Brute

Part 15

Joong

"You took your time to decide?", the bookie came to the boxing gym that I frequented.

"Why should I rush? Are you out of money so soon? You spent all that too fast on what? Gambling?", I asked while tying the slip of cloth around my palm.

"Shut it, Archen! Not everyone is born filthy rich liked you", the guy said in irritation. I just smirked, damn, he was so right, it was filthy.

"I'd already told you that I'd do this thing in my chosen time, I'm not your fucking dollar's puppet. Gambled on something you are sure to profit from, that's how you keep the money", I said, tapped his shoulder and stood up, but my steps to enter the ring was halted when the bookie grabbed my arm in anger.

"Don't spew shit. You know nothing about my life".

I turned and looked at him with raised eyebrows, "I am not your friend to put interest in anything in your life. So, if you don't mind, I got some sweat session to do", I  pulled my arm from his tight grip. 

"The fight is next week, people already put in their stake. I'll be dead if you bail on this", the guy said, his voice shaking. I ignored his words and entered the ring to train with the instructor.

My drive back to the office, was again disturbed by the long ago memory. Every time after the visit, the sight of that unconscious body on the bed, breathing, but still unresponsive, bring yet again unsettled feeling. I sat back on my chair, taking a deep breath. The past couldn't be changed. All I could do, was providing the best treatment for him, and waited for a medical miracle to come.

Jay came in not long after, to brief me on the agenda and few reports to be discussed in a meeting that would be held this evening. In the middle of the briefing, Jay suddenly stopped. He must had noticed the gloom on my face and my lack of focus. Carefully, he asked about the thing that messed up my concentration, "I am curious, the reason for you to visit him still, even after all these years? Why?". I remained quiet, not saying anything to answer Jay.

"Why did you hold the responsibility, when you're not the one who caused him to be in that condition?", Jay asked again. I looked at Jay for some time.

"Am I not, Jay? The the case is still pending, so how come you're convinced I wasn't involved?", I asked him back, just to test Jay.

"Did you do all this because he was the only witness that could get you out of the shit hole?", Jay eyes were calm, testing me back.

"No. Witness or not, the system is corrupted as it is, Jay. They would plant any evidence they wanted, just to chain me".

"So, you knew they are using you? Yet, why did you docilely comply?. You could afford the best lawyers, Joong".

"Because...I wanted to go to someone without any dirty chain attached, not only for whatever was done by my father, but also, my own past".

"So, everything is done solely for you to go back to Nine... untainted?".

"Yes, if I could. But, it'd be difficult, right? There's no way to erase what'd happened... ", I said and gulped the bitterness that I tasted on my tongue.

"Can't you just reach out to him? Even with stain, I believed, Nine would still embrace you, wholeheartedly...".

"I don't want to be a reason for him to be hurt again, Jay. Those bastards in Uni, hurt him too many times just to get to me. He left not because they hurt him, but to not let them hurt me".

"If you knew the reason, why did you eat their taunt, then? And more, be angry at Nine?"

"I was young. At that time, whatever I said to you just now, did not register in my head. All I saw was red, they hurt him so I hurt them back. Regardless of his selfless reason for leaving, I felt abandoned. My only support system, who kept me sane, left me so soon...after I found him, again".

"What? You had searched for him before this, too?", Jay was surprised. 

"Yes. We were separated when I was 14. After I finished school, I used every mean to find him, money was easily at my dispense, a trust fund that was set up for me by my late grandfather".

"No wonder. Now I understood, why you didn't feel it was wrong to do so, once again", Jay shook his head, and I nodded a little. 

"Thank you, for being my sane voice that night. I never saw myself as selfish, until you said so to my face".

"Oh, sometimes your privileged behind, really need to be kicked to keep you in line. Ah, this is the most I heard of your past. But, Nine was right, you're just a softy, inside".

"Excuse me? When did he say that? The last that you saw each other...was already a month ago...".

"Oh, we keep in touch after that", Jay said as a matter of fact.

"He didn't call me...but, he called you?", I was a little butt hurt. What is going on between the two of them?. I looked at Jay with stinky eyes, "What both of you talked about?", I asked, curious and also, a bit jealous, "you could kick my butt in other thing, but...he's an exception. I'm not sharing, Jay", I said in warning.

Jay put down the pad that he was holding, took a deep breath to control his annoyance, but failed. Finally he snapped, "You know what, though you're sharp in business, but could I say you're a fool in other thing? I made an effort to call; even when I was not the one who's anxious and missed him liked hell; to check if he's okay. Instead of a thank you, you doubt my intention more. This is not done!",  Jay just shook his head in disbelief and stood to leave.

"No, wait... Alright. I'm sorry, Jay. Don't be mad", I said, raising my hand to surrender and to calm him down, "Geez, since when you have a temper?".

"Only a saint won't turn crazy handling you...", Jay said without filter, but already sat back and the briefing continued. After half an hour, it ended. Jay was almost out of the door, but stopped and turned, "Anyway, a phone worked both ways, if you must know. So, why don't you take the first step and give him a call, hmm?", and then he walked out without waiting for my answer.