His Conundrums

Chapter 4

A Friend

NEWS REPORT: SLEEPING TOWN WOKEN UP BY EXPLOSION

It was 4:35 pm when an explosion due to a suicide bomber in which identity was still unknown has left the citizen of Hallray shaken up. It was reported that 156 people died while 53 are still in the hospital having injuries.

"This was the first case that a bomber had infiltrated this town. Hallray was known for being peaceful, and I don't... I don't know what's the meaning of this. My kids are shaking from the incident, and my wife couldn't step outside..." A citizen said from an interview.

"Why are you here in my office? And why are you using my TV?" Nate never expected he would be visited by a man who only knows how to lock up himself in a four corner of his apartment.

"I'm planning to have myself acquainted." This was the first time he heard those words since the accident a month ago. Nate couldn't believe those words and felt relieved.

"So you're going to make friends?" he said, smiling. He can never hide the happiness he felt that finally, his friend is slowly trying to open up himself.

"I'm not going to make friends. I'm just going to have some acquaintance." Sirius corrected.

Nate pursed his lips, trying to hide his laugh. He just gave Sirius a nod.

"Whatever you call it, go! That's good. How's your head? Any headache?" Nate smiled at the idea.

"I'm fine. What's so funny?" Sirius asked him.

"Nothing! I'm just happy." His bright dark brown eyes glowed as he smiled.

"You're just about to laugh." Sirius doesn't like how Nate tried to be happy for him. It gives him an awkward feeling, being alone for a month and not even had the guts to talk about himself and then suddenly... he has a friend, funny.

"I didn't mean to laugh, that's why."

Sirius scanned Nate's face for a minute before he decided to let him slide.

"Okay, I'm going."

"Have fun."

-0-0-0-

"Mr. Welsch! Mr. Welsch!!!" From the way it was pronounced, the tone and the tempo of its voice, he knew who is calling him. He let out a big sigh and faced the man who's been following him around since that night.

"Mr. Welsch! Or should call you Sirius? Friend? Bro? We're not really brothers, we're not related by blood, but I can still call you that since we're quite similar, it's just a little bit similar because I'm... you know... have an advantage with... the looks. I'm not telling you you're ugly. We're both have the gifts, but I'm..." He was interrupted in the middle of his talk.

"Mr. Welsch is fine. Don't call me by my name. We're not that close," he said with a straight face, cold as ever.

"Mr. Welsch, yeah! Sounds great to me." Joe approved.

"Did you bring what I told you?" he asked.

Joe smiled widely.

*flashback*

That night...

"Can you stop following me?" Sirius asked for the third time, but still, Joe is inseparable from him. He put on a face which is annoyed like someone who's been following by a lost dog, but Joe didn't even flinch.

"Can you also stop following that man?" Joe whispered while looking from side to side.

"I'm not following someone." This time Sirius's voice went down.

"Of course you did!" It was this time when Joe's voice doubled its volume. Sirius looked around and saw people staring at them, even the man he's been following since they left the hospital.

"Sorry, my brother's been so bad he didn't get his allowance. Continue what you've been doing. Have a good night!" He pardoned, and they started walking past that man. He was a man in his 40's, bald and bearded. He has a tattoo around his nape, which looks like a number three facing right or a cursive big letter E. He's a big guy that looks like a wrestling champion for 10 years.

"You blew up my cover," Sirius told him when they're both alone in the streets.

"I think I saw that guy before." Right hand on his chin, Joe tries to remember where did he saw him before.

"You knew him?" He asked him.

"I'm a thief," he simply answered.

"I've known quite a few gang members around this town. Hallray, which was known for being peaceful, is not really that peaceful like they said," he added.

"Tell me what do you know about them."

"I don't talk to strangers." He joked. Sirius tried to calm himself. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I'll let you hang out with me but just until this matter is done. This is all about the bombing, and I don't know why they're there watching the old man back in the hospital, but I think they're somewhat connected. I just want to make sure this old man lives," he explained.

"Sure! I also want my grandpa to live longer and witness my adventure to finding a perfect wife," Joe said.

*flashback ends*

"He was Mr. Mario Jagneer's nephew. That's why I think I saw him before. Mr. Mario Jagneer was Mr. Lauve's co-member of their team called 'The Notchers.' I saw him visiting Mr. Lauve before at his coffee shop and this man, Merion Jagneer, was outside having his cigarette. I don't know what they're talking about, but I saw my old man shaking off his head, looking mad. I think they're arguing about something," Joe narrated while pointing out their pictures. Sirius looked through the documents and scanned each paper of information.

"Merion has two different types of tattoos," Sirius said.

"Two? I think he has a lot. Look at his arm, it was covered," Joe remarked.

"I mean these two is not just an ordinary tattoo. It looks like a symbol," he said.

"Like, a membership tattoo for their group? But I thought gang members are loyal servants of their group. How come he had two?" Joe asked.

"Nora," Sirius blurted out.

"A servant of two but still faithful to each," he added.