The Deal

The Deal
Another side of her I got to see. I saw how they left with satisfaction knowing they had done their job well. 

Then I was fetched by the manager again. I was led to her room. Again, I was not sure what to expect. This place seems to be her ground if she can beat people out in the streets without mercy. What should I expect her to do to me in her very own room?

Maybe I was just being paranoid. Because I had my hidden intentions approaching her, perhaps she had noticed, and she is taking her time to torture me with the thoughts of how she is going to deal with me. Had my conscience been clear that I came to her with the sincere need of her help only and no other agenda, maybe I would be more confident to face her even if she doubts me. But with my case, right now, I feel like I am hanging, dangerously hanging on a with death clearly awaiting whenever I would fall.

She even invited me to have a meal with her. But I cannot bring myself to eat without knowing what my stand is in all of these. 

She must have noticed my hesitations. She told me to ask anything while she fills her tummy, as she really looked starved, devouring the delicacies before us.

“May I ask why I am here?”

She mindlessly ate while I waited for her answer with a mix of fear and expectations. But as her mouth was still full, she held her right palm up to make me wait until she could talk.

“Okay, first of all, you’re here because you followed me all the way here. So we are going to talk about your deal,” she nonchalantly answered.

“Why did I have to see all of those earlier?” I asked again.

“I will explain that later. Can you tell me first what I have to do for you, so I can tell you what I want in return?” She waved her right hand in the air as if telling me to forget my question for now and ask later. 

I did as asked.

“I need to introduce someone as my fiancée to my father,” I sighed. “Honestly, I am a bit tired of him bugging me to settle down. Maybe he is worried about me and what I am spending so much time on these days, so he wants me to get tied up in a serious responsibility. My old man knew me too well to think that I would never prioritize anything more than my immediate family. He wants me to give up my own plans about avenging my mom and sister’s deaths by creating my own family. 

A matter I cannot agree with him on. I will never be able to settle down without justice being brought for my mom and sister. If I cannot be a worthy son and brother, I don’t think I can be a decent husband and father as well. I need to wrap things up with the past before I can walk forward and face the future. They are both responsibilities that I believe I need to fulfill. I was a son and a brother first. I have to fulfill that duty before I become another one, a husband or a father.”

“How about I offer you both solutions to your problem?” she asked as she chewed.

“What do you mean?”

“I can help you deal with your mom and sister’s case, but of course, I can only do that if you tell me everything there is to know about what happened to them, then solve your case, and I can help you with your problem with your dad,” she explained things so easily.

I was silenced for quite some time. 

Her suggestion makes sense. Maybe she can help me bring justice faster, being alive and my ally, than the people who promised to help me when I bring her down. But...

“What would it cost me for you to do so?”

“It will cost you honesty. I want real friendship in return. I will be your friend. You will be mine. We can help each other out, no betrayal. What do you say about my deal?”
“Is that all?” I was astounded. I did not expect such a deal. 

“That is all, but I don’t think that is too simple,” she replied with all seriousness. She sat leaning her back into the plushy chair’s backrest. “What you see earlier is a part of my most hidden personality. But that is certainly not all there is to know about me.” 

“Why me? Why friendship?” I asked. 

I cannot clearly process the situation we are in right now. She is asking me to be her friend, and in return, she will also be my friend. I am still hanging in the fear of being played by her. Is she tricking me? Is she serious? I was looking forward to what she was going to say. I keenly watched her and saw how her mood dramatically changed to, somehow, low-spirited. I cannot make a wild guess why a person with so much to be joyful in life feels even slightly sad. 

“Honestly? I don’t know. Maybe because I was feeling a bit downcast when you came asking for my help. I don’t do anything for free. I am sure you know about that. And it so happened today that I am feeling so much of a crisis when it comes to good company. Honest and real company. So when you asked what it would cost you to have my help, friendship was the only thing in my mind. But then I had to know what deal is there for me to do for you.”

She answered with her eyes focused on the wine glass she was holding as she leaned back on her chair. I could tell she was not pretending or lying. Her aura, her emotions, and her sincerity in her words can clearly be received. 

“Don’t tell me you don’t have friends,” I chuckled, trying to make the atmosphere light.