Pitbabe S2, Chapter 36 pg 1
Pitbabe S2, Chapter 36 pg 1
CHARLIE:
The events of that day ended with Tony’s final death. Everything about him was exposed completely. Not just half-truths like before—this time, the entire country learned about Tony’s hidden special senses, The One Project, and nearly his entire corrupt network and mechanisms were dragged into the public eye. Of course, a few big players managed to slip away, but their claws and fangs had been pulled, leaving them practically powerless. Many fled into hiding that very night, while those who couldn’t escape were promptly invited to “rest” in jail.
As for The One Project, credit must go to Kenta and Kim, who handled things at the same time Babe and I were dealing with Tony. Phii Alan explained that they split into two teams: one joined us at the mansion, while the other raided the research team’s lab, located nearly twenty kilometers away. Naturally, Kenta and Kim weren’t bold enough to storm in with just the two of them—they had Phii North, Phii Sonic, Dean, Khun Pete, and a bunch of Khun Pete’s men as backup. They aimed to capture all of Tony’s researchers and staff and rescue everyone with special senses.
But during the raid, things got pretty intense. Tony’s men fought back desperately, and then, out of nowhere, a fire broke out. It was likely caused by some chemical or equipment in the lab getting damaged, leading to an explosion and flames. Everyone—Khun Pete’s side and Tony’s men—had to scramble to escape. It was a terrifying, life-or-death moment, no doubt. But in a way, it was also a good thing that everything they’d been working on was destroyed, leaving no trace for them to continue their evil deeds.
As I mentioned, Tony’s network has been almost entirely uprooted. Those still lingering in the government, who may not have been directly involved, have quietly switched sides. The program exploiting people with heightened senses has been permanently scrapped, and the state has pledged to draft new policies to genuinely support these individuals in the near future. They’ve also stated that they’ll need the Human 101 project’s research team to assist with this—on policy support, advocacy, and further studies to confirm the efficacy of the sense-suppressing drug. It’ll likely take several hurdles before it’s approved for real-world use, but it’s a promising sign of major change on the horizon. So, we’ve accepted the invitation without objection. Even though I’m not a fan of this government (given the corruption and the project they just swept under the rug), everything we’ve done would be for nothing if we don’t make it happen for real. That’s why we’re determined to keep pushing until the dream is realized.
As for the overall outcome, I’d say this investment has been a success. I can’t yet say whether this world is safe enough for the people I love, but what I can say with certainty is that from this day forward, the nightmares that have haunted him his entire life will never return.
Our big world seems to have taken a step forward now. It’s just a small step, but it’s heartening for everyone. The only thing left is the small worlds each of us inhabits, which still seem to require a long journey ahead.
My world with him is no exception.
PETE:
I snapped out of my dream because of the blinding light flooding into the bedroom—an event that had never happened before. No one had ever entered this bedroom besides me. In fact, it wasn’t just the bedroom; I’d never allowed anyone to set foot in this house—not secretaries, close associates, friends, or even family. That’s why being woken by something other than my alarm clock was unprecedented.
The first thing I registered upon opening my eyes was a cloud of smoke drifting lazily outside the balcony. A gentle breeze scattered it, pressing it against the clear glass. The source of the smoldering was the tip of a cigarette held in the hand of my house’s first guest… Chris.
My slightly oversized T-shirt hung loosely on Chris’s slimmer frame, but thankfully, the long pajama pants with an elastic waistband fit him fine. His casual appearance wasn’t something I was used to seeing, but I won’t lie and say I’d never imagined it. My mind was filled with countless images of him—living under the same roof as me, sleeping in the same bed, sharing everyday items. I’d seen him in every form, not just when he was dressed to impress, but also in moments when everything was natural, unembellished.
And it seems that day arrived sooner than I expected.
After the chaos at Tony’s house ended, I instinctively rushed to find Chris at his place. His body was covered in blood, his left shoulder haphazardly bandaged, and he was stuffing everything into a large suitcase. He turned to look at me, his expression showing no surprise, and even gave a faint smile before saying, “Thought we wouldn’t get to say goodbye.”
Chris had planned to leave immediately after Tony’s death. Staying wasn’t a good idea after he’d just killed a major businessman with his own hands. No matter how vile Tony was, legally, Chris wouldn’t escape consequences. So, if he didn’t want to end up in prison, his only option was to flee as quickly as possible.
It was my own selfishness that asked him to stay. Traveling out of the country would take some preparation for Chris, so I used that as an excuse to load his suitcase into my car and bring him to my safe house. It’s a fair distance from the city, bordered by forest on one side and a private beach on the other, making it quiet and secure for him—and a massive win for me.
I lay quietly staring at his back, watching every natural movement as if it were a dance rehearsed a thousand times. I admit, with complete honesty, that I’m obsessed with everything about him, even though I barely know anything about him beyond his name and his peculiar way of thinking, so different from most people. He seems so much like Way, yet at the same time, completely different. Seeing his face should ease my longing for the one who’s gone, but more often than not, it makes me miss him even more.
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