Black Section

Chapter 23

Lunox’s Point of View

I’m stuck between keeping it a secret or telling it to Gusion. I know how it feels to be betrayed by a friend you trust the most. It will surely hurt his feelings. I know more than anyone how painful it is. Should I keep it a secret or tell him?

I don’t know what to do. “Boo!” Pharsa showed up in front of me. I tilted my head. “What are you doing?” I asked. “You look down so I tried to cheer you up,” she said. Maybe she can give me an advice on what should I do.

“I have a problem,” I said. Her face was shocked. She straightened up and sat beside me. She held both of my hands. “You can tell me! I gladly will help,” stated Pharsa.

“I have a friend and this friend of mine has a friend.” I told her. “Uhuh,” reacted Pharsa. “I have found out that his friend is scheming something, and it is connected to my friend. His friend is a traitor. He knew that my friend is having troubles but he teamed up with the man he’s having trouble with. After finding out, I don’t know what should I do, whether I’ll keep it a secret so that his feelings will not be hurt and their friendship will remain or tell him, this will surely hurt his feelings and their friendship will be over! They’ve been best friends for years. I don’t want to be the reason to ruin their friendship. I don’t know what should I do…” I explained.

“I’m sorry if my explanation is confusing. Friendship problems isn’t my thing and I’m having a difficult time telling you this,” I added. Pharsa hugged me.

“It’s okay! I understand it. You don’t need to apologize,” she replied.

“I’m just happy that you told me all of this. It means that you trust and treat me as your friend. You care for your friends. Although, you don’t seem like it but you do. If I were you, I’ll tell him even if the aftermath is negative. I don’t want my friend to be fooled, being buddies to the person who will just betray his trust. I, knowing what he has been through, do my best to protect him because he is my friend,” advised Pharsa. After hearing what she said, I have decided.

I won’t tell him.

If I tell him, he would end up like me. He’ll be a person who find it difficult to trust others, to make friends, and the worst is he’ll isolate himself from others. He’ll be lonely by then. I can’t let that happen. I told myself I would protect him. I want to save him. Just like what he said, I can also see myself in him. That's probably why we're in agreement, because we look alike each other.

“Thank you for the advice, Phars. Beside him, you’re the other person I treat as a true friend. If ever you’ll betray me, it’s okay, I understand. In this world, betrayal is unavoidable.” I said. All of a sudden, she squished my face. “Phasha! What aye yo doing?” I asked her.

“I will always choose you. I won’t ever betray you no matter what. I’m always on your side. Don’t you trust me?” She said.

“I trust you, Phars. I’m telling you this because I put my trust in you so it’s okay if you’ll betray me,” I stated. She let me go. My phone beeped. I looked at the person who was calling. It’s Gusion.

“Oho. I smell something fishy between the two of you,” she said. Shvt. She saw Gusion’s name. It was supposed to be a secret. “I won’t meddle. I won’t ask. It’s your privacy. What goes between the two of you, I’m out, but if you two, you know, became like this…” She coheres her middle finger and index finger. “A couple. I should know it first,” whispered Pharsa to me. My jaw dropped. I can’t believe this! I thought she has a clue on what’s the real relationship between I and Gusion but it looked like, Pharsa’s torpid and dumb. “Ha ha ha,” I faked a laugh.

I stood up. “I should get going. Gusion is looking for me. Bye, Phars! Thank you for listening to my problem,” I said. She gave me a thumbs up. “It’s nothing, Lulu! No problem. When you needed someone to share your problems. My ears are always ready,” she said.

I wouldn’t tell him now. I will tell him in due time.

1 missed call

I forgot to answer his call because of Pharsa. He texted me to meet up at our meeting place, his personal room in Pedelton High School. Being a student of Black Section has a lot of privilege. Of course, it benefits the school and they control the peace and order outside the school.

I knocked the door. He opened it. “You’re five minutes late,” he said. I rolled my eyes and went in. I lied on the sofa. “I’m exhausted,” I murmured.

“Why?” He asked. I opened my eyes. My eyes widened when his face is only an inch away. I pushed his face. “Why do you need to get closer to me? Can’t you sit on another sofa? You have a lot of choices. Don’t sit here!” I said. “I want to sit close to you. What’s wrong with that?”

I looked away. “He’s a total jerk,” I whispered to myself. “I heard that!” He said. This time, he’s being playful. He has a lot of sides and I don’t know how to handle him.

“Let’s get down to business. The second step was a success,” I said. He sat properly. “We’re on the third step now,” he said. “What I don’t understand is why do you need to embarrass yourself? What’s the purpose of making yourself a laughing stock? What do we benefit from that?” I asked. He crossed his legs and smirked. “I’m his son. He trained me. When he retires, I’ll replace him. Now that I’ve lost to you, he’ll start to doubt, to think. His attention will be at me. He’ll stop his plan for now. I’m also one of his pawns. A king can’t win without his precious pawns.”

I placed my feet on the table. “You’re saying is that he’s the king and you’re the queen?” I asked. “No. I’m the knight. Eugene Znosko-Borowski stated that inexperienced players are fearful of this piece, which they regard as elusive, mysterious and incredible in its strength. We have to admit that it has remarkable features which elicit respect and sometimes surprise the wariest players. There are people out there that is experienced and skillful than I am, but he chose the weak and inexperienced me. Do you know why? It’s because I can make the strong be vigilant and cautious. I’m a person who can achieve great power even though I’m powerless. I knew to myself and he also knew that someday, I’ll achieve far greater than he had achieved,” explained Gusion.

“In his current status, he’s the strong one and you’re just a tiny powerless man. What you are trying to say that even though you’re just a tiny powerless man, he’s wary of you,” I said. He snapped his fingers. “Yes. The purpose of the second step is to let him be off-guard and that’s the moment we can execute the third step.” He said.

“Third step, gain power inside his territory. How? Make the students of Pedelton High School loyal and faithful to you,” he said. I raised an eyebrow. “And how do we do that? It’s only the two of us! Oho. You’re confident. I can see that you have a plan,” I said.

“Try to guess. Think, Lu. You’re smarter and wiser than I am. Even if I don’t tell you, I know you have an idea already,” he said. I chuckled. I just want to sit back and watched him strategize. He’s right, I have an idea what he’s planning to do.

“The answer? Simply, it’s Black Section. The only section all of the students, teachers and staffs respect and feared. If we get hold of Black Section, it’s game over. We automatically win this battle against him.” I said. He clenched his fist and raised it. I tilted my head and touched my temple. Because we were always together, I discovered that he’s very childish and playful. The more I spend time with him, the more sides I come across, the more sides he has revealed to me.

I clenched my fist and we fist bump.

“Once we get a hold of Black Section, it’s game over. We have the upper hand,” said Gusion.