JINX

EPISODE 22

"So you lied to us?" Ash asks the moment Pastor Roman steps out of the room. Miguel is a bit surprised that Ash could hear their conversation when the others seem like they haven't, or that because they barely care at all.

"W-what? What are you talking about?" He asks, dumbfounded, but only to receive a shake of the head from Ash.

"I can't believe I trusted you for being a victim, Mister Miguel." Ash turns away before he could even defend himself as she instead hangs out with Chris, who is thinking seriously by himself. Kyle is similarly busy talking with Melissa.

'They must be catching up since they've been far away from each other for a long time.' He thought to himself, trying to distract himself from the sadness he is feeling. Somehow, he feels a bit guilty for not explaining to Ash what's happening, and now, she hates him.

"Man, I almost thought the kid's into you." Hearing someone talk to him makes him feel that he is not invisible. Miguel only shrugs, not wanting to even argue with Blake. Blake then crosses his hands into his chest as he stares at Miguel, who has his eyes glued around them. That made him look around as well.

"I am bisexual." Miguel's eyes grew wide open as his gaze quickly shifts into the man beside him. It was so sudden for him to open up that made him almost fall to the floor.

"Are you kidding me?" He asks as he tries to hide his exaggeration into his thoughts. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"Yeah, I know I don't look like a bisexual. My face doesn't show signs of a possibility that I may have liked someone of my own gender, but trust me, I do." Their eyes met as Miguel tries to read his gaze. He waited for him to laugh and tell him that he is just messing with him but, no. His eyes are like an instant passage into his soul that Miguel can instantly see. His eyes are like a two-way mirror, and he could already read him.

And his eyes only shows one thing: sincerity.

"Oh, you're expecting me to say that I'm telling a joke?" Blake chuckles before his poker face returns, but his eyes tell more of the emotion. Blake then breaks the intense eye contact. "As much as I want to say I am missing, I don't. And maybe that is the reason why I am here."

He can read, hear, and feel sadness from the energy that he is releasing off of his body. Miguel decided instead to accept that the man in front of him is only telling the truth. Miguel responds with a smile.

"Why are you telling me this?" He asks, still a bit confused about everything. It may sound so weird for a man he barely knew, just open up to him at an unexpected moment. Blake shrugs his shoulder before responding.

"Maybee because I wanted someone to know my secret before I die? Maybe, I wanted someone to see that I didn't become a coward at telling someone who I truly am before I die? Maybe, I needed." Blake pauses when he realizes his voice is about to c***k. And Miguel could feel his pain.

Miguel's hand suddenly makes its move as his hand lifts and reaches for Blake's upper back, as he caresses it gently.

"Maybe because I needed someone to tell me that I am accepted. All I needed is one assurance that I am fine with being who I honestly am?"

Miguel nodded. "I accept you for who you indeed are, Blake. I know it's tough to admit things like this, especially when you feel like no one would approve of your authentic identity. I get that feeling." He pauses as he retrieves his hand from Blake's back.

"And now, you can assure, coming from me, that you're okay, you're accepted, and you're authentic. Got that?"

A small smile outlines on Blake's lips. With a teary eye, he managed to respond. "Thank you, bro."

This time, Blake is the one who wraps his hand around Miguel's shoulder as he pulls him close.

"Thank you."

•••

Valentine walks into the silent hall, leading him into a darkened room. He stands there for a couple of seconds before finally knocking. A second later, he could already hear a rattling sound inside before a hand pops out of the small window with four metal pipes standing 12 inches away from each other.

"Did he say anything?" He asks, expecting to have some juicy news for him.

"Nope, he didn't say anything—"

"And I told you to get me something!"

"Will you not shout at me!? Someone might hear us!" Valentine sighs after looking around him, relieved that no one is around. "And you should start respecting me right now, considering the situation—"

"Respect you? I should be the one saying that YOU should be respecting me because I am your boss!"

