in the night | the weeknd

eighteen

Abel

"I'm glad you two found each other," Lamar says as we get out his car and walk into the apartment building.

I smile. "I'm glad, too," I reply. "I really love her."

"You can really tell," Lamar says. He points at the tattoo. "Better hope that the two of you don't break up anytime soon."

I chuckle, looking at the tattoo of Jasmine's name. "I doubt that'll happen," I say.

Me and Lamar were meant to go out to the strip club tonight but ended up deciding against it and just got takeout to eat back at my place with Jasmine. Plus, Lamar wanted to see Jasmine, since he hasn't had the chance to actually catch up with her.

"How is she?" Lamar asks as we step into the lift. "After that guy?"

Which guy? I want to ask, but don't because I don't think Jasmine would be too happy with me telling him about Jamal.

"Uh, yeah, she's fine, I guess," I say. I think about Dre and what he planned to do to Jasmine. My hands start to clench into fists and my breathing goes heavy, but I quickly manage to pull myself together.

"You plan on marrying her?" Lamar asks.

I smile, not feeling angry anymore. "One day," I answer, stepping out the lift. "And I want kids with her."

Lamar claps my back. "Look at Abel Tesfaye all in love and shit!" he says, laughing and I begin to laugh too.

We get to my apartment door and I insert the key in the lock and twist it, opening it.

Me and Lamar step in and at first it's quiet, but then I hear whimpering and grunts. Lamar shoots me a questioning look and I frown.

"Please, stop!" I hear Jasmine cry.

I quickly bolt into the bathroom and take in the scene with my eyes. The sight of Jamal on top of a naked Jasmine makes my stomach twist in anger and disgust.

He's fucking raping her!

"What the fuck!" I scream. "Get the fuck off her!" I grab Jamal by his hair and slam him into the wall, hard - it sounds like his skull has crushed. Specks of blood splatter across the wall and his body slumps to the floor, the life drained from it.

Lamar runs into the bathroom. "What the fuck?" he breathes. He looks from Jamal's body to Jasmine and quickly looks away, piecing the puzzle together. I can see the anger flash in his eyes. "Do you want me to deal with this?" he asks, pointing to Jamal.

I nod. "Yeah," I say.

Lamar nods and without saying a word, he scoops up Jamal and leaves.

I walk over to Jasmine who is shaking uncontrollably and crying. "Jas," I say softly. I touch her and she jumps, making a lump form in my throat.

I should've killed that bastard the moment I found out about what he did to Jasmine. Maybe then she wouldn't be here - she'd be okay, happy even.

I can see the bruises and fingernail marks on her body and there's a mark on her neck too. I quickly look away, feeling like I'm about to be sick.