Bab 3: CHAPTER THREE: Different Feeling
JACOB'S POV
"Fck!" I screamed as I received a hard punch on my body hanged up in chains, blood kept rushing out of my mouth.
With my vision distorted, I perceived this familiar place. This abandoned, dark and filthy room that were once a safe place to me. A place that was once witness of horrible and merciless death of people. People that went against this syndicate clueless of the consequence. The tables are now turned.
"Are you even using your brain, you stupid mite?" a man in all black, face unclear screamed furiously. "None of us would ever let go of a witness! You know that!" He added in even more frantic tone before dropping another punch in my face. I felt my body totally lost strength as another hard object knocked my back. Heaviness in my head prevails, everything around me seems obscure, but still kept myself composed. "You put us all in danger! with your stupidity!" He exclaimed as I felt a kick on my gut that almost made me pass out. I couldn't plead them any further to spare my life, with my breath almost out, and body in unbearable pain.
"I bet you already know the consequences of being dumb" He said calmly, this time his voice so cold as ice. His phone suddenly rang, seems something must have commanded him. "Well, I'll let Paul handle this for me" He followed up then walked away like nothing happened. I had a clue of whom I was left with in the room based on the man's final words before leaving. "I felt his hands clamped on my chin tightly, as if he would break it. "I never thought you were more stupid than I expected" He suddenly spoke, still pressing his fingers furiously against my face. "If only you hadn't helped me back then, maybe... you'll be buried deep by now" He added, still in a serious tone that made me even nervous. A moment of silence covered the room until he added, "I'll let you leave and save your life this time; go and hide somewhere away from here. But don't get caught, I won't do this again". I felt a hard punch after his lengthy speech that totally knocked me out.
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I woke up with pain all over my body in a dark, messy and old warehouse. With my vision still vague, I scanned the whole place that seemed unfamiliar. There were crates and wooden pallets scattered everywhere, must be an abandoned place. Upon examining the place, I found a bag in black color beside me, someone must have left this. I quickly opened it and found a note inside, saying: take this and remain hidden. Everything you need is in there. You can still reach me if you need something else.
Without any second thoughts, I dug into the bag and found heaps of cash, a pair of clothes, a phone and key with something written on its tag. It was an address of an unfamiliar place to me. It must be his place I can stay in. I quickly got up and changed my clothes with the spare I found then threw away those I took off.
After ensuring everything, I carefully sneaked out of that place, still alert of people that might be around me. My heart pounding so fast, knowing they are everywhere. I really must stay outta here, feels like everyone's gonna kill me. I took a cab as I scanned the whole place to go to the address indicated on the key tag.
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I arrived at the address almost midnight, deafening silence covering the whole place. It was amazing how the place was built. As I observed its structure, it was a small two-storey apartment with generous space in each unit. It was not that high end but it looks so luxurious. From its tiles so clean as pristine and lights that are so classy, to its furniture in the common area. So far, it is the most simple yet elegant apartment I've ever seen. I couldn't help myself but to release small gasps from amusement.
I climbed upstairs as indicated on the key and stopped at the third door on the second floor. I felt amazed as I entered the unit. The room was neatly arranged yet still classy. The walls painted dark colors, not much of an eyesore and very masculine personality of the owner, as well as furniture, complimenting the theme.It was calming for me to see the mood of the place. As I walked in to the bedroom, I noticed that it is not that spacious but still maximized by minimal stuffs placed inside. It was also really obvious that he is living alone in the house, with his bed that cannot be shared.
I lifelessly dropped my exhausted body on the bed, not even minding of the wounds and bruises that should be treated. Despite being too exhausted, my eyes kept open as I kept thinking about too many things that happened. Being with so much confusion at the moment, so many questions keep disturbing me. How did I end up being like this? What am I gonna do now?
In the middle of my deep thoughts, someone suddenly flashed back. It was him. The one who saw me in that alley. His face was like engraved in my memory, too hard to forget. I can still clearly visualize his features, even the smallest detail even from afar. His face filled with expressions too mixed up to identify, maybe fear and shocked. Fear for his life and shocked of what he witnessed. But one thing I knew for sure: I dragged him into this mess I made and I should protect him. They must be already out to hunt him.
I immediately stood up to figure out what to do. In an instant, a brilliant idea came to me. I picked up the phone included in the bag, and searched for Paul's contact. The phone rang repeatedly, trying to connect to Paul. Guess this phone is out of the syndicate's knowledge. After several rings, a voice so low answered the call. "What do you need?" He frankly answered, not a hint of fear of being caught in his voice. "I-I need you to work on my papers" I replied hesitantly, still unsure of my spontaneous plan. "Papers for what?" He asked wondering of my favor."F-for University a-admission" I answered, still hesitant. "Are you even using your mind?" He asked in a furious tone, but his voice maintained low. "This is not the right time to get a degree! I've let you hide yourself in my place for you to avoid getting caught and now you want to study? Come on!" His lengthy speech of disagree. "W-Wait! Listen to me! I've killed a man and a student witnessed it. They know that I am dead but they are out there looking for that boy, who'd be killed they found him! He is dragged in to my mess and its my obligation to protect him at all cost" I defended with conviction, but kept myself composed. "Fine. I'll let you do this one. But I'd always told you, Better not get caught. I won't do the same thing again. I'll send you the papers ASAP. Use my laptop hidden on the cabinet and please... use a private network. you don't want to get traced" His lengthy note as a surrender. "oh. it was at West Pacific University" I followed before a beep sounded, ending the call.
