That day marked the last time Leonard would serve under Hendra's command. He was leaving for another city, fairly far away, to carry out a new mission. And, of course, to start a new life.
But just as Leonard was about to leave the room, he heard hurried footsteps.
"Leo..."
Leonard stopped. He didn't need to turn around to know who was calling him.
Mala.
The woman ran toward him. Before Leonard could react, Mala threw herself down and knelt before him.
The few people still in the room fell silent. Their eyes fixed on the couple whose relationship was hanging by a thread. No—that wasn't right. Leonard didn't even want to save it anymore.
"Get up, Mala," Leonard said as he reached for the woman's arm, trying to pull her to her feet. But she stubbornly stayed where she was.
"Please, Leo..." Mala clutched the hem of Leonard's pants. She couldn't hold back her tears. Her shoulders rose and fell with every sob.
"Please... Give me one more chance to fix our relationship. I promise I won't ever do it again, Leo..." she said, her jaw trembling.
Leonard stared at her. He had no compassion left for that fatal mistake, even though Mala had only done it once.
"What the hell are you doing?" Leonard tried to step back.
"Take it back, Leo!" Mala's eyes brimmed with tears. "Please, don't divorce me..."
Leonard said nothing.
"Leo, I was wrong. I admit it—I was wrong." Mala still refused to give up. Her sobs grew louder. "I really will change."
But Leonard slowly shook his head.
"It's too late."
"No, it isn't, Leo." Mala shook her head, then hurriedly got to her feet.
"I can fix everything."
"You can't!" Leo shot back.
"I still love you." Mala continued pleading.
Leonard stared at her for a long time. Once, those words might have softened his heart.
But now?
They no longer meant anything. All that remained was emptiness. Not the ordinary kind, but an emptiness that made his chest feel as though it had been struck by a concrete boulder.
"I've made my decision," Leonard said, staring straight ahead.
Mala shook her head fiercely.
"Leo..."
"And I hope you leave that house soon," he continued.
Mala fell silent. Her mouth slowly opened, trembling. "The house?"
Leonard continued in a flat voice.
"Go back to your parents. I'm going to put that house up as collateral."
Mala's face changed instantly.
"What?"
"Yes. I'm going to put that house up as collateral," he repeated.
"Are you serious, Leo? Y-you've really thought this through?"
Leonard nodded.
Mala stared at him in disbelief.
"Leo, don't joke around."
"I'm not joking."
"That house was our dream!" Mala's voice trembled. "We built it together. We saved for years. And we just finished paying it off..."
She wiped away her tears.
"...and now you want to put it up as collateral?"
Leonard drew a deep breath.
"It was our dream. But it's over as of today."
Leonard's gaze turned cold.
"Because we don't share the same dreams anymore."
Mala froze. Those words hurt far more than being shouted at.
"That house is no longer our home, Mala."
Leonard picked up his bag.
"Consider it the final piece of our life together—the one I'll finish dealing with."
Mala began crying again.
"Leo, don't leave me..."
Leonard walked away. This time, he didn't look back.
Outside the building, the morning air greeted him with a chill. He paused on the steps, gazing up at the still-gray sky.
One life had just ended. And without Leonard realizing it...
In the city that would become the site of his new assignment, someone was waiting for him.
Someone who would make his life far more complicated.