Ian, Nathan and Zion

[26 years ago]

Ian finished Tim Espino's executive order file and was about to head out of his office when someone on glasses and trench coat came in. Ian recognized the smell right away. He cleared his throat, leaning back on his chair, reprimanding, "You came inside my office without even knocking, Nathan?"

He's still wearing his judge's robes. Ian loosened his tie for a bit as he closed his eyes in exhaustion.

Nathan slumped down by the couch, dropping all clipboards he's holding on the coffee table.

"I have something to say to you, Ian," he grunted.

Chief Justice of Department of Vasterian Justice, working under Zion Cortez, the Solicitor General of the Vasterian Republic, Nathan Fajardo, his best friend, came here to complain about his work? It's his choice to be a judge and the one who decides the verdict. He's also a workaholic, that's why his wife, decided to have an annulment with him.

Only Zion has a lover to get his butt on.

"What is it?" Ian mumbled. Nathan never ran out of complaints, and today isn't different than yesterday.

"I can't keep doing these things." Nathan must have chosen to woke up and open her eyes to the reality.

Ian adjusted in his seat, looking at Nathan, propping his elbows, wondering what was going on inside his mind.

"What can't you keep doing?"

"These dirty things, Ian. I'm so tired covering up every crime Espino was ordering us to do. We have a lot of money on our bank accounts, yes, but do we even know that it came from the people?" Nathan's eyes were bloodshot. He turned to the papers by the coffee table, and hissed. It was driving him crazy not to show it upon his colleagues, and skinned off the real colors of the president.

It wasn't getting any better at all.

"You are the closest to the president, Ian. You're the one he's asking for legal advice. First time you do it, it was still an achievement. But the next days, it became sickening. I was the lowest beyond the two of you, and I'm the final step to cover the president's mess. You, Zion and I are too worst to work as the justifiers of the law," Nathan spat. Ian listened to his prompt, and only stared at him. Nathan's neck veins throbbed in vain, and glared at his best friend.

After a moment of silence, Ian spoke up, "Are you seriously have a desire to receive a bullet inside your head?"

Nathan scowled, scoffing, "You know what, Ian, you aren't the one facing the defendant's families every time an abrupt murder and disappearance cases are on the court, on air, presenting evidence after evidences. The prosecutors kept silent, their eyes have gone blind, and the only thing they have in mind was the money after they do the deed."

Ian shrugged. "So you're exhausted on doing it for the past 3 years after Tim Espino claimed the throne?"

"Yeah!" he yelled. His work greatly affected his longtime relationship with his wife. Ian doesn't understand it, because his wife still stayed with him. Ian doesn't know if it's the money, but who cares? At least, he has an investment.

A single murder wouldn't concern him at all.

"You have a weak heart, Nathan. I was the one planting the blame to an innocent person. Zion just had to process it over to you, and then boom. Everything is solved, our trio has always been that good on Espino's eyes," Ian mumbled. He stood up from his swiveling chair as Nathan shook his head.

Ian walked over to the counter, picked up two coffee sticks, and emptied it down two cups.

"We just had to do the job quietly and no one can bring us down. The president will be doomed if one of us blew the whistle." Ian adjusted the temperature of the kettle, settled it down, and took a seat across Nathan.

He crossed his legs, adding, "Nathan Fajardo. We have three years left to leave the post, but you're whining now?"

Nathan reckoned, "We're killing innocent people here, Ian. I gotten used to it when I'm receiving a hefty amount of money in exchange of framing a father of five to 70 years in prison. Don't you think it will not happen to us, too?"

Ian guffawed. It was the horrifying expression of someone who gained too much money in exchange of shining money inside their vaults, acting as if their wealthier enough to buy a life. Nathan shook his head. Ian must be completely insane.

"What will you do if it doesn't happen to us, huh?" Ian snickered. Nathan is being absurd.

"Ian, let's stop this," Nathan pleaded. It was the most honest beg he had come so far.

He was about to answer, but the boiling water turned off the kettle at once. Nathan's shoulders sulked, and he's too naïve to get involved in this kind of drama. He watched as Ian went to the counter, turned off the kettle, and just when he poured down, a knock came by the door.

Nathan fixed himself first. Ian called out, "Come in!"

Someone swing the door open. They recognized it right away as Zion.

"Hey, boys!" He's bubbly enough to pass as their sibling. Ian sighed, smiling. He's happy to see him after a long, exhausting day. Nathan put on a grin, too.

Zion bumped to Nathan's side, wondering why he's sulking. Ian tore a sachet once again, pouring it down on another cup. Zion didn't know what happened to their faces.

"Did something happen? The two of you look like you just argued before going here?"

It was something that only friends would know. Zion took turns glancing at the two of them.

"Well, he was the one who brought up another argument. I don't know what he's thinking, but he wanted to back out from the deal we made to Mr. Espino." Ian placed the cups on a tray. Zion tut, looking at Nathan with raised eyebrows.

"I'm just tired, Zion. I don't want to…" Zion's eyes were dangerous. If he lifted one eyebrow, there's nothing you can do but to fold. Nathan nipped on his lips suddenly, and didn't even want to continue it himself. He was the last step of every plan, but he's going to back out, how should they accomplish the task with no traces?

"Nathan Fajardo, you know how much this job meant for us. The three of us came here with no knowledge of what the government is running into, but we just… turned off our judgment and open it to the ones who needed it the most. I'm sure the president will be happy with the progress."

Zion turned to Ian, and they both smirked. Nathan was just a baby.

Tim Espino hasn't declared anything close to being a dictator, but every trace of the money he withdrew out of the finance department should be taken care of. Tim Espino put the three of them to take care of the finances, dealing with frauds, placing the blames to innocent, young people, whom Ian Gomez had found through skimming around the Vasterian people.

No one is backing out now.

"Just keep your eyes closed. We'll be able to escape this torment once Espino's out."