I've been standing infront of the door for a couple of minutes now, and I didn't even bother to knock. Or I just couldn't do it. What happened to me at that mansion with Shin Chul was disastrous. I was about to turn around, when it creaked open, "Tobias, thank goodness you're back." It was Fin. He stepped outside and faced me before closing it. Looked me directly into my eyes with a serious face and a controlled eagerness. "What happened? Did you get it?"
I stared at him with a sigh, even opening my mouth was as heavy as my heart right now.
"Shin wanted me take Chloe to him. After I kill you."
His expression changes into horror. Eyes wide open as he gaze inside the house before turning back to me. But instead of sensing fear, I saw sadness and disappointment. "Tobias. Why?"
I didn't looked away. "I only have 24 hours for this. If I don't do this, he'll come after me... and eventually, he'll come after your daughter too."
"Tobias. What are you talking about?" Nagsisimula na siyang mag-panic. "Tobias. What happened out there?"
I bit my lower lip. He puts both of his hands on my shoulders as he stared straight at me, "Tell me my daughter will be safe, Tobias."
"Fin." I slowly shook my head. "I'm sorry."
He closed his eyes facing the ground and he begins to cry. Seeing him in this state, it'll surely hurt me but I still did it.
"You can just kill him, Tobias." He straightened back up, with his tearful eyes, still begged me for a chance to change my mind. "you can do it, Tobias!"
"I can't. He's not a man you expected he is."
He looked even more confused now, "What do you mean?"
"Dad?" Chloe opened the door and peeked to us outside.
Fin approached her. "Chloe, I thought you were sleeping already." I saw my friend, hiding his sadness behind that smile while keeping his daughter away from this.
Then Chloe looked back at me. A hint of worry is seen in her eyes. "Is something wrong?"
I could't answer it. Instead, Fin did not want that awkward silence gets a bad meaning so he gently let her attention away from it. "It's nothing, Chloe. We're going inside now so you should get back to your room and sleep."
"But I can't sleep."
Fin's getting more and more depressed now but for his daughter, he's staying strong for the both of them. He's a bit hesitant to say it but he eventually did. "Let's talk inside." Addressing for me.
This is the most awkward conversation I have with my friend for the past years. Few minutes later, Chloe's finally inside her room and me and Fin decided to talk in the living room.
He sat on the sofa, while I stayed standing infront of him. "Sit down, Tobias."
I just shook my head.
He sighed, gazed up to my face with that sad knowing look. I'm happy he calm down, even for a bit. "So, you're really going to do what he wants?"
"Even If I don't. Someone will eventually come."
"I'm sure he will."
"He had a whole army behind him, Shin told me himself." I said intently.
"I just don't know who."
I sighed. "Probably. One of them is supposed to be Nolan. Who just died hours ago, by the way."
"Nolan?!" He rose up in shock, "you mean."
"Nolan. The head captain of the Hero Section 2."
"You killed him?"
"We fought. But Shin shot him dead. He can manipulate the footages so I'll be framed in no time. What do you think would happen if a famous and honorable hero like Nolan, would be killed by a civilian like me?"
Hearing this, his shoulders got heavier compared before. "This is messed up."
"I don't want to live like a criminal, Fin."
"It's my fault."
I sighed, facing the wall as I brush my hair back.
"This is frustrating." He covered his face with both hands, whispering, "I'm sorry, Tobias. I'm really really sorry about this. If I didn't asked for your help. All of these won't happen."
"You don't have to blame yourself. We both earned this for trying to keep Chloe's life safe." I looked down. The deafening silence could choke us off right now because of its suffocating atmosphere.
"What are you going to do now?"
"You know I can't kill you, right?" As soon as he heard my answer, I first saw a blank expression when his head turned to me. But right then, he chuckled.
"You can't?" He asked, "I thought you'll do it minutes ago?"
I blinked many times, feeling embarrassed to admit that I'm too scared to decide. And now I am finally sure of my answer. "I'm just messing with you."
He let out a deep meaningful sigh, "This is not a joking matter, Tobias."
I smirked, "Did you fell for it?"
"I was scared to death!" I laughed as he groaned in annoyance.
"Calm down, old man."
"You're the old man!"
I chuckled again. I tapped him on the shoulder. And this time, the seriousness of the matter came back once again as we looked at each other's faces. "You know I'll never do anything stupid like this, Fin. Especially to Chloe."
He sighed, "Don't play with me again, Tobias. I mean it."
"Sorry."
"So what's your plan?"
A doorbell was heard from outside of the house. It's probably the gate's bell sound. Making me turn my head to its direction. "They're here."
"What? Why? I thought you still have 24 hours to kill me?"
I gently patted my clothes from its wrinkled parts. "Unfortunately, I'm guessing Shin's not that dumb too. He already knew I'm not doing him the favor he's asking."
"Wait. If Nolan's into this. Then who are the others?"
Before I could answer, an explosion was heard outside by the second time. It's too loud that the vibration even catches with our feet inside.
Fin almost lost his balance and looked upstairs. "Goodness!"
"Take Chloe outside her room. Now!"
But without telling him that, he eventually ran upstairs to see her daughter's safe. While I went outside, and saw three shadows, emerging from the flames and smokes of the destroyed gate.
Along with them, are countless heroes also entering the premises which are obviously with the same purpose of their halfway expected visit.
Shin Chul's not really kidding when he told me he had the whole seven sections of the Hero Agency in his hands.
"You know, the doorbell's enough. Destroying the gate was unnecessary."Betraying my friend? That's never gonna happen.
I better die with no regrets.