CHAPTER 2: VERDEZ STREET

“Wait, is that Kayleigh?” Shawn immediately approached them because she is being harassed by those guys.

“This looks like trouble,” he said to his mind so he gather his courage to talk to these guys.

“H-hey K-Kayleigh! I have been waiting for you at the gate.” he’s stuttering his words as the nervousness slowly came to him.

The four men immediately turn their attention to him while Kayleigh is surprised behind them, “Who are you kid?” one of the guys said arrogantly.

“I’m his boyfriend.” Shawn was embarrassed to say that because she was just there but he need to gather his courage to help her.

“Oh is that so? Mind if we borrow her for today?” one of the guys smiled annoyingly. “You can leave her to me, she’ll have fun with our company.”

Shawn pretends to be thinking, “I see if that so then she’s yours.” he said, tears flowed in Kayleigh’s eyes because he thought that he was going to help her.

They returned their attention to Kayleigh, “How is that for you miss? Your boyfriend gave us the permissi---” he was interrupted as Shawn pushes two of them out of the way and immediately grabs Kayleigh’s hand.

“Hurry up, run!” they immediately ran away from them as they were being chased by them, “Don’t let them escape! Follow them!”

Shawn saw a small alley where they did they go in, “They are here!” one of the guys shouted.

Both of them ran as fast as they can as they traverse the small paths in the vicinity. Shawn saw a small gate across them that is open, “Let’s hide in there.” he said to her and immediately open a metal gate and hide behind the wall.

“Did you see where they go? I can’t find them in here.” Shawn heard them not far away from them. “Let’s go in there, maybe they are hiding there.”

They heard footsteps walking away from them so Shawn tries to peek outside, “They are gone now.” he said to Kayleigh as he sighed in relief.

“Who are you people?! Are you trying to rob my house?!” a middle-aged woman shows up while pointing a knife at them.

“Calm down ma’am, we’re not robbers.” he tried to convince her by raising both of his hands in the air. “We’re really sorry that we intrude here but we are being chased by a group of men so we just happened to hide in here.”

Her threatening face disappeared, “Oh I’m sorry, I mistake both of you as criminals. Come in so you can be safe for now.” both of them accepted her offer and got inside.

“Thank you, ma’am, for letting us in.” Shawn gave her gratitude to her

“No, it’s okay. Take a seat and I’ll give both of you a snack and juice.” She left both of them and goes to the kitchen.

“Thank you for helping me, I don’t know what will happen to me if you weren’t there,” Kayleigh said.

Shawn can’t look at her directly because of the nervousness  he feels, “I j-just h-happen to b-be their s-so of course, I w-will help you.”

She let out a little laugh, “Why are you so nervous? Do I look like a murderer?”

Shawn just smiled at her embarrassingly while holding his nape.

She smiled at him, “By the way, what is your name?” he tries to smile while introducing himself. “My name is Shawn.”

She reached out her hands to shake hands with him, “Nice to meet you, Shawn, I thank you for what you did.”

While they are talking to each other, the woman came in and hand their food to them, “I have prepared a sandwich and juice for you guys, don’t be shy, eat those.”

“Thank you ma’am for the food.” Kayleigh grabs one of the sandwiches and also Shawn too.

“Ma’am, may I ask, are you just alone in this house?” Shawn asked while eating, “Where are your husband and children?”

“My husband passed away years ago because of pneumonia,” Kayleigh can see a little sadness on her face, “while my children are busy in their own lives, two of them already had family and the three of them lives here with me but they are in their work right now.”

“I see, We’re sorry ma’am for asking such a question,” Kayleigh said.

“No, it’s okay. It’s been a long time since my husband died so don’t worry about it. “ the woman smiled at them.

The two continued eating, “By the way, why is the group of men you’re talking about, chasing both of you? Did both of you do something bad?” the woman asked them.

“No ma’am, we didn’t do something bad. What happened is that group of men is harassing her, I tried to help her and ran away from them but they immediately catch up to us so we don’t have a choice but to hide.” Shawn explained to her.

The woman got concerned for both of them, “ My god, streets are really dangerous nowadays. Good thing, both of you escaped them.”

Kayleigh gave her gratitude to the woman, “We’re thankful to you ma’am for letting us hide in here and the food you offered.”

The woman chuckles, “Don’t worry about it, I’m just alone in here so having guests in my house is a great thing.”  

Kayleigh looks at her wristwatch, “ I think we need to go now ma’am, it’s almost 6 pm and my parents will be worried about me.”

“Oh is that so, then both of you should be on your way now. I’ll show you the way out here.” They go out and Shawn checks outside if it is safe. When the path is clear, they started walking towards the outside of the alley.

“Be careful on your way home both of you okay?” the woman said before they left.

“Thank you ma’am for everything, we’ll go back there sometimes.” They waved goodbye to her as they walk by.

“Thank you Shawn for saving me from those guys, I don’t know what will happen to me if you weren’t there.” Kayleigh gratefully said.

Shawn tries to hide his blushed face from her, “Anyone in my position at that time will do the same so.”

 “By the way, where do you live?” Kayleigh asked. “ Uh, I live nearby, in Verdez Street,” Shawn replied.

Kayleigh smiled at him, “Oh really? That’s the street across from my house. Will you accompany me until I got home?”

“S-sure, no problem.” Shawn tried to put a smile on his face but his heart is pounding like crazy.

After 10 minute walk, they arrived in front of Kayleigh’s house, “Is this your house? Shawn was amazed at how big it is.

“Yes, would like to come in?” Kayleigh offered to him.

“Thank you for the offer but I also need to get home,” Shawn said reluctantly.

“I see, so I’ll just see you tomorrow at school? Thank you Shawn for helping me.” Shawn waved goodbye to her as he walks towards their street.

Just a few blocks away, he got home but his mother is waiting for him at the front door, “Shawn, why did you go home late?” her mother said furiously.

Shawn immediately thinks of an excuse, “Sorry mom, I just did a project with my classmates.” Shawn feels bad for lying but his mom will be even angrier at him when he said that he became involved in trouble.

His mother sighed in relief, “You should text me if you’re going home late. I thought something bad happened to you.”

“Sorry mom, I forgot because I am focused on doing the project,” Shawn said.

“Go upstairs and take a shower. The dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” her mother said at the behest.

Shawn goes up to his room and lay in the bed for a while, “My heart is pounding like nonstop earlier but at least, I managed to get up close to her.” he said to himself.

He can’t stop himself from smiling while thinking about what happened earlier. He gets up from his bed and walks his way toward the bathroom. After he took bath, he heard his cellphone ring so immediately get out of the bathroom and check his phone.

There is a message sent to him which made his eyebrows raise.

“Shawn Myers, if you are reading this message, you need to go as soon as possible to the west part of Warhampton Mountain in the town of Santa Monica. Be sure to be careful on your way. I’ll be waiting here for your arrival.”

He just ignored the text message and immediately turn off his phone because his mother is calling him for dinner.