"So you said you visited the hospital. What did they say? Any recovery?" Jimmy asked, since there weren't many customers there.
Julian gazed at his drink for a moment before replying, "Same as always, nothing much. The problem is just getting bigger, and her life is shortening day by day."
"Ohh... God of Light and Darkness, please bless her. I hope she'll wake up soon."
"Me too..."
Julian went silent for a moment. Minutes ticked by; the calm music playing in the background started to get inside his mind.
Then, he thought about getting back to business. He coughed slightly and said, "By the way, while I'm here, I need to ask something. It keeps bugging me."
"Go on," Jimmy responded, his eyes looking at the hall covered in darkness.
"You guys weren't able to find the suppliers of the tablets, right?"
"Yeah... I already mentioned that before, didn't I?" Jimmy responded, turning his head toward Julian, wondering, and caught the slight grin on Julian's face.
"You son of a—and I really thought you're here just to pass the time. High Table's bitches are shit as always."
"C'mon, pal, it's the least you can do," Julian begged as he saw Jimmy taking his leave. "For our friendship."
"You're not fooling me this time," Jimmy replied and started to walk off toward the left side of the counter.
"It's personal work this time. There's no High Table dick involved in this," Julian persisted, trying to convince Jimmy.
Jimmy stopped and thought. At least he could hear this one out. After he completed listening, then it was up to him whether he wanted to help out Julian or not.
Jimmy turned around and asked, lowering his voice, "It better be something important. Also... if my name is spilled, you know what'll happen, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. You don't need to worry about small stuff," Julian replied confidently.
Jimmy, still suspicious, examined Julian's confident expression because he knew.
He knew that getting your nose in High Table business meant trouble. Although Julian said this time was different, was it?
High Table members are born liars.
"Speak up; I'll decide after that if I really need to help out." Jimmy's gaze was still overseeing Julian.
Julian exhaled internally, aware of Jimmy's gaze, and he spoke up. "Well—you know Paul, right? He mostly hangs out with Alex?"
"Yeah, the little one, right? I've seen him with Alex a few times," Jimmy answered, nodding slightly.
"Little one?" Julian thought before pushing the story. "Yeah. You see, Alex isn't here currently, right? Of course, you know that. Fuck, let me get straight to the point. A few days ago, me and Paul went to handle some work. High Table work would be more specific."
Julian stopped as he heard the sound of Jimmy tapping the table and looked around slightly. Still, no one was around them.
"It's only the start."
Julian then recounted the story Simon had told him in his own way, switching his place with Simon, not getting into details, and focusing on the last part of the story and Paul.
"That's all I can say."
"Hmm..." The first thing that came to Jimmy's mind was that this story was too good to be true.
Who would've believed such a half-baked story? Family murdered when he was just a kid? And he recalls everything after hearing someone's voice in the phone call?
Jimmy had no reason to believe such a story, but that's what makes it believable.
All are the same anyway.
"Alright. What do you need?" Jimmy said, setting aside the thoughts.
"Thanks, man. Although I knew you would help out," Julian finally felt relaxed.
"Now, I don't have to ask around."
"The dude you guys caught using tablets a few days ago? You still recall, right? I happened to see him with the guy I've been watching. Maybe he can spill some beans for us? If you just slipped his whereabouts, nothing more, you'll help me out a great deal."
Julian tried his best to sound clean.
Now, simply, it was all up to Jimmy now. Julian could only wait for a positive response.
"Alright. I'll go look." And Jimmy walked away.
Julian finished the last of his drink as he waited patiently.
Minutes later, Jimmy arrived again and slipped the folded paper to Julian and asked the last question, "How many guys are involved in this?"
Julian smiled and answered, "Three of us."
"Three of us?" Jimmy sensed trouble.
"Not including you, of course." Jimmy let go of the paper slip.
Julian took the slip, ready to leave. "Me, Paul, and Simon."
"Simon?" Jimmy's breath caught halfway. "Wait—"
The words didn't leave his mouth. He internally cursed Julian for pulling him into their mess. But what's done is done.
