"Do you know a man named Tomo Ogawa?" the woman asked.
"Two days from now, my granddaughter and her group will infiltrate his property to retrieve a stolen book. News had reached us that Tomo had purchased it from an auction. The problem is we hardly know anything about Tomo. I want you to help Akira and her team in retrieving it. It was made known to me that you are a hired killer. There must be at least something that you know about Tomo that can be of help to us. What do you say young man? Are you up for the offer?"
There was a moment of silence in the room as Ren carefully digested everything that the woman had told him. He knew who Tomo Ogawa was, and he didn't know just a thing or two about the guy. In fact, he knew quite a lot about him - enough to ensure the success of their mission if he decided to spill it to them.
After a short while of deliberation, he lifted his head to respond to the woman, "And what will you do if I help you?"
He wanted to first make sure what's in it for him if he decided to reveal what he knew. After all, the information he had about Tomo was not something that could easily be obtained as many know that the man was a very secretive and cautious person.
Aiko smirked at Ren's response, a glint flashing in her eyes as if she just caught a huge fish.
'Crap', Ren cursed in his head.
'This woman is really cunning. Among all the people I have met here so far, she seems to be the least dangerous in appearance, but now I know that it's just a deceit. I need to be extra guarded around her.'
Ren heaved a long heavy sigh, "Yes. I guess there's no point in hiding it now. I do know something about the guy. So, will you please answer my question now? What will you do to me if I help you?" he reminded her of his earlier question.
"We won't kill you, and I'll allow you to be released from this room. I know how much you're itching to get out of here already. After all, it's never a good feeling to be doing nothing but just sitting for days, right?"
Ren couldn't agree more with what Aiko said. It was one of the most uncomfortable experiences - being locked in a cell away from the outside world, unaware of what was going on outside, and having his movements fully restricted. The poor guy couldn't even scratch his itchy nose.
In addition to that, he was so bored to death. He thought of anything that could possibly distract him and give him entertainment during the two days' time that he was locked up and tied up. Those include counting the total number of candles in the cell; singing his favorite songs at the top of his lungs like a choking seagull; talking to his imaginary girlfriend named Miyu; and trying to reach his nose with his tongue.
Yes, that was how desperate he was. If there was a CCTV inside his cell, the people watching would very much likely squirm at his display of stupidity and craziness, not that Ren really cared though. He could trip or fall on his face in front of hundreds or thousands of people, and he still wouldn't care.
Embarrassment and shame were words that weren't in his vocabulary. Nothing could embarrass him - not even his own display of silly and crazy shenanigans. They couldn't use it against him; he wore it like an armor. He was simply the unbothered king.
"But that doesn't mean you're free to go right away. We'll still keep you with us until we are fully certain that you are not an enemy. But still, that's better than being imprisoned here in this cell and being dead. Don't you agree?" Again, Aiko flashed one of her cheek-wide smiles.
Ren almost snorted but chose not to. He reminded himself of what he had thought of earlier. The woman so far was the most unpredictable and most dangerous person he met from the group. The last thing he wanted to do was to piss her off or who knew what she might do. She might just send him right away to his grave.
"I guess that's fine. You're right, it's better than being confined here and ending up dead. Also, you can keep me for as long as you want. After all, I am a hundred percent certain that I am not your enemy. It was just really pure coincidence that your men (referring to Akira, Kaito and Haru) and I were after the same person that night. But I'd really appreciate it though if you would release me sooner than later."
"You may be telling the truth, or you may be not. Whichever it is, we'll see as the days unfold. Ultimately, I believe that time will always be the best truth teller." Aiko responded, still with a smiling expression on her face but with a serious tone on her voice.
"I look forward to what you can do..." she paused, realizing that she didn't know the name of the guy she's been talking to. "What's your name young man?"
"It's Ren."
"I see. Well Ren, I wish the best for you on your mission with us. Just think of it as one of your jobs, and that I am your client. I am anticipating for favorable results."
