Rocky sighed and quietly walked away. Since the day they found out what had happened to Silvia and what Janet had done, he couldn't face Kevin even though the latter never blamed him for anything.
Though it wasn't his fault, he couldn't help but feel guilty. The more he saw Kevin's deteriorating condition, his guilt intensified.
Leaning against his car, he closed his eyes. Kevin wasn't the only one who was left heartbroken after everything that had happened. Rocky was also going through the same thing. Maybe his pain wasn't as intense as Kevin's but it was enough to make him feel miserable.
He still remembered the last conversation he had with Janet, he clearly remembered everything.
…..
[FLASHBACK]
Five months earlier.
SPIRIT BASE
After Rocky heard about Silvia's death and Janet being responsible for it, he couldn't believe it even though the evidence was right in front of him.
He was very sure that his Janet wasn't so cruel and could never do something so lethal. This is why he decided to visit her. He wanted to talk to her about it, he wanted to know the truth behind it.
Standing at the entrance, Rocky was busy trying to figure out what Janet was up to when one of the guards invited him in.
"Madam will see you now."
Following the guard inside the base, Rocky made his way towards Janet's new office.
…..
Inside.
When he entered the office, Janet was standing near the window with her arms folded on her c.h.e.s.t.
"You can go," she instructed the guard.
"Why are you doing this?" Rocky snapped at her. When she did not say anything, he added, "I know you are up to something Janet, tell me what it is."
"Didn't you see the video?"
"I did." Scrunching his brows, he hissed, "I don't know what your plan is but I am not liking it. Do you have any idea how Kevin is? That guy has gone crazy and Silvia—Where is Silvia Janet?"
With a straight face, she stated, "Silvia is dead."
"No she is not," he yelled. "Listen—" Approaching her, he gently c.a.r.e.s.sed her cheeks. "Listen babe, I know you, I know you can never do something like that to anyone let alone Silvia. I am not liking this, it's seriously killing me."
"It doesn't matter whether you like it or not because it's already done. And wasn't this bound to happen? One of us had to die, it was either Silvia or me." Pausing for a while, she questioned him. "Aren't you happy that it wasn't me?"
"I don't believe it, I know you can never do this, my Janet can never—"
Cutting him off, she remarked, "Well, that is not my problem then. You have already heard what has happened. Now it's up to you whether you want to believe it or not. People change Rocky, you can't expect anyone to remain the same and this is who I am."
"I had never realized it but this—the power and authority is what I always wanted. This is what makes me truly happy and—" she hissed in pain when Rocky grabbed her arm.
"Shut up—" he gritted his teeth. "Do you have any idea how greedy and selfish you sound? You are making me despise you Janet, don't do this."
"This is how things are—either you join hands with me or—" she stopped midway when he tightened his grip around her arm. Closing her eyes, she muttered, "You are hurting me."
"You are not the woman I fell in love with. Your greedy and selfishness killed my Janet and I will never forgive you for that. Never show me your face ever again, the mere sight of you will disgust me."
Without waiting for her reply, he let go of her arm and walked out of the room.
….
[PRESENT]
Rocky opened his eyes when he heard Matt's voice.
"You can't even stand up straight, how are you going to attend the—" Stopping midway, Matt sighed, "I don't know what to do with you."
Stumbling his way towards the car, Kevin almost tripped but Rocky grabbed his shoulders.
"Easy, be careful." Scrunching his brows, Rocky complained, "Why did you drink so much?"
"I am not drunk."
"Yes, we can say that you are not." Helplessly shaking his head, he sighed and helped Kevin inside the car.
Looking at Matt and Calvin, Rocky said, "I will bring him there, you both take the other car."
…..
Inside Rocky's car.
When Kevin took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, Rocky frowned, "You are not supposed to smoke."
When he did not listen to him, he stopped the car and snatched the pack from him. "What is wrong with you Kev? What would Silvia feel if she saw you like this? Have you thought of that?"
"But she is not here to see me, is she?" Running his fingers through his hair, Kevin scoffed, "Look at me, I am such a mess. I don't eat, I don't sleep, I don't go to work. I do everything that is bad for my health. But still she never came to scold me."
Turning towards Rocky, he added, "Do you know how much she hates it when I grow my beard or mustache?" Closing his eyes, he smiled, "She used to run around with my trimmer in her hand to trim them if I didn't."
Touching his sideburns, he frowned, "But now look how long they are—where is she? Why isn't she coming to trim them?" Wiping his tears with his palm, Kevin muttered, "Where is she?"
With his eyes filled with tears, Rocky gave Kevin a hug. His heart ached for him. Seeing him so miserable made him feel vulnerable.
"I miss her Rocky, I miss her a lot. I want her back, I can't live without her."
Pulling away, he wiped Kevin's tears away. "Don't cry, we will get through this. You just have to stay strong."
"She was my strength, without her I am nothing."
…..