Lookism: What Am I Even Doing?

Chapter 104

(Daniel's POV)

Should we really be meeting up in public like this? It wasn't even night yet. The sun was barely setting over the Han river as we waited for Doc and Cherry to arrive. Doc told me Mr. Han was going to be kept in hiding until further notice. I feel more comfortable that he's not anyway. When we talk about Ila's situation in front of him, it only makes me feel more guilty. Or...inadequate as a friend for letting things get so out of hand.

Today, those two will be keeping their part of their deal in return for using us. I'm not the most intelligent person but I know that Doc and Cherry have more power and knowledge then all of us combined. The only reason they reached out to us is because they want to take advantage of our 'strength'. This is fine by me as long as they tell the truth.

Zack, Jay, Jace, and Vasco had agreed to meet with them as well. I told them the basics of what they told me over the weekend. Any other questions they wanted to ask would be directed at them because there's a lot of things I don't fully understand either. Plus, there's one very important question we have to ask ourselves.

Now that Hostel has been taken down.

Where do we go next?

The Bird Garden is our ultimate goal but we can't rush in there. We have to be careful when facing a more powerful opponent. Last time we talked about gathering the other remaining crews aside from Workers to our side. Hostel...I feel a bit guilty about getting them involved again but it's not like we're asking them to fight. If anything, we're trying to keep them from choosing sides.

As for Big Deal, they'll be our biggest problem. Though Doc and Cherry seem to have a plan to win them over.

Zack had gone home to change into more comfortable clothes. The rest of us remained in our respective school uniforms. This nervous energy welling up in my chest couldn't help but take me down to where we agreed to meet. It's like I was scared they'd change their minds on giving us answers. Up until now I feel like people have been sending me on wild goose chases or shutting me down. Of course I was scared they'd back down.

"What's taking them so long? And wasn't Eli supposed to meet us here too? You don't think he forgot, do you?"

We all agreed to meet here on Friday evening after school. Even though I caught Eli as he was rushing to pick up his daughter from daycare, I know he wouldn't forget. Not when I told him there was someone who wanted to help all those displaced kids. He looked suspicious. After what he's been through and people taking advantage of his strength, I would be too. But he wouldn't give up the opportunity for the sake of his family. That's the type of person he is.

"He'll be here and so will they. It's still ten minutes until eight."

Zack sat down on the bench next to Jace. The three of us worried about him. Ever since he got here he's obviously been on edge. I don't think it's this meeting getting underneath his skin.

"Did something happen, Zack?" Vasco gently touched his shoulder which he pushed off.

"I'm not sure. To be honest I didn't know whether to bring it up or not but...it has to do with Johan."

Johan? It's been a while since I've heard that name. Actually, wasn't the last time we saw him the day God Dog disbanded? I hope this doesn't make me sound rude but there's so many things going on, too many people I'm watching that I'd forgotten about him. Was he in trouble?

"Actually, I meant to reach out to him during our take over of Hostel but I couldn't find any word of him around the street." Jace crossed his arms and leaned against the bench, "It's like he vanished into thin air."