"Yo, Ginto." I greeted him as I came down from the hoverboard. Eve followed.
His expression was flat. He observed us from top to toe before asking, "What are you doing here?"
"We're worried about you." Eve replied.
"I'm fine. You guys can go," said Ginto, slightly annoyed.
"Your family just got killed. There's no way you can be fine!"
"Just go away!"
Silence ensued. We both went stiff. I and Eve looked at each other in confusion and troubled, and were not sure how to proceed.
I observed Ginto in silence. He's sitting alone with a slightly annoyed face. After a few seconds of watching him silently, I took a few steps toward him.
"I told you to go away," said Ginto as he looked at me with his sharp eyes.
I didn't say anything and sat right next to him. He looked at me angrily for a few more seconds.
After realizing I didn't budge, he said, "Do whatever you want."
Eve noticed my action and wanted to follow, but hesitated. She's afraid that Ginto would be mad.
Despite that, she steeled herself, thinking the worst thing that could happen is Ginto walked away.
She approached him and sat on his left. They sat in silence, watching the river flow and listening to the water running.
"My sister. She wanted to make the surface world habitable again so humanity could live under the sky again, under the scorching sun.
She always wanted to make this, or to make that, but never actually doing it. So I simply think it was just her usual meaningless ideas.
"I asked her if she wanted to kill all shadows from existence.
"She replied, that's your job, and continue babbling on about her project.
"I didn't believe her. But she did it. She actually complete it." He paused for a moment as tears flowed down. He wiped them off and pointed at the tree not far.
"That tree. She genetically modified it so it became adaptable to any kind of harsh conditions and environment." He said proudly and continued in a low voice, "If only she lived for a little bit longer."
There was a brief pause before he continued, "Yet they killed her in cold blood. I'll not forgive them, and I swore they'll receive a fate worse than death." His face scrunched in hatred and intense anger.
I listened silently until he didn't continue his monologue.
"I'm not going to say revenge is bad for you or that kind of stuff. As long as you do no harm to innocent people, I'm here to help you." I put my hand on his right shoulder.
"I'm against avenging your sister. It'll only lead to endless pain and suffering. Before you venture to that path, I want you to think about it really thoroughly," Eve advised him sternly and shifted her eyes to me. Disappointed evidently flashed in her eyes.
I shrugged my shoulders, conveying my action isn't that bad as she thought.
Everyone has the right to act freely, and Ginto has a justified reason to destroy whatever syndicate that lead to his sister's death.
Ginto fell into deep thought. His friends showed their concern and supported any decision he's going to choose. That made him feel less lonely, and it relieved the sadness in his heart by a bit.
"Thank you." He blurted out without a warning.
We paused in silence before saying simultaneously, "Your welcome."
He looked a bit better from before, so I asked, "So, what are you going to next?"
Ginto, once felt alone and desolate, lifted by his friend's support, spoke frankly, "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Eve frowned slightly.
"Yeah. I was mad and sad about my sister's death, also my dog. I wanted to just barge into Fec's office, and kill him."
"Did you?" I pondered.
"I wish, but not yet. I need a plan to reach Fec's office and make him before giving him a fate worse than death. I don't know how. He's a powerful Honor, a clever tactician and basically have every resource in this city to destroy someone's life like he's a god."
"He's the CEO of Synth and deserves to die, but why do you think Fec is the one that kills your sister?" I asked casually.
"Before I continue, are you guys sure you want to be involved in this?" He asked solemnly.
"I'm already on their watch list." I shrugged my shoulders. I averted my eyes to Eve. She looked troubled and hesitant.
"You don't have to force yourself." I said, helping her to make a decision.
She paused for a moment, "Yeah, I think I'll pass." She turned around and walked away.
Ginto and I looked at each other and were not surprised. Then Ginto nodded.
"I found what he's planning in Vie's house." Ginto flick his hand, and a small red chip appeared on his palm.
"What did you find?" I asked as I grab the chip carefully.
"It's not safe to talk about it here. I doubt they let me free without any supervision." Ginto discreetly looked around him.
I frowned as I instinctively raised my guard. I didn't detect them with my power. It seems they're extremely good at hiding.
"Would it be fine showing that chip?" I asked, a bit worried since we were being observed.
"Of course not. Now I have shown it to you, you will be watched by Fec," said Ginto.
I looked at the chip and smiled, "If that's the case, I hope he's enjoying the show."
I returned the chip and averted my gaze to Eve, telling her we had finished our secret meeting. She returned.
"Is everything alright now?" Eve looked at us worriedly.
"Yeah, it is. Thank you for coming all this way, by the way." Ginto gave Eve a kind smile.
"No worries. Besides, I wouldn't be able to focus on the mission if I didn't do this," she said with her arms crossed.
Before anyone could say anything, she immediately opened her mouth, "Whatever you guys are doing. Promise that you'll come out alive."
We were a bit surprised by her words that we blank out temporarily. We responded with a reassuring smile, and I exclaimed, "We'll win this. We never plan to die anyway."
Her lips curved upward as she smiled. She felt at ease after seeing their confidence.
"Yes you're right. We should get back."
I created a hoverboard after taking a good puff from the vape. She got on and waited on the hoverboard.
"Ginto, I met an interesting lad. We could use his help."
"Alright, I'll meet him after I take care of something."
"Go to this hotel after your business is done." I gave him a piece of paper with an address on it and hopped onto the hoverboard.
He received it and shove it into his pocket.
I waved my hand and flew off to the distance