Perception

12. Bewilderment in the air

"I think it's time to switch to Plan C. Where I'm going to need some extra help." Stef said finally, breaking the ten minutes of awkward silence while he kept walking back and forth in my room, also while he seemed to look like he was in some deep discussion with his thoughts. "Abby, there's something you need to know about me. And please remind me we need to leave your apartment, stay over at my place at least for a few days. Please remind me after this, before I forget."

Not what I was expecting to hear from him. I thought he was going to ask me to not be a part of this again for my own safety, when I was obviously going to deny that and help him.

"Abby, I was not meaning to tell you this in the first place, but now since things have come so far, it doesn't make sense to keep it a secret." He said, almost like he was hesitant to say it.

"Okay? And Plan C you say? So you had an A and a B before this?" I said, wondering if I should now consider telling him mine.

"Abby, no, whatever you're thinking now, un-think it. Just shut up and listen to him first! Stop whatever you're thinking."

"Abby, what I'm about to tell you now, should stay within these four walls, and not another soul should know this apart from you. Currently only me, God and a few of my accomplices know this. And now you too." He began to explain, talking in a very low tone. "News reporting and that sort of business is my cover, just to keep my, you know, myself alive in this whole process. I really am... a spy. For multiple reasons I cannot tell you who I'm working for, but, that-..."

"Too much to process, I'm sorry, an undercover something, spy, a cover up job on the outside. I'm sorry that was way too much information suddenly." I said. I don't know about you Camila but I don't know how to exactly feel with so many bombs setting off around me since the last few hours. 

"I told you to just keep listening to him. Nothing more!" 

 "So yes, that's the secret. I did not want to tell you because I am not allowed to, due to the gravity of the situation we're in." He said, sighing heavily. 

"Why didn't I guess something like this before? I mean, you had access to a whole lot of information on whereabouts about the whole Matrix, access to people who can give you quality information about suspects, damn!" I said. 

"Bingo!" He said, grinning. "Now, to talk to you about Plan C." 

"Yes, about that, there's something I've been meaning to tell you too Stef." I spoke up.

'"NO! NO! NO! ABBY DON'T DO IT!" 

"It's just that I've als-..." I was immediately interrupted by him wanting to check his phone for something probably urgent. He muttered something softly, and said. " Yea sorry about that, something came up. You were saying?"

"Uh, nothing. It was just a suspicion that I had about The Matrix. Now that I think of it, it doesn't make real sense." I lied, feeling miserable about it now.

"Oh, what about it? Let me hear it though. It might be something useful, really!" He said. 

"Uh, the thing about the possibility of Martin being alive or not. You know,.. about how he could most likely be alive instead of being dead, because we got the warning and stuff." I lied again.

"Hey that is a good point. But again, it could be someone else of The Matrix." He confronted. 

"Riiiiight." I said. "Oh you told me to remind you-..."

"Yes, pack some of your belongings. Yes you can still go to work, but pack some essentials, like clothes and stuff, for a week or so. Need not be for more than that." He said. "I'm asking again just to make sure I don't want to compel you into this-..."