HIS BROTHER: Protect Him

“Forcing me to do things like this….” Jerson couldn’t finish what he wanted to say. He saw how Vishnu’s hand tightened into fist. He sighed and looked at Vishnu whose temper seemed to be wearing thin. “Did you even ask about the prosecutor's opinion about this?” he asked.

He was confident that Vishnu wouldn’t agree with it given that they were awkward together. Their encounter earlier sprouted the awkwardness growing between them and he knew that there was no way the prosecutor would want to be with him.

He brushed his hair and waited for Vishnu to answer. 

“I’m okay with it.” 

Vishnu’s tone was so sharp. His voice was raspy and cold, making Jerson stare at him. 

Jerson furrowed his brows and tilted his head. He couldn’t tell why Vishnu didn’t refute and declined Noah’s suggestion when an obvious disgust was plastered on Vishnu's face. Now, he was devastated by the fact that he won’t be able to repudiate the proposition now that the prosecutor had already accepted it.

Who was he to decline? He was Noah’s person. At least, that was written on the contract and he had to follow Noah no matter what. He frowned. He cursed the man who was giving him a headache. 

Noah always does whatever he wants without any restraints. He was an independent man but nobody has the clue why he chose to be an illegal agent under Empresarium that was set up to steal everyone’s freedom and camouflage commitment as some sort of protection. 

What was his reason for joining the mafia world when he already has everything that everyone kept on wishing for?

 “Cool! Do you have any other concerns, Vishnu?” Noah asked, ignoring the killing intent that Jerson was giving off. Noah was so elated to even care about Jerson. 

Who would care about others anyway when they are on the verge of euphoria? Noah was the same. He was feeling happy to even care about what others think. He was also used to Jerson’s distorting moods. Even though the guy said he wouldn’t do it, he’d still do it. That’s just the way Jerson was. 

Vishnu grimaced. He wanted to seal his mouth or even cut his own tongue. He didn’t know why he just agreed to Noah. He was so caught up in the moment that he said something ridiculous, and now he felt embarrassed. He wanted to take his words back, but he was afraid that’d make things more awkward between him and Jerson. 

Jerson scratched his head. “I don’t even have a say in this setup?” he blurted out with flaring nostrils. 

“Decline it if you want. There’s no one here who wants to lock you up in a responsibility you have nothing to do with,” Vishnu said in a monotone. 

Jerson looked at Vishnu. A line appeared between his brows. He could understand if the Prosecutor would be hard on him, considering how he approached him earlier, but the Prosecutor’s voice was even… somehow… soft? The fuck? Is he imagining things?

 

“I’m very well aware that I don’t have another choice. Deeming Noah’s attitude, he probably won’t let me go without appeasing his libido and would even disturb me even when I'm on my deathbed,” Jerson said as a matter of fact. 

Vishnu nodded in agreement. His mouth twisted. Noah, indeed, has that kind of character. That kind of attitude occasionally made him irritated, but his temperance for his good brother was beyond what anyone could ever imagine. 

“You’re pampering him too much, don’t you think?” Vishnu casually asked. 

“I guess I did.”

Vishnu chuckled. Jerson stared at him. Compared to his usual frowning face, he was so attractive when laughing which made Jerson smile. 

Vishnu’s laughter was contagious.

Noah should be happy that the two were now talking casually without exchanging daggers through their stares, but surprisingly, he wasn’t. He snorted as he heard the two talks ill about him. How could they talk about him this way? Noah felt cheated.

•••

Jerson ended up following Vishnu as what Noah instructed. He was told to protect the Prosecutor from this day onward. Although he didn’t know why and to whom, he just agreed and followed. He knew that Noah wouldn’t tell him even when he asked about it, so he didn’t bother discussing it with them. As long as he protects his boss’ brother, the contract won’t be void and the terms that he and Noah proposed would be fulfilled without any hurdle. He also had something he could gain with this. Noah promised to give him clues that’ll lead him to his parents.

His jaw tightened. This would be the last time that Jerson would follow Noah, as they’ve discussed before going home. When the contract expires, he’ll follow what his heart yearns for, and that is to find his parents. He’ll find them no matter what.

