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Waiting hurts. Forgetting hurts. But not knowing which decision to take can sometimes be the most painful.

- José N. Harris

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There are debts that must be paid.

For Khun Korn, the debt Khun Kan owes him isn’t paid yet even after his death. That’s why; his successor must compensate for it.

Khun Korn remains in his office, sitting on the swivel chair as he stares at an old photo that he was holding.

“They are slowly paying for it.” Khun Korn whispered. “Your death will finally have justice.”

“Pa.”

Khun Korn immediately placed the photo in the cabinet. Khun Kim enters hugging two thick folders and placed it on the table.

“These are the only information I got.” Kim said and sat on the opposite chair. “The reason why we can’t have all of their properties is because someone has been protecting both Vegas and Macau.”

Khun Korn picked up one of the folders. Most of them were list of people that can still have connection with both Vegas and Macau. These people do not really hold a higher position that’s why there is no sense to spend time studying about them.

“Kan surely prepared for this.” He answered. “He makes sure that the properties of his son will stay under them.”

Khun Korn thought that after Kan’s death, his family can already take a full-right that even Vegas and Macau will be under them. But, what they can get from Khun Kan isn’t even half of the properties.

Aside from that, the properties were named to different people whom mean that Khun Korn cannot touch them. Khun Kan definitely hired someone to cover up for Vegas and Macau.

There is also a big person behind the transaction that did his work smoothly that Khun Korn’s team cannot get a grip of the properties.

Who it is? They still don’t have any clue.

“I thought he hated his children.” Khun Korn let out a smirk. “He still managed to protect them after his death.”

Khun Kan never made things easy for him. He once thought that Vegas and Macau is an easy target but he was wrong with that. Khun Kan created a huge barrier that is hard to break through.

“Why didn’t you include Kinn and Porsche with this?” Kim suddenly asked.

Kim looks at his father, expecting for an answer.

“Because of Pete.” Khun Korn answered briefly.

“Pete?”

“Porsche treats Pete as his brother and Kinn will always listen to Porsche.” Khun Korn gave Kim the same intense stare he was giving.

“They will probably oppose me from using Pete as a sacrificial lamb.”

Pete is the closest person to Vegas and Macau. He can be the weakness or the strength but it depends on how he gonna use Pete in this game.

Khun Korn knows the loyalty of Pete that even he was held captive by Vegas, he came back to the Main Family. That is what he knows.

If Pete earns the trust of Vegas and Macau then it will be so easy to destroy the second family.

“How about Khun?” Kim asked again.

“Khun cares about Pete. The plan of sending Pete to spy on Macau should be a secret especially from Khun.”

“What?” Kim reacted when he heard that. “You want Pete to spy on Macau?”

“Are you getting soft to that bodyguard?” Khun Korn questioned that made Kim sit properly.

“No.” Kim replied. “Why did you choose Pete?”

Khun Korn smiled after hearing that question.

“ He said and continued. “…

Kim remained silent and left quietly.

It may be true that he treat Pete as one of his sons but there are also limitation. The reality will not be change.

Pete is still a bodyguard that Khun Korn can use and place in dangerous situation anytime he wanted.

Taking advantage of Pete’s kindness and loyalty is the best decision.

I keep biting my fingernails until I can already feel it bleeding. My eyes are hurting due to lack of sleep with my head also aching that I already want to smash it on the wall.

What Khun Korn ordered me to do last night just made me gone crazy. No matter how many times I force myself to sleep, I just can’t. It hurts me every time I remember it.

What is he even thinking? Why bother to bully a child and kill him?

Damn. Macau is the most important person to Vegas. He was the reason why that bastard is still alive. I am also aware that Vegas did everything and even sacrificed his life just to make sure that Macau will live life comfortably.

If it’s not Khun Macau then doing the job is as easy as pie. But now, it’s a different situation. If I did it, I am not far from having the same attitude as Vegas. Shit.

Vegas will also not forgive me.

Can I just die? Let me find a rope to hang myself.

“Pete!” Khun No called me that made me go back to consciousness.

“Yes?” I asked but what I saw was his sulking face.

“I thought we will be watching cartoons?” He asked. “Why do you all look like dying?” Khun No then pointed Arm and Pol’s direction.

Yeah. We all look like dying. The two looks sleepless too and paranoid. Eh? What’s wrong with them? They have been behaving weirdly since the other day.

“Let’s watch, Khun No.” I said as I raise the volume even before Khun No throws another round of mouth.

I am already dying here and I do not have energy left to listen to his tantrums.

“Do you want to eat?” Porsche entered while holding a bowl of chopped fruits.

I’m hungry but I don’t feel eating. My stomach feels full because of the anxiety. I cannot even drink a glass of water today. If I eat, then I will throw up for sure.

“What happen to Pol?” Porsche asked and pointed the direction of Pol.

Arm elbowed Pol. Why does he look like he will cry in no time?

“Pol?” I called his name. “Did something wrong happen to you?”

“Khun No…” Pol said with his teary-eyed. “Porsche…Pete…”

Porsche sat beside me as we all eagerly waited for him to say something. Pol pursed his trembling lips. I cannot even describe the facial expression I can see on his face. It’s so bad and cannot be explained.

“I have something to tell you.”

When he said that, the three of us almost crash on each other just to listen on what he is about to say.

But Arm covered Pol’s mouth. Aw.

“He got diarrhea.” Arm said nervously. “Right? You got diarrhea?”

“Then go to the bathroom!” Porsche shouted. “We are not willing to smell something unpleasant today.”

“Go now!” Khun ordered as Arm drag Pol away.

“Is he only going to talk about diarrhea?” I disappointedly asked and fix my gaze on the Mickey Mouse we were watching.

