Page 102 of The Commons

“Me too! You’ll need more than one person to help,” Levon says.

“That’s a good idea. And I’m gonna send Doctor Val some backup files just for safe measures,” Pesh says.

“What backup files?” I ask.

“The students have also done several videos on their experiences in The Seventh Zone. They’ve been recording information since they started helping me here. So while those things alone can’t incriminate Londe instantly because it’s just word of mouth and we would have to go to court for a long time to prove it, it will be the only thing to result to if we cannot hack The Begon.”

“So The Begon is instant justice. But the backup files might take a long time to prove in The Lawtem,” I deduce.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Pesh confirms.

Levon and I begin loading the fake Begon with information. Pesh loads the backup testimonial files and sends them to Doctor Val, while Swin and the team of students hack the real Begon relentlessly.

Four hours later, most people are asleep in the group, apart from Levon, Pesh, and me, as well as three boys who are still helping Swin hack the code and two girls who are helping me. Levon stands up from the computer next to mine, and she begins to unplug it. We have to unplug all the computers, except for Swin’s, and carry them to the corner of the room at the end of the night. She starts carrying it and instantly, Swin stands up to help her. Swin touches her shoulders, then takes the computer, touching her hands in the process.

She draws back instantly. “Don’t ever touch me.”

“It was just a friendly hold⁠—”

“Physical touch is not really my love language, so don’t.”

“Sorry! I was just trying to help⁠—”

“I don’t need your help.”

“My bad!” He walks away, back to hacking, a sigh escaping his lips.

As Pesh walks by, Swin looks up at him like one does to a hero, then snaps out of it.

“I’m gonna go to bed, babe!” Levon comes from my back and kisses me on the forehead.

I smile and hug her tightly. She walks toward the bedroom, past Swin’s computer.

Swin’s face lights up as she walks by, but she cuts the eye contact instantly and indignantly. “Goodnight, Levon!” Swin says.

She does not respond to him. He looks away with an honest heart, only wanting to get through to her. To make sure she’s okay. To see what her heart beats for.

He seems like he wants to go after her, as though he plans to get through to her—to dig past the dirt, and find the gold—and for a second, his reflection flashes on the computer screen to allure this transparency, but his eyes strike the golden clock in front of him and he sighs, turning back to the keyboard, focusing on hacking the code instead. “I’ve got time,” I hear him whisper to himself.

One by one, each gentle soul fades into the night, completing their tasks for the night. But Swin and I continue working. Our eyes meet at times with a gentle smile, as though our work is lighting up a flame for our dark world.

Swin keeps looking toward Pesh, opening his lips and closing them, while watching some files load simultaneously. Eventually he speaks, “Would I be correct in saying that a certain Patron’s allegiance to The Commons is coming to an end?”

Pesh’s face is serious, but he says nothing. Swin turns away and continues working, but he can’t help himself.

He continues to speak, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but going against The Commons is like going against a god. People like us already have nothing, because they took it all from us. But for you, you stand to lose everything.”

“You should focus on your work, Swin,” Pesh responds, serious.

“Of course, Captain. I am, something’s loading… Trust me, this work is like my soul, like if you could cut my head open, all it desires is to ruin The Commons and… to um… make friends of anyone who has a similar sentiment.”

Pesh looks away and very concisely but calmly articulates, “I don’t keep friends.”

“No worries, I can keep us friends,” Swin replies with a smile.

Pesh suddenly turns back to him. Swin gulps, almost afraid.

“Just keep doing your work,” Pesh states, watching Swin like he’s decoding him. “And I might not expose the one hundred and eighty-three crimes you’re wanted for in the system after this.”