Khino - I Will Keep Longing

Get the album on bandcamp: https://khino.bandcamp.com/album/cyberpunk-black Full story: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EaObmnNR2JLc5DhwGsriNRT69NKJRiBP?usp=sharing Because of YT's character limit this chapter had to be shortened. February 2086 He sits down across from her. A single glass sits on the table, a bottle of liquor and cheap a energy drink. In this decrepit hotel room, finally, they really look at each other. His beard is more unkempt than it used to be, bags under his eyes, but he doesn't seem tired. He seems focused. Her hair is down, covering what used to be all the ports and lights on the back of her neck. None remain. Her eyes don't glow anymore, they just reflect all the lights from the windows. He catches himself thinking that just makes them more beautiful, she catches herself wondering if she should've brought backup. “Is this glass for me?” “Yeah... I stopped drinking.” “Nice throwback. Gameshow punishment.” He laughs a bit. As his smile fades, he speaks. “Beatrice, I... I want to turn myself in.” She's stunned for a second “T-that's good. You should.” “The results were in tonight, weren't they?” “She won. By a hair, but she did. You'll get a fair trial. We both will.” She pours a glass for herself, then hands him the energy drink. He takes a sip, then speaks again. “Do you really think things will get better now?” She lets out a deep sigh, staring into the glass. “What a question, man...” “I know, I'm just... I miss talking to you.” She closes her eyes for a bit “I think... It'll take work, you and I haven't made it easy. What you've done tainted our message, Rebis is a genuine terrorist organization now. President Amaya barely got in despite her connection to us.” “To me. You were smart never to show your face.” “And you've shown yours a little too much.” She takes a sip and sets the glass down. “But yeah, there's a... giant number of reforms to do, things I can't even begin to understand, but... people are tired, exhausted of all this. They want something stable. Something true. They're with the Senator on that- uh- President, I mean.” “Won't get rid of all the issues.” “It won't. Corps are already picking at the edges. The Church is trying to rebuild camps, but it's a start. With all that's happened, we're damn lucky this is how it turned out.” “Listen, I'm sorry..." “I'm not the one you should be sorry for, K.” “...I know.” “Can I ask why now? They've been hunting you for weeks.” He looks away, unfocused, his hand trembling a bit “I just can't get over how sure I was... In that moment? How absolutely certain I was that I was right... I haven't been sleeping. One moment I want to run away, the other I want to just end it, I'm... It's like I was a different person.” “You weren't. You were still you.” “I just... don't know if I can ever atone for it.” She looks away with a sigh, taking a moment to think. Then, she puts her right hand on the table. “Kyle, gimme your hand.” “Wha- why?” “I like you too much to just tell you to fuck off now, I want to say this in a way that helps you.” He reaches his hand over, she grabs the part of his palm that was half-melted by holding her head. They stare at each other, just like they used to. “I don't believe you or I can ever atone for what we've done, but it's a good thing that you want to... Do you remember what we used to say every time there was news for a killer on the loose?” “...Always the killer, never the killed.” “That's right... You're the killer now. Stop thinking about yourself, think about the people you killed. Do what's best for them, for their families.” He pulls his hand away, looking to the side. “H-how?” “You said it. Turn yourself in.” “Oh... right.” “Isn't that why you stopped, let me find you?” “Honestly, I... I missed you.” She nods “I missed you too.” “I never stopped loving you.” She closes her eyes and lets out a painful sigh, then looks at him. “...I loved you too.” He looks down, nodding, then pulls out a piece of paper and writes something on it. He gets up and walks around the table, reaching the paper toward her. She stands in response, examining it. “Chicago, Jackson motel, room 03?” “It'll look better for your president if she brings me to justice herself. I'll be hiding there, two weeks from now. Arrest me.” “K, you can just...” “We've been manipulating optics for years, tell me I'm wrong.” “Kyle...” She wraps her hands around his, crumpling the paper between them. She looks into his eyes, just like she would a year ago. “...are you lying to me?” “I'm done running B, done lying.” He closes her hands around the piece of paper, then places his burnt palm on her cheek. “I want to heal.” Her gaze slowly shifts down, then to the side. A tear rolls down her cheek. “Okay...” She walks back to the door, where she stops and looks at him one final time. “I'll see you around, K.” She leaves, and locks the door behind her. Written and Produced by Khino.