"So this is the nephew you always talk about?" he asked, a gruff but friendly tone in his voice.
Tony beamed with pride. "Yes, sir! This is Xian. Isn't he a fine young man? Tall and strong!"
I smiled politely as Tony introduced me to his superior.
"Are you planning to follow in your uncle's footsteps and become a police officer?" Officer Budiman asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
I hesitated, looking from Tony to Officer Budiman. "I'm not sure yet, There are already two Uncles in my life... told me to be this that."
Tony burst into laughter, understanding my playful jab. He knew I was the only male nephew in the family who could potentially follow in their law enforcement footsteps.
Officer Budiman chuckled, patting Tony on the back. "Well, Xian Ying," he said, his gaze turning to me, "if you ever change your mind, you're always welcome to join the force. We could use more young, bright minds like yours."
I nodded politely, my heart heavy with the secret I carried. The last thing I wanted was to join the police force, especially knowing what I did about the corruption within its ranks.
Suddenly, a thought struck me. Maybe I could tell them about Asmar... After all, my uncle was a police officer himself. Surely, he would want to bring a criminal like Asmar to justice.
"Uncle Tony," I began hesitantly, "can I talk to you in private for a moment?"
He tilted his head, a curious expression on his face. "Sure thing, Xian. Let's find a quieter spot."
We walked away from the crowd, towards a secluded corner of the schoolyard.
"What is it, Xian?" Uncle Tony asked, his voice filled with concern.
"... You know Asmar, right?"
"Hmm... yes, he's one of my juniors. Why?"
"Did you know he's a..." I hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.
"A murderer?" Uncle Tony finished my sentence, his expression grim.
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Yes, I know," he said quietly. "I've been trying to gather evidence against him, but it's been difficult. He's well-connected, and his father is a high-ranking officer."
I was stunned. My uncle was already aware of Asmar's crimes and was working to bring him down.
"Uncle..." I began, my voice choked with emotion.
"Don't worry, Xian," he reassured me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We're going to get him. But we need to be smart about it. We need to make sure we have enough evidence to put him away for good."
"I got his identification," I said, pulling out Asmar's business card. "I can give it to you."
Uncle Tony's eyes widened. "This is great, Xian!" he exclaimed. "This could be the evidence we need. Thank you."
I smiled, a sense of hope replacing the fear and uncertainty that had been plaguing me.
"Don't worry, Xian," Uncle Tony said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll get justice for Hana. I promise you."
I nodded, a warmth spreading through me. My father's family, it seemed, were not only capable of extraordinary powers, but also of unwavering loyalty and a fierce sense of justice.
"By the way, how are your eyes?" Uncle Tony asked, his voice laced with concern.
I paused, caught off guard. Did he know about my abilities?
"They're fine...?" I replied hesitantly.
"Haha, no, I mean, are you still seeing those... ghosts?" he clarified, lowering his voice.
"Well, yeah..." I admitted, a knot forming in my stomach.
"Have you been taking your medication?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
He still thinks I'm schizophrenic, I realized with a sigh.
"Well, no... but even when I take the pills, I can still see them," I explained.
"Really? So you're not schizophrenic after all?" Uncle Tony's eyes widened in surprise.
I shrugged. "I guess not?"
Slap! He clapped me on the back, his enthusiasm almost knocking me off balance.
"Don't forget to take your pills!" he said, his voice booming. "And don't follow Antony's lead and become a train driver. Be a police officer instead!" He flashed me a wide grin.
I smiled back, a wave of warmth washing over me. Both uncles seemed genuinely invested in my future.
"Thanks, Uncle Tony, I'll consider it," I replied.
He nodded in satisfaction. "And say hi to your parents for me!" He turned and walked away, his confident stride echoing in the empty hallway.
I watched him go, a smile lingering on my lips. Then, I turned and headed back to the classroom.
As I made my way back into the school building, I noticed the troublemaking seniors lounging on the stairs leading to the second floor.
Great, This is the only way to my classroom. I thought, my heart sinking.
I steeled myself and walked towards them, my expression carefully neutral. I tried to pass by without making eye contact, but one of them grabbed my hair, yanking me backwards.
"Ack!" I cried out, pain shooting through my scalp.
"Where do you think you're going, pretty boy?" the senior sneered, his grip tightening on my hair.
I glared at him, my anger rising. "Let go of my hair," I demanded, my voice low and threatening.
"What are you, a troublemaker too? With your long hair and fancy clothes?" he taunted, pulling harder.
I stared at him coldly, my mind racing. I wish my Harbinger could just punch him right now.
Just then, the senior yelped in surprise and tumbled backwards, falling down the stairs with a loud thud.
The other seniors gasped, their eyes wide with shock. I was stunned as well, but a smirk tugged at my lips. The Harbinger heard my wish.
The fallen senior scrambled back to his feet, his face flushed with anger and humiliation. He glared at me, his fists clenched. "You little..."
I took a step back, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I may have been outnumbered, but I wasn't going to back down.
"You're not going anywhere, pretty boy," one of the seniors sneered, cracking his knuckles.
"You're weak," the larger one chimed in, his voice booming through the hallway. "We're going to beat you up!"
I met their gaze, a defiant smirk playing on my lips. "You think I'm going to lose just because I'm pretty and popular?" I taunted.
< Chapter 028 > Fin.