REDEMPTION'S RHYTHM

HEART OF DISHONESTY

                           {CHAPTER TWELVE}

                                    ~~~~~~~~

"Cheers! Hahaha." The jovial laughter mixed with the melodic clinking of glasses, accompanied by a spill of beer.

"Finally, my friend," Victor remarked, savoring his beer, "I knew you'd accomplish it. Your uncle would undoubtedly be filled with pride."

"Have you told your Uncle yet? Come on, you have to," Victor urged, gesturing for Jackson to pick up his phone and share the good news of his achievement with his uncle.

Disregarding Victor's words, Jackson nonchalantly remarked, "No, not necessary. I'll update him later." He took a sip of his beer, glanced forward, and continued, "Moreover, he's probably already in the know. It seems there's an unknown figure collaborating with him."

Victor, caught off guard by Jackson's words, swiftly countered, "Unknown Figure?" His eyes revealing his suspicious countenance.

"I was also shocked myself when I discovered! It was evident that Uncle couldn't have carried out the plan by kidnapping Phil alone," Jackson said, shifting his gaze to Victor's before gazing back ahead. "And I'll do whatever it takes to uncover who this young man is!"

Upon Jackson's revelation, Victor's beer betrayed him, triggering a fit of coughs and splutters. "I'm good, man," he managed to gasp out, while Jackson's comforting pats tried to calm his uncontrollable coughing.

In the midst of his coughing, Victor's phone chimed urgently, prompting him to gulp down more beer for relief before he stole a quick glance to identify the caller.

"Aren't you gonna answer that?" Jackson prodded Victor, who simply stared at his ringing phone with a foreboding silence.

Victor's attention was consumed by the incoming call; however, upon hearing Jackson, he seemed to drift away. His whole body registered a lack of focus and suspicion.

"You mean th- the call?" he stammered, then awkwardly shifted his stance. "Uhm, it's nothing important," he managed to smile nervously.

"Alright, if you say so," Jackson remarked, shifting his attention back to his beer. His voice carried a subtle undertone of resignation.

A tense silence filled the space between them.

"Found anything on that young man your Uncle's involved with?" Victor asked, nodding towards Jackson.

"Not yet, but it's just a matter of time before I find out," Jackson exhaled deeply.

Victor, trying to hide his unease, hesitated as he said to Jackson, "Do you really think there's any need for that? I mean, the little boy was unharmed and seemed very pleased with the young man." He stopped abruptly, noticing Jackson's suspicious gaze on him, realizing he might have let something slip.

In the midst of the charged atmosphere between them, Jackson's voice cut through the surrounding clamor. With a stern stare, he inquired, "How did you come to know he was unharmed and content with the young man? I never mentioned it to you."

The tension was so thick, every word felt like it was hanging in the air, as if a passing fly could shatter the delicate balance. Just then the intense moment between them was abruptly shattered by Victor's ringing tone once more, breaking the spell.