Interview With The Gangster

"Ah... damn it, they really can't appreciate my hard work."

Angie complained and grumbled repeatedly while drinking alcohol. She did not know how many glasses she had downed, but she had stopped counting after the third glass.

"You're drunk, Angie. That's enough."

Angie laughed softly as she leaned her head against the table. "I'm still strong, really. I can still see your face clearly."

"Miss, would you like me to bring you some water?" A hostess touched Angie's shoulder and helped her to sit in a better position.

"Yes, please bring her some water. What a pain in the ass."

The hostess nodded. She stood up and bowed for a moment, then walked away to get some water.

Angie was still babbling incoherently. Her body was leaning against the soft sofa in an unladylike position.

"Angie, don't drink anymore."

Angie shook her head. "Rai, I still want a drink!" Angie exclaimed.

The man called Rai let out a long sigh. Angie's behavior was starting to become the center of attention of some of the other patrons.

"Will you stop drinking now, or shall I drag you home?" Rai threatened.

Angie let out a long breath. "Okay, okay, I'll stop drinking."

Angie lifted her head and let out a long sigh. The hostess who was serving them came over with a glass of water for Angie. Angie quickly drained the water and leaned her head back against the table.

"You're so ugly when you're drunk."

Angie scowled. "Fuck you."

"Look, you have good talent, Angie. You just need to control yourself better."

"What? Those people in the news media are such cowards. You know what? I've gathered a lot of juicy information to expose the famous politician's involvement with the drug lords, but what? They told me not to run the story in the media. Seriously!"

Rai gave his friend a concerned look. "Be patient, the story you want to run could have dangerous repercussions. Not everyone is ready for big consequences like you are, Angie."

"So, what's the point? Those criminals live in peace without any interference?"

Rai sighed. "Look, I'm just as upset as you are to see a high-level criminal like that roaming free without any fear. But you have to know, not everything can be revealed to the media. All that desire to uncover the truth will slowly evaporate when faced with danger."

Angie pursed her lips. Yes, of course she knew. Otherwise, how could she have been fired from her job just because she was desperate to publish the controversial news? The media could quickly take care of it and make it look as if the news had never come out, and Angie would have to voluntarily quit her job. She's not idealistic, really. She just wanted to write the news and expose it to the public in a truthful way. Unfortunately, not everyone was of the same mind as her.

"You're a detective, right? Don't you ever feel really passionate about uncovering a big story?" Angie asked.

Rai chuckled. "All the time, Angie. All the time, I want to uncover all those big crimes that are only in the police archives. Back when I first joined the detective department, I was just like you. I couldn't contain that desire and did reckless and careless things. The result? I was in danger. Perhaps I would have felt fine if it was just me who was in danger, but I endangered my colleagues as well. I can't possibly let my personal desires endanger other innocent people, right?"

"Ah, damn it. I'll not give up. I'll uncover all the secrets of the world and expose them to the media for everyone to see!"

Rai pulled Angie's arm to make her sit back down. "Keep your voice down, Angie. You're embarrassing!"

Angie crossed her arms over her chest. "You have to do me a favor too."

Rai widened her eyes. "Huh?"

"Share information with me, okay?"

Rai pushed Angie's body against his. "Get out of the way, asshole. I'm not going to share police information with a gratuitous journalist like you."

Angie pressed her cheek against Rai's shoulder. "Come on, I'll never mention your name. Yeah?"

"No."

"Come on, Rai?"

Rai let out a long breath. "Let me go, Angie. I'll share what information I can. Don't ask for more."

Angie smiled widely. "Aw, you really are a good friend, Rai. I definitely will-uh."

The glass of alcohol on the table fell and shattered as it was accidentally nudged by Angie's arm. The hostess serving them immediately set it right. Angie had to switch seating positions to make it easier for the hostess to clean up the mess she had caused.

"Have a good seat, Angie. You're making a mess of everything."

Angie laughed. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't do it on purpose, Rai. I-"

Angie stopped talking. Her eyes were focused on the person sitting at the table across from her. Unlike the other guests who were with their friends, he was alone. He sat at an end table with a hostess who poured him a drink. There was no interaction between him and the hostess. He was focused on drinking his drink while smoking, and the hostess was also silent and only focused on pouring the drink.

"Angie? Angie!"

Angie blinked. "Y-Yes?"

"What are you looking at?"

Angie looked back at the table. "Hey, does he come here often?" Angie asked the hostess.

The hostess followed Angie's gaze. "Yes, Miss. He always comes here and sits at that table."

"Do you know who he is?"

"Sorry, Miss. We're forbidden to share visitor information."

Rai came to see who Angie had been watching. A man with light brown hair and green eyes. There was a tattoo along his left arm up to his neck. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His face was cold and seemed unfriendly.

"No, Angie."

Angie frowned. "What? I didn't do anything."

"I know you're attracted to that tattooed guy."

Angie chuckled. "I was just curious."

"He seemed dangerous."

"That doesn't mean he'll just kill me, does it?"

Rai rolled her eyes, completely lost in Angie's out-of-the-box answers.

"I'm warning you, Angie. Don't do anything stupid and sacrifice your own safety."

Angie hummed softly. She glanced back at the man. Unexpectedly, the two of them had met eyes. Angie was a little surprised and almost turned her face away, but somehow the look in the man's eyes made her stay and they stared at each other for a few seconds.

"Hey, let's go home. I have to work tomorrow."

Rai tugged on Angie's arm, which instantly broke her eye contact with the tattooed man.

"Don't mess with me, Angie."

Angie smiled. "Yeah, I know."

Rai walked out first with Angie in tow. Before she was completely out, Angie stopped stepping and looked back, and for the second time, their eyes met.

***