her hand. He quickly let go, the moment turning awkward.

Patricia offered a small smile. "It's okay. Let's get going."

They both boarded the car and headed back to town. The drive was mostly silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Patricia was reluctant to involve Isaac in her dangerous mission. She worried that since he was already involved with the people she wanted to take down, he could complicate things for her. However, she knew she needed all the help she could get to gather the evidence to bring Ricardo Montenegra down. Isaac, being a federal agent with years of experience hunting down cartels, could navigate this game far better than she could. So she needed him, even if it meant things might get more complicated.

As they reached town, Patricia turned to a side street and stopped the car. Isaac didn't need her to say anything to understand that she wanted him to step out. He knew the situation was complex and didn't pressure Patricia to involve him further. He was willing to wait for the right time to prove that she needed his help.

As he was about to step out of the car, he heard her sigh loudly before saying in a low, soft voice, "Meet me at the old warehouse on 5th Street at 10 PM tomorrow night."

"I'll be there," he replied, then exited the car.

Patricia gave him a grateful look before driving off. Isaac watched her car disappear down the street, his lips curving into a smirk. He put on his shades and started walking down the street towards another car with tinted windows that had been following them. Upon entering, he looked at his subordinate and said, "We're in."

Upon arriving home, Patricia was ready for a long shower and some much-needed rest. The adrenaline of the day had taken its toll on her. However, as she reached her yard, someone jumped on her and hugged her waist from behind. Patricia didn't need to turn around to know who it was, her stomach churned with disgust.

She took a deep breath and turned to face Jonathan, her scumbag boyfriend. He flashed her his usual charming smile, but Patricia's stomach churned as she pretended to be pleased to see him.

"Hey, babe. I missed you," Jonathan said, wrapping his arms around her.

Patricia forced a smile. "Jonathan, what a surprise! I didn't expect to see you here." She leaned into his embrace, playing the part of the devoted girlfriend, while inside, she was seething with rage.

"Well, I wanted to surprise you! I heard that you moved out of your friend's house and you didn't tell me. So I had to beg and plead with Nicole to tell me where you moved to because for some reason she didn't want to tell me," said Jonathan, pouting his lips to show his disappointment.

"Oh, sorry, my love. Everything happened so fast that I forgot to tell you. Please forgive me, babe. But here you are! Let's go inside, shall we?" Patricia said, ushering Jonathan inside.

"Wow, damn! You live here now? This place is huge and beautiful! I can't believe your father hid such a beautiful place from you for so long. This place must have cost millions of dollars!" Jonathan exclaimed after touring the house.

"This place will be perfect for our kids. I can imagine them running and playing around. I guess we better get ready to prepare a playroom for them," Jonathan added.

Patricia felt bile rising in her throat at the mention of having kids with him. She wanted to tell him off then and there, but needed him for her plan and revenge, so she decided to keep her cool. "You are right. That would be great," she said.

Then she ushered him to the living room and said, "Why don't you settle in, and I'll go freshen up and prepare dinner."

"Okay, babe. But where are your siblings? Will they be joining us for dinner as well? You know Alisha and I don't get along," Jonathan said.

"Don't worry about it, babe. Alisha and Zach went out to study at a friend's house. They will be back later. So relax, I'll be right back," Patricia replied.

Jonathan watched as Patricia disappeared upstairs to her bedroom. Instead of sitting on the lavish couch, he started snooping around. He saw a small golden and silver bowl displayed in the hallway. He went back, took it, and hid it inside his coat, planning to pawn it for cash later. The house was filled with expensive items he could steal and sell.

As he continued his survey, he found a small incense burner coated with gold and silver back in the living room. Just as he was about to take it, his phone buzzed with a message. He pulled it out and immediately his face paled. He saw pictures of him being intimate with some of his lovers, with the words 'I WAS WATCHING YOU' written in bold letters. Another message popped up with pictures of him stealing the golden and silver bowl and the words 'AND I AM STILL WATCHING YOU.'

"What the fu...?" Jonathan muttered and he could feel his body turning cold because of fear. 'Who? What? When?'

"Is something wrong?"

Jonathan was startled out of his thoughts by Patricia who suddenly showed up. He could feel his heart racing in panic, so he quickly put his phone away, trying to regain his composure.

"Is everything okay, Babe? You don't look so good." Patricia asked, feigning concern.

"No, it's nothing, Babe. Just a work thing."

Patricia nodded, hiding her satisfaction. She knew her revenge plan was in motion.

"Okay, I'm going to prepare dinner now. Do you want to join me?" Patricia asked.

"Aaah...You know what, babe? I'll help you make dinner some other time. Something just came up at work, so I have to go now," Jonathan replied.

"Oh, just like that? Oh... okay. But can't it wait until tomorrow?" Patricia asked.

"No! Unfortunately, it's urgent. I have to go," Jonathan said.

"But..." Before she could finish, Jonathan hugged her and said, "Thanks for understanding, babe. Love you! Bye!"

He dashed out of the house,and quickly made his way to his car, the adrenaline pumping in his veins. Before he reached his car, he paused to survey the area, looking for any possible places where someone might be watching him. After a few tense moments, he boarded his car and drove away like a ghost was chasing him.

Patricia watched from an upstairs window, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. Her plan was working perfectly. She knew Jonathan would be paranoid and desperate to cover his tracks, making him more susceptible to her next move. "Just you wait...you haven't seen anything yet. I am just getting started." Then she broke into a wide sinister smile.