02 SWEEP THE STREET

Mathew

My friends and I went to the mall to eat at the food court. Leo told us they served the most fantastic steak he ever tasted in his whole life. We were laughing and joking while walking inside the mall and quickly settled at the seat that was in the far corner away from the other.

"CLICK!!!!

A bright light blinded my eyes for a few seconds, and my vision cleared; I saw a girl standing three feet away from me, holding her phone. She's wearing this oversized shirt, double the right size for her body, baggy pants, and a Converse. She tied her golden brown hair in messy buns above her head. I blink my eyes once, thrice, before everything that happened sinks into my mind. I quickly stood up, and My chair created a loud sound when it scratched on the floor.

"Did you just steal a picture of me?" I asked, my eyes ready to strangle a girl before me. She blinked her eyes, and then slowly, she backed away. "No! No! You're not leaving." I muttered. "Until I smashed that phone on the cement wall, but she quickly quickened her pace. I also advanced to her, but she broke into a run.

"Yah, come back here!!! I screamed, running after her. She shrieked and raced toward the exit.

***

ABIGAIL

The guy blinked his eyes many times in surprise, but when he snapped from his shock, he quickly stood up with a murderous stare in his eyes. I winced at the sound his chair created and quickly felt shivers down my spine in fear.

"Did you just steal a picture of me?" He seethed, eyes burning with anger. I quickly stepped back, but he also took a step forward. I took a step back again, and he did, too. I promptly turned around and ran for my dear life.

"Yah, come back here." He screamed. I shrieked in fright and headed to the exit of the mall. I could hear his footsteps behind me, and it scared the hell out of me. I ran to the opposite side of the road, not minding that the traffic light was still green. I crossed the street, but I screamed in fright when a car almost bit me. I fell on the road in fear, gasping for air and covered with sweat. Maybe this was my unlucky day again because the car that almost hit me was a police car.

I wanted to cry when the police officer brought me to the police station for my punishment. "Sir, I'm sorry. It's someone's fault, so I crossed the street not noticing the traffic light." I lied, hoping he'd buy my lie.

"But I don't see anyone following you. Did you shoplift at that mall? That's why you're running away?"

"No, no, sir." I shook my head vigorously. "It's a big no, sir. I'm telling the truth."

"Let me see your bag." The officer grabbed my bag and poured all the contents above the table, and my eyes widened with what I saw. "Mia, I'm going to kill you!!!! I mentally screamed, embarrassed. In front of me is a magazine with a picture of men in their naked glory. Can this day be more embarrassing than it already was?

"Huh? I can tell the opposite." The officer smirked. I wanted to vanish right now.

"It's not mine, promise, sir." I tried to save a little dignity, but how could I when the evidence was lying before me? Mia, I will surely kill you as soon as I lay my hand on you. I gritted my teeth and just lowered my head in embarrassment.

Miss Abigail of Fine Arts University." He said, holding my ID.

"Sir, please don't report me at my school. If you did, my scholarship will be gone." I pleaded.

"Okay, I won't report you because I also have a sister. And I won't put you into jail."

"Really? Thank you, sir, thank you." I said, bowing my head nonstop. I wanted to hug him but stopped myself.

"Your punishment.... I instantly held my breath. "You sweep the street outside the police station to the mall where I caught you."

"What?"

"The street is not that long, only 500 meters away from here. If you don't do it, I call your school." He warned.

This is ridiculous. This is the result of my stupidity. "But sir, I have a work after thirty minutes." I hope that I can escape this punishment.

"Not my problem. You want me to call your school?"

"No, No, sir. Okay, I will do it, but can I do it tomorrow morning?"

"Okay, I will wait for you tomorrow." The officer grinned. "Just tell the receptionist at the lobby morrow that you're looking for SPO4 Lee so I can watch you while sweeping the street and your ID. I will return it tomorrow after you finish your punishment." My shoulder deflated in defeat.

"I think I don't have any escape with this sweeping-the-street punishment. I sigh and put all my things back in my bag.

"Bye, Miss Abigail. See you tomorrow." Officer Lee said with a smile in his sleep. "Make sure to watch the traffic light before you cross the street again, or you're going to sweep another 500-meter-long street ." He said in a mocking voice before he left the room. I stomped on the floor and hurriedly stepped out of the police station.

