JINX

EPISODE 24

As everyone is back in their cells, Mister Valentine still is busy preparing to talk to Pastor Roman.

'You can do this. . . You can do this.' He convinces himself as he dusts his clothes off from the invisible dirt from his shoulders. He then knocks lightly before talking.

"Pastor Roman?" He calls but doubted that someone from the inside even heard him call out his name. He waited for a couple of seconds more as he composes himself in front of the door, emitting a deep sigh before attempting to knock twice. But before he could even land his knuckle on the metal door, the door swings open in front of him. A pair of surprised eyes of Ruther greets him, which quickly sends chills down his spine. He inhales sharply as his eyes gain access to what's happening inside.

"Oh, Mister Valentine. What are you doing here?" Ruther greets and asks him at the same time, with a broad smile like nothing wrong is happening or will be happening anytime soon. That expression seems to bother him a bit, but he decided to hide the terror that smile affects him.

"I just wanted to have a word with Pastor Roman? If that's okay? I mean, if he's not busy with other things?" He asks, which makes Ruther smile.

"Oh, don't worry, Mister Valentine. He is not too busy today. As a matter of fact, I was just about to come and look for you." He explains. His smile didn't seem to fade, as if his cheek muscles are never exhausted from both talking and smiling.

"You were?" He asks, trying to shrug the tension between him and the kid. The sudden cheerful kid is something he wasn't expecting since all of them met him as a silent kid.

'Silent but probably deadly.' He thought to himself.

"Yes. Perhaps you came here for the same reason Pastor Roman has for wanting me to come and look for you?" He asks that makes him shoot a fake small smile.

"Indeed." He replies shortly. Ruther turns his attention to Pastor Roman, who is seated comfortably. He asks something in a way that he almost didn't hear. Instead, only a faint voice and a serious tone are there, making him furrow his brows. Seconds later, he turns his attention back to Valentine, who is secretly chewing his inner cheeks.

"Come on in, Mister Valentine. You're just in time!" His jolly self bothers him even more, wanting to shout at him and stop with the attitude. But then, if he wants to get Pastor Roman's heart, he has to play the part. And that includes playing fake. . . But not for long.

"Thank you." He smiles back, hoping he doesn't make it too apparent that he's trying so hard to c***k a genuine smile.

He pushes himself inside without another word. He didn't hear the door shut that makes him look on his shoulder. But just then, Pastor Roman starts to speak.

"Go and stroll around, Ruther. I'll call you when I need you." His serious face didn't change, making him feel the coldness around the room. It's not only because of the air conditioner but because there's something inside that makes him feel that icy breeze. Is it the man that sits in front of him like a king? Was it his smile that shows the power and fierceness? Or is it all about Pastor Roman's eyes that evaporate of confidence and possession? Whether the answer behind this feeling, he could only agree on one thing— Mister Miguel is intimidated.

"Then I'll be just outside, Pastor." Either pauses as he turns his attention to Valentine. "Mister Valentine." He then bows before heading out, the door sliding back again, locking the two men inside.

"Have a seat, Mister Valentine." He smiles as he gestures to the empty seat in front of him, but he calmly refuses.

"I'm afraid I won't be here for long, Pastor Roman." He straightforwardly answers. A grin forms on the Pastor's lips as he retrieves his outstretched hand.

"I see you're not here to prolong anything, Mister Valentine."

"Indeed, Pastor." He then keeps silent for a second before responding. "I heard about you sending this kid Joseff out of the game?"

"Ahh, yes." He says as he leans backward, his back touching the comfortable swivel chair. "I am sending him home after I found out about his bravery. . . The kid deserves to take a rest with his family." He replies. "Why have you asked?"

"I just wanted to know if you've already picked a guy to drive him to his family?"

Pastor Roman thinks for a second before leaning forward again; this time, his elbows are resting on top of the table as he intertwines his fingers, looking straight at Mister Miguel.

"What if I had chosen already? Will it bother you?" He asks that quickly kills the hope inside his heart. But then again, he starts to recover from the disappointment. With a heavy heart, he shrugs it off as a smile forms on his lips once more.

