CHAPTER ONE : THE BEGINNING OF AN END

“We're waiting.”

I heard the guy say it from the other line. I kept mum.

“I said we're waiting. We've been waiting for almost three hours now.”

I didn't answer.

“Don't play with me, little devil.”

I bit my lower lip and gazed through the car window.

“You have to pay your debt, ” he continued, “8,000,000. ”

Silence.

“Don't let me count on you, little devil.”

Silence.

“10”

I suddenly bit my finger.

“9” He continues.

I closed my eyes and sighed. “Wait,” I blurted out all of a sudden.

“Who is it?” he asked with a hint of concern in his voice, his eyes squinting from the rear lights ahead.

My hand groped for the mouthpiece as I whispered, “My sister.”

From my periphery, I could see him taking his eyes off the road every few seconds to look at me. I smiled at him, assuring him that everything’s okay. I even winked at him.

I closed my eyes again, trying to calm myself. I swallowed real hard as I tried to steady my breathing. My pulse had been racing at a lightning speed since the call came through. My hands grew cold, indicating a turbulence going on inside me. I reminded myself, just a little bit more and it would be all over soon. I remained still in this short interval, pushing my old self to resurface, the one I used to be before Nick Smith came into my world.

“Wait for me. I'll be there,” I said calmly before hanging up. My voice sounding empty sans my usual tenderness, I turned to Nick. “My sister needs to hand me something. Can we drop by at the flower shop?” I smiled at him and added a gentle touch on his arm to make up for the sudden change of my behavior.

“No worries,” he said as he took an unfamiliar but shorter route to the flower shop. “Anything for the woman I love,” he added and then smiled at me.

I just kept mum the whole drive. I was deeply lost in my thoughts. I can see from my periphery that Nick’s been taking a glimpse of me occasionally. I reluctantly met his eyes. My lips parted into a half-smile as I asked, “Yes? Something wrong?” I can feel the uneasiness in his eyes. He's worried about me.

“Are you okay?” he then asked.

I smiled cheerfully. “I am. Why? Do I look like I'm not?” I lied.

He shook his head. “Where would you like to get married?” Nick casually asked, changing the topic while waiting for the red light to turn green. His hands fixed on the wheels, his voice sounding that of a free-spirited lad getting his first dip on a summer afternoon.

I let out a nervous laugh, I love him, “ If I say I'd like to get married on the moon, will you do that?”

His hand found mine on my lap while his eyes bore an insatiable desire for me. “I will marry you anywhere, just say the word,” he said with an earful smile.

I gulped. “Will you still marry me if- things change?”

The green light momentarily distracted us before he answered, “Nothing can make me stop from marrying you. Even if things change, even if you change. I promise, I'll still make you want to marry me.”

“What if you change?” I asked.

“Do you really think that will ever happen?”

Before I could say another word, from the rear mirror I caught a trailing black SUV. My heart pounded haplessly against my chest as I watched it drive past us and successfully cut our path.

Nick put on the brakes and fumbled for his mobile phone, but it was too late. Three men with hooded masks broke the car windows with long firearms and dragged Nick out of the car. Another group of masked men scattered around our vehicle, also armed with guns, each one aiming at him like predators cornering a prey. He quickly raised his hands in the air and shouted, “Please don't hurt her!” I could see him frantically searching inside his car looking for me but I was already dragged out as well. “I'll give you what you want. Just set her free. Please, I'm begging you, I have money in my pocket and you can even have my car, just please don't hurt her.”

“We don't need money from your pocket.”

“Please, I'll do anything, just let her go,” Nick pleaded again. His voice was starting to crack.

“I'm sorry to say but we can't do that,” the man from behind shouted and laughed.

Nick quickly ran to the other side of the car to get me but he was held back and he was punched in the stomach. Another man came and kneed him in the gut until he fell on the ground.

“Stop!” I shouted loud enough for everyone to hear. That one command stopped all the men from hitting Nick. “Step back! Now!” I pulled the gun from one of the men and pointed it at them. 

I can see that Nick could barely open his eyes with blood oozing from his brow, hampering his eyesight. I can sense the confusion in his eyes. If only I could turn back the time. He was trying to reach out for me, crawling, his eyes pleading for help. Right at that moment,  I aimed the gun at him and said, “Move it.”

He just kept on blinking, staring at the tip of the gun that was pointed straight at him. I can sense that Nick's breathing turned heavy. I looked at him with cold eyes, just as then a diamond in my ring finger sparkled, witnessing the chaos as it had been a witness too, only hours ago I accepted Nick's marriage proposal at the Park.