“I thought he will gossip something.” Porsche said and comfortably sat beside me.

He keeps complaining about Khun Kinn which is normal. I will be surprised if the two will not fight. Maybe, it needs miracle for that.

“Pete. Are you there?”

Ow shit. I want the floor swallow me when I heard P’Chan’s voice as he knock on the door. Please. No. I don’t want to face him at this moment.

“Pete is here!” Porsche shouted.

“Maybe he wants to tell you something.”

Damn you Porsche.

I don’t have anything to tell him. Maybe he found out about what I did last night? Is he going to report me? No. In his case, I know that he won’t hesitate to shoot me. Or maybe he will ask on what I saw last night?

The door opened revealing Arm and Pol returning.

“I will excuse Pete first, Khun No.”P’Chan said as he peaks.

I turn sideways, looking at Khun No with pleading eyes. I don’t want to be ashes yet, please.

Should I say that I have diarrhea also?

“Okay. Just return him.” Khun No said that made my knees went weak.

Did you just literally put me on my own death row?

I nervously went to P’Chan’s direction and greeted him with a smile. I stare at his biceps, if he strangles me now, I will die within a minute.

“Pete.”

“Yes?”

Can they stop calling my name first and pausing for more than five seconds? They are all giving me heart attack! I just wish that when they want to say something, they should say it directly.

“Khun Korn wants to talk to you.”

A second ago, I am afraid of being caught for what I did but now… damn, I can already feel hell welcoming me with open arms.

“Khun Korn?”

P’Chan, please tell me I am hallucinating. I haven’t made up my mind properly, I still lack of sleep and if I am going to face Khun Korn again maybe I will loss my sanity.

Aside from stress, I am only gaining mental breakdown in this household.

P’Chan nodded. “Do your job properly.” He said and walked away.

If you just know, I am slowly regretting that I chose this job.

Should I just ran away and go back to the island? That is a good idea but from the moment Khun Korn told me about the plan related to Khun Macau, I already know that there are already eyes spying on me.

I knock for a few times before I enter. I saw Khun Korn cleaning a gun.

“Good morning, Khun Korn.” I nervously greeted him as I stare at the gun he was holding.

My heart is already beating at its maximum speed, sweats are running through my cheeks and the cold temperature in his office didn’t even help. I wanna throw up with the uneasiness I am feeling.

Khun Korn calmly placed the gun on the table.

“Did you know that it was the same gun I used to kill Kan?” He told me casually.

My knees are already weak and when I met his eyes, I can see the devil in the form of an innocent face.

Why can’t he just leave Vegas and Khun Macau alone? The two are very quiet these days. The bastard Vegas even have time to go to the bar. Khun Macau is probably studying at this moment.

“You know that I want Vegas and Macau dead, right?” Khun Korn gets a stick of cigarette and lit it up.

Please give me one. I can no longer handle the stress I am feeling.

Why? If I can just ask him. If I am at the same position and level as Khun Korn, I want to ask him why? I thought the enemy was only Khun Kan. Why does he want the other two to die?

Is his plan to annihilate the whole Second Family?

I just stand still, waiting for him to say whatever he wanted to say.

“If you kill Macau then you can finally avenge for what Vegas did to you.” Khun Korn said that made me look at him.

Is he taking advantage of what Vegas did to me?

“This is a good opportunity to return the suffering and pain Vegas has caused you.” His voice was really sweet like a father who is convincing his child to fight for themselves.

But what the fuck are you saying Khun Korn?

I always see Khun Korn as a very reasonable and worth the respect person and everything he does have deeper meaning. Hearing him say this, I can only feel disappointment.

So you’re using the trauma I got to kill them?

“You can give Vegas the taste of his own medicine Pete by killing Macau.”

I couldn’t believe what I am hearing right now.

Do you want me to become a psycho?

To be honest, I can feel my blood pressure rising. I feel really annoyed from the words coming from his mouth.

I thought Vegas and Khun No’s mind are already crazy however, Khun Korn made me realize that he is worse than them.

Khun Korn gets the gun and extended his hands as if he is offering it to me.

“Get this gun and go spy on Macau and help me end the life of the two brothers or…” Khun Korn stares at me deeply. “.”

We stand still facing each other as his hand was still holding the gun that he used to kill Khun Kan only for me to use it to kill Khun Macau.

I am still stuck in these choices.

I don’t want to kill Vegas and Macau, never. But if I refused then I will die.

I am confident that Khun Korn will not spare me.

My whole body is ready to collapse at any moment.

Why are you doing this to me?

“I am giving you a minute to decide.”

Please give me a decade.

Shit. Just a minute? Is he joking?

“Thirty seconds left…” Khun Korn said and smile.

What will happen if I kill Macau or Vegas?

If Vegas and Macau die, will it give me satisfaction? Am I going to be happy if they suffer? Should I give back the pain they cause me especially to Vegas?

Can I really hurt Khun Macau if I know that he is the only person Vegas have at this moment?

“Twenty seconds…”

Khun Korn has done good things to me and my family. He is the reason why my grandparents are living a good life. He helped us when we were going through a lot of life challenges.

He let me work here and treated me like anybody else. I build a good relationship with the other bodyguards and even to his sons.

Should I repay Khun Korn to the kindness he did?

If I refused, then am I going to be ungrateful?

“Ten seconds.”

What kind of situation did I put myself into?

“Five…four…three…”

Is it Vegas and Macau or the Major Family?

I know that I cannot save both.

“Two…”

Sorry but this is the best choice.

“One.”

“I’ll take it.” I firmly said and get the gun from his hand. “I’ll do it.”

I saw a glimpse of mischievous smile forming onto his lips. "I know you'll accept it."

I am already asking for forgiveness.