"Boy! Ain't ya a pleasure to look at!" As Jin walked inside the post office, he was greeted by a Bubbly blonde woman dressed in the post office uniform, she seemed to be at least in her 40s, chewing loudly on chewing gum.
With her overly thin eyebrows, Light blue eyeshadow, popping pink lipstick and Feathered hair, the woman smiled as she eyed Jin up and down.
Surprised, "Did I travel back to the 70s?" Jin unintentionally spoke, his cheeks instantly heated up with embarrassment when he realized he said that out loud.
"Oh no darlin'! we still in the Future, i just styled myself like this cuz i like the 70s...Those were good times." the woman replied.
"For the straights, I bet." Jin replied back.
Amused, "Anyways...You must be our new guy! I was told to expect you to be more handsome than your photo...And they did not lie.
It's been a while since we had your kind here, Tiger." The woman said winking at him.
Cringing a little, "Actually I'm pretty sure I was born in the pig year...sorry, I wouldn't expect you to know what's that." Jin replied.
The woman was confused at first then she shrugged her shoulders, "Anyways Tiger, did you bring your special ID with ya?" she asked.
"Yeah! there it is." Jin said pulling a card from his pocket.
"Good, Madame gave me the task to show you were to go, so follow me Tiger!" The woman said before she began walking.
"Thank god I'm gay!" Jin whispered to himself as he followed her.
As the two walked together, Jin noticed a bunch of different women glancing at him, all at once.
He realized on instincts that those were Radka's girls, they were of all types, races, ages, styles, mingled in a small crowd of Townspeople.
"Minnie wasn't kidding, Radka really don't work with men that often." Jin mumbled to himself, As he and his guide went into an odd 'staff only' room.
"Did you say something Tiger?" The woman guiding him asked, "Ah? no! I was just curious, A little surprised you girls have a secret hideout here in the post office." He said.
"You mean underneath." The woman said as she pointed at another door inside the 'staff only room' just Across from them.
"You'll find some deep stairs behind that door, take'em and when you make it to the bottom you'll find another door guarded by two Strong Gals.
Don't test their patience, you need to show your ID and give them the password 'vegetables' understood?" The woman explained.
"Vegetables?...Okay." Jin replied, "You'll be fine Tiger." the woman said before she smiled at Jin, winked again and went back into the post office.
...Few moments later...
"Jin!" Radka greeted Jin as soon as her eyes landed on him.
"Madame, I came as soon as you called, you have a lead?" Jin replied.
"Yes, What do you think of our secret headquarter?" Radka asked with a hint of proudness in her voice, "It's like a secret intelligence bureau, also Your girls are everywhere, it's a little Scary.
Anyways, I followed your instructions, I didn't bring Ha-yoon with me." Jin replied.
"I'm sure you're eager to know more about your sister, and I do have some news to tell you." Radka Said.
"The news is that we found a girl who might know where Flint is." Rushil spoke up as he approached them.
"Sir, I didn't know you're helping too." Jin said, "I'm just here to make sure Radka doesn't kill her girl." Rushil replied.
"The girl with the information works for Madame?" Jin asked, "Yes, unfortunately she may Also be helping Flint." Radka replied.
"You got betrayed?" Jin asked again, "Seems like it, turns out that she owed Flint a favor and is helping him to pay her debt...we won't know for sure unless she speaks." Radka replied.
"Lydia Brooks, that's her name...does she ring a bell for you Jin?" Rushil asked, "I'm not sure, I may have heard her name somewhere." Jin said unsure.
"That's maybe because She was also a student at the same highschool as you and Nikolai." Rushil said.
"Age 24, white female, average built and height, she has witchy/killer vibes, owns a black cat.
I'd say she's ugly looking, single with no social skills, meaning she could've been easily unnoticeable during highschool." Radka said describing Lydia.
"RADKA?! for fuck's sake you can't just mock someone like that! Lydia is a living person, have some respect." Rushil scolded her, "I just stated the facts! what is it with you jumping to defend Lydia every single time I open my mouth! are you her fucking boyfriend?!" Radka replied nearly shouting.
Furious, "Are you doubting my devotion for you Radka." Rushil said.
"I'm just saying That you give Lydia too much credit." Radka replied.
"I'm not having this conversation with you again, Radka." Rushil replied folding his arms.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear this right now." Jin said.
...Meanwhile...
'Go to my apartment before dark. L.B' a message popped on Cyrus's phone, he's been getting these weird messages from a number he didn't recognize.
Annoyed, "I don't think I should stay tonight too." Joe spoke-up.
"Dad...we talked about this, you're gonna stay here." Cyrus said fixing Joe's pillow.
"This is all too much, I'm fine Cyrus." Joe replied, the hospital bed was comfortable but he was worried about the bill that comes with it.
"I paid for everything, I know you wouldn't let mom pay for you." Cyrus said, "As if you paying is any good, you need your money." Joe commented.
"I'll be fine dad, I'm not broke...besides, where else do you wanna go, I mean you can't work in this condition, might as well stay here." Cyrus replied.