***

MATTHEW

I ran after her, but she crossed the street. My breath almost left me when a police car nearly hit her. I quickly hid at one of the posts when a police officer exited the vehicle. I peeked at them and saw the police officer lead her inside his car.

"That girl, why did she steal a picture of me? Is she some kidnapper or some syndicate looking for their target?"

"Matt, where's the girl?" Leo asked, panting and running toward me with the other.

"The police took her."

"Why did she take a picture of you?" Andrew asked, worried.

"I don't know either," I answered and returned to my car. They followed and also went to their vehicle. "Can we go clubbing tonight?"

"But how about the girl?" James asked. "What if she did it to harm you."

"I asked my brother to investigate about this girl. Maybe he can help you to know about her." Andrew offers. I know they're worried about me because of what happened to me before. Someone kidnapped me or ransom when I was eight years old, but lucky me, Andrew's brother was able to save me.

"Thanks, Andrew. I'm going home now. Let's meet at the bar later, around eight, and we go our separate ways without eating the steak that Leo was boasting about.

***

ABIGAIL

I went home to my apartment when I left the police station to prepare for my work at the bar around seven. I took a bath and dressed up. Afterward, I sat at the edge of my bed and got my phone in my bag. I looked at it and smiled when I saw his picture.

"He's very handsome. A few strands of his blonde hair fell on his face. He has captivating light brown eyes, and his skin is so flawless that you can't see any purse. His lips are thin and pink, so soft just by looking at them, and he has a piercing on his ears, two on the right and one on the left. He has a very charismatic feature and is very appealing. Sighed, I hope he won't kill me if ever we cross paths again.

"I'll just explain to him in case we meet again why I took a picture of him. I hope he'll understand. He looks kind, anyway. I hope after I show this picture to Cora and Mia, they will stop about the blind date thing. But would they believe that this hot guy is my boyfriend? And what should I name him? Arg!!!!! It is my fault why I'm in a difficult situation right now, and to add on it, I'm going to sweep the street, AArg!!! I'm a pathetic, stupid idiot.

I grab my bag and head out of my apartment. I locked the door and went to the bus stop. After thirty minutes, I arrived at the bar where I worked as a waitress until two in the morning. I changed my clothes with my uniform, a pencil black skirt that reached mid-thigh and a white long sleeve tucked in my skirt paired with two-inch black high heels. I apply light makeup and tie my hair in a messy bun. We were required to wear make-up to look presentable for our customers.

I went out of our locker room. There were already many customers even though it was still seven in the evening. "Abigail, you'll serve at our VIP's tonight upstairs." Our manager said. I smile, thanking her. "It only means VIPs have bigger tips. I quickly went to the second floor, smiling.

"Abigail, Jay, one of the bartenders called me."You're the one assigned here?" I nodded my head, smiling.

"Okay! Charm the customer for big tips." He smiled warmly at me. "Here, room 5." I took a tray from him with drinks and went to the room five. I knock on the door two times before I step inside. Five guys are sitting on the sofa inside, and they are all staring at me.

"Good evening, sir, here's your drink." I carefully placed their drink before them and cleared the empty glasses. "Would you want anything else, sir?" One of them stood up and went near me. He stopped a few feet away from me and held my ID.

"Abigail." Unique name for a beautiful lady. "We will call you when we need your service again." He said, smiling, slipping money in my breast pocket. I jerk a little, but don't say a thing. I was used to some touchy customer already, but I made sure they wouldn't get too far, or I'd break their nose.

"Thank you, sir." I bowed my head and hurriedly left the room.

"Abigail, room two," Jay called as soon as I went to him. I grabbed the tray and went to room 2, and I sighed in relief that it was only three older men and two women of the same age with them talking. I smiled at them, and they smiled at me warmly. I place their drinks on the table, and I smile again when the lady gives me 50. "Thank you, ma'am." She only smiled, and I quickly went out of the room.

"Room 4." Jay said, smiling." I also smile at him and quickly carry the tray to room 4. I knocked twice and then entered, but I froze in my spot. "The guy at the mall. Oh no, I'm dead.