An Undercover Spy

A Broken Promise

    “I can’t do it. I can’t betray her” Cole murmured, under his breath. His face was full of reactions. Shock and sadness for his best friend. He wanted to speak out loudly, to defend her, but he knew he couldn’t. It would just mean he would get fired.  

    “She won’t even know. She’s probably going to fail her mission and stay there, probably die there”He scoffed.  

    Richard reached out for the desk’s drawer and took out a square piece of paper. He checked something quickly on it and stared back at the younger man who was glaring at him.  

    “How do you have the audacity to say this about your own daughter!”Cole cried out  as he moved towards the desk. He pointed at the man in the suit while staring at him with disgust. 

    “So you refuse?”he raised his eyebrow with a hidden emotion behind his masked face. Cole nodded immediately. After a few seconds, he was surprised, seeing his commander flashing a smile towards him. “I’m glad you didn’t disappoint me, it would’ve been such a fail. Here, take this”he said, raising his hand to Cole with the paper in it. 

    Cole was still trying to process what happened in his mind. What did that man mean? The poor man was completely clueless. His wide brown eyes stared into the sitting man’s hazel orbs. He always saw one person while looking at him. Avery. They both had the same intense gaze that hypnotized every person who dared look at them even if they had a different eye color. 

    “I- what just happened?”he questions, cluelessly. 

    The older man sighed. He placed the paper back down and ushered for Cole to sit down. Then he started explaining. 

    “For a while, I have been thinking about this. Avery’s away and there’s no Kalon, so why don’t somebody act like one and help me with things I need. But I wasn’t so sure who to pick. I wasn’t vaguely aware of your intentions and the only way I could find out is by testing you and you didn’t fail the test.”

    Cole felt relieved hearing this. He didn’t want to be the betrayer nor lose his commander’s trust. But it turned out to be just a test. 

    He looked away from the man and gazed at the table. He threw curious glances at the card like paper that was in Richard’s hand. 

    Richard cleared his throat, bringing Cole out of his deep trance. He was nosy to know what it was for. He had noticed that Richard was giving it to him but he was too mad glaring at him. 

    “Read it.”

    He furrowed his bushy eyebrows and removed his left hand from his pocket as he gently snatched the card from Richard’s hand. 

    He held it close to his face as he silently read ‘I knew you can be trusted, Coco. I’m proud of you.’

    “Avery?”

    He asked wish a confused scowl on his face. He stared at the card back again and indeed, it was her handwriting and nobody other than her called him Coco. 

    “Yes, it is Avery. We had a talk the day before she left, after our fight in an hour, I talked to her. It was quick. We agreed that you were the most compatible person for this and she wrote you this card, knowing you will pass.”

    Cole nodded with a wide smile on his face. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed her already. Talking about her gave flashbacks of so many memories with her.  He had one thing in his mind and he wanted to let it out for his commander. So he did. 

    “Commander, do you m-miss her? Avery”he inquired with Si much hesitation. Nobody can know the man’s feelings and he was curious to know what he felt. 

    Richard stared back at the younger man in front of him with a foreign feeling he had been ignoring for a long time. 

    “I-I always do. I just wish I can be like before, you know. But i-it’s not in my control. It’s like a whole new person took over me and made me this horrible new man. It’s hurting me and everyone I love. I can’t stop blaming her, Cole. I can’t stop blaming Avery for everything that happened even if she wasn’t the reason for her mother’s death!”

    Both of them took deep breaths. Cole stood up, ending the conversation there and nodded at him politely before leaving. Richard stayed there alone. He held the picture frame of his wife in his arms as he hugged it close. 

    He recalled the warmth she used to provide for her family by her hugs, food and sweet words. She was protective of them, making sure they were perfectly healthy. Especially Avery, she used to take care of her health but let her eat what she wanted. 

    Richard was ashamed of himself that he had broken his wife’s wish. To protect and love his daughter all his life. 

    He hated that he was letting his bad side take over and hurt Avery over and over. He always saw the pain and hurt behind her masked face. She was probably even more sad about her mother’s death. And her father increased her pain by never caring about her. 

    “I miss you Ashley, my sunshine. The most beautiful, kind and gentle woman I can ever meet”he whispered kissing the frame he held in his hands. “I know I disappointed you and broke our promise, I know.”