She placed her right hand on Ren's left shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. She suddenly noticed Ren's eyes. At a distance, they might be mistaken for amber, but when getting a closer look, they actually looked like honey.
Aiko just realized at that moment that under the light, his eyes actually glistened like two beautiful golden orbs that she couldn't help but be drawn in their brilliance. It almost reminded her of the sun as it shines majestically and blindingly during the day.
Why do we always get a feeling of discomfort, as if we are getting blinded when we stare right at the sun? Is it because the sun is actually bad? No. It hurts because we can't handle the depth of its beauty and power.
When you pour water that is way beyond the volume that a jar can hold, the water will obviously leak out and overflow, getting the outside of the jar wet. Also, if you put water that is too pressurized inside a jar, the jar will most likely break.
Aren't we people the same? We unconsciously hide away from the sun, and sometimes even curse it because it is too much for us. It's way beyond our capacity and reach as people. We think that we retract because the sun is bad in itself and that it desires to harm us. But it's not. It's just simply because it's too great for us.
Greatness that is way beyond our reach prove to sting us.
Perhaps that's why people initially didn't like Ren. Because somehow, he's like the sun. He had been labeled numerous times as arrogant. Many also didn't like how carefree he was, saying that he thought too highly of himself. People mostly hated him, because deep down, they were insecure, their egos being stepped on. It irked them to see someone like him live his life so freely while they were struggling to keep their façade of a perfect and blissful life.
Staring at Ren blinds them. His radiance is too great that it reveals just how truly miserable they are inside.
'Sunny eyes. How interesting', she thought to herself.
Moving her eyes upwards, she then also took notice of his crimson red hair. It reminded of her a crimson fire, the hottest and most deadly form of fire. Her hand reached for it as she felt something flick inside her. However, she stopped herself as she didn't want to scare him off and make him think that she's some weird woman.
She pulled herself back and straightened herself.
Ren had a confused look on his face.
"Young man, you might just be more dangerous than we think. But again, just like what I said, time will tell."
She then turned her back at Ren and silently walked out of the room. After she shut the door behind her, she caught the sight of her granddaughter who seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Outside the cell, her granddaughter was leaning against the cold wall, waiting for her to come out.
Akira's grandmother instructed her to wait outside as she talked with the man they imprisoned in their underground cell. She kept checking the watch on her wrist as she impatiently waited for her grandmother to come out.
She had always been confident with her grandmother's persuasion skills so she had no doubt in her mind that the man would agree with their proposition to him. However, there was something unpredictable about the guy. She caught it while talking to him yesterday. He wasn't the least bit scared nor concerned for himself. He had that easygoing air around him, which Akira quickly interpreted as being cocky.
"I really don't like that guy", she muttered to herself as she crossed her arms tighter.
Everything about him had irritated her so far - except for his looks - his only saving grace.
She recalled the images of him she was able to witness when he was unconscious and when she spoke with him face-to-face yesterday. Those red lips, strong and defined jawline, perfect nose, long curly eyelashes, and those golden eyes that seemed to her suck her in. She really couldn't deny that the man was so good-looking.
"Pfft", she let out a short puff. "So, what if he is handsome? That face will end up a waste anyway."
Her self-talking was suddenly interrupted when she heard the door of the cell open, and the figure of her grandmother appeared. She removed her back that was leaning against the wall and quickly straightened herself.
"How was it?", she asked to her grandmother. "Did he agree?"
Her grandmother grinned from ear to ear as she approached her. "Yes. And you'll be very delighted to know this, he actually knows something about Tomo."
Akira's eyes widened at her grandmother's unexpected revelation.
'Who really is this guy?', she asked to herself one of the questions she kept asking for the past days.
'How can he have an information that not even our family can obtain?', she thought in her head.
"I already placed the curse on him. Prepare to meet him together with your group. The mission shall take place as planned. If he does anything funny or suspicious, send the signal immediately and the curse will activate. You know what to do. Everything is up to you now, Akira."