The hum of the air conditioner filled the cold room, while cobwebs clung to the corners of the ceiling, adding a sense of decay.Two policemen sat hunched, their minds heavy with concern.
"I really want to know… what made you risk coming here and talking to us?" Robert's deep voice cut through the silence.
"As you said before, if THEY really have that much power, why would you defect? Doesn't that just put you at a disadvantage? What drives you to do this?" He added, staring curiously at Faisal, who remained lost in thought.
After a long pause, Faisal finally spoke, sighing softly as he glanced at Robert and Richard."As I said before… it's my choice. As for the why and the purpose… just consider it that I've grown tired of all this." His voice was calm, almost detached, and he didn't turn toward Robert.
Faisal picked up a bright yellow banana, examining the brand label on each fruit individually."Basically, if I were to tell you everything and you knew the truth… it wouldn't be all that different from these bananas in front of me."
He paused, meeting Robert's gaze with a meaningful look. Their eyes locked in the cold air for a long moment before Faisal exhaled slowly."Come closer," he said, calling Robert to approach.
Robert hesitated, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "What do you want?" he asked as he walked and sat beside Richard, who still kept his head down.
Faisal didn't answer. Instead, he held the bright yellow bananas in his hands, separating them from the bunch."Here. Take them." He handed one fresh banana to each of them. "Go on, try it."
Richard stared at Faisal briefly before peeling and biting into the banana slowly."How is it?" Faisal asked softly."Not bad," Richard replied, his voice muffled by the bite.
"Why don't you try it too?" Faisal asked Robert, who was still staring absentmindedly at his banana.
"So… it's just a banana?" Robert asked skeptically."What do you mean?" Faisal replied, clearly puzzled by his reaction.
"Is there some hidden code or meaning in this banana? Something related to THEM?" Robert pressed, wanting confirmation.
"Hmm? I think you're overthinking. It's just a banana. Try it and see," Faisal said, ending the argument.
After finishing their bananas, Faisal offered blackened bananas next."Now try these," he said, eating one himself first to show they were safe.
Robert and Richard hesitated at first, noticing the blackened peel and moths hovering around them. But seeing Faisal finish his first, they cautiously took a bite.
"Hmm??""Hmm???" murmured the two officers in surprise, while Faisal merely smiled knowingly.
"How is it?" Faisal asked Robert.Robert remained silent as he chewed, so Faisal turned to Richard."How about you?"
"It's like a regular banana, but if I were to compare… this one is much sweeter and softer than the previous one." Richard answered in detail, like a professional chef. Faisal chuckled lowly, amused by the thorough response.
"But did you know," Faisal continued, "that bananas like these are often used as the base for cakes or desserts? Back then, they were also a key ingredient in one of my favorite dishes." He paused, lost in nostalgia.
"When I was in Indonesia, the banana cake was one of my favorites. One day, I'll let you try it. Its sweet and savory taste will make you fall in love with it." Faisal's eyes wandered to the ceiling as memories of his childhood passed through them.
Silence filled the room. Robert and Richard remained quiet, letting him drift through his thoughts. Eventually, Faisal returned to the present, smiling faintly at them.
"But… why bananas?" Richard finally asked.
Now the mood relaxed. The typewriter they had cleaned earlier went unused — the conversation had turned casual, like old friends.
"Basically, the truth I'm about to reveal will turn your reality upside down, just like these bananas," Faisal said calmly."You'll see that someone you admire… isn't who you thought they were. Those you respect… will no longer appear the same to you. You'll misunderstand, misjudge, and realize how much you've underestimated THEM, just like these bananas."
He paused, eyes blank as if staring into the past."You'll be on the wrong side, no matter how much you protest. No matter how hard you point fingers, you'll be at a disadvantage.They exist not only among the elite but also in the filthy streets — where you usually relieve yourself."
He took a long breath, lowering his head."You won't be able to live in peace. And if you try to tell anyone, they'll think you're crazy… or worse, drag you into danger. Essentially, you can't just speak of it."
Faisal scanned the room as if looking for something in the grimy walls."Because, as people say…" he whispered, looking alternately at the two officers,"these walls have ears."
Robert and Richard exchanged stunned glances.They had known Faisal had some anomalies — mysterious records, shadowy involvement in international crime — but never imagined it could go this far.
The silence returned until Robert spoke hesitantly."So… about the promise you mentioned earlier… what exactly do you mean?"
