"And check." I move my rook straight to the end making Mr faisal's king stuck under the palm of my hand.
"Good move" he says. "But you're still learning." He moves his bishop backwards killing my rook and aiming my king on point. I move my king a step ahead and he released a low laugh.
"That's why I tell you, One wrong step and you're dead." He moves his Knight, officially making my king stuck in a lope. "Checkmate." He let's out his sophisticated laugh.
"I gave you an easy one." I say in my defence.
"That's all I teach you Sam. Prepare to kill or be killed." He said, reorganising his chess board. "Remember kid, Pawns are the most important pieces in chess" He took a pawn in his hand. "You use them as beneficial sacrifices." He said.
"We don't always have to kill or take advantage of anyone in order to win." I say.
"Who won this game?" He notches an eyebrow.
"You"
"Exactly" he tilts his head back, smiling.
"You said you'd give me details of the plan today." I said, pouring him a glass of wine.
It's Friday, we've made Fridays our secret holiday. It's wholesome actually, To just talk and listen. We're currently in his library room, it's quite demure. I often come here.
The chess board is an antique piece. you get the idea right?
"And I'm giving it you through chess." He takes the glass that I hand over to him.
"Son, learn the importance of chess and you'll never have to ask anyone for details, not even me." He said before taking a sip.
"I'm working on it."
"Invite your friend for the meeting, I'll be in the lounge." He walked himself out calmy and I text Ifan.
Ifan hurry up!
On my way :)
For a while I kept looking at the chess board. Where did I go wrong? And I think Mr Faisal is wrong, we don't always have to Slaughter in order to win.
He may had to learn it the hard way, but I'm different than him,
No amount of hatred can ever make me a brute..
Or maybe I'm convincing myself.
I hear a car drive by, so I look down the window.
It's Ifan, I wait for him to up upstairs.
"Heyo" Ifan takes a seat.
"Finally the king decides to show up." I sarcasticly bow to him.
"Yeah I didn't want to interrupt your bonding with Faisal." He said.
"He wanted you to come, too."
"Yeah, yeah don't kid yourself Sam, you and I both know he only wanted to spend time with you."
"What? You're terrible at reading people Ifan." My voice wavered, I'm so confused.
"Then how come I read you more than you can yourself?" He takes my glass in his hand and sniffs. "Wine again?" He asked, as if its compared to murder.
"I mean, why not?"
"It's harmful."
"Okay dad." I roll my eyes. But I'm still shocked to what he said about reading me, am I that visible?
"Mr Faisal said to invite you over for our meeting."
"What meeting?" Ifan says without making eye contact, he's moving the chess pieces back and front for no reason.
"Our first mission as his right hands, you forgot already?" I say in skepticism.
"Honestly, I wanted to talk to you about this actually." He finally sees me eye to eye.
"What is it?" I casually take a sip of my wine.
"I want to quit."
Wine spats out of my mouth and went in the wrong pipe of my throat and I'm immediately choking as I cough. His damn words hit me like a brick.
He taps my back gently "Sam be careful, are you okay?"
"I'm okay." With a quick motion, I wipe my mouth with the back of my upper arm.
"But what did you just said?" I blink intensely.
"That I want to quit." He repeated.
I laughed, he's not being serious.
"Quit what, this new task?" I say teasingly.
"No, it's not that"
"Quit this holiday?" I guess again.
"No Sam-"
"Our movie plan, I get it if you want to spend it with some girl." I wink, even though my heart is beating crazy.
"You know I have no girl." He says, as much as I hate to admit, I know what he's talking about quiting, I just don't want to admit it that quickly because what if I'm wrong and overthinking but my blood pressure went high and I didn't want to but I brust out.
"Then Quit fucking what?" I yelled. I know damn well he's talking about our career.
"Don't be obvious Sam." He says gently as he countines. "I want you to consider what I say seriously."
"But what you're saying is topnotch bullshit, why would I take you seriously?" I waved my hands in disbelief.
"You didn't even let me finish."
"Because I know what you're about to say. You said you can read me even more than I can myself, well guess what." I say, "Likewise."
"Hear me out." He said, trying to make me sit.
"Why?" I let out a deep breath.
"Because that's what I want." His voice finally sounds commanding.
"You don't like being his right hand, it's okay we'll switch back to what we were before." I rushed my words.
