29-year-old ZJ, a resilient androgynous Malaysian, tragically lost her family in a car crash when she was 18. Growing up in Oldham, she took up waitressing under precarious conditions and pursued a part-time college degree, despite a job that offere...
I properly dried my body before getting myself ready into my purple jeggings and cream turtleneck. After I was fully clothed, I headed for the common room, still towel drying my hair while he waited for me by the sofa.
"Are you done?" he asked me.
"Not quite done yet," I responded. "My hair is still damp. Once I have them dried, I need to redo my packing."
"We don't have time for that," he grumbled between his teeth.
"If that's the case, I need your help," I suggested. "You could help me with my hair while I do the packing. You're good with that, aren't you?"
He rolled his eyes upwards, sighed and grunted, "Okay". He got up from the sofa and followed me to my room. "Where's your comb?"
"All I can find is a hairbrush," I licked my bottom lip, scavenging for my wide-tooth comb through the mess which he created in my luggage.
"No, I want the detangling one," he demanded. "I don't want to scrape your hair off."
"Okay, found it!" I handed him the comb while I separated my toiletries of anything below 100ml into another sealed bag and stashed them into the backpack. I secretly enjoyed the tingling sensation of him delicately rubbing the towel on my damp hair before his gentle fingers carefully smoothened away its frizz.
"You should lock your back door next time," he advised me. "If I can break in, anyone can."
"I was getting rid of the slugs, but I forgot to lock it back," I gave an excuse.
"That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. Like you never cared for your life at all," he complained and asked further.
"I thought you promised not to be insolent," I pointed out.
"I can't help it, you started it," he defended and took a step back. "Your hair is done. We should go."
"Look, you don't have to follow me around just to make sure that I stick to your plan," I said edgily. "If it's true they're after me, I'll fly from London as per your advice, but I'll do it alone via coach or train. And you can still hide here."
"Having us separated will make it easier for them to kill us both," he debated.
"Well, I don't want you to accompany me all the way to London. You're such a pain in the ass!" I snapped.
"That's not your call to decide how to get you home safely. I'm following you all the way back to KL," he responded.
"You're flying back with me? Why are you even doing this?" I asked in astonishment. "I thought you and I are over."
"It is impossible to quit on you!" he finally admitted. "I don't think I can ever taste anyone as worthy as you in my life."
"Then, why leave me when I already told you I love you the most?" I probed. "Why must you be threatened by someone who worth nothing compared to you?"
Nick didn't respond but ordered me to speed up. He exited the room and headed for the front door before unlocking it and instructed someone to come in. I turned behind and was alarmed to see Cane entered the house with Chris behind him. I pulled out Nick's gun from the holster and swivelled towards them, aiming the gun at Cane.
"Woah! What the hell are you doing?" Chris frantically raised both his hands to surrender.
"Chris, step aside," I ordered him, and he obeyed, leaving the house abruptly.
"Sister, this is not the time to play with the gun," Nick commanded.
"Mark was with Hussaini when they came here," I told them. "He was the one that hurt me. Cane could be dangerous too."
Nick snickered bitterly. "I know Mark's unreliable from the beginning. But if you ask me whom I trusted the most, it's Cane. You're the last on my list."
"Wha– You trust Cane more than me? How come?" I gaped at Nick.
Cane gave me a smug and signalled Chris to handle my luggage.
"Becauseyou don't even hold the gun right," Cane answered, gestured at the way Iclasped the handle of the gun without placing my finger on its trigger.
⭐🧴✨☘️⭐🧴☘️
We travelled to London via M6 on a rented Range Rover as a part of precautionary measures from being tracked by Hussaini. We began the journey with Lewis Capaldi's 'Hold Me While You Wait' which I knew Nick had it on his playlist for me. In fact, every song he played throughout the journey was meant for me, including 'The Fault in Our Stars' by Troye Sivan that came after.
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