13 Abduct

"But I have a friend" Jackie smiled.

"Just one?"

"Yeah"

"Oh!" Indie exclaimed in surprise.

Jackie gazed at her with a smile he was aware playing on his face.

Trying all she could to let the conversation continue, Indie asked, only to come out with a silly question "What is his name?"

"Omen" Jackie replied, staring into her eyes, he was about to be trapped in them when he heard her "Can I make it two?"

"W, what?" Jackie stuttered, hearing her puzzled question.

Indie contemplated and said "Friends?" Extending her hand for a handshake. Jackie, lost in astonishment, didn't fail to notice her extended hand; with no much time wasted, he returned the handshake.

"My pleasure" He responded with a subtle smile.

Indie's smile broadened "See you at the cafe with your friend, we will all be having coffee at nine, don't disappoint" She winked at him.

Though being carried away, Jackie found himself nodding excitedly "Okay" He responded 

"See you then" She waved at him and turned, walking away.

Jackie still wearing a gently smile on his face, waved back at her "See you…" He muttered. He couldn't believe the beauty of the campus... just exchanged words with him and even asked him for friendship. This could be a dream. Wished it wasn't.

His gaze was still fixed on her as she waked away, the wavy red hair of hers swaying in the soothing breeze and dazzling under the sunrays. He continued staring at her till her figure disappeared out of his sight. The kind of feelings he was having when she talked with him, he had never felt that before in his life. He found his heart pounding faster, beating against his ribcage.

He felt satisfied. Perhaps he was having all these odd feelings because he had never engaged in a conversation with a woman or maybe because he was crushing on her. He had always been that nerd who paid no attention nor bothered by anything except his studies.

....

It had been a week now, and within that week, it had seemed like life was giving him a chance, a chance to feel cared for. He had been thrilled to keep company with the girl he had always been into. Remembering the brief moments they shared... so optimistic.

They always met daily after classes, they would sometimes tour around the city with Omen and her friends, with one of her expensive cars. Thinking of that, what would she have probably seen in him to desire him as a friend? He was just a simple guy who managed his life with little he had.

Thinking about the incident that happened earlier, he felt like punching himself in the face. Why did he let his guard down, allowing such an co-incidental scene to occur, now he was going to lose her, the only friend he'd ever had apart from Omen. People merely noticed his presence nor talked to him but ever she had became his friend, things seemed to turn flashy.

That bull guy Tom had threatened him severally to keep off from her but he couldn't help, besides they were just friends, though he wished for something more, but he was okay with what she wanted.

Seeing her laugh and smile lightened his heart. It felt like a heavy rock pressing on his heart was being lifted. Who might she be to Tom? The thought out of nowhere struck his mind. Why would he threaten him to leave her, who could she be to him? He shouldn't be blowing such a dumb question in his mind; wasn't it obvious who they were?

Jackie shook his head at the stream of thought. She was mad at him, but it wasn't intentional, it was an accident. He touched his lips which curved into a warm smile. He would admit it, he felt an electric spike ran down his spine as their lips brushed together.

"Awkward" Jackie blurted. He was walking back home as the day had reached its demise, leaving the night to envelop the atmosphere with its usual darkness punctuated by the linear grow of street lamps and the ones emitting from the buildings nearby. It was already late at night. The area he lived usually went lifeless during the late hours, with solely few people loitering the street.

The latter was walking home wearing his backpack with his hands ducked in his side pockets when suddenly, two black cars made a sudden stop across him, resonating a screeching sound. Three men dressed in black outfits stepped out of the first car in a hurry, walking towards Jackie who stood frozen, watching them with his eyes creased in panic. They surrounded him in circle, before he could recall what was about to befall him, they pounded on him, one sent a kick straight to his belly sending him flat to the ground. They beat him till everything began to turn blank, his face severely bruised.

One pair of legs he could only see, wearing a black booth, kicked him hard in the face, and everything eventually went blank, sending him to oblivion.