Reasons, yeah make reasons for him to stay.
"It's not about being his right, left or anything hand, it's overall being his man."
"Where is all this coming from?"
"From me Sam, what's so hard to understand?" He said irritately.
"You don't want to do this new mission, sure we won't if that's what causing you trouble." I said, making yet another excuse.
"You're not getting it."
"Then tell me, what is it that changed?" I'm heated.
It's sad knowing what he'll say next will be true And not just some harmless dream.
"I don't want to keep on doing this, all of this. These crimes, cheating in secrecy." He said, trying to act calm.
"We're earning from it. It's what keeps us fed." I replied.
"We're adults now, there's so many more ways to earn. Sam we're no longer some lost, desperate teenagers"
"I thought so, too. That I wasn't lost, guess I was wrong." I didn't mean to be this harsh.
"I'm sorry-" I said, immediately trying to take back my words, but he cuts me mid sentence.
"Well you know what." He says interruptedly. "I'm sorry to break it to you but Faisal is sugar coating you." He said, repulsively.
"Excuse me?" I squint my eyes in disgust.
What did he just say?
"It's Mr Faisal." I say, I didn't yell. My voice remained firm and harsh.
"Well not anymore, I'm quiting anyway." He said, walking away from me.
"Dude, come on, what's wrong?" I break character, I can't stay mean to him.
He's my brother. I try blocking his way.
"It's just, I don't want to achieve this as my life goal, I have other things in mind." He said, as he stopped walking.
"I get it, we have different paths planned ahead, doesn't necessarily means to quit this."
"It does Sam." He says. "It does."
"How? In what manner?" I'm confused I need answers, what changed.
"You were fine a day back, what happend in a night?" I ask.
"It's never to late to start something new, you can quit, too. You know. You don't have to countine doing this either."
"You don't know that. I have, too." I said.
"Yeah, okay let's start from there, why? Why do you have, too. Sam?" He asked.
And the question sounded unreal, because I never ask myself this. I've buried it, deep down in my subconscious mind because It's better that way. "You're having a hard time figuring it all out, let's talk with fresh minds later." I placed my statement without hearing what he has to say next.
"Fine" He said and left the room.
. . . .
For a while I wonder around. Thinking about what Ifan said. I'll give him time to think about it some more. I just don't want to lose him, I know different paths doesn't necessarily means we'll grow apart. But it feels like it.
We're twenty-seven. Maybe he wants to take his life seriously- But so do I.
He's being a child. Or am I? He isn't happy working here- with me? Or is it something else? I think my head is going to explode, I have all these steps planned and I can't take those steps without Ifan, he's my reader, my warrior. I don't think he realises that he's stronger than I ever was, I have anger issues, I'm repulsive, aggressive and maybe even confrontational.
He's more mature.
I need him.
I let it all out by punching, and he used to let all his emotions out by painting but he stopped, I wonder why he ever stopped?
I loved his paintings, I think I still have one he gave me almost twelve to fiveteen years ago. I can't accept that he wants to quit forever. We've even together since we were ten. It's hard to pass on something that is craved deep inside your soul. He's shaped into my heart, he can't just quit!
I know I came here for a reason. The more I learn, the more I'm convinced there's more to this story. I'm getting closer to understanding what's really actually did happend to my parents.
Why anybody would ruin my family, my youth. I have to know,
That's all I've ever learnt,
To find out what happend those nights.
Erdogans,
Cultivated Hamsworth,
And Victor..
Are my top suspects.
I check the time in my watch. Oh crap, the meeting, I run to the lounge where Mr Faisal said he'd be.
I enter into that room.
"Sam, come." He noticed me being unhinged.
"Sir." I feel out of breath.
"Where's your friend?" Mr Faisal asked.
"He's not coming." I said looking down at my feet. "You can tell me the plan thoroughly, I'll pass it to him."
"Something's bothering you." He asked calmly.
Should I tell him? I shouldn't..
But maybe he can help.
"Only I be handling this mission." I said.
"Why's that? Is Ifan sick?"
"No, it's-"
"Then it's settled, you're both doing it."
"No, I'll have to talk to him again." I said with the speed of light.
"It's not like you two would be doing this the first time, I know this is different than what you've been doing before, but you'll get a grip of it." He squints his eyes suspiciously.
