Chapter 34: Do you … forgive me?
Chapter 34: Do you … forgive me?
“Tristan?” Dobby grimaced, “What are you doing here?”
Tristan, with a look on his face that seemed impenetrable, ambled over to them. He went down to the floor, his knees collided with the ground.
Ashton moved aside as Tristan then held Jin’s hand. The doctor stood, making way for him as well.
“Jin … I’m sorry,” his lips began to tremble, “I’m really, really fucking sorry.” He quickly bit his lip to stop himself from bursting like a cloud.
“I should’ve … been here you guys,” he sniffled, “But I wasn’t. It’s all my fault. It all is. I’m a fucking selfish asshole.” a tear trickled down his cheek.
“Please … forgive me. And if you can’t … scold me until I forgive myself.”
Suddenly, a screen appeared before Jin.
[Successor Revelation in 3 minutes 59 seconds]
“Somebody,” Tristan’s eyes swept the room, “Anybody,” his voice trailed off as he looked at Jin again, “Tell me what happened to him.”
Ashton averted his eyes. “He tried making money for his grandma who’s currently ill. A cop ended up almost killing him … but he still might end up dying as the doctor here can’t fully rehabilitate his body.”
Tears lingered in Tristan’s sorrowful eyes. He assumed that Jin was at the verge of death. “I should’ve been here to help him with the money he needed…”
Tristan knew exactly what Jin had attempted to do for the money. And he blamed himself for everything.
He sniffled, “Thank you, Ash,” he looked at Ashton, “Thank you for calling me here despite knowing what I’ve done to you guys last time.”
Dobby grimaced at Ashton, and muttered, “You brought him here?” his tone rose. His face soured.
Ashton nodded his head in response. A response to which Dobby maliciously peered at him and stroked an index finger across his very own neck.
Tristan frowned. Guilt glimmering in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Jin. Who did this to you?”
“It was the cop. But a bunch of Ability Runners suggested this kind of job to him,” answered Ashton.
“Ability Runners?” Tristan turned his head to face him with glassy eyes.
“Yes … one of them’s right over there.” Ashton pointed a finger over at Baron.
Tristan looked over at him, and stood. Then, he started approaching him, the rage that resided within him seethed.
His rather sluggish gait then transitioned to the cusps of a full on lunge. He went charging towards Baron.
Baron became apprehensive, fright written all over his face.
Tristan hurled a heavy fist at what seemed like the air, for Baron had suddenly disappeared.
The doctor was gone as well.
“Where’d the mother fucker go!?” his head scans the room.
“He’s got a teleportation ability; truly a rare find,” remarked Ashton, pushing his glasses higher up his nose bridge with a finger.
Tristan scowled. “Ability Runners,” he scoffed, “Sure right they are. Cowards.”
Tristan walked back over to the others. He sat beside Jin, holding his hands again. “I’m sorry, Jin. Please heal up, okay?”
Dobby seized Jin’s hand, “Better not die on us … if you die on us—I’ll kill you!”
Ashton furrowed his brows. “We’re gonna make sure something like this doesn’t reoccur.”
Dobby continued, “We’re gonna give you all of our attention, and we’re giving you …”
“All of it!” Ashton and Tristan quickly finished in unison.
Tristan looked at Ashton, and then at Dobby with guilt eluding from his face. “Guys,” he heaved, “I’m sorry. For everything. I’m sorry for not showing up at school, and I’m sorry for not being there for you.”
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done,” he turned to Dobby, “I’m sorry for disrespecting you so much in the past, Dobby. I’m really, really sorry. I’m sorry for calling you fat as well. Truth is … we all know you’re not.”
In truth, Dobby wasn’t skinny. But he wasn’t fat either.
“I’m sorry that we had to fight so much, and that we never got along. But I think it’s time for that to change. Don’t you think so?”
Dobby averted his eyes and peered down at the floor.
“Yeah,” Tristan sighed, “Take your time. Take all the time you need before you finally forgive me.”
