DO I WANT TO BE FREE?

Zain had left his phone yet again for another meeting and Kaima had decided to delete that video once and for all. That video was her only redemption.

How could she just marry Zain because he was her one-night stand? It was a mistake made out of pure drunkenness so she shouldn't suffer it. At least she wasn't pregnant, it was just a night and nothing could change it, he had to let it go.

That wasn't her first time, she had always done it with Richard, thinking he was going to be her one and only but she guessed it was just a childish mistake on her part. She didn't want to make that same mistake in love.

She took out the tape with the print from her bag and placed it on the scanner but it didn't work as she planned.

She was determined to escape this web and return to her normal boring life. She kept on trying it and each time it didn't work.

She felt really frustrated and her frustration turned to tears which freely ran down her red cheeks. So couldn't she escape from this? Couldn't she just live the danger-free life she had always imagined?

She was shocked to the core when she saw Zain standing behind her like a ghost from the reflection on the phone. She almost dropped his phone but he caught it mid-way to the floor.

She turned to the emotionless-looking Zain. His green eyes stared deeply into hers it felt like his black pupils pierced into her conscience.

"Well…" she said hesitantly.

Zain stared at her tear-stained cheeks and wiped off her tears with his thumb.

"I'll unlock it," he said plainly.

She was not sure if he was saying it or just tricking her. He took the phone and opened it with his fingerprint then handed it over to her.

"You can delete it," he said.

She stared at him to be sure he hadn't planned anything. Still watching in certainty, she went to his files and deleted the video, still monitoring to see if there was any negative change in his behavior.

"I'm much better than blackmailing you with a video." He said.

Kaima could see the sorrow in his eyes. What must have been the cause? What unleashed this side of him?

"Have you made your decision?" he asked

She knew he was talking about the contract he gave her. She was silent for some seconds.

"Look, I don't think I want to…" she said unable to complete her statement,

"I understand you're not interested" he cut her off. "From now onwards, I'll not get involved in your life, neither will I contact you nor act like I know you," he said.

He walked up to his file drawer and then got out a USB flash drive.

"Take it," he said. "This contains the video"

Kaima couldn't say anything she just stared at him. It looked like a breakup movie. She managed to take it from him.

"I'll get you back to your former job and I'll make sure to compensate you for your time wastage," he said.

Kaima wasn't sure if she was happy or sad. She was supposed to be happy about this after all this was what she wanted. She couldn't bear to see the sadness in his eyes.

The tears in her eyes welled up at the thought of leaving him. Wasn't this what she wanted? She couldn't control her tears and let them run down her cheek freely. Zain handed a napkin over to her.

"You shouldn't cry, you're finally free," he said.

She felt bad that he didn't wipe her tears with his hands, instead, he gave her a napkin to do so. They already felt so distanced. They just exchanged gazes which meant totally different meanings.

Zain stared into her blue eyes with a wistful look while she stared still unaware of what she truly wanted. Did she really want to leave this exciting life for her former boring one?

****************************************

She couldn't stop thinking of Zain's expression when she looked him in the eye. Why did she feel like she has lost someone dear?

She sat at the bus stop while checking her phone for the time. It was five minutes past five but there was no strange guy around.

Just then she felt a tap on her shoulders which made her turn abruptly. She saw a normal guy standing there. She expected it to be a scary-looking secret agent but it was just a normal-looking everyday guy.

"Where's the Flash drive?" he asked.

She brought out the drive from her bag and then handed it over to him.

"Make sure you're not fooling us" he threatened. "You do not want to be involved with things like this" he threatened.

Suddenly a crowd of people dropped off a bus and soon filled the bus stop. When they dispersed, she couldn't see the guy anymore. She was done with dangerous people, tomorrow her life was starting anew.

**************************************************

Kaima took out the flash drive that Zain had given her, she wanted to destroy it forever but she decided to watch it.

She inserted it into her laptop and played the video.

There was a dark background and she suddenly hears a loud bang! It sounded like a gun.

"Get rid of this mess," a voice said.

She could see a dark silhouette of a man with a gun.

"Make sure you send this video out to the blue bloods when we finally destroy them," he said before letting out a wicked laugh.

"You blue bloods thought you were the most successful mafia gang in Tael but the X denims had taken you down in just a year."

"X denims? Blue bloods? Mafia gangs?" Kaima thought in confusion. "What was this all about?"

"This video is for you," the silhouette figure said directing the camera.

"If you're watching this, it means by now, your gang must have been taken down," he said in a psychopathic manner. "How?"

"Well…it started with your godfather's assassination, then I sabotaged every one of your deals and trades. By now you must be the only blue blood left as I killed your disciples, family, friend, and every other person you met too. If you're watching this just know you're about to be next. Just like I killed your spies, I'll kill you. I'll start by torturing you in every way then you finally die a slow death in my hands. Courtesy the X denims" the figure said before the video finally ended.

Kaima was filled with terror. It didn't seem like this video was for her, it was the USB drive she was strictly asked not to open. Yet again she had gotten herself in another mess but this one seemed brutal. It must have been sent to the other gang but landed in her poor little hands.

She taught mafias only operate in novels or secluded parts of the world. But now the ignorant Kaima had gotten herself involved in one.

She had thought she was playing the flash drive given to her by Zain.

She searched in her bag for the driver but it was not there. She must have given them the wrong drive, the one that contained her sex tape.

It was obvious, that Kaima's life was ruined; not only would they post that video but they'll kill her as she had seen what she wasn't supposed to.