Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter VII - Doubt

As Jay sat on the back of Win's bike, the night enveloped them in a heavy silence, broken only by the distant wail of sirens and the low growl of the bike's engine. The sky behind them was painted a fiery red by the roaring inferno atop the hill, a stark contrast to the darkness that lay ahead on the road. It created a perfect opportunity for him to rethink his further involvement.

On one side, Jay held his steadfast indifference towards the situation. He didn't care about his twin and the chaotic circumstances that had thrust them together. He saw no reason to risk his promising career for someone he barely knew and, frankly, felt no emotional connection to.

On the other side, however, he found himself strangely empathising with the group's cause. He understood and sympathised with their determination to stand up for what was right, to oppose the wealthy and corrupt businessmen exploiting Bangkok's most vulnerable citizens. He disagreed with their methods but not the reasons.

Yet, even this sympathetic chord wasn't enough to sway him from what he considered the rational choice. In his carefully constructed life, a thousand miles away in London, this chaos and turmoil were inconsequential. He could easily carry on with his meticulously planned trip to Peru and leave all of this behind.

But there was a persistent 'but' in his thoughts, an unsettling feeling that tugged at his rationality. This single day with Tay's group had ignited something within him – a spark of curiosity and interest that was as unfamiliar as it was intriguing. It seemed at odds with his usual detached approach to everything, yet strangely alluring experience.

Lost in thoughts, he didn't even notice when the bike stopped in front of Tay's apartment. It was Win's shaky and sombre voice that finally brought him back to the present.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly. "It must have been terrifying going back into a burning building. I still can't believe we missed her... Sean was sure to check every single room."

Hearing genuine remorse in his voice, Jay couldn't condone him for the whole thing. "She probably got scared of you and hid. It's not your fault."

"Well, it still feels like it is," he replied with a deep sigh. "We always knew this idea was risky, but I never expected this to happen."

"It was my plan, so if it's anyone's fault, it would be mine."

Win looked at him, shocked. His best friend was stubborn and usually last to take responsibility, especially when things weren't entirely depending on him. First, he sounded completely different, now this. What happened to him? "You weren't even there, Tay. This is on us... she could have died... a person we were supposed to be doing it for. An innocent person..."

Jay remained silent for a moment but then turned his gaze towards Win. His expression remained stoic and serious, just like his voice. "Win, I get it. It's a tough pill to swallow, but real change often comes at a cost. You're not here to play it safe but to challenge the system. It's a harsh reality, but sometimes, innocent lives get caught up in the pursuit of a greater good. That's what it means to challenge the status quo."

Win blinked in surprise at his friend's response. Since when has Tay sounded so smart? Just what had happened to him last week? If he didn't know better, Win would think it was an elaborate prank or an imposter. Or maybe Tay was gone for a while doing some self-discovery after failure at the factory? Win wasn't sure and was too tired to question it now. He slowly nodded in agreement and soon disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, Jay stayed outside for a while, thinking that maybe Tay's group wasn't too bad. They didn't seem as irresponsible and careless as they appeared initially. Perhaps he could stay here a bit longer and see where it goes?