Honor In Vengeance

The sun rose in the east as usual, it reflected on the buildings and trees, leaving it with a yellow glow effect.

Prisoners were chained and tied to one another as they were taken to their place of morning duties. They wore a uniform orange jumpsuit which indicates they are prisoners.

While some who didn't have or have completed their morning duties remained in their prisons, locked and secured from the outside world as usual. Among them is the ingenious man who was elated and feeling different from other prisoners or maybe will be wholly different as he will be let out today and won't be addressed as a prisoner again.

Earlier this week, man was called out of the blue to meet with the chief executive officer at his office. At first, he was petrified with the thought of adding or sending him to a bigger level of punishment, due to what has happened to other prisoners when they are being called. Little did he know that it was going to be the happiest moment in his life so far.

He was told about his release and he didn't hesitate to inform his girlfriend, whom he hasn't seen for the past three years, about the good news. Today she is coming to pick him up, and he couldn't be any happier to finally be with the love of his life.

Man was sitting on the down bunk bed listening to the chants of his prisoner's roommate. They were as excited as he was, they celebrated with him and wished that one day they would be finally let out and be free too.

Soon, the clanks of keys were heard, and they turned to see a police officer with a bunch of keys in his hand, needing not to be told, it was time for him to leave.

The faces with happy expressions suddenly changed to being gloomy. They will miss him and maybe won't see him again as they were all strangers who met their selves in here, man noticed this and knew it was going to happen, he tried not to say or do a thing that will put them in the feeling of oppression, but another thing was certain, man will miss them.

Of course, like others, he made quite a few friends here, they did things together and even ate on the same plate. 

He hugged each and every one of them and those he was acquainted to, he hugged them tighter, especially the old man who was sitting beside the window, looking out and forced himself not to be interested.

Man knew that it was one of his ways of trying not to be emotional. And if there were to be a wish before he leaves, it will be to take the old man with him. Now he feels like he is leaving something important behind.

His hands were still handcuffed, as the police hadn't released him fully. The police officer dragged him on his elbow and took him to the counter, where he would sign out his name and be marked as released. 

Another police officer with tiny round frames looked at him through his glasses, he dropped a large pile of files on the counter which made a sound due to the gravity on how it was dropped.

“Find his name and sign him out” his hoarse voice ordered the first policeman. He was higher in level, so he gets to order his juniors around.

The first policeman turned to the man with a questioning gaze, needing not to tell him what he demanded for.

“Micheal Hastings” he answered politely.

While the policeman was searching for his name in the piles, Micheal scanned the visiting hall with his eyes, which can be seen clearly from where he stood. He searched for a familiar face, the one to pick him up this morning. He scanned from the beginning to the end, but she wasn't among the people who sat there. Maybe she is outside the hall, he assured himself.

After ransacking the files on the counter for a few minutes, he found it and Micheal took the pen and signed his name after clarification.

Alas, he is out, the smell of freedom wafted in the air, the first time in three years he felt uncaged and no restraints, his excitement rising as he stared around the common areas with some visitors and new faces that were arrested. 

He couldn't be any happier that he is now free to live his life. The past three years have taught him many lessons in different shades of color, even though it was in the hard way but the feeling of freedom and not being chained and dragged around, made him extremely excited. 

Standing outside, he continued searching for his girlfriend, but she wasn't there, she wasn't among the visitors waiting to see their people too because today is visiting day. Micheal was confused, shouldn't she be here to take him? 

Micheal continued looking around and watching many prisoners chatting with their families or guardians, he was getting uncomfortable with the feeling of no one was here for him and each seconds that passed doubled it.

The humming of a vehicle pulled him out of his thoughts, it appeared to be a familiar face, his best friend. He ran his hand on his hair as he walked to the car. He was happy to see someone here for him.

“Hey man, good to see you in the street again” Jaden, his best friend, threw a bottle of fresh can water to him.

Micheal caught it without slipping, he turned the cover quickly and gulped the whole content in a very swift manner. The water regained him and cooled his taste bud, especially all that ran down his throat. He felt alive and ready to be on a move.

