The Return of Gaston Harrison

 Gaston clenched his hands as he tried to stop the tears pricking at the corner of his gray eyes. He was in denial at first, miserable for the next months, but today, he learned to bear the bitter truth.

He felt melancholy every time he remembered how everyone accused him of killing the Chairman. For a hundred times, he defended himself saying that he is innocent. Yet no one takes sides with the poor secretary like him.

The only thing that is left to Gaston is ACCEPTANCE.

Accept that he was framed.

Accept that he has no future ahead of him.

“Jurgen, when everyone was pointing at me, calling me a killer, a murderer, a monster, I… I…” Gaston shook his head as he lowered his eyes and continued, “I thought you’d be on my side at least. But you only came today when I am about to die.”

Jurgen drew a deep breath before he leaned closer to the glass window.

Through the small holes in the center of the rectangular glass, Gaston heard Jurgen’s breathing. And the next voice which followed sounded higher than before.

“I didn’t come here as your friend.”  

The corner of Jurgen’s lips soared into a sly grin. Goosebumps appeared on Gaston’s skin as he watched his gaze filled with disgust, but rather, they were eyes of demons who crawled from hell.

“I did consider you as my friend, before,” Jurgen said. “But a thief cannot be a friend. You see…”

Jurgen leaned closer and whispered.

“I stole everything from you. Your father, your woman, your wealth, your position as the heir of Hopkin’s corporation, YOUR LIGHT, I snatched every piece of your bright path.”

Gaston stared at the evil smirk on Jurgen’s face. He had a hard time processing everything, as if something clogged inside his brain. Gaston was lost for words.

What does it mean that Jurgen stole  his father?

Gaston lived as an orphan. He has no parents left.

And his woman? Who? Divine Solice? Divine promised Gaston that she would stay by his side, as she was the first one who abandoned him.

Last, the position as the heir of Hopkin’s Corporation.

‘I cannot understand it. How can someone steal something that wasn’t mine?’ Gaston asked himself in silence. Until, Jurgen’s words came back.

“You are the true heir of Hopkins. It’s not me. It’s you, Gaston.”

Eight months ago, Jurgen turned out to be the missing son of Harold Hopkins. Gaston was so happy that Jurgen found his father and that he became rich in no time. He thought nothing but the best for his BEST FRIEND. Yet, on the day he will die, Jurgen came here and said everything. That he stole what was supposed to be his!

Gaston’s world did not only crumble. It stopped, as if it did not exist.

“How pitiful it is to know the truth on the day you will die,” Jurgen uttered. “That’s the reason why I came here. To see that face. To see your reaction, Gaston.”

Gaston’s whole body heated with high temperature. Madness filled her, angry for Jurgen who stabbed his back, not once but multiple times.

Why?

Just why did Jurgen do all of these?!

“Imagine dying with a crime you did not do and after knowing that your BEST FRIEND stole your bright life. How awful it would be. Fortunately, you do not need to imagine.”

Breathing heavily, Gaston slammed the glass window.

The jail guards looked at their way, waiting for the cue to move and do their tasks.

“J-Jurgen. P-Please, explain everything t-to me. D-Did you really… to me… you…”

Without words, Jurgen laughed evilly. This is the first time Gaston saw a demonic figure in the person he trusted the most.

Raw anger consumed him, like a big tide washing over his sanity. He was all red while trembling. And his teeth gritted as if he was biting a bullet. Tears kept on rolling down in his eyes, he had no control on his body.

“I told you,” Jurgen uttered while laughing. When the laughs subsided, his gaze turned cold. He continued, “I stole your light. So, keep drowning into the dark and die for me, Gaston.”

“JURGEN!”

Gaston began to pound his fist onto the glass window. Guards came rushing, pulling him away. But he acted like a barbarian. A monster woke up in his system, wanting to kill Jurgen with his own hands.

He already accepted dying today. But after hearing all of that, Gaston changed his mind.

Perhaps, if there’s still a way to get out of here and prove his innocence, maybe, JUST MAYBE, he could set things right by punishing those who wronged his life.

Solice family who accused him.

Jurgen who stole everything.

They should redeem their sins!

“Let me out! I am innocent! Please! I didn’t kill the chairman! I cannot die yet!”

Shouts echoed in the cold place of agony called jail.

No one listened.

No dare to.

In the end, Gaston could do anything but to keep his vengeance with him and bring it beneath the surface.

The time is over.

He sat on the electric chair which would soon take his life. A life without light.

Gaston regretted everything he did. If only he knew that he would be framed, he should have not stayed loyal to the Solice family.

If only he knew Jurgen would stab him behind his back, he should have not given him the opportunity.

If only he knew Divine would abandon him, he should have not loved.

‘Maybe, dying will give solitude,’ Gaston thought while looking at the blank space and crying silently.

The truth was so painful. If he kept on living like this, Gaston knew that revenge would only fill his mind. There will be no peace. Thus, to comfort himself, he finally bears to accept the end.

‘Let’s just die.’

“Gaston Harrison, sentenced to death. Do you have any last word?” The executioner whispered before turning the machine on.

Gaston closed his eyes.

He took a deep breath.

Hmmmmm. Haaaaaa.

Then a smile slipped on his lips.  

“I hope God knows that I haven’t had my share.”

With his last words, Gaston died.

Then his heart stopped.

It should be.

It must be.

However, when Gaston thought that everything ended with his miserable death, a faint breath escaped from his mouth.

He opened his eyes, feeling the loud beats of his heart.

Is this the world after death?

Is he able to breathe and think like a human after dying?

He was so confused. The image in his eyes was the familiar ceiling of his room and not the jail cell where he spent 6 months of agony and one day of painful death.

Blinking swiftly, Gaston sat up and found himself on the bed.

‘What happened? Is this an illusion before someone dies?’ he asked himself while observing the surroundings.

Barefooted, he hopped down on the bed. He stood in front of the mirror and looked at his reflection. He wasn’t transparent, and his body looked so alive. There was no bruise, no circle under his eyes and no dry lips. This is the appearance he had before staying long months in jail. Above all…

“I am alive,” he murmured.

How is it possible to be here and be alive at the same time?

Knock knock.

Gaston tilted his head towards the direction of the door where he heard the knock. He watched it open then…

“Dude! I’ve been calling you many times. Why aren’t you answering?” asked Jurgen.

Unable to answer, Gaston only stared at the man who betrayed him.

“The Chairman was looking for you. So, I came here to get your ass out. Come on!”

Gaston’s eyes widened.

What does it mean that the Chairman was looking for him?

Didn’t the Chairman die already?

With murderous eyes, Gaston asked with trembling lips, “A-Are you k-kidding me? The Chairman is dead.”

Confused at Gaston’s reaction, Jurgen laughed. He held his aching tummy and replied, “Do you have a death wish? We all know that the Chairman is old. But how can you say  that on the anniversary day of the Chairman and his wife?”

Nine months ago, the Chairman celebrated his wedding anniversary. Jurgen went to Gaston's room to call for him and said that the Chairman was asking for his presence. Gaston would never forget that day.

Oddly, it’s happening right in front of his eyes again, as if the time has turned back.

No.

This is not a ‘what if’.

Because the time did turn back.

Before Gaston died, he said to God that he hadn't done his share. Thus, he was given a second chance to correct his mistake.

‘I  came back from death,’ Gaston realized.