Words, Words, Words

Fuyuki knew full well that he was running out of time. He had less than a day until Winter Breeze allegedly got his hands on that blueprint. This means that after he does so, he won’t have much time left to complete his end of the deal.

His job would be much easier if the target weren’t as high-profile as Feng Liwei. But then again, information about a not-so-important person wouldn’t be worth that much.

He looked at Feng Liwei again, who at this point must have developed some kind of sixth sense as he seemed to realize that he is being watched and turned his head to look at him inquiringly. It was embarrassing but also weird to be caught staring at someone. Especially twice in a row.

Fuyuki kept looking at him expecting the other person to look away first but to his surprise, this didn’t happen so in the end, Fuyuki was still the one to break eye contact first.

He was relieved when the meeting ended, knowing that he had the rest of the afternoon free. But he still has to create an opportunity to talk to that person again. So, after standing up, he grabbed Annisa’s wrist, motioning her to come with him.

“Where are we going?” she asked bewildered while noticing that even the man sitting behind them was also staring at them shocked.

“I have an idea,” said Fuyuki which he hoped sounded confident enough but was a lot more nervous than he was letting on.

The two of them walked past the crowd of people, who stood up just like them and were on their way to the door to leave the room. They didn’t stop until they caught up to Feng Liwei, who was talking with the global defense minister about something they couldn’t hear clearly. When they realized that their conversation was being overheard, they stopped talking and looked at the two people, who stood before them.

“Excuse me for the interruption, Major,” improvised Fuyuki on the spot while trying to sound all serious and avoid his voice trembling even a little. “The Indonesian delegate, Annisa Arianto has some questions she would like to ask you if you have the time,” he asked brazenly.

The poor delegate, despite saying only a day ago that she wanted to spend some more time with that infamous Major Feng, was still shocked when put into such an unexpected situation. Her mind blanked for a minute and kept staring back and forth between Fuyuki and the Major before finally mustering up the courage to speak.

“Yes, well... I am the most curious about this new method of gender reversal. Albeit its advantages are rather obvious, I wonder whether its societal consequences would outweigh these advantages in the long term. What are your opinions on this subject, Major Feng?”

The Major in question had all his attention on the woman talking to him but he couldn’t help scrutinize the two people before him. Especially Fuyuki, who suspiciously stood silent as if he was only being there for show but having an ulterior motive at the same time.

“I believe that while there are some truths to what you said, none of us are fortune tellers, thus we cannot declare with a hundred percent certainty that one option is the absolute truth with the best outcome and the other isn’t,” Major Feng replied with a blank expression on his face.

Bullshit, Fuyuki thought, as every word that person uttered felt like being a part of some propaganda that sounded absolutely righteous but totally meaningless.

“Is this what you truly believe?” asked Fuyuki suddenly, and immediately regretted it.

“Didn’t I just say that?” he asked back.

“To quote someone a lot wiser than me: “Truth is singular. Lies are words, words, words,””* hearing this Annisa’s face paled in fright and the defense minister beside the Major was about to reprimand the insolent man for daring to say something to such a high-ranking person when Feng Liwei lifted his hand telling him that there’s no need. Instead, he made a step forward and after crossing his arms behind his back in a majestic fashion, he sneered at the man in front of him.

“If it is really like what you just said then where is your truth?” he asked and after waiting for half a minute and the answer still didn’t come, he sneered even more cruelly and left with the minister as if being pissed at the existence of people who even have the audacity to talk to him.

The moment they were out of earshot, Annisa exploded:

“Have you lost it? Do you have any idea what might happen if you provoke someone like him?” she asked angrily but she was angry more so due to being anxious rather than really being angry at Fuyuki.

“I know. He just pissed me off,” he said casually and turned to leave the room just like everyone else.

“What did he even do to you for being so pissed at him?” she asked while following Fuyuki out of the room.

“Nothing really. But even looking at his face pisses me off for a week.”

“Then don’t look at him,” joked Annisa innocently, which somehow made Fuyuki feel as if she stepped on a nerve and made him uneasy. “But seriously, you should mind what you say if you want to keep your position,” she advised him.

I not only want to; I have to, Fuyuki thought as the two of them were walking in the corridor to have lunch somewhere, where they could talk more freely.

He couldn’t help thinking back to what Feng Liwei had said when asking about his truth. He was right in a way since Fuyuki had never even told him the truth about many things. And don’t even intend to do so in the future. And Feng Liwei isn’t as dumb as some politicians. No matter how few the times were when they actually spoke, he still caught on that he wasn’t told the truth. At least not entirely.

Because that is something he cannot tell. It is something that has to stay between him and Winter Breeze. So, that Major just has to make do with it.

And if he can’t...

Well, that’s his problem.

*It's a quote from the series Doctor Who, from the 2012 Christmas Special episode titled The Snowmen