"You? Are you my boss? Well, look how the tables turned so suddenly." He spat back. "If only you didn't let your emotions get involved, you could have finished this batch a bit early, and you could have run for your own!" Valentine pauses as he tries to find the words that would surely hurt Mister Clock.

"And yeah, if you didn't get Miguel involved? This wouldn't be too hard—"

"And what do you want me to do? Just let him be happy with the family he is staying with!?"

"Yes, Briar! Yes, you should have let it stay that way! Then this game wouldn't be too hard for you to handle, even for Kyle!"

"Don't come blaming me right now, Valentine, because between you and me, we both f*cked up in this one! Big time!"

"No... No, don't include me with your desperate moves."

Valentine quickly stops talking when two guys came walking past him. Mister Clock e nodded to them, and so they did as well, before minding their businesses.

"You'll get out of here, I promise you—"

"How? How can I even freaking escape here when even you that's not locked up couldn't do anything to free me!?"

"Do you positively not trust me, you son of a b*tch!?"

"What did you say?"

"Do you want me to repeat it? Because I would be glad."

"F*ck you!"

"Just... Look, Briar, I know our situation, especially you are f*cked up. And I am your only card for flight. So you either want to trust me or not."

Briar, aka Mister Clock, didn't respond. He knew he had to trust him now. Briar knew he is the only man he could trust. He knew there is no time for doubt.

"Okay."

"Okay... So, that psychotic pastor has already prepared a safe drive for that kid Joseff since he decided to quit, but he still hasn't picked up a proper guy to deliver the kid back to his parents."

"And you would volunteer to drive him?" Mister Clock instantly asks as he realizes what his intention is. And he wasn't wrong about it. Valentine nodded.

"Yes, that's what I plan to do."

"And if he agrees?" Mister Clock quickly asks, not wasting another second.

"Then I would try to sneak you into the trunk. The car that we will be using tonight has renewed its tinted windows, making it impossible for a man outside to see what is happening inside. When I put you on the trunk, you will have easy access into the back seat, so you won't have to deal lying tired at the back."

"And it will be as that?"

"Yes. We won't have to worry about Joseff because he won't be doing anything bad since he's going home."

"And if he doesn't choose you?" The question is expected to be raised, and even if it's already foreseen to be asked, he still doesn't have the answer for it. But then, he had one thing going on in his mind.

"Then I'll guess it'll be the end for us. But, I would be a hundred sure that he'll choose me because I'm the only one who knows about the kid's locations."

"Then I guess I'll have to pray more."

"You should... Because we will transport that kid Joseff tonight at ten o'clock."

"Then I'll be waiting for you—" Briar is about to turn around and lay down again when Valentine decides to speak.

"But that's not all I have to say." The question seems to be a bit scary for Briar to hear more. But then, he has to listen to him about.

"Hmm?"

"I'm planning on getting Miguel and Kyle out as well—"

"Are you nuts!?"

"No, I am not—"

"You, me, and that stupid kid Joseff are enough! Why would you want to save space for two more!?"

"It's because I feel responsible– oh wait, I shouldn't be feeling responsible, you are! You're the reason why they're both here, playing this game they shouldn't be playing! They're just straight kids living a simple life, and you decided to ruin it because you're a psycho who couldn't move on!"

"Shut up, Valentine. You don't know anything—"

"Oh? Well, if that's the case, then it is my decision to be followed... I will get them home tonight, whether you like it or not. And if you still plan on declining, then you could suck it up and rot there because I won't come back for you—"

"Okay, fine! Fine, I'll follow your decision... Just make sure this won't make a much worse situation. Because this time, it's all on you."

"Just trust me... Everything will be okay. I'll see you tonight, Briar."

"Valentine."

Valentine walks away from the cell as Briar goes back to sitting on his bed as he heaves a deep breath. Sighing, he shakes his head.

"I hope so, Valentine. I hope this is the right decision."