As if taking in the surroundings and people around, he noticed one thing, someone was missing. 

“Where is Kathie?”he asked as he got into the car.

Jaden didn't respond to his question, rather he threw a question at him, “How do you feel? Free at last” a smile married his face as he diverted the question.

Micheal isn't too dumb not to notice how he avoided answering his question, and he is persistent on knowing where his girlfriend is.

He turned his head towards the side window as he stared at the road they drive in,”Jaden, not the answer to my question.”

This was an unavoidable question for Jaden, even if he doesn't provide the answer now, he knows that one day or perhaps hours later, Micheal will come to know the truth. But then, considering that he just came out of the jail, Jaden will rather ignore the question and swirl his mind than put him back to cloud one.

Jaden looked at him through the rearview mirror, “Let's get a brunch, I will tell you after that”

In as much as it was bulging Micheal to know about his girlfriend, Jaden depriving him of an answer is building up anxieties within him, plus he's getting suspicious of whatever it is.

He spared a few glances and nodded, brunch then.

“The back seat, there's a new set of clothes, you can change into them” Jaden gestured to him with his thumb.

Micheal crawled to the back seat. He saw a fresh looking white shirt and black ripped jeans, he tsked! His best friend is thoughtful, but this is not his type of clothes, he sighed and put on the clothes since there wasn't another option. He can't be on the road with prisoner wear, people will look at him weirdly.

They drove in silence and didn't speak to each other throughout what seemed like a thirty minute everlasting ride, more to Micheal who was anticipating the answer like a Child who awaits the Christmas season. 

Soon, they were seated in a fancy restaurant with a waiter attending to them. Different varieties of snacks were served with drinks that suit. Jaden popped a champagne, he poured a little in his glass and then to Michael's.

Michael wasn't interested in this mini celebration, he appreciates it, but his mind is occupied. Jaden was putting him on blast.

Jaden raises his glass for a toast to celebrate his freedom, “A toast, brother.”

He calls him 'brother' they've been together for many years, Micheal is more than a friend to him, he is also a brother, a blood to him and vice versa.

Michael glared at him.

“Cut the crap, Jaden! Can you talk now” he said out of frustration. 

“Where is Kathie? Why didn't she come to pick me up?”

Jaden sighed, he expected the question again. He doesn't know how to give him the answer and not make him sad because he just came out of jail.

He took the wipe and wiped his mouth before placing it on his laps, he sipped from his glass and finally broke the news.

“Kathie is getting married today” he announced and hopes that he doesn't cause an outburst.

Micheal squeezed his face, he was confused and if it was another person that just uttered this, he would have punched the life out of that person.

He ran his hands in his tangled hair again, with a small smile on his lips he said, “Jaden, I know you love getting on my nerves but can you be serious for once at least today that I'm out, stop playing"

“Is she okay? If she is sick tell me and stop beating around the bush”

This was going to be hard, thought Jaden.

"I am really serious, Kathie will be married today in fact, right now, she is wedding at the church” 

Micheal scoffed in awe, “Really? To whom?”

“Kathie is getting married to Pablo”

Michael's heart skipped at the mention of that name, his eyes bulged, and he was suddenly breathless with anger.

What is Jaden spurting? It was hard to believe.

Three years ago, Micheal was a talented and hardworking man. He owned his own company and recruited experienced personnel and experts to work under him. He has a girlfriend who got involved with a man who was wealthier than he. It happened to be that the man tried to obscene his girlfriend (Kathie) and Micheal tried to protect Kathie from the man, which led to an outbreak between Michael and the man. When he found out about the person he was fighting with, it was too late because Micheal was later serving in jail.

Jaden let out a deep breath, “After you were put behind bars, Kathie started dating Pablo. At first, I thought it was a threat but later on, I realized that Kathie was being greedy. Pablo is rich as Croesus, many times I ran into Kathie, it is either she is avoiding to face me or cooking up lies. Pablo made sure to bring down everything that was connected to you and that included your company, Michael”

Micheal felt betrayed, how could Kathie leave him for his enemy? He was the one who tried to protect her, and he ended up being the one who was used. Kathie violated his trust.