Hack Into My Heart

Code 2: Prison

The first week in prison was tough, there was a lot to adjust and my father's death was still haunting me. As my initial anger subsided, I felt regretful, not because of my action but because of its timing. I should have waited until I gave a proper funeral to my father. I had no relatives or close friends, so there was no one I could call for the issue.

Interestingly enough, one week after I was sent to prison, the guardian told me that I had a visitor. I walked to the meeting area with a frown as I had no idea about the visitor. I had a few acquaintances but who would visit a criminal?

"What..." the words spilled from my mouth unwittingly, seeing the person waiting for me. He pointed at the receiver, so I sat down and held the receiver to my ear.

"I know you don't like to see me, Tahara-san, but I am here for an important matter," Yusuke said reassuringly.

I don't know why, but it made me feel warm inside to see a familiar face even though his kind was my enemy. "What is it?" I asked coldly, contrasting the warm feeling I had.

He raked his long brown bangs and leaned forward, "I apologize if I exceeded my authority, but I looked into file to see if I could call anyone for your father... you know," he paused awkwardly when he saw my clenched hands.

"And?" I had to press him.

"As I couldn't find any contact, I arranged a funeral for your father and I brought his ashes to my house. After you are released, I will give it to you," he said softly with an apologetic look in his almond eyes.

I couldn't believe what I heard, he... a mere stranger handled the funeral on behalf of me, really? I felt tears welled into my eyes, so I looked up to send them back. I was genuinely touched and grateful. While I was fighting with tears, Yusuke didn't utter a word, just watching me with concern.

"Thank you," I said after a while later, "I will never forget about it."

Yusuke exhaled the breath he was holding when he saw I wasn't angry, on the contrary I was grateful. "You are welcome, it is my duty towards my fellow citizens," he said with a smile, but I knew it better. No one else would do such a thing for a criminal, except him.

There was a brief silence until the guardian announced that the visiting time was over. I put the receiver back to its cradle and stood up to go back, but Yusuke patted the glass, stopping me.

"Can I come back again to visit you?" he asked through the glass, shocking me. Why was he so obsessed with me?

I just shrugged and went in with hasty steps. He was just talking randomly, right?

Well... He wasn't talking randomly.

After two weeks, Yusuke came again with a bag of necessities; briefs, socks... even several suspense novels. I was totally befuddled with his alacrity to visit me, but I didn't mock him as my father's ashes were captive in his hands. Still, I looked as aloof as it was possible, bearing in mind that he was a police officer with a possible hidden agenda.

Surprisingly, Yusuke didn't mind my aloofness. He was doing most of the talking, laughing his own jokes and trying hard to crack my indifferent mask, Heaven knew why.

Third time... fourth time... fifth time...

Yusuke kept coming to visit me, making it harder for me to ignore him. As he was doing the talking, I learned a lot of information about him. He was twenty seven years old and always wanted to be a police officer. He was living alone and had pet allergy. Even though he was eating take-outs all the time, his body never gained weight. See? I really knew those unnecessary facts.

When he came for the sixth time, I couldn't hold back anymore and asked "why are you doing this?"

Yusuke tilted his head to one side, squeezing his already small eyes, he asked "do what?"

"Visit me? Telling me about your life? Bringing stuff for me?" I counted while staring at him intently.

He thought for a second before saying "I want to be friends with you."

"Why do you want that? I am just a petty criminal," I attacked with suspicion. There was no reason at all for us to be friends.

He looked at me with a strange expression, "aren't you lonely there?" he asked, almost whispering.

I was taken aback, but maintained my aloof expression, "well, whose fault is that I am all alone, trapped here?" I dared him and he averted his gaze.

"So, you don't want me to come?" he asked with a heavy tone and I couldn't decide how to reply. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy his company, but the hidden motive behind his kind act bothered me. There was no free lunch in this cruel world, so I was positive that he wanted something from me, but what? Maybe, he was just biding his time?

"I don't know," I said honestly in the end.

"Hmm," he mumbled and at the same time the guardian announced that time was up.

The following three weeks, Yusuke didn't show up. Although I kept repeating that it was for the best, my mood was extremely sour. I even had a small fight with my cellmates over something trivial.

After three weeks, he left me a bag with some necessities, but he didn't see me. As we were back to the enemy state, I tried to calculate the costs of everything he brought for me so that I could pay for them after finding a job.

Another two weeks passed and he decided to visit me. When the guardian told me that I had a visitor, different emotions surged inside me, I was happy, relieved and angry at the same time. Still, I decided to see him.

"Why are you here?" I asked more harshly than I planned.

"To visit you," he answered with a slight smile, ignoring my tone, "did you decide?"

"Decide what?"

"Do you want me to visit you or not?" he explained, "last time you said you weren't sure, so I wanted to give you some time to think."

"How thoughtful!" I snorted.

Yusuke looked at me with confused eyes, "so?"

"First tell me the reason why you want to be my friend," I insisted, "it is too much of a work for a mere pity."

A flash of hurt swept across his face, "I neither pity you nor have a secret intention."

I puffed as I rolled my eyes. To my current mentality, what he was saying was impossible.

The next time Yusuke visited me, I learned the real reason why he was so nice to me.

"Did you spare some money?" Yusuke asked out of the blue, not mentioning KCG's name as there were all ears.

I leaned back on my chair, folding my arms, "now you are talking," I snorted with my squinted eyes. Of course it was because of the money! Although they couldn't prove, they knew it was me who stole the money. Now, he blatantly asked me how much I had as he expected compensation for his hard work.

"No," he shook his head vigorously, "I think you misundersto-," he was saying, but I already put the receiver back and went in.