On Friday, Zach hurried to his homeroom teacher to submit an art piece he had almost missed. Fortunately, he received an extension, thanks to his excellent performance in class. Feeling relieved, he looked forward to the weekend ahead. He eagerly anticipated meeting Clair the next day to finally give her the painting he had kept for so long. During lunch at the cafeteria, Jacksen and Calliso couldn't help but notice their friend's elated mood.
"I know that smile," Jacksen teased, a playful glint in his eyes. "That's the smile only someone in love can make," he quipped, attempting to sound romantic. "Oh God... When will I get to sneak a girl into the dormitory?" he added, sounding more desperate than he intended.
Zach and Calliso couldn't help but laugh at his theatrics.
"Clair is an amazing person. You should hold onto someone like her for the future," Calliso complimented warmly.
Zach smiled back, but his friend's words left a lingering sense of unease in him. He thought about his future with Clair, trying to picture them together. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't form a clear picture of what their future held. The uncertainty pained him, as did the thought of a life without her.
"If I were you, I'd marry her as soon as possible," Jacksen insisted.
"And why is that?" Calliso asked, skeptical.
"Because, as you said, she's an amazing person, and Zach here is a great guy. That's already a solid foundation," Jacksen explained.
Calliso remained unconvinced.
"I promised Clair I'll finish college before making any other plans," Zach interjected.
Calliso nodded approvingly. "Good choice."
Jacksen rolled his eyes. "You can't predict the future, no one really can, so why not choose what you want now? I believe in seizing the moment and making things happen now, not waiting for tomorrow or the future."
Zach pondered Jacksen's words. "What if he's right?" he wondered, feeling unsettled by the thought.
****《•》****
After classes, Zach made a quick stop at the post office to send a package and a letter to his grandparents. Exiting the building, he headed back to the dormitory, casually typing a message to Clair as he walked along the sidewalk. Suddenly, a black SUV screeched to a halt on the adjacent road. The car door slammed open, and two men in black coats jumped out. A wave of apprehension swept over him as he recalled the suspicious men from Saint Pier church. Instinctively sensing danger, he picked up his pace, realizing they were following him. Before they could close in, he broke into a brisk walk. As he glanced behind, his heart raced as he saw the men still tailing him, intensifying his nervousness. Desperate, he quickened his pace, almost breaking into a run. To his dismay, there was no one nearby to turn to for help; the few people around were elderly or women going about their day.
The men behind him moved with practiced subtlety, making gestures to avoid drawing attention. They seemed highly trained.
Spotting a crossing up ahead with a traffic police engaged in conversation on the other side, Zach knew reaching him meant safety. He pushed through the pain in his legs, running harder. Just as he neared the crossing, a blue minivan suddenly blocked his path, cutting off his route. Shocked and frozen, he had no option but to come to a sudden stop. As the door of the van swung open, his fear intensified. He instinctively turned left, attempting to flee, but before he could take a single step, a sharp object jabbed into his lower back, and strong arms held him in place. Within moments, overwhelming exhaustion overtook him, and he began to lose consciousness. One of the pursuing men swiftly retrieved his dropped phone from the ground and concealed it in a hidden pocket inside his coat.
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Divine & Wicked: The Trapped Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach woke up with an addled mind and empty heart a few days after his surgery. He seemed to feel that his life had begun again. As he continued with what he thought was his normal life, fragments of his lost past slowly b...
