The Beginning

Chapter 1: The Beginning

I had been searching the university grounds for hours, my class long over and Amir nowhere to be found. I asked classmates, retraced his usual paths, even called his phone—only to find it switched off. Amir never missed our routine of going home together or notifying me if he stayed late. Anxiety gnawed at me as I continued my search under the scorching sun.

Exhausted, I reached the back of the abandoned building—a place cluttered with discarded university equipment. Taking a moment to catch my breath, I scanned the area. It was deserted except for distant murmurs.

As I moved past broken chairs, a noise from the corner caught my attention. My heart raced as I approached cautiously. Voices became clearer.

"I told you to stay away from her, but you wouldn't listen," a voice growled.

"Don't threaten me, Amir."

My pulse quickened. Did I hear Amir's name?

Without hesitation, I lunged towards them, grabbing a piece of wood to confront them. Startled, they turned to face me. I swung, aiming for their leader, Gene—a notorious figure from the 'Death X' fraternity.

Gene dodged effortlessly, his taekwondo skills evident. I glared at him, anger flaring. "What gives you the right to interfere in Amir's life? Leave him alone!"

"You still choose him over me?" Gene sneered. "He's not even a match for me."

"He doesn't need to fight you," I retorted sharply. "Unlike you, he's not into senseless violence."

Gene's temper flared, and he lunged towards me. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact, when suddenly strong arms pulled me away. Opening my eyes, I found Amir shielding me from Gene's attack.

In a swift motion, Amir subdued Gene and his friends. Shocked, they retreated, leaving us standing alone amidst the debris.

Amir turned to me, concern etched on his face. I gently touched his injuries. "Are you okay? Let's get you cleaned up."

He nodded silently, guiding me towards his car. We drove away from campus, reaching our neighborhood in silence. As we stopped outside my house, I prepared to leave, expecting Amir to head home across the street.

To my surprise, he followed me inside. I fetched the first aid kit while he removed his vest, revealing bruises and cuts. I tended to his wounds, scolding him gently for risking himself.

"You shouldn't have fought them," I chided softly. "Thank you for protecting me, but now your parents will be worried."

"I couldn't let them hurt you," he replied earnestly.

I smiled weakly. "I can take care of myself, Amir. But thank you."

His gaze softened. "I don't want anyone hurting you."

I teased him lightly, trying to lighten the mood. "You're always so serious."

"I'm serious when it comes to you," he admitted quietly.

I felt a flutter of something unfamiliar in my chest. "You need to learn to smile more," I teased, looking out at the darkening sky.

"I have no reason to smile," he replied simply.

"Maybe someday you'll find a reason," I mused, half-jokingly. "Let me know when you find a girlfriend. We might have to end our friendship then."

As dusk fell, I walked Amir to the gate. He insisted on picking me up the next day for our group project, his concern touching but slightly overbearing.

"Alright, pick me up then," I relented, amused by his persistence.

After saying goodbye, I watched him return to his house across from mine, waiting until he entered safely before going inside. It was our unspoken routine—his silent care evident despite his reserved nature.