However, Jerson knew that the contract would be protracted so he offered to guard the prosecutor for 10 months at most. As a prosecutor, Jerson knew that Vishnu offended many fugitives that wouldn’t give a second thought about killing the prosecutor. It would be a continuous cycle of retaliation: from the suspect to the victim, the prosecutor to the suspect, and the suspect to the prosecutor. If the prosecutor ends up dead, the family of the prosecutor continues the cycle. If this assumption was true, he could only imagine a bunch of pain-in-the-ass kinds of people.

However, deeming that Noah requested this personally, he knows that this is something big. This had something to do with the mafia. Deadly. It shouldn't be ignored, or it would be risky when finally decided to take precautions. 

And if it involved the mafia, this wasn’t just about revenge. Jerson guessed that Vishnu did something he shouldn’t have done and now, those people behind the group of mafia involved were hunting him for the drawback he had caused. They'll really kill him. If Vishnu weren’t careful enough, anytime will be the day of his demise. 

“That decent Prosecutor, my brother, offended someone. Protect him at all costs. If something bad happens to him, I’ll get back at you. I wouldn’t be so polite if that happens, Jerson.”

Remembering the tone Noah used earlier, Jerson felt more confused. He tilted his head before resting his back on the sofa. He looked up at the ceiling as if it would answer his inquiry. He has never seen Noah that serious before, and it bothers him so much. Just how bad this situation is? 

Before Jerson could even fall deep into his thoughts, his phone rang. He stared first at his vibrating phone before he squinted his eyes. 

The registered name glimmered magically on his phone. His whole face lit up. 

Prosecutor. It is indeed Vishnu. Gladly, it didn’t take too long for his brain to sink into what was going on. He answered it hastily, worried that Vishnu might be in danger.

“Are you done packing your luggage? I’m outside your house. Be quick,” Vishnu said. His voice was so subtle. He must have been tired. 

Jerson sighed before getting up.

“One minute,” he replied before the caller hung up. He sighed again. He brushed his hair. How many times did he sigh? It looked like he owned every problem in the world with his distorted face. 

He picked up his luggage and went out. 

Jerson hastily ran down from his apartment and approached Vishnu. Those drowsy looks made Jerson feel guilty. The Prosecutor was depleted. 

He didn’t need to pick up Jerson if he’s this drained. Jerson can handle himself just fine.

“Hop in. We’re leaving. I have to meet someone,” Vishnu said before opening the door in the driver’s seat. Jerson gladly obliged and opened the door of the passenger seat beside the driver’s seat.

“I can drive,” he stated. “It felt weird seeing my employer do what I am supposed to be doing,” Jerson declared while buckling up.

“No thanks. I don’t want anyone driving my car,” Vishnu answered as he maneuvers the car smoothly.

Jerson nodded and looked outside the window.

Dead silence. The deathly stillness reigned that even the outcry of the insects could be heard. Jerson didn’t know what to say. He just turned his head and observed the city lights as if he was admiring the intoxication of the smoke coming from the horns of cars. 

The city is so busy. Somehow, he felt suffocated seeing how people interacted with different people just fine. If Jerson were in that position, he would have revoked everybody to leave him alone. The vibes and expressions he’ll give off to everyone would make everyone back out. 

Sometimes, being relentless gave him benefits. He doesn’t have lots of friends, but he got one pal who could turn the world upside-down for him. He’s well. Although his boss was a bit timid, he wasn’t the vituperative type of boss. 

“We’re here,” Vishnu declared. He parked his car at the VIP lot. “Don't stay too close. You can sit at the other table and have your meal, instead. I don’t want to stir up attention,” Vishnu added before he got out of the car. 

Jerson just stared at Vishnu. He only moved when Vishnu entered the restaurant and took his seat with a girl. 

The girl has wavy hair, waist length. Gorgeous.

Jerson gets what Vishnu meant, so he stays put for a moment before entering the restaurant and takes the table meters away from the Prosecutor. 

He looked at Vishnu again. He screwed up his face.