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I spent the whole day thinking how would I protect that boy and keep my anonymity at the same time without getting caught. Through years of being in that syndicate, I knew they would never let a witness leave. Even I, who had been with them for long time already, was never exempted from their merciless rule. I knew that even a single thing or person that would drag them down must be eliminated. And I knew for sure that the boy will never be safe with them just around him.
I was not really going to kill him the moment we met in that tragic event. He was different and I felt different. I don't know that feeling, but it was new to me. Yeah, my heart always pound hard whenever I do such things for that damn group, but never in my life I felt my heart beating so fast for different reasons. And I don't know what the reason is.
I'm almost drowned with those thoughts of him when I received an email from the laptop in front of me. It was from Paul, the papers that I asked him. It contains my enrollment slip, schedule, and subjects. Unfortunately, that jerk Paul enrolled me to the course I am not really in to; ENGINEERING. I let out a deep sigh as there are no other options left to choose. Though its really fine with me, I fished out the phone and tried to dial him. After several rings, the jerk answered me teasingly. "I bet you already received it?" He said as he released a subtle laugh. "The hell? I'm just going to follow someone, and not gonna take this seriously! You should've chose something easy!" I said furiously with my voice kept low. "Come on. You said it yourself. You won't take it seriously. So failing is not gonna affect you. Plus, hurry up with that stupid plan of yours! That school was charging 2000 dollars...per semester!. You don't want to run around being broke" He said before dropping the call. It was always his habit to end the call before you could do. How rude. I was also gonna ask him how he made me got into the course, but nah, nevermind.
It is already 7 in the morning and I'm still not getting any rest. It was indicated that I'll be starting today so I took a bath and groomed myself though I feel so exhausted. Good thing the bruises are not that bad and obvious, so I treated it immediately with some ointments. I went through his closet and wore the best clothes in it. It was also a good thing that engineering students aren't required to wear uniforms. After several times of digging in his closet, I decided to wear a plain black hoodie with a white shirt inside it, paired with ripped skinny jeans and sneakers for the shoes.
I looked over the whole place, looking for suspicious people before pulling over a cab going to the school which will take 2 hours of travel to arrive. I let out a deep breath then leaned on the window to see the moving scenery of the road. Then I came to realize, How does it feel to be free? To run around not minding threats and dangers everywhere. Most of my life, I've always worked like a shadow, not seen and noticed by anyone. We are always bound by rules we should always follow. It made me envious of people who are free in their lives. Nothing holding back or keeping them to do whatever they want. I was almost lost in that thought when the driver told me I had already arrived to my destination. I quickly handed over some cash and asked him to keep the change, which he did not even decline.
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I am now walking towards the hallway of the building which is not really familiar to me. Luckily, I caught a glimpse of a sign that says it's the building for the College of Tourism . It was a complete silence in the place as it was too early, when suddenly broken by a group of three people walking towards the hallway of the building, talking about something I really don't know. What really caught my attention was the boy who was on the left side of the group. It was him, laughing and talking to those people which I suppose, his friends. The smile on his face faded as he saw my face sternly gazing at him. His body became like frozen as he stood still, fearfully looking at me. His Friend, whose name was Stace, based on what I heard tapped him and asked if he was okay. I quickly turned and walked away to find the Engineering building, which luckily, is in front of the building I went from.
Out of luck, I arrived at the room indicated on the schedule with the professor already inside. I was so nervous standing outside the room, but then felt relief when the professor didn't even give a damn as I entered. I still can't believe myself, doing terrible things for years, but still scared of professors. Too late to even realize what class am I in to: CALCULUS. Bet this will the most terrible three hours of my life.
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Finally, the class dismissed. How I wanted to walk away from that terrible subject. It was really terrible three hours of my life. With math, being my most hated subject, was the worst three hours of my life. I'm not really that idiot when it comes to math, I just don't really like it.
Currently walking towards the exit of the building, I suddenly spotted the boy going to the restroom. I walked quickly to follow where he is going. He was facing against the wall, peeing at the urinal as I entered the room. I walked over and leaned on the sink, calmly whistling, still focusing on him. He seems surprised by my presence, who suddenly came in without being noticed. He turned and seemed to be more shocked as he saw me leaning on the sink. I broke the silence as I spoke sarcastically, "remembered me buttinsky?" He stood still, face showing fear and confusion. His face seemed to be even feared. "Oh. still lost your tongue?" I followed with a serious tone, but still received no response from him. He slowly walked backwards trying to find escape from me, out of his luck, the cubicle wall stopped him from moving farther.
"Please... don't--" he pleads as I cut him off by locking him on the wall with my arms. I can feel his body's subtle shaking. I can also feel his strength withdrawn with too much fear. "Please..."He pleaded again, his voice also becoming shaky. I moved my face closer to him, seeing his eyes so beautiful as the stars. "shh... I won't kill you here. Not now. since it looks like you've kept your promise "I said seriously, relieving his fear. I leaned closer, our face almost touching, " but watch your back, I have my eyes on you". I added, this time, with a husky tone. I felt the urge to get closer, until we were just an inch apart. I suddenly came back to my senses, turned back and walked away as if nothing had happened. I don't understand myself.
I felt the same feeling the first time I met Him
I felt again that different feeling
— Bab baru akan segera rilis — Tulis ulasan
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