"I want you to promise me. Promise that you won't back down when you hear the truth. Promise to take down THEM — and don't stop until you succeed. If only one of you remains, the goal stays the same." Faisal's gaze was firm and serious, his demeanor different from before.
Sweat dripped from Richard's temple. Robert wanted to speak but found his voice caught; their legs trembled, barely supporting them. Richard scanned the room, as if expecting danger to strike at any moment.
"Can you give us some time to think?" Richard's voice quivered, aware this decision could mean death. Robert loosened his collar, feeling hot despite the cold.
"Sure. Thirty minutes," Faisal replied flatly, looking at Richard who had his jacket in hand.
"Thirty minutes? Why rush? This isn't a decision you make instantly," Robert said, surprised.
"If you delay too long, THEY will assume I've revealed everything — and you'll be the ones in danger, regardless of what you know," Faisal lowered his voice. "Don't tell anyone — not even your superiors. Remember, these walls have ears."
"Alright, we won't waste time," Robert said, and Richard nodded in agreement.
They left the interrogation room, walking down the corridors, each lost in tangled thoughts, neither daring to speak first.
"Let's go to the control room; at least there we can observe him while we talk," Richard suggested, breaking the silence.
"Alright then," Robert agreed.
Arriving there, they were surprised — no one was present. By protocol, someone should be monitoring and speaking via intercom if anything went wrong.
"Where is everyone?" Richard asked, puzzled."How would I know? I was inside interrogating him with you," Robert replied, shaking his head.
"Ughhh! This is driving me insane!" Richard shouted, frustrated.
Robert stayed silent, processing everything, pulling out a cigarette from his jacket."Hey, give me one," Richard requested.
The rusty click of Robert's lighter echoed through the quiet.A deep drag emphasized Richard's paranoia.Exhaling half-satisfied, half-exhausted, Richard muttered, "Hhhah…"
"Look at what he's doing," Robert said, pointing at the monitor showing Faisal via CCTV.
Faisal sat casually, legs on the table, even singing."Turn up the volume, I want to hear what he's singing," Richard said."Okay, wait," Robert replied, puffing the cigarette before discarding it. He fiddled with the volume knob, finally increasing it.
"Ding… ding-ding ding… ding-ding ding… ding…""Ding—teng—ding—teng… ding ding teng…"
The melody floated down the corridors. Both officers fell silent for a long moment."What is he singing? Isn't this just… music?" Robert asked."It's Für Elise, one of Beethoven's piano pieces," Richard replied, slightly knowledgeable.
"I want to ask you something," Richard interjected."What?" Robert replied, still focused on Faisal's singing."I know your instincts for detecting lies are sharp, so I want to ask," Richard began, waiting for Robert to look at him.
"I know exactly what you want to ask, but believe me, I detect no lie in a word he says. And while we're there extracting information… I feel exposed, as if he knows every inch of me," Richard said.
Robert paused, staring at the monitor."From his gaze, I know he knows us both like the back of his hand. Nothing can be hidden from him."Robert's eyes reddened as the weight pressed on him.
Suddenly, Faisal's singing stopped. Both watched as he looked directly into the camera, his eyes seemingly piercing theirs. Silence, except for the flicker of lights.
"Oiii! Stop watching my show and make your decision. One thing you must consider," he said, moving closer to the camera,"Is it really worth it? Is trading truth for your lives… worth it?" His smile was clearly visible.
"I await your decision," he added, sitting back.
"What now?" Robert asked Richard, thinking hard."Do we even have a choice?" Richard said, helpless, shaking his head.
"At least we can bet," he added."Bet how?" Robert asked."If he's bluffing, we can lock him up and ignore all this," Richard said, trying to bolster Robert's courage."And if he's telling the truth?" Robert asked, searching for hope."Then we're destined for this," Richard said softly, like a cold splash of water.
Seeing Robert dejected, Richard patted his shoulder."Come on, it's not the first life-threatening situation we've faced. We've survived because you've stayed by my side, loyal as ever."
Robert's color returned. He smiled at Richard."And I'll remain your partner, even if we walk through hell together," he said firmly.
Just then, a voice came from the speaker:"Okay. Good to have someone watching your back. But hurry, our time is limited." Faisal's tone was casual.
"How?" Richard whispered, puzzled that Faisal could know what they were discussing from afar.Robert shook his head."No time to figure it out. Let's go. Our guest is waiting," he said. Richard nodded.
They walked down the corridors, unsure whether their steps would lead to the truth… or to an abyss from which they could never return.