MARKUS’ P.O.V
Lucas appeared, panting. “Why did you call us? I’m in the middle of the class,” he complained.
Smith scoffed. “You can't fool us, Lucas. You don’t listen to our instructors when they teach.”
“I’m guessing that this is about your number one worst naughty student that always got the top of your list. Am I right?” Aidan lifelessly looks at me.
“Be honest, bro. Do you like her?” Smith asked with a playful smirk on his lips.
I glared at Smith.
‘What the hell?’
“No. We have to follow her. She cut-classed. That’s it, no other reasons.” I sharply terse and waltz my way to the parking lot.
“Stop fucking around, Mark. Out of all the students who cut-classed, she’s the only one who you wanted us to tail after her. You can’t fool us, bro. Not us.” I disregarded Lucas’ teasing. He’s a pain in the neck just like her gang.
“Let’s go, then. I have a family dinner after this shit,” Aidan said.
He has been busy these past few weeks. There must be something going on.
“Alright!” Lucas exclaimed. Facing Aidan, he continued, “Le’ me ride with you Aidan, okay?”
There he goes again. Asking for a free ride when he can just ride his own motorbike.
“No. Go with Smith.” Aidan gets into his car and starts to drive off.
Lucas runs to Smith and stops as soon as Smith shouts my name. “You mushroom! Why me?! There’s Mark over there!” Shutting the door of his car closed immediately.
Lucas turns his head towards me with a pout. “Not gonna work. Use your motorbike. You’re not gonna get a free ride.”
“What a selfish bastards! You tossed me to one another and you wouldn’t let me ride with y’all either! I just want to ride with y’all,” he fussed like a kid who is forbidden by his parents to let him out.
I was about to close my car when Smith shouted, “Shut up Lucas! You’re too noisy!”
‘Why do I have a friend like them?’
I lead the way, tailing Demian as she drives recklessly. Overtaking and driving quickly, made me almost lose track of her when she avoided another truck loaded with fuel. As I turn right, in the way where she takes sharp turns, she’s gone.
My brows knitted, stepping on the brake pedal. Breathing in and out. ‘Where did she go?’
Suddenly, the phone on my dashboard chirped.
“You’re blocking our way. What happens? Why did you suddenly stop?” asked Aidan.
“I lost her.”
“Seriously?”
I’m starting to get infuriated without any exact reason. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
“Okay. Let’s look around the area,” Aidan implied.
I hummed in acknowledgment before hanging up and driving again. I looked at the rearview mirror to see Lucas go missing from his position behind my car.
The ring echoed inside my car and I abruptly answered the call as I saw who was the owner of the call.
“Where are you?”
“I found her. She’s heading to Triple X Bar. Hurry! I can’t catch up.”
With that, I ended the call and drove as fast as I could. I just need her whereabouts.
We arrived at the place too late. Too late to save her. Lucas came a minute ago, but why didn't he help her?
“Demian!” It was too late when I called her since someone hit the back of her head using a metallic pipe.
Instinctively, I ran to the guy who hit her and struck a contagious jab until he passed out.
‘How could they hurt a woman heartlessly?’
I ran to her and gingerly tapped her cheek. “Hey! Can you hear me?! Heck. Wake up!” I watched her as she shut her eyes. “I’ll take you to the hospital, don’t worry,” I whispered.
I snap my head around to see my friends still busy with those blighters. Turning my attention to Demian, she was lying on the ground unconscious. Without any hesitation, I picked her up in a bridal way. Using my hand, lifting the back of her knees in my arm, I open my car door and gently place her in the front seat.
I was about to shut it close when I noticed something in her hand. She holds the necklace like it’s her lifeline.
Silly.
“I don’t know if you’re born stupid or you’re just acting stupid.” I shook my head in disbelief. Talking to an unconscious person was preposterous.
We arrived at the hospital and I carried her inside the way I carried her earlier.
“I need assistance!”
Two nurses came with a gurney. I lay her there and helped them push the gurney. I was so focused on her that everyone dissolved into naught and I snapped off when the nurses stopped me.
“Sir, here’s your stop. You’re not allowed inside.” Then, the nurse left.
I leaned on the wall, panting. I feel like I run too far that even breathing is hard to catch.
“Bro!” Smith made me turn my head, but it automatically diverted to the door where they brought Demian in. “Your blazer is full of bloodstains,” he commented.
“Don’t mind it,” I said nonchalantly.
“One of their members is here. She said that she was with her earlier.” Aidan got my full attention, then to the girl who showed up, hiding behind Lucas’ back, scared and trembling.
“I’m Gwen… Gwenneth Ron– Ronquillo,” she stated, completely stammering.
“What happened?”
“I– I don’t know. She asked me to run and I did. I ran away from that mess. I wanted to go back! Promise! But, fear came in.” She started sobbing loudly. Cutting a nerve in me, making me irk. “I didn’t expect this to happen to her.”
I’m not satisfied with her information.
“She wasn’t gonna go there if there’s no serious matter occurred. What exactly happened?”
She didn’t answer my question. Instead, she cried out loud, catching everyone’s attention.
“Bro.” Smith put his hand on my shoulder and shook his head, a signal that I should stop interrogating the girl.
I turned my head to the emergency room, letting Lucas pat the back of the crying girl.
I’m hoping she’s fine and nothing worse happens.