Ambivalent

13. The Ugly Truth

"So, you want my help or what?"

Mr. Kamol nodded with a grin, "when you watch the video, you will want revenge, I assure you that. If you work with me, we can both win; you can avenge your family by ruining Aof and I can get the hotel. Good deed is a bonus."

"I will let you know," I said and left the table before Rune's class dismissed.

That night after Rune went to sleep, I plugged the USB to my laptop and watched the video with my earphone.

It was taken secretly while Mr. Aof was talking on the phone, his back facing the person recording the video. With horror, I watched him saying "do they think it is a game?! Ungrateful peasants! Kill them now, make it like an accident. I will have that Akara, Anada or whatever boy today no matter what, Rune's life depended on him."

So it is true... my parents were murdered by Aof.

Anger filled every part of my existence and I saw red. Mr. Kamol was right, there was no way I would act as if nothing happened. Revenge. I needed a good revenge.

I called his number and told him to meet me again at the cafeteria the following day.

"So, are you with me?" was the first thing he asked.

"What do you want me to do?" I replied without beating around the bush.

"You are aware that Aof is highly paranoid and meticulous, right?"

I nodded.

"As a result, I couldn't find anything to use against him."

"So?" I asked impatiently.

"So, we will use Rune to get Aof," he said with a devilish smile.

I frowned, "he seems not to be aware of his father's wrong doings."

Mr. Kamol rolled his eyes, "of course that stupid boy doesn't know anything. I had something else in my mind."

"Hmm?"

"How do you feel about sex? A sex tape could be used excellently."

"What?!" I exclaimed with terror, "you want me to fuck him to blackmail his father, did I understand correctly?"

"Yes," he replied nonchalantly, "it is the fastest method."

"I will find something else to use," I said and left the cafeteria. That old man was lunatic!

Indeed, that old man was a lunatic, but soon it was proved that he had a point. Two weeks had passed and I got nothing from Rune...

Well, at least he wasn't like the other spoiled kids; he was just going between home and university. That meant he had a lot of time to pester me, but still, I would prefer it rather than guarding him in clubs.

Damn, I think I jinxed it as suddenly I found myself digging holes for plants. Rune was such a big coward yet he was proud. Just because he wanted to show me who was the boss, he dragged us to volunteer work. As a result, I was doing the hard work while he was just putting the plants into the holes I DUG.

Although I was extremely angry at him, the moment he put a hat on my head with an apologetic look in his eyes, a part of my anger evaporated. Maybe that's why I didn't reprimand him when he took frequent rests and even agreed to help the others with the roof instead of Rune.

God, why was he looking at everything with terrified eyes?! He was taking a transfusion regularly, so he was surely over-exaggerating.

"AKARA!"

Hearing Rune's shouting, I jumped down the ladder and rushed to him. I saw him swaying with a pale face, so I caught him before he hit the ground. I noticed he was holding his right hand and pinkish blood was gushing out with an abnormal speed. With a slight panic, I pressed on the cuts before I heard Rune murmuring "City Hospital". Then he fainted and fear seized my heart. Could AXT-1 be that serious? As I didn't have time to think about it, I scooped him up and rushed to his car. After I laid him on the backseat and tied a handkerchief around the wounds, I took the wheel and hit the gas.

Once we arrived, I carried his unconscious body to the emergency room and slumped on the chair in front of the door. From where I sat, I could see the blood stains on the floor caused by Rune's bleeding which didn't stop despite the pressure of the handkerchief.

With the sight, abashment came. I felt terrible for accusing him of over-exaggerating his condition. Of course he was terrified by anything that could hurt him, even a slight cut could kill him from blood loss...

Indeed, I could just let him die to torment Aof, but I wasn't that cruel. How could I kill someone that easily and cruelly like he did?

Well, being a soft-hearted person didn't really pay off. Eavesdropping to the conversation Rune was having with Aof, I heard him offering to change me with another bodyguard. That man used me fully like a leech, but in his eyes, I had no value.

Interestingly enough, Rune defended me avidly, but it didn't help me with my overwhelming anger.

I am not going anywhere before I get something against you, I promised to Aof inwardly as a plan started to form in my head to keep my position beside Rune.