He turned to Ashton, “And you, Ash,” he placed a hand on Ashton’s head. “There is not one person in this room more loving and trustful as you. I think we all love you—and I’m speaking for everyone.”
Ashton averted his eyes, and immediately crimsoned.
“Because of this fact, we never ever had a single fight—ever. You’re just far too nice for that. No wonder why your mother would kill to secure your safety.”
He smiled, “It’s time to put the past behind us, don’t you think, Ash? Do you … forgive me?”
Ashton looked at him. “Yeah, I do. Actually, I forgave you on the same day you ditched us.”
Tristan smiled at him, and gently rubbed his head. “Thanks, Ash. Thanks a ton.”
Having heard their conversation. Jin, eyes closed, smiled softly. He liked it when his friends were like this. Since they were little. In retrospect, they had a lot of good times.
[Successor Revelation in 1 minute 29 seconds]
Then, he slowly opened his eyes.
[HP: 6/10]
Tristan quickly looked at him, “Jin!? You’re up!? Are you okay?”
Jin cocked a smile. “Good to … have you back, buddy.”
“That doesn’t matter right now. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m just in a lot of pain for some reason. My head hurts like shit.”
“Then you need to get some sleep. But before you do, please hear me out,” uttered Tristan.
“I’m really sorry, Jin. For everything,” he averted his eyes, “I wish I could tell you guys why I ditched you that rainy, horrible day—but not yet,” he looked at Jin again, “I don’t wanna make you guys more worried than you are right now.”
“Jin, you’re a great friend. From the day my eyes met you, I just felt your pain and felt like being by your side. It’s weird, I know. I saw you in that wheelchair, and I saw how much things you were going through at not only school; but at home as well.”
[Successor Revelation in 59 seconds]
“I knew I couldn’t begin to live a day in your life, and so, I admired you. I felt weaker than you despite you being the physically weaker one. There’s something about you … I can’t pinpoint it, but there’s just something about you.”
“Something that would shine so brightly one day. You’re just so confusing yet so understandable at the same time.”
“I believe that someone could sense the future someone else has. And I think you’re going to be significant somehow.”
“You were always the weirdest one amongst us. The one going through the most hardships. Sure, we all had our problems—but you went through the most. You’re crippled, yet you stand so strongly.”
He didn’t know Jin had regained his ability to walk.
“And that’s why I felt broken inside when Ash called me and told me that you were dying over the phone…”
Ashton chuckled, “That was sort of just bait—but whatever.”
“Hmmm…” he narrowed his eyes at Ashton, “Anyway,” he looked down at Jin again. “I felt broken when Ash told me that because I knew all the things you’ve been through.”
“And I knew that if I were there for you, you wouldn’t have been on the brink of death. So, I got here the fastest I could.”
[Successor Revelation in 30 seconds]
“I’m so glad you’re alive,” he wept, “I’m so glad. I have no idea what I would’ve done if you weren’t.”
“It’s not like you to get yourself in trouble like this. You’re smarter than this. What got into you?”
“I’m sorry … Tristan.”
“I forgive you. But it won’t happen again, because I’m here now. I’m grateful for you, Jin. Do you … forgive me? I promise I’ll never leave your side ever again…”
[Successor Revelation in 15 seconds]
“I’ll protect you from this day forth…”
Jin averted his eyes. “Tris, I just had a feeling … that you were guilty about kicking us out of your car that day. I … knew it.”
“I knew it wasn’t like you to do something like that on that day. So I … just assumed something important came up. Even after that day, I knew you were guilty.”
Tristan averted his eyes.
“And you know why you were guilty and maybe still guilty now? Because, you’re a good friend, Tristan.”
[Successor Revelation in 5 seconds]
Tristan looked at him.
“And for that,” Jin smiled, “for that I … forgive y—”
Suddenly, hovering rings appeared around both Jin and Tristan’s necks.
Jin’s glowing, hovering ring was green. Dobby’s was glowing peacock blue.
Both their eyes quickly widened at the jarring sights before them.
Tristan’s jaw dropped, “Jin!?”
Jin’s eyes expanded, “Tristan!?”