"No, it won't. Not at all. . ." he quickly replies. Pastor domain raises an eyebrow at him.

"Won't you be going to ask who it is, Mister Valentine?" Pastor Roman asks that made him feel worse again. He wanted the spot, but it turns out that destiny is forbidding him.

"Just simply send the man who's going to drive the kid to me later on. I'll give him the address and the direction to take." He takes time to breathe in before continuing. "I'll be heading out then, Pastor Roman." He says before taking a step and turn his back towards him. He heaves a breath before walking straight to the door. But just when he's about to take his third step, Pastor Roman decides to talk.

"I chose you, Mister Valentine." He professed that he quickly reassembled his shattered and hopeless heart. He then turns in just a single turn.

"W-what?"

"You thought I didn't know that of all people that dumb Mister Clock hired, you're the only one who has the brain?" The insult made him wrong, even if he had just complimented him. It is not fair for his conscience to hear him say that, especially that he's the only man around. He didn't respond for a second, as he thinks of a question to ask, setting aside the anger.

"What are you trying to say, Pastor Roman? What do you mean by you choosing me?" He asks, still a bit dumbfounded about what he just said. Instead of a direct answer, he replies first with a chuckle. It took him a few seconds before stop chuckling, and his severe facial expression comes back.

"As I said, I am aware of everyone working for Mister Clock. And I don't want even to let a dumb b*tch carry a simple single work for me that I'm not sure of succeeding. And so far, I am pleased that he got you."

"Are you saying that the person you're choosing to get the job done with the kid is. . . me?" He asks that makes him grin.

•••

Valentine rushes out of the rook to meet Ruther just coming back. They both nod at each other as he rushes down to the stairs, walking straight into his secret room, which is the mini library. When he's sure that the coast is clear, he hides himself between the shelves, dialing a specific number. 

Valentine waited for three rings before the person on the other line picks up.

"Larissa, I have good news from you! The operation will continue. Luckily I didn't do any convincing on Pastor Roman. I'll get your son out of here soon enough!"

His mood lightens up as he announces it, but then his smile slowly turns into a frown when there's silence.

"Hello? Lerissa?" He asks as he looks back at the screen to check if he has dialed the right number. When he is sure that he is calling the correct one, he presses the phone again into his ear, only to hear faint sobs.

"Lerissa!? What's wrong?"

[He already found out, Val.]

"What. . . What are you talking about?"

[It's Carlo, Val! I don't know what happened! All I knew is that when I got out of the bathroom after having a shower, he is already there, clenching my phone, and I don't know why! I asked him what's wrong and he asked me about everything! I—]

Just hearing her talk about it without mentioning an exact topic, he already got what she meant. It is as if his ears start to get numb and deaf like he hears an irritating silence. He starts to recall giving Lerissa a call earlier and mentioning the plan and mentioning not to tell Carlo yet, but all he had received in silence. He could feel his heart crumbling and his guilt rising just by imagining what could have happened after that call.

[Val, I don't know what to do! Should I follow him?] The cry of concern from the other line made him go back to reality.

"W-what do you mean. . ."

[He's out there, Val! He's going there to get Miguel! What should I do now!?]

"What!?"

[I know I should have done something, but he is more persistent than I have expected! His eyes were like daggers that it could have killed me by the second, his voice is angrier than his usual calm self. . . Val, I've witnessed the Carlos I've never seen before! He is determined and scary! I couldn't stop him!] Lerissa is already shouting from the other line that caused him to worry even more.

"Lerissa, listen to me, okay?"

She sniffs that makes him sigh in relief that she's not hard to convince.

"Give him a call, tell him to call me so we could talk."

[What are you going to do?]

"I need you to trust me on this one, okay? Just give him a call and tell him to talk to me later by ten."

[Then can you at least tell me what you're about to do!? Because I am panicking here! As much as I want to call the cops, I can't! Please, I need you to tell me at least this one so I won't have to worry!] She pleaded, making him massage his nape. As much as he wanted to keep it confidential, he has to convince her to calm down. Looking to the door and assuring that no one is around, he heaves a breath before speaking.

"I'm going to meet him halfway."