"Ifan wants to leave." There! I said it! My sentence stayed in the air for a few minutes before he broke the ice.
"Leave as in?" He notches his eyebrow.
"Leave as in quit all of this." I said it! now give some good advice to make him not want to go.
"If he wants to go, let him."
Wait what? That's the best he can come up with?
"What?" I say, it's like my voice got stuck half away through.
"The more you hold on to something the more it tends to slip away" He crossed his legs.
"Sir-" I say but he cuts me mid sentence.
"Tell me, What is it that makes him want to leave."
I sigh.
"He says he has other things in mind." My throat suddenly feels tight.
"Then let him have his preferences. He's a young man, he must have different ideas of future in his mind, its natural." He says it all as if it's that easy to swallow. I remember he was the one to say we can't leave once we've gotten into this career, that there's so going back. He can't possibly suggest me this.
"Then why wait for so long, he should've told me before. That this wasn't his ideal future." I said, complaining. I'm genuinely concerned.
"Maybe he was too afraid to tell you his vision thinking you might get upset. Have you ever asked him what he wanted to do when he crosses the age of twenty-five? Or did you just thought whatever you planned will be his dream, too?" He said.
I'm looking down at my feet.
"No matter how close or how deep a friendship can be, it doesn't always mean two people can live the same interests." Mr Faisal talked and I stayed silent.
"Next time he mentions something about his life. Support him. Encourage him, and ask him what his vision for future has been like. Do you understand me Sam?" He offers me a smile.
But I don't feel like smiling.
"All my life, all I've ever did was for us. I have done everything in order to provide for him." I said. That's when realisation hit me. It hurts to break out of the bubble you've been living in since forever.
"I was in too deep- I forgot he was the same age as me. I never wanted him to feel discouraged or unsupported. Am I a bad friend?" I ask. It can't mean that, I'm an awesome person with an excellent personality.
"No Sam. It certainly doesn't mean that way. You both were young. And did everything to survive, it's neither one of you children's fault"
"But I never asked if he was happy with my decision. I planned it all far ahead than just now. I never realised I was- being selfish. perhaps more focused on what I truly needed to be done"
"And what's that?" He asked.
Shit, I spoke too much.
"Oh it's nothing, it's not that deep"
it is deep, deeper than the ocean, it's my life's only purpose. A notification pops up on my apple watch, not to flex- I mean who am I kidding, I am flexing. I slightly rotate my wrist to check who it is. It's- Ayat? But she never texts me?
"Every purpose is deep Sam, either it's monumental bold step or gradual step." Mr Faisal said.
"You're right Sir." I say, distracted by Ayat's double texting.
"You might want to get that, seems crucial." The corner of his lips lift up.
I open what she sent me. She sent me a blur picture of her inside a hospital? What is she doing there? did she meant to do that or is it a mistake? It shows she's typing something.
"Xume picck me umpp!" Her text said.
She double texts me. "Dnt tel my brotlder abouy it!!!"
Dammit, she's putting me into trouble. Talking about My life. Ugh.
Another notification sound made Mr Faisal squint his eyes in suspicious.
I nervously forced a laugh. "Can I check?" I ask,
Mr Faisal shrugged his shoulders.
I opened the text, "Hey, it's jemmy, Ayat's friend, can you please hurry here?"
What the hell?
"Ah I just remembered I had this.. a.. this meeting," I rush my words at Mr Faisal.
"If its a meeting, it must be important." he's smirking.
"Yeah, I got to go, brb da-"
What the fuck?
Don't tell me- Was I about to say dad? This just got weird.
Like ultrasound weird.
"I'll be back after-morrow sir" I head out, without saying anything else, because what the actual fuck was that?- Ifan got in my head with all those bonding bullshit.
It's so embarrassing but, Let's just forget I almost did that.
. . . .
I scan the whole hospital to see where she is.
"Hey excuse me, have you seen a girl, almost 5'4, weaving light brown hair?" I ask the receptionist, I came staight at where her location said she'd be. But she's not here, where is she?
"You mean the girl there serving those moves?" She laughed. I turn around to see, in the middle of the waiting room, she's legit dancing,
oh lord help me get through this.
My mouth dropped. "Why is she doing that?" I said in embarrassmemt.
"It's nothing to worry about, she's just on Anesthesia."
"What is that?" I ask,
"You don't know what that it?" She asked back. My cheeks flushed.
