"I'm back." I announced the moment I was inside the house. It's quiet, but that's a given, thinking that there are only three of us living in here. But it still seems odd and I don't know why.
I went to my room just by the side of the kitchen and took a bath. After that, the kitchen seemed busy so I went out to find out. There I saw Chloe with her grilled rice. I immediately felt my stomach growling just by the sight of it. "Uncle Tobi. You're back."
I walked to her side, both hands inside my pockets. "I just arrived minutes ago." Something was a bit odd about her so I carefully placed the back of my hand on her forehead, "you're heating up. You should rest and let me take care of that."
They never hire maids around no matter how big the house is. They hired a guard once but not anymore when I came.
"Thank you, uncle." She smiled but the tired look of his face couldn't be hidden from it. She let herself down on the couch of the living room. Feeling its comfort as much as she can.
"Where's your dad?"
"Inside his room. He sounded like talking to someone on the phone."
After the rice was cooked, I immediately placed it for Chloe so that she can eat it without forcing to get up. "Thank you, Uncle."
"You have your medicine?"
"Yes."
"Good." I glanced upstairs where Fin's room is located, "I'll just check on your dad for a bit."
"Sure."
I can literally hear aggressiveness from his tone of voice when I was outside his room, listening. He sounded desperate rather than mad. I even thought not to do this now, thinking that I might disturb what he was doing.
In the end. I knocked two times. Loud enough that made him stop talking. "Chloe, honey? I already told you I'll be there in a minute. I'll cook you something delicious, I promise."
"It's me, Fin."
A little silence ensued before I heard some footsteps approaching. Then when he opened the door, I saw those tired eyes of his. "Tobias." Is all he could say while looking straight at me.
"What's wrong?" Without second-guessing, there's no doubt that there's something serious going on here.
He sighed, offering me to come inside which I eventually did. He locked the door, biting his lower lip, he faced me, "Tobias. I... I need your help." He sounded hesitant but at the same time, desperate for the assistance he needed. "Can you help me?"
"Anytime. Fin. What is it? Tell me everything that's bothering you."
Because of that, he let himself sit on the bed. Clasping his fingers together as it pressed against his mouth. I grabbed a chair nearby and sat there across where he was.
His eyes darted on me, "Chloe's in danger, Tobias."
My eyes squinted. "Tell me what's happening, Fin."
"Right." He sighed again. Cupped his whole face with both hands, "Shin Chul. He is the son of a Chinese billionare who stayed in our country four years ago."
"What about him?"
"Shin Chul called me."
"Why?"
"He said he wanted to take my daughter as his concubine. And if I refused he'll use force to take her. Either way, Chloe's life will change forever."
"Why?"
"They are bastards."
"You're not telling me everything, Fin."
He was left silent for a moment. Not until he decided to confessed something out of his desperation. "The truth is, you didn't know my whole life, Tobias. I am actually one of their members. I just forced my way out in exchange of almost my entire life and fortune. And now. They came back and are asking for my daughter."
"You can just ignore them. You left the group already, right?"
"Yeah. That's what I thought. But those bastards! They still have something that can be use as a leverage against me. If the authorities reach this."
"You'll get imprisoned and Chloe will be out of your care anymore."
"Tobias, please." He held me by my shoulders, "I need your help."
"What can I do?"
He gulped. "You can... you... you can borrow the files from them."
"You mean to steal the files. I can't do it, Fin."
"But if you refused, Chloe and I will be in grave danger. Did you forget what you said? You told me you'll protect my girl no matter what happens."
I looked down, feeling guilty of everything.
"Chloe's life will be ruined forever if you'll doubt about doing this." He added with widened eyes.
I shook my head. "Fin."
"Tobias, please. I can't ask someone else rather than you. I need you."
A long silence ensued. Not until I decided to looked again straight to his eyes. Slightly nodding with a tight lips.
"Alright." I witnessed how his eyes glow in happiness when he heard it. "I'll do this, just for Chloe, and not yours."
Tears flow down from his cheeks, nodding. "Of course. Of course. All of these are just for my daughter and my daughter alone. It's all been about her, nothing else."
I stood up. "I just want to make this clear before anything else, Fin."
"What is it?"
"This is definitely illegal. And there's a high tendency I might get caught in the process."
"I know. They are powerful."
"But as a friend. And as a family. For all of the things that you did for me. I think it's far more illegal to deny your request for help."
Two days later.
Around 11 o'clock of a one rainy night. I'm walking by the dark alleyway through an old mansion gate across the quiet road.
Just like what Fin told me. This is really a dangerous thing to do. I know how hard it is for him to place me in this kind of situation. But as a friend, I know he never meant this to happen.
Illegal or not. I still owe a lot from my friend. And I guess, this is the perfect time for me to return that kind of favor for once.
"Hey. What's your business here, old man?" Two guards in black suit approached me. They were holding long guns on their sides.
I smiled at them. Though they won't see it because of my mask.
"You looked suspicious." Then one of them aimed the gun at me. "Take that mask off, old man! Now!"
"Okay, Tobias. Rule number 1. Don't kill them." I whispered to my self.
"What did you say?" One of the guard barely heard it.
"Take that mask off, right n—"
And with just a flicked of my finger, their guns suddenly twisted into shreds. Leaving both of them with their confused, widened eyes.