As Jimmy saw the back of Julian merge into darkness, he heard the faint voice.
"Hope we'll meet again, my friend."
Julian exited the Black Palace and walked toward where the car was parked. Soon, he reached the place and saw Simon sitting in the driver's seat.
Simon also noticed him, raising the paper slip.
Their work here was done.
Paul arrived at the usual place to eat his lunch—away from the playground, away from the crowd, away from everyone's sight, where no one would notice him. He sat down on the bench, taking out his usual vegetable sandwich.
Then, the figure sitting beside him took notice and said, "Well, you took your time. I started thinking you weren't going to come."
"Why is that?" Paul responded, clearly aware of the situation.
"Why?" Mia turned her head toward Paul. "I mean, like—you got busted and stuff, you know? Didn't you think I was going to spill everything when you got back to school?"
"Not really," Paul replied calmly, eating his sandwich.
"You didn't?" she mumbled to herself.
"Don't tell me you already trust me this much?" she asked in a teasing tone.
"I know you weren't dumb enough to tell anyone about last night, when I clearly told you to keep that a secret. And, more than anything, you were scared." Paul's voice was flat, like stating a simple fact. "Scared of thinking about the consequences."
"I was?" She mumbled. "I was."
She forced a smile, trying to clear the thoughts of last night.
"Anyway, who are those guys? They looked like street thugs to me, but you beat them very easily. I saw everything from the start, by the way. You were very strong, I can tell."
Her face inched closer. "Wait—are you from something like a gang, like in the movies? How did you get this strong? Hey!"
She didn't realize when her curiosity took over her, like a little kid who's just seen a magic trick, asking her big brother every question crossing her mind.
When Paul didn't answer her quickly, she pushed him lightly. "Hello? Are you even listening, mister??"
Paul turned his cold gaze toward her. She quickly, like a scared cat, retrieved her hand from him.
"It's better if you don't know anything, for your own safety."
Those calm words cut the magic strings like cold steel. "There, there, don't need to be scared," she told herself, trying her best not to break her character, "but why do I feel like… he is going to kill me?"
"AA haa," she forced a light laugh. "Well, I expected something like this from you anyway."
While saying this, she turned her sights toward the playground to find a different topic to continue.
Then something clicked with her. "What are you going to do about my cell phone? You remember, right?"
"Yeah, I'll get you a new one," Paul replied, trying to recall which type of cell phone it was. "Give me some time if you aren't in a hurry, or do you just want the money?"
"No, no, no. The new phone sounds better." She quickly replied, and then a light bulb appeared. "Maybe this is my chance."
She cleared her throat and asked, trying not to sound obvious, "Did you know the company name of my cell phone?"
Paul answered with a simple, "No."
I mean, how could he remember the cell phone's company name, which he barely saw? He knew she was asking deliberately, but why? Was she a gold digger?
"Did you know how much the price was?"
She is.
Money was the least of Paul's concerns currently. But why didn't she say money when I asked her? Where is she going with all of this? Is she trying to make me feel guilty? Do you know what she is thinking? Is she plotting something? Yeah, I get it.
"Yeah, I don't know," Paul replied, his back lightly pressed against the bench. "But you know—"
"Yeah, I sure do." She turned her gaze to Paul, her eyes bright like a kid.
"See? I knew it."
"That's why we should go together."
"Alright. We'll play along with you."
Paul, already anticipating this outcome, said, "You just have to spill the name, and I'll buy it for you. You don't have to get so worked up."
"No, no, no—it was my phone, so I'll buy it myself. I'm not taking your money, alright? I don't want to end up being called some kind of luxury leech or cash magnet."
Yes, this is perfect. She puffed her cheeks internally.
Paul didn't reply quickly and just stared at the sky, wondering if he had any plans of his own, but nothing crossed his mind.
Am I really this useless? But oh well…
"Alright, whenever you're free."
"Y-yes…" she coughed slightly, covering her happiness. "Then, this Sunday??"
Paul nodded slightly, agreeing.
"This Sunday? Can't wait."