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One would say it's a normal day in Skyhaven. Nothing really out of the ordinary for Zayne who was on his way to his biology class in Skywalk University. The usual routine of being greeted by other students he doesn't know and acknowledging them with a polite smile. A sunny day, which he thought [name] might like an update about.
The warm, afternoon sun reminds him of the coming weekend and the promise of driving with [name] and Caleb to the nearest beach. He still hears her excited squeals over the phone when he finally cracked to her persistent demand suggestion. “Let's put that driving license into good use!” She beams at him with enthusiasm.
His biology class ended just few minutes before 7 PM. Exhaustion slowly creeps to his eyelids after an entire day of lectures but he reminds himself he still has to drive back to Linkon. After all, he did promise her they’d leave before sunrise so they can watch it at the beach. “She won't forgive me if I’m late,” He thinks to himself.
9 PM. Zayne stops midway of packing his bags. His vibrating phone flashes with a caller ID he never thought would ever contact him first.
Caleb is calling…
One would say it's a normal day in Linkon City, except for the fact that Caleb gets to go home one day early from the Aerospace Academy.
Caleb opens the door with groceries at hand expecting [name]’s enthusiastic greeting. Hearing nothing, he combs through the house for either her or Grandma Josephine. He finds the latter, sitting on the back porch knitting, who informs him that [name] had told her that she will be coming home late to meet with someone.
The night falls with Caleb calling [name]’s phone 56 times. He paces infront of the house anxiously as he tries to dial her number once again. Where is she? Nothing happened to her right? Should I go looking for her now? He turns around to face the street and there she was standing with a surprised look on her face.
“Where have you been? I've been calling—” Caleb stops at his track. Even the faint street lights can't hide her busted lip.
“Who did this?” Anger seethes through Caleb’s words as he carefully reaches for her cheek.
She looks away and replies with a small voice, “No one.”
“Who did this?” Caleb repeats. He really didn't have to ask but he still wanted to hear it from her.
Silence. Caleb let's go of her face and walks past her. A hand holds him by the wrist and says, “Caleb, wait—”
“He should have thought twice before doing something stupid. Go back inside.”
[Name] tries to protest, her hand holding his wrist tighter. Caleb looks at her, his gaze still soft, “I’ll just talk to him.” He leads her inside before going straight to his car and driving away.
Everyone knows that Zayne is a model student and citizen. Someone who has dedicated his life in helping people. Someone who won’t break the rules. But that someone, for the first time in his life, pressed the gas pedal with no second thoughts.
“Zayne, I killed him…”
The events that transpired after he heard Caleb say those words felt like a blur. All he knows is that he was pulling up at an abandoned building behind University of Linkon after an hour. His heart felt like it was about to burst out his chest with every step.
“Zayne...” He hears a faint voice from a distance. Caleb sat on the dirty floor of the moon-lit room with a man lying next to him.
Zayne contemplated what he should do. Berate Caleb? Ask him why he called him of all people? Demand an explanation? His head spun from all the questions.
“I need to focus,” Zayne tells himself. He squats next to Caleb and takes a look at his bloodied knuckles. He swings his backpack and takes out the supplies needed to perform first aid.
“Are you sure?” Zayne asks the dazed boy infront of him. The younger winces from the antiseptic but still nods his head.
“I checked his pulse thrice,” Caleb replies, “I’m sure.”
Caleb sped to University of Linkon with a rage he never thought he would ever feel in his life. His knuckles turned white from the grip he had on his steering wheel. His entire body felt hot and all he could think of is how mad he is.
Caleb takes a deep breath. An awful thought fills his head.
Hands shaking, Caleb scrolls through the app she forced him and Zayne get during the older’s graduation. “It will make it easier for us to update each other of our day-to-day, don't you think?” She said to the both of them, beaming.
He rubs his eyes before looking back at his screen. How did he not notice before? It was very faint and most people would have thought it was a trick in lighting, but he should have not been like them. With all the amount of scars he has hidden from you, he knows all too well how to spot one. The doubt he had earlier dissipates.
He never really liked that man. When [name] introduced him for the first time, Caleb knew he needs to look out for her but at the same time, he didn't want to stop her. How could he when she asked for his blessing with the sweetest smile on her face? Her happiness has always been his top priority and that doesn't change even if it means it will come from another man.
Caleb pulls to the parking nearest to [name]’s building. As far as he knows, they we’re in the same department. Students whisper as he pass by, some try to talk to him but he only had his eyes on his goal. When he finally reaches the student council room, he knocks and calls, “Tara?”
Tara looks back, shocked to see the older there, “Caleb? What are you doing here?” She asks before telling her team she’ll take a minute, “What’s up?”
“Do you know where that scumbag is?”
“Wait… Who?” Tara asks, confused.
“[Name]’s boyfriend—if you can still call that asshole that. Do you know where he is?”
“He isn’t with [name]? She told me they were meeting before our last period but she didn’t come back. I thought she’s still with him.”
“Do you know anywhere else I can find him?”
“Is something wrong?” She asks, “Should I be worried?”
Caleb forces himself to relax for a second, “It’s nothing. I just need to talk to him.”
Tara nods and goes back inside to ask if anyone if they saw the man. One responds and informs them that he usually hangs around the abandoned building behind the university. Caleb thanks them before quickly leaving.
“[Name] deserves it.” A man scoffs from a distance, “I mean, how dare she say no to me? And she even had the audacity to compare me to that Caleb and Zayne dudes?” Caleb slowly approaches, needing to hear more.
“I don’t care if they’re close! What woman in her right mind would be close to other men when she already has a boyfriend?! She’s acting like a bitch.” Caleb closes his fist with his nails digging on his skin. What did he just call her?
Blood rushes to Caleb’s head.
“I was still being nice. She would have been in bigger danger if—” He stops midway when Caleb’s fist lands on his face.
“Who are—”
I promised to protect her.
I promised she’d never cry as long as I am next to her.
I promised I would do anything for her.
I promised.
Everything was a blur after that. The only thing that snapped him back to reality was a jolt of pain that ran from his fist to his arm. He drops to the floor, horror washing over his face. He’s dead, isn’t he?
Caleb, for the first time in his life, willingly searched for Zayne’s name in his contact list in an urgency he never imagined himself would be in.
After Caleb finished recalling everything, silence enveloped the two for a minute. Zayne dusts himself off and let’s go of Caleb’s bandaged hand.
Caleb looks up to him, “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“He deserved it.” Zayne responds, which surprises the younger.
“Wait.. What?” Caleb rubs his eyes. Is this really the Zayne he knows?
“He deserved it,” Zayne repeats, “Get up. I’ll need hands.” He throws a pair of latex gloves at Caleb and motions him to wear it.
Zayne was responsible, rational and upright. And though Zayne was the first person Caleb thought of and called, he was still expecting—what exactly was he expecting?
For Zayne to reprimand him? Tell him he was the worst human being right now? Call the cops to snitch him? He might have thought of all the bad possible scenarios. He was ready to find another way if Zayne would not help him.
But here’s the thing. Caleb overlooked one important factor: Zayne’s feelings towards [name].
Zayne, though wearing a stone-cold demeanor, was burning with rage. He stared at the lifeless man in front of him and though to himself, “He should thank the heavens I found out after everything was done.”
If this is the way I can protect her, I wouldn’t think twice.
It was swift and calculated. Zayne didn’t expect that he will put everything he learned so far in medical school in this setting, but nothing matters more than [name]. Hearing the things this man said and did was enough for him to stand his ground. He also knew that if this puts Caleb in danger, she would not forgive herself.
The angry outburst that was supposed to be aimed at Caleb dwindled at every move. Slowly, everything he wanted to say to the younger boy turned into scenarios he would have done in his stead. The things they could have better done if Caleb called him first before taking action. Or what Zayne could have brought instead to make this job easier.
There was no time to waste.
At 3 AM, the job was done. Zayne lights a fire and burns the bloodied latex gloves and clothes. He then hands Caleb alcohol wipes and the leftover hydrogen peroxide, “Clean yourself up before throwing the rest in the fire.”
Caleb nods. Silence envelops them once again as the watch the fire flicker, “Why?” Caleb asks.
“Because I promised to watch the sunrise with her.” Zayne responds.