"I uhm, I really don't"
"No worries sir, she just got her wisdom tooth out, the medication won't last for long, you can take her with you."
Oh, wisdom tooth. "Thankyou" I say, then walked to her,
I slightly push aside some kids who are roaming around her, chattering and cheering her on.
Kids are dickheads,
She's lost in her dance, her body swaying to the pulsating beat that she's making herself, her arms raised high above her head.
Somebody help me. I look around ourselves, to make sure no one is checking her out.
Guess what?
They are, elderly are laughing. I nervously force a smile at them.
"You're Sam, aren't you?" A blonde girl tapped my shoulder, is she jemmy?
"Yeah, that's me," I shake her hand. "My father just got admitted, I would've stayed, but its an emergency, I looked through her phone and you were the one she was texting, so I called you here. Can you please take her home? I feel terrible, but can you?"
"Yeah, sure, she's family, don't worry." I tell her, and she rushingly left.
"Ayat" I call her, she's not listening, I tap her shoulder and she opened her eyes.
"Sam!" Her pupils grew soft, filled with devotion. Everything around her faded into the background. "Ayat I'm here to pick you up" I make her walk with me.
"I challenge you," She frowned. "Sam yilmaz driwnk gween guice wih me"
"Ayat we don't have time"
"Afwaird so?" She evilously laugh in her drowsiness, I look around us, grinting my teeth, as her laugh echoes all over the hospital walls.
"Ifan's going to kill me." I mutter under his breath, covering my face.
"Plwease!" She insists.
"No sweetheart" I call her that but in reality she's always been mean to me.
"Cwome on Sam when did you gwet so boring." She rolls her eyes.
I'm anything but boring.
"I'm boring you?" I raise my eyebrows in skepticism.
"As for now, yes"
"Hand me that green shot" I squint my eyes sarcasticly.
"I don't thwink you can bweat my driwking skills!" She drowsyly points at me as she pokes my shoulder, laughing at her own communication as hiccups bump her throat after every word.
"Count me in" I say.
"Loser, loser, pwaints on fire!"
"It's liar liar" I correct her.
"Bwut are you a liar or a lwoser? That's what I thought." she laughed even louder in drowsiness,
Bro she's so annoyingly mean to me.
"Don't come crying to me if you lose." I say. Obviously my tolerance is higher.
"Get yourself deady for losses!" She said.
What even is she saying? Deady? Like dead or ready?
She has two bottles in her hand, I guess the nurse gave her those, we sat down on one of the tables in the waiting room.
As she passed me one,
Our eyes locked in a competitive stare as we clinked our first- my first, hers I don't know, green shot bottle together,
It's like we're partying with tequila shots, but in a less fun way.
She has a mischievous glint in his eyes, she slammed down her first shot, the liquid disappearing in an instant. And that was it, her head slammed down on the table after that one shot.
"Okay let's get you home now." I scoffed.
She spreads her arms for me to carry her,
her body began to slump, I swiftly wrapped my arms around her waist, catching her before she could hit the ground. I lifted her, cradling her against my chest.
Her head lolled against my shoulder, as I adjust my grip,
With gentle strides, I carried her across the hospital hall, her fragile weight on me. The lady at the reception, gave a comforting nod,
And I got her to her home safely. I lay her on her bed.
"Sam." She Murmurs.
"Yes?" I ask.
"A part why I'm aways mwean to ywu is bwecause I can't gwet over yoy even afer all these years of sepwaration." Her eyes are closed, but she's mumbling in her drowsiness. She mutters something under her breath. Say what now?
I didn't understand a word she said, because to be very honest, I can bearly hear what she's saying. What is she mumbling?
"I'm sorry Ayat I don't understand what you're asking me?" I ask. "Do you want water?" I whisper.
Snoring- she's snoring.
I chuckle to myself. She's such a baby. I take a deep breath in. I won't tell her or remind her of tonight. I don't want her to feel embarrassed in front of me. "Goodnight." I turned her lights off and left her house, locking the main door securely.
What a hectic night.
Puffs.
A notification hit me up.
"Unknown number?" I whisper.
"Fragile woman huh"
I immediately scanned the entire neighbourhood, My heart racing. My hand clenched my phone tighter.
Who the fuck is keeping an eye on me?
Worse,
On her?