"I love my job, and I love the fact that I have a job.
Shouldn't you be looking for a stable job yourself son? you have a law degree! you shouldn't be struggling." Joe questioned.
"As if having college degrees nowadays, automatically guarantees you employment.
The work market is hell and I only did law because my mom insisted on it at the time, she wanted me to graduate and work for her." Cyrus said chuckling.
"But you refused that." Joe pointed out, "I did, I don't like to depend on her financially, it's her way of showing love." Cyrus replied.
"Why leave your mother? why come to live with me? when you said you wanted to move here, I couldn't believe it!" Joe said.
"Mom is a strong woman, she's capable on her own and doesn't need me there anymore, she just wanted to make things right by paying for my life expenses.
Which made me feel like a liability even more.
I thought to myself, why don't I go to my other parent? it should be better, I mean we haven't seen each other in a while, we're not that attached, he would mind his business and I would mind mine...but you dad, you also wanted to help me, to care for me when I didn't ask you to.
I came to get away from one parent trying to spoil me, only to end up in the arms of another." Cyrus explained.
"We're family after all, we're wired to take care of each other." Joe said.
His smile faded, "We're not a family anymore, we're relatives by blood...that's all.
I don't like it when you guys take care of me and act like we're still the same as before." Cyrus replied.
"Is this about your mother and I's divorce? it happened long ago, I thought you moved on Son." Joe said.
"Moved on?" Hearing those words made Cyrus's cup overflow, "You guys made me live two lies, one that we were a normal family! that I had a home to go to everyday, with two parents that love me as much as they love each other...a home that would last forever.
And the second, that you guys were homophobic religious pricks, when you were gay yourselves...I had to hide my sexual identity, and deny it for years, afraid you'd disown me...I attended Church, dressed like a victorian era girl and hid the fact that I spoke to any boy without your permission." Cyrus replied with anger in his voice.
"Son...I..."
"Save it dad...I don't need apologies...the damage is done."
"But I'm really sorry son." Joe said.
Another message popped, 'I only told you. L.B'
"Whatever, I stopped talking about this matter because no amount of Sorry or money you'll spend on me, is gonna make me forget what you guys made me go through...I know I can forgive you, but forgetting is a harder fight.
I don't however, hate you enough to not help you when you're sick, so don't worry about the hospital and get some rest." Cyrus replied before he walked out of the room in a hurry.
Taking a deep breath to calm his rattling nerves, Cyrus checked his phone and found another message from the same unknown number.
'This is your chance to save her! I'm sending you a location. L.B'
"Should I?" Cyrus said.
...Few minutes later...
"So that's why she's helping him?" Jin said, "Yes...what time is it." Radka asked.
"Around 6:30pm...why?" Jin said.
"I sent my girls after Lydia, I hope they found her." Radka said, and just then "Ah! speak of the devil!" Radka added pointing at two Buff girls approaching them while dragging another girl who was surprisingly calm despite the situation she was in.
"Lydia, you really thought you can ding-dong-ditch on me? What excuse do you have for yourself. " Radka said as she walked towards the girl.
"Remember what you promised me." Rushil said to his wife in a serious tone, "Yep." Radka replied.
Jin watched, As Radka stood hovering over the captured girl, "Are you gonna kill me?" Lydia asked uninterested.
"Depends, you don't seem remorseful at all." Radka replied.
"Cuz I'm not." Lydia replied shocking even Rushil.
"We couldn't find her phone, I think she got rid of it...We have her cat though." One of the buff ladies spoke, handing Rushil a Pet carrier, with Lydia's black cat screeching and scratching inside.
"Find that phone, in the meantime I'll have a chat with our traitor." Radka said.
"Is she going to torture her for information?" Jin whispered to Rushil a bit horrified, "Most definitely." Rushil whispered back.
"Take her to the interrogation room." Radka said before she began taking her suit jacket off.
"Rushil." Radka called her husband's name, "I don't want to talk to you." he responded angrily.
When Rushil refused to look her in the eyes, Radka walked towards him and leaned to his ear, "I'm sorry for being a jerk earlier, I don't take betrayal that easily, you know that." She whispered.
"Did you have to take it out on me then? you made it sound like I was cheating on you with Lydia! we're supposed to be soulmates." Rushil replied.
"Forgive me Rushil, I know you have a weak spot for people who lost their loved ones the way Lydia lost her sister...but my anger took the best of me, it made me say what I said."
"I don't wanna hear your pathetic excuses Radka."
"Fine dear." Radka said Sighing, before she walked away, Rushil was Still avoiding to look at her and it made her feel agitated.
"I'll be out in few, she won't last long." Radka said to Jin, before she headed to the interrogation room where Lydia was being held.
As soon as Radka left, "I'm sorry you guys, this is my fault." Jin spoke up, "How's this your fault? we fought because Radka is being paranoid...it's been a while since a girl did this to our marriage, no offense to your mother." Rushil replied.
"No offense taken." Jin said.