ACT THIRTEEN
Hat Man: I need to talk to you about something really important.
Sekinat: (nervous) Why are you making me uncomfortable?
Hat Man: How?
Sekinat: This side of you wasn't what I was expecting… I was expecting something different, like…
Hat Man: Scolding you?
Sekinat: Yes! Exactly.
Hat Man: (sigh) I will get things straight. We have a mission to carry out tomorrow night, and you are coming with me.
Sekinat: Excuse me?
Hat Man: Yeah… uhmm… you are coming with me.
Sekinat: For what? Oh, now you want me to be part of your dirty work?
Hat Man: Can you just give me your ears for a few minutes and stop interrupting me?
Sekinat: All I know is I'm not coming with you or anybody… that is the last thing on my list.
Hat Man: Oh, really? I guess you love it in here… besides, you are not ready to let me land, so… (tries to take his leave)
Sekinat: Where are you going? Are you just going to leave me like that?
Hat Man: Look, woman! I don't have the strength for chit-chat, and you know that
I'm still recovering. I was trying to get straight to the point, but you wouldn't let me.
Sekinat: Okay, fine… I'm sorry… go ahead… Anyway, how do you feel now? Are you feeling better?
Hat Man: (stares at her for a few seconds then proceeds) If you want to finally leave this place alive and quickly, you need to come with me tomorrow. Once we win the mission, I will set you free and show you a way out of here alive.
Sekinat: (her body gets cold) Really?
Hat Man: Yeah, but it's not going to be easy. This is the only opportunity I have to set you free. There won't be an open gate like this for you next time. It's a never!
Sekinat: (her body grows cold) Really?
Hat Man: Yeah, but it's not going to be easy. This is the only opportunity I have to set you free. There won't be an open gate like this for you next time. It's a one-time chance.
Sekinat: (calm) But why the sudden willingness? Why?
Hat Man: I know I forced you in here, but you are a beautiful soul, and you've won my heart in many ways. Hurting you again is unbearable, so I will set you free.
Sekinat: But what if I report your empire to the police?
Hat Man: It's your choice to make, it's not a threat to me.
Sekinat: Is the empire aware of this?
Hat Man: No, no one. But you are part of my mission tomorrow. At least you will now be with your family.
Sekinat: I have never seen this good side of you before. All of a sudden, you are willing to set me free?
Hat Man: Don't you want to go? Isn't that what you've always wanted? You should be happy and jubilating for hearing this.
Sekinat: Of course, I am… but I never expected you to grant my wish so quickly.
Hat Man: This is the least I could do as a thank you. But this should be between us. Another ear mustn't hear about this, or else you will land yourself into bigger problems.
Sekinat: Got it!
Hat Man: Good! (finally gets on his feet) I should get going then… (about to leave) Sekinat: Hat Man!
Hat Man: (pauses and turns to her)
Sekinat: (a bright smile on her face) Thank you.
Hat Man: (forces a smile and leaves)
Sekinat: (falls on the bed)
******************
Hat man: (he roar at them) I don’t! (panting heavily)
Old women: (stay mute for few seconds)
Hat man: (rub his eyes) I’m… I’m sorry for raising my voice but I cant grant you your wish.
Old women: but it is our last wish.
Hat man: when will you three grow up? This isn’t a life of a fairytale.. there is no good ending for someone like me.. and I wont bring any generation of mafia.. ok? You know this isn’t my choice to make.
Old women: we understand how you are feeling! But starting a family will be one of the greatest blessing to you…
Hat man: I don’t want the blessing.. you are only going
The neighborhood was busy loading their buses and cars with weapons as the Hat Man ordered them around, and everyone got busy with mission preparations.
Throughout the night, they used it to load weapons and relocate their equipment.
11:02 PM
Hat Man: (finally enters his bedroom) Finally… (sighs heavily) my neck aches a lot! (He checks his drawer and brings out a pain reliever, chewing it without using water) Hmm… less bitter today? Did someone enter my room?
Suddenly, his room door opens, and he points his gun instantly at the door.
Hat Man: I give you two seconds to show yourself, or you die.
An old woman enters.
Hat Man: (sighs heavily) Mama… I have told you guys to learn to signal. What if I…
Old Woman: We know you can't shoot us, so stop the drama. How is the preparation for the mission?
Hat Man: (sits on his bed and sighs heavily) The mission isn't an easy one.
Old Woman: We know. That's why we are here. And also to talk to you about something very important.
Hat Man: (scans them) What happened?
Old Woman: Nothing to worry about, but we are worried about you. Like when are you ever going to rest? You've done enough for that big head empire. You need to start a family too.
Hat Man: What are you guys talking about?
Old Woman: Get a lady of your choice and marry her, start a family.
Hat Man: (giggles) Are you being serious right now? A mafia like me… should start a family? Do you know what that really means?
Old Woman: We do, and we are also getting so old. We want to see our grandchildren.
Hat Man: That's not an excuse for me to start a family. Wait! Why are we having this discussion?
Old Woman: We were thinking... Sekinat will be the right choice for you. She is beautiful, strong, and for the record, she is a skillful surgeon. She will do anything to protect you and your kids.
Hat Man: (jaw drops) Where is this coming from? Old women!! Wake up! This is an illegal life we are living. There is no future for someone like me, like us. There is nothing like family.
Old Woman: But we are family.
Hat Man: Yours is a different case. Wake up from your slumber! And let me get this straight. I am not starting any family with a stranger who doesn't belong here.
Old Woman: We thought you liked her.
Hat Man: To land the innocent kids and their mother's life in great danger. Enemies won't come for me anymore, but for them! Don't you get it? You know what? I'm done having this discussion! (He furiously gets up and moves to his window, panting heavily)
Old Woman: We are sorry for adding to your pains. We just want what's best for
you. (She pats his back and walks out of his room, leaving him in distress)
Hat Man: (gets back to his bed and screams into the pillow) Ahhhuuhh! They always think they know what's best for me! But it's the worst for me! They think I can't be happy without starting a family? Hell no! I am way better than that. With or without a family, I will live and be happy! (screams into the pillow again, when suddenly someone barges into his room again. He points his gun as usual, even without knowing who it is) How many damn times will I tell you guys to knock before barging into my damn room? Is it until I kill all of you?
Sekinat: (rolls her eyes) You do that to me all the time. Now you know how it feels like. (She walks in)
Hat Man: (glances at her) You! What are you doing here? You should be with...
Sekinat: Yeah, but he set me free.
Hat Man: He what?
Sekinat: Yeah, I was surprised too...
Hat Man: You mean he set you free, to go back to your family?
Sekinat: I wish! But he only sent me to your mansion, and I was shocked that your subordinate let me into the mansion. I thought they didn't remember me. So here I am. Please kindly direct me to my room.
Hat Man: (sighs) Of course, who would forget the face of the new killer in town...
Sekinat: (her face changes) What was that supposed to mean?
Hat Man: Never mind, I was just kidding.
Sekinat: Since when did you become like that? You don't kid with anyone.
Hat Man: Oh yeah, that's true...
Sekinat: And strange too.
Hat Man: Yeah, but I'm just surprised the empire let you go. Just like that? (He presses the button on his wrist and makes a phone call with it) My lord! Did you let Sekinat out of your mansion?
Empire: Yes, I did! I wanted to give her my last respect, since we've discussed her joining the mission, which we both know she can't survive. So I wanted to give her last freedom tonight.
Sekinat: (shocked to hear that and begins to step back)
Hat Man: (surprised) But, sir... okay, sir... thank you, sir... (ends the call) No, Sekinat! Don't get him wrong...
Sekinat: There is nothing you can say to change my mind... So, this is all your plan? To kill me? Now I understand your intentions... since you can't kill me with your bare hands... you want the enemies to kill me? Like you are unbelievable!
Hat Man: Please listen to me before you get this all wrong... That was his intention and mission on you, but mine is different... I really want to set you free...
Sekinat: Enough! Please... stop lying to me all the time... stop! Because this is breaking me apart... you landed me in this mess in the first place... but see how you want to get rid of me... let him just kill me rather than sending me to a war. (She breaks down in tears)
Hat Man: Please listen to me... I swear our intentions are different... Yes, fine! My intention is to take you with me for the mission, but I had to lie to him so I could use the opportunity to set you free...
Sekinat: So you really want me to believe you, huh?
Hat Man: Yes...
Sekinat: (sobbing) Just kill me, please... I can't take this anymore... An hour ago, you gave me hope and now... you've destroyed everything.
Hat Man: (tries to move closer to her) Please, listen to me. Just believe me on this.
Sekinat: Don't you dare take another step forward... I fear who doesn't fear you. (She opens the door and slams it shut)
Hat Man: Sekinat!!! (He runs after her and hurriedly instructs his men not to let her out of the building) Sekinat!!!!
Sekinat: (notices his men blocking the way) Let me out! I'm sorry for coming here in the first place.
Hat Man: (catches up with her) Sekinat... please... hear me out!
Sekinat: Hear what? How you want to kill me or which methods? I never knew this is how much you hate me.
Hat Man: I don't hate you! Just please and please... trust me on this mission. I swear I really want to set you free. All I need is for you to believe me... please.
His men are in disbelief as they have never seen their boss in this situation. They all murmur to each other.
Hat Man: Will you just shut up and stop buzzing like bees! And for you... follow me back upstairs to clear your doubt. None of them have seen me in this situation, all thanks to you. So please, I'm begging with the name of Allah. Come with me.
Sekinat: (stares at him for a few seconds and realizes the sincerity in him) Whatever. (She follows him)
20 minutes later
The Hat Man explains in detail to Sekinat about his plans on how to help her escape during their mission.
Hat Man: So, this is why I want you to please, for once, believe me. You have saved my life several times, and now it's time to repay you this way. Please, Sekinat.
Sekinat: (finally calms down) I can't believe I'm saying this, but I believe you.
Hat Man: (smiles) Thank you.
Sekinat: But! If you break your promise... I promise you, I will make sure to kill you even before I die!
Hat Man: (chuckles) I love it when you threaten me! So adorable... Now let me direct you to your old room.
Sekinat: (rolls her eyes)
Hat Man: So you can have a better rest before going for the mission tomorrow night. You will really need all the strength to escape.
Sekinat: (she nods)
Hat Man: Let's go! And also, have you eaten?
Sekinat: You gave me food earlier now.
Hat Man: Oh, right! I forgot. Let's go. (He opens the door for her)
Sekinat: (finally enters the room) Now back to my prison...
Hat Man: Your last day here too.
Sekinat: Yeah, my last day.
Hat Man: Sekinat... I also can't promise you 100% of the escape if our mission isn't accomplished. Because if they capture us, then escaping for you will be hard. So put us also in your prayers, and help us beg Allah for a safe mission.
Sekinat: (weirdly stares at him) That is one of the weirdest things I have ever heard
or heard you say... Really? Beg Allah to help you with your haram deeds? I'm not
a fool... Pray by yourself.
Hat Man: Alright, fine. Good night. (Turns to leave)
Sekinat: Hat Man!
Hat Man: (hurriedly turns to her) Yes?
Sekinat: Thank you... for everything and for the pain I have caused you.
Hat Man: (bright smile on his face) You are welcome. Good night. (He closes the door and chooses not to lock it, then moves back to his room)
Hat Man: Uhhhhh! Why does my heart ache? I have no choice but to set her free... I don't want to be selfish... So stop overthinking and get your damn body and brain ready for this mission... We must win, no matter what! (He yells at himself)
Watch out for the next episode!!!