Just A Professional Relationship
S2 - Episode Eighteen

That night, Stefan was still in the same place. Until the woman lying on the bed woke up from her sleep.

Mala's eyes widened when she realized that she was suddenly in a hospital room. Especially when there was someone she didn't know sitting next to her. He immediately tried to leave the place, but to stand alone his legs felt very weak.

“Hey, relax.. just rest first,” said Stefan, while rushing to hold Mala who almost fell.

Mala immediately brushed off Stefan's hand. “Who are you?! Why would you take me here?!” snapped it.

“Sounds like you don't remember? I once came to your house with Nadin.”

“Not told you, don't ever come in front of me again!”

Stefan exhaled. “You alone suddenly stood in the middle of the road as my car passed.”

“Yes then why should you bother going down. Why don't you just hit me?! Why don't you let me die?!” mala's voice shrieked, with the order to tremble as it began to cry.

Anyone who saw it would probably immediately think that Mala did not know the benefits of actually yelling at the person who helped her. But in Stefan's eyes, he only saw the pitiful figure of a helpless woman. Mala did not hate him, but to himself who felt he was not fit to live.

For a while, Stefan just stood there. He looked at the sobbing Mala while sitting on the floor. Wailing with pain and despair. Making the shadow of the past appear in Stefan's head. When he saw the sister who had seemed as desperate as the woman before him.

Stefan used to hear Juna roaring. Tormented in the midst of solitude, with a disease that continues to gnaw his body from within. However, at that time he could only watch, without knowing what to do. Until finally the younger brother left with a sense of regret that until now lodged in his heart.

Stefan never wanted to go back to feeling the same regret, when he felt unable to save someone. No matter who it is, for Stefan all lives are just as precious.

“Why are you torturing yourself like that?” stefan said slowly. He sat down beside Mala.

“You tortured me! You're the one who didn't let me die!”

“Do you not imagine, how sad are the people you left behind?”

“Who? No one expected me to make a living. I'm just a failed kid who'll tarnish the family's good name if it stays alive. Even they'd rather I didn't have to be born into the world!”

“Who said something like that to you? Your folks?”

Mala did not answer, but continued to cry louder. Stefan was still silent, deep in thought.

“My life is over. They will not need me anymore. It was enough of my sister and brother that always seemed to shine in their eyes. I'm just trash, they said no one would come near me. Everyone will just look at me with a look of disdain.”.

“If any,” timpal Stefan. “If anyone still wants to receive you, how?”

“Must be! Only a madman would do it!”

Stefan extended his right hand to Mala. “People say, I do

pretty crazy.”

***

‘Shelf!’

Axel breaks the table after Stefan shouts about Frans' dark secret. The thing is, he didn't like it when he found out Nadin was trying to investigate it alone. However Axel did not want Nadin to endanger himself, and he certainly did.

“Why didn't you just tell me?”

Stefan just sat quietly, exhaling. “You really are. He asked me not to tell you all this. And I've been kind enough to explain it. Besides, I wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for Nadin too.”

“You know for yourself, he always acts arbitrarily without caring for himself.”

“Then you have to move forward ahead of him. What plan do you have yourself? Rather than just complaining to me like that.”

Axel stepped towards the window unsettled. “There's only one thing I can think of right now. There are people who should be able to provide information for us.”

“Who?”

“If he was his man, do you think that man would just open his mouth? Why do you think that person would go to jail just to follow Frans' plan to destroy you? Because the guy believes Frans can get him out of there quickly.”

“Ck!” turn Axel hard. He ruffled his hair because he was feeling out of his mind.

“But that does not mean impossible,” continued Stefan again, giving a glimmer of hope. “I'll show you a good show.”

A small smile on Stefan's mysterious-looking lips, closed their conversation. Axel didn't even try to ask what the man's question meant. Because even asking Stefan would never answer, he thought.

Axel and Stefan came to the courtyard, to visit the person they were talking about. This was the first time Axel had met her as well. It feels quite upset to have to remember the incident the other day that managed to give him a surprise.

Stefan and Axel were already sitting in front of a barrier made of thick plastic. There were a few small holes there, so they could still talk to the person who had just come across.

The bald man dressed in orange was sitting on a chair in front of Stefan. His face and hands were covered in tattoos. “Who are you?” he asked with a fierce face, intending to bully the visitor.

Axel was silent. He had promised Stefan that he would pay attention, without saying anything. While Stefan, sitting relaxed with his arms folded in front of his chest. He also gave a gaze that was no less firm.

“I didn't come to make small talk. You're Frans' man, right?”

“Hah? Who's that?”

“You've forgotten your own boss's name apparently.”

“I've never even heard that name.”

“Then why did you foolishly let yourself get caught, and lie during police questioning?”

“Huh, I'm just being unlucky. And spontaneously mention the person's name.” He didn't even seem to know that the person who was bothered by it was there.

“Then, I said I didn't come to mince words. I already know who you are, and about what you guys are doing.”

The bald man was silent for a moment. He looked at Stefan, as if he was ascertaining whether the person in front of him was just bluffing or not. “Huh,” he snorted. “What do you want?”

“Information. Where's your headquarters.”

“If it were true that I was a member of the person you were referring to, would I be so stupid as to leak important information?”

Axel who was just sitting felt uneasy. Though he did not do anything, but seeing the two people who were talking made him feel tense. Such circumstances were more excruciating for him, than having to do a fistfight.

“You must have done it.”

The bald man laughed a little. “You are confident once.”

Stefan leaned in, put his arm on the table in front of the plastic divider. Then, support the chin with a fist.

“I actually feel sorry for you. Surely you were promised freedom by your boss, right? I was willing to stay in this place for him. I know Frans better. He's a sneaky guy who's even willing to finish off the people closest to him. Especially killing people like you.”

“The threat will not work on me.”

“Because you still think I'm lying? Look, even though you can get out of here any time soon, you think the cops are that stupid to just let you go? They will surely secretly follow you and tear apart your headquarters. Frans knows it well, and he'll definitely finish you off before it happens. One step out of this place, your life will surely end.”

“Wah... nice story.”

Stefan still stared fixedly at the bald man, silent for a few seconds, before finally rising from his seat. “Already, when I tried to give a good offer. So you can be free safely. But you chose to die in vain.”

Axel spontaneously stood up when he realized Stefan was doing the same thing. He still did not understand why Stefan did not seem disappointed at all, even though they did not get anything.

As another step through the exit, Stefan's steps came to a halt. The bald man called him back. With a forehead that looked a bit shriveled from worry. Stefan's sales really managed to influence him.

“You can guarantee my safety?”

Stefan was smiling